Bazoo

My only spinning reel has bit the dust. I bought this reel used from a yardsale about year ago, when I got back into fishing. I lost all my previous gear in a housefire about 10 years ago, so I've been acquiring stuff here and there. Anyways, It started out working okay, but after a few hours of fishing with it, it developed a wind knot. I'd cut the knot out, and keep fishing, and again, another couple hours of use and I'd repeat. I know how to check for line twisting when I spool, and if it is twisted it will bunch up so you flip the spool over. I looked up Glenn's video with tips for spooling, and I didn't know about the warm water soak, nor about using a cloth to add tension to the line (I always just used my finger and thumb to give it a little bit, but I added a bit more with a rag), so the next time my spool got low from removing wind knots, I included those tips into my spooling procedure. It worked great right off the bat. Then the wind knots came back, like normal. I use 10 pound Big Game, and I was doing some research on it and saw where it can cause issues with spinning reels. So I bought some Trilene XL to try, and that made the problem worse. I couldn't get a couple dozen casts in... so I put big game back on and was able to get an hour or so before I started getting knots again. I removed the line roller and made sure it was free of debris. I cleaned and dried it, and then lubricated it with a drop of silicone oil for fine instruments. It isn't bi-directional, so it occurred to me, perhaps I put it on backwards. I inspected it, and I think it was backwards so I reversed it, which made no difference either way to the knots. So I've tried it both directions. I also thought that perhaps something about my rod's eyes were causing or contributing to the knots. Well, I was trying to free a snag and broke the rod (I wasn't using undue pressure, but I'm sure the rod has been abused and stepped on and such). So I had a spare rod, a cheap $10 Zebco brand from Walmart, that I put the reel on, and the wind knots show no change. It seems that the time between wind knots has been gradually decreasing. I just respooled and within 6 or 8 casts I got a wind knot, so I just wound the line back in and retired the real to the van the rest of the trip. I always close the bail by hand. Is there anything I can do that may get my reel back into action? I know it's a super cheap reel and I need to get a better one, but the budget is tight right now so I won't be able to for a while. Thanks for the suggestions, Bazoo

Thanks Catt, I won't turn my nose up at Black Neon the next time I get to the store.

I am new to yaks, having never had one or been in one, so I am following this with enthusiasm. I think a yak would be perfect for some of the places I want to get, especially the area where people lose lures!

Lordy day... what has this world come to? How does the black neon work vs straight black? Have you (or anyone) ever seen a switch from black to black neon cause the bite to improve?

Thanks for the replies all. I have been keeping up with the black lure thread. My thread here is specific to black lizards, not black baits in general.

I've had some good success with green pumpkin colored Zoom lizards on my local moss filled pond. Well, the bite died off with those. Over the course of another month, I tried them off and on and didn't have any success. I didn't have any darker lizards but I wanted to try a black one, so I decided to try using a sharpie to color one black. I did such, and I fished it one night and got a bass the first 5 minutes. No further success with it however. I didn't fish it much longer, maybe 10 more minutes, and I switched lures and then spots. But it did suggest to me that black ones might produce when the green won't, at least at night. I also had seen that bass likely wouldnt bite a sharpie colored soft plastic because of the smell. Well, it wasn't a very large sample size for the test, but it does indicate that sharpie smell isn't bass repellent. I had let the lure cure about 6 hours I think. Whats everyone else's opinions on black lizards either in the daytime or night?

I'd say get another if it suits you. Maybe another spinning combo would be the best choice. I only have 1 baitcasting combo, and 1 spinning combo, but my spinning reel just bit the dust. I do have another spinning reel, but it's vintage and clicks when you crank the handle, which I don't care for (the clicking). Worse though, is it won't allow you to close the bail by hand, you must spin it closed. Not sure if I'll succumb to need and use it or not. I do have a Zebco 33 but don't have a rod for it currently. I gave a new angler a spincasting combo, but the rod broke so I gave him the rod the 33 was on to keep him going. For now, I am just making do with the baitcaster and not using anything lighter than 1/4 oz.

Confidence of good line might make all the difference. I'd respool. Switch to Big Game and don't worry about the cost. Or, if you have a way to remove the line and reverse it, you could get more life from it.

Figure I'd give an update. I didn't fish this but once, and not for very long. Then I put it in a compartment with some other soft baits, like my catch all spot for worms and lizards and such that I've used, and the other worms melted it so badly it wasn't usable any longer.

I occasionally rig up a carolina rig, but I never have success with it. The local lake I fish, is pretty heavily pressured in most of the spots I also fish. I have had some success there with weedless lizard, and caught 1 fish each on topwater, spinnerbait, swimbait. But I've fished it many days and not caught anything. So on those days I generally try something new or a lure I'm not comfortable with, with one of those being the Carolina rig. I use 1/2 oz bullet sinker, and 1 or 2 plastic beads, a swivel, and something like an 18" leader. Then I use a hook of 2/0 3/0 4/0 in either worm or EWG variety, depending on what I happen to have handy or to match the plastic I intend to use. I've tried senkos, lizards, and paddle tail flukes. I have tried throwing it out and pulling it in very slow, stop and go, similar to the way I'd fish a weedless texas rigged lizard, and I've tried pulling it a bit faster. I have read where you can "cover a lot of water" with a Carolina rig and that its okay to pull it in a bit faster. Regardless, I haven't been successful with it. Course, I'm doing it in the dog days of summer, but I thought Carolina rigs were supposed to work then too. The water ranges from light to moderately stained. The area I normally fish on Freeman Lake is the double holding ponds, that are connected to the main lake on the north end, via acreek channel one per pond, they are large side by side ponds but not connected to each other except through the main lake. I also fish the north end of the main lake there in that general area, though I've never caught anything in the main lake, only the ponds. I don't know if the fish are migrating out of the ponds at all, or some, but I know that even during the dog days there are fish in the ponds because that's where I've had my success. All bank fishing by the way. Mudd bottoms mostly, but some riprap in the big lake on that end. Anyways, I need some Carolina rig advice.. what can I try different, what am I doing right or wrong. I have senko, curly tail worms, trick worms, lizards, some brush hog type, paddle tails, and probably some I caint remember. What variety would give me the best chance and in what color? I generally try something different every time as far as color or type, speed of retrieve, and location. I appreciate any advice I can get. Thanks, Bazoo Here is a map showing the two upper holding ponds, there is a connecting creek for each pond, on the far east and far west side of the north end of the lake. Main made dam between the two and between the lake proper and those ponds.

I appreciate that, thank you. I sent you a message.

I have a white spinnerbait, and I have rit dye in black. I don’t have lots of funds though so I’m thinking I will give it a go. Anyone know of this combo will work? Will it successfully dye the silicone or ruin it? Should I dip it cold or boil it? Boil it I imagine. thanks

If I know others are doing well in a spot, that gives me all the confidence I need to try there and stick with it. Even if I get skunked, I know it's just part of fishing, and likely not to be the case the next time. I say focus on those new spots until they too are comfortable. As far as doing what other anglers are doing... nothing wrong with taking a little advice from those who know what works. If a lure/color/presentation works there... use it... then branch off from that and experiment with other colors/lures/presentations until you find your own groove. Besides, no two anglers will present identical lures the same. Even identical lures will sound and look different slightly.

Thanks for sharing all, some interesting stories thus far. A tad light on the pics though. I ain't ever had any luck on a chatterbait... maybe its because mine is bought and not found?

Staying hydrated is extremely important, but also don't forget a snack if you're prone to having your sugar drop. I've been known to push it so long that I start being weak from needing a snack.

I'm a diehard spinnerbait man. I've not caught any fish on the chatterbait I just started using this year, but I do fish it, and I have confidence in it because I've read of how others have excellent results with it, and I seen a bill dance video with him using one. I've not had an instance that I tied the chatterbait on when the spinnerbait wouldn't produce though and then caught fish yet, like some folks claim. I know in my local moss covered pond, the chatterbait is a moss magnet, where the spinnerbait will come right over the top of it. I have fished a jig there, but not had any luck with that either, the spinnerbait does well and both with the fish and the moss though.

Howdy from Kentucky. I might not be quite as dedicated as you are... but I could hold my own with ya! Glad to have you aboard. Plenty of awesome articles and threads here to help you expand your fishing knowledge.

I've not fished a lot of black, and I dont have any stocked. The other day I wanted to see how a black lizard would do...so I took a sharpie and colored one of my green ones. I went to my moss covered local pond that night and bam, it didn't take very long at all to get a nice <2 bass on that lizard. I fished a spell longer and nothing else, but definitely need to get some black lizards I think. I have a black scumfrog... and I've never had any strikes on it, day or night. Not sure sure why. I've had good success on that pond with the pocket frog and the walmart popper frog.

Wife made a meal and when it was time to eat I asked for a piece of bread. She opened the bag and handed me a slice and put the twisttie back on the bag, to which I replied "Mighty stingy with it ain't ya?"

Thanks all for sharing. interesting, I found an old Rar-L-Trap and stole the hooks from a red eye to put on it!

When I went to the lake, I saw this little guy, about 5" long, laying on the bank dead. Is this a baby crappie (I think it's a crappie but I ain't sure) or is it some sort or baitfish? Thanks for the help folks. Bazoo

Howdy from Kentucky Paul. Sounds like you've been having a mess of fun already. Lots to learn here if you're looking to expand your bass fishing skillset. I've been wanting to get into yak fishing myself, but haven't taken the plunge yet. I don't know anyone that is into it here. And... my son, who is 4, refuses to let me hit the water without him. So for now, its on hold until he's old enough that we can kayak together I reckon.

Ah, thanks for the info. Different gear ratios are better for different applications and lure presentations. just depends on what you're doing with the rig. I mostly use spinning gear for soft plastics and light lures, like rooster tails, beetle spins, and mini crankbaits/poppers.

A bit late, but howdy from kentucky. Lots of great articles and discussions here where you can learn many new things.

I have always fished the Pop-r and chugbugs, and I've always had good success with them. I ought to get a Pop Max and try it immediately after my Pop-R doesn't produce.