Bazoo

I set it so it removes the play from the spool, but doesn't stop the spool from spinning upon lure drop. Set the same for both reels.

I have a BPS Pro Qualifier 2 casting reel 7.5:1 that I use a lot. I purchased off ebay the same model reel in 6.8:1. So I get it, and I was having problems with it backlashing. Today I was out at the lake and I had both reels, and I did some experimenting. Same rod, my Lews Hank Parker 6'10", and same lure, a Husky Jerk 10. I had 10 pound big game on both of them. The 7.5 was a bit low on line, but the 6.8 was fresh and full, maybe a touch over full. Well I ended up adjusting the brakes higher and higher on the 6.8. I had the magnetic brakes on 8-8.5 and I had 4 of centrifugal brakes on, and I was still backlashing. It's like I couldn't use enough thumb. Like the spool was just spinning super fast. Normally on the 7.5 I am about half on the mag brakes and 1 or 2 centrifugal brakes depending on lure weight. Well, I was sitting there and thinking about it, so I decided to swap spools. Immediately the 6.8 reel was tame. It cast just like the 7.5, old faithful. I set the brakes to where I had them set for the 7.5, about half on the mags and 1 centrifugal on. Then with the 6.8's spool in the 7.5 reel, I was able to cast it, but with minor backlashing. I could cast it, but still it wasn't right. I stripped about 30 feet of line off and it calmed down. I used it a good while without incident. It did seem a bit more "loose" than the 7.5 normally does, but it was well within what my thumb can compensate for. I thought, surely being a little over full didn't cause that much of an issue, so I swapped the spools back. Immediately the 6.8 with it's original spool was back to backlashing and no control. I set there thinking about it. I started looking at the reels. The 6.8 has a tan interior of the main body that is covered by the spool and the 7.5 has a grey interior. Hmm, different batches? Different manufacturers? The bearings are visually different too. This got me to thinking, I wonder if someone put upgraded bearings in the 6.8. They are steel, shrouded bearings and look very close to what the other bearings do, just slighly different. Does what I describe sound like I ran into a reel with some super bearings in it? Why would changing spools, just 1 bearing, in other words, make any difference at all if it wasn't a bearing difference? I never had an issue with overfilling a spool before, and I cast them just fine normally like that. But I know it can cause backlashes, so I'm thinking it was the straw that broke the camel's back. Thoughts please. I continued fishing with the reels having swapped spools. I fished one a while, then changed them and fished the other. I had no further issues.

It'd sure make identifying found lures a lot easier, that's for sure.

I don't mind EVA, but I prefer cork. I prefer a reel seat that covers the blank unless the blank is pretty large in diameter. It's all about hand fatigue for me.

Interesting discussion.

The state of Kentucky has a trophy fish program. Once you catch 3 trophy fish of different species, they will award you "Master Angler". I have 2 fish that would have qualified for a trophy fish. 1 gar, and one bluegill. The trophy bluegill requirements is 10" or more. The one I measured was 11" and weighed 1 pound even. I didn't have a camera with me for the bluegill, and I didn't think about it for the gar, though I had everything needed and did get a picture.

Drop of oil on the bearings. Open the grease port and put a dab of grease on the gear. Occasionally, you should disassemble to oil the bearing that's under the drive gear. I'm not sure if all reels have a bearing there? The handful I've seen all do.

My first thought is that there is still some alcohol in them that has degraded the oil you used. How'd you dry them? Just air dry? Pop them in the oven on 150 for 30 minutes would make sure they were completely dry inside before oiling.

Thanks @BigAngus752. I use the chore bore method if I have to remove it manually. The easiest and best way is to shoot a load that doesn't lead behind the one that does. I had a full power load with an RCBS 38-150-SWC that shot clean and I'd use that to remove leading from any loads that did.

Not too hard. I take apart reels and guns. Hardest thing I ever put back together was an NAA mini revolver. I liked to never got that tiny spring back in. If I was close to you, I'd puttem back together for you.

The coldest I've fished in is 15 degrees, before the lake froze up. If it's in the 30s and sunny, I'm pretty happy fishing.

Leading in a GP100

@NorcalBassin That is awesome, thanks for sharing.

It's about 2 acres. I fish all the way around it. Just surprised that I haven't run into crappie, enough so that I doubt the neighbor.

The pond I fish by church is reported to have crappie. The neighbor insists there is crappie there. I've fished the pond for a year and a half, mostly with bass lures, but some with worms with my boy. I've never caught a crappie. Normally things like beetle spins, roostertails, and crankbaits will produce a crappie or two as bycatch. Honestly, I think there ain't no crappie in there. I think the gent is mistaken about what fish he thinks is crappie. What are my chances that after all this time I still wouldn't have caught a crappie as bycatch?

I like casting gear. Spinning is something I use for certain applications, but if there is any way possible, I will use casting gear for an application.

After fishing the Aird-X, I don't care for it. The lack of a reel seat below the reel is very uncomfortable to me. I will do one of 3 things: 1, deal with it, not sure on that, 2, sell it, 3, add a piece of handle there. Probably going to go with option 2, it's mighty uncomfortable to me and comfort in use is the highest on my priority list. Now I know though.

Thanks. I'm familiar with the hazards of lead and lead oxide, no worries there. I just don't know how to prevent it.

What can I do to keep lead weights from turning white, IE, getting lead oxide? I know, use them, but I want to stock up on more than a a dozen. I've had a bag of weights in my bag for a year that started to get white. How long can I store them in the house?

These were yesterday evening. Been building confidence with jerkbaits. I got these today in about 2 hours. Proud of these as it was cold air temperatures and windy. Hard fishing conditions.

Thanks @BradH.

I got a question. Lets say you have an inflatable PDF, and you fall out of your boat. It goes off. But you weren't in a situation that would cause you to stop fishing (an emergency), you are wet, but it's hot and you'll dry, so you want to continue fishing. Or perhaps you have a chance of clothes. How do you deal with having an inflated PDF now?

I looked on walmart's website and couldn't find the exact combo, or at least I couldn't be sure that the combo I saw was the correct one. I have looked at it several times in store though. I must be remembering wrong about it being a 7' rod, as this one is 6'6", but appears to be the right one. On sale too. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lew-s-Classic-Black-Speed-Spool-Baitcast-Reel-and-Fishing-Rod-Combo-6-Foot-6-Inch-1-Piece-Rod-Black/1702282856

Honestly, we're off track. I don't to get into BFS. I would be willing try a shallow spool. I am able already to cast size 5 shad raps with my setup, but it's not to the level of proficiency I want. I can't effectively roll cast them, or get the accuracy I want. I think my problem is that the rods I'm using are too heavy. I do not want to shy away from 8lb Big Game right now, for cost reasons as well as strength reasons. I am considering another rod, a 7' Lews combo from walmart. It's rated 1/8oz on the light end (I forget the heavy end), and it's obviously a ML when looking at it. It's about $70 with a cheaper Lews Reel, but it's on sale currently. I like the rod, but I don't see any reason the reel would not perform as well as the Abu Garcia Black Max I'm currently using for lighter stuff.

Sad to hear about your lack of fishing, glad to hear about your meeting a nice lady. I've learned a lot of new techniques this year. I learned the baby brush hog. Then I really got into flukes and mostly mastered them. Then I learned Rat-L-Traps, and I'm learning jerkbaits. I also started learning shaky head and drop shot. Not to mention, I had my first jig bite, and a 4 pounder on it to boot. Then I got a mess of small ones and got some confidence with it. Hoping this winter I don't get skunked for 2 months straight.