Bazoo

My Abu Garcia Black Max rod is M/M. I can see that with it being moderate action, it has less backbone than if it had a fast action. I have a M/F Hank Parker 6'10" rod, and while it's a great rod, I don't understand what the benefits are of the fast action over the moderate action I've been using. I can tell a difference in casting, as the fast action doesn't cast the same. I wouldn't say it's harder, just different. Perhaps with less distance. Okay, I get that the Medium part is the power of the rod, which the amount of power to move a fish and power on a hookset. I get that the F part is how fast the tip moves back from a load. And I get that these are subjective to the maker's notions. Is there any reason why anyone would prefer a M/M rod? What is a M/M best suited for?

Thanks for yall's insight. I guess I forgot to mention, that I use mostly Zoom, and mostly 3-4 colors. Lots of green pumpkin and lots of watermelon red, some junebug. I'm leaning towards it kinda as something fun to do with my boy. Teach him the value of a dollar kind of think. But by the same token, I don't save cans, because after 10 years of savings I'll have $100, and it ain't worth the aggravation. So basically I'm at that stage with soft plastics.

I am thinking about making some soft plastics at some point. My question is, how valuable are the used soft plastics I'm throwing away now? In other words, how much money's worth is in each soft plastic? This is going to be compared to the expected pain in the butt for saving soft plastics for a few years before I get into it. If a few years will only amount to $10 worth of material, it may not be worth it vs the aggravation.

I wasn't aware of it either. Thanks. I don't watch tv, so I probably won't check it out for a while. Next time I go to a friends house I'll see if they'll put it on a while.

Happy Birthday Darlin' This year for your birthday I've decided not to give you a present, instead I'm going to take a few things away... I'm going to take away all your days of getting skunked, I'm going to take away your slack lines, I'm going to take away the doubt, about where big fish live, and finally, I'm going to take away the bait monkey's grasp on you. Happy Birthday Darlin'! Happy Birthday Tom

I didn't know what it was called until I looked it up, but I have been using the arbor knot. Should I always run that through the holes or should I just wrap the spool with it?

Most of the baitcasting reels I have seen have holes in the spool. How do you attach the line to these? I've always tied it to them with a slip knot. But is it acceptable to just stick the line through a couple holes and cross it over itself to hold it?

Howdy @D Stranahan I haven't tried those hooks yet myself. I mostly use offset worm hooks. Oddly enough, in Ozark trail hooks. I bought a pack for the boy to use, but turns out they are pretty good hooks. I mostly use Gamakatsu hooks when I don't use those.

I like Cabelas and BPS. I don't agree with some of their business decisions, but I love the store, the atmosphere, the selection of products, and some of their house brand items. Academy was mentioned, I also like Academy. Some of their tackle is very good.

I fish for bluegill occasionally. I have the best luck with a bobber about the size in diameter of 1"- 1 1/8", weighted if I need a bit more casting distance, no split shot, and about 8" to 12" of line between the hook and bobber. I use a #2 or #6 hook, depending on the size of the fish. I have had good luck hooking a red worm in the middle, through, and then hooking again just 1/4"-3/8" from the first entry point, so that both ends freely move. Normally if I thread the worm on the hook a bunch of times, I get picked clean.

You might could put the word out that you're a fishing tutor for new anglers (young and old). Take them out and share some secrets and get them really "hooked" on fishing. No money, just friendly fishing.

I have both a Cabelas and a BassPro that are about an hour away. They were built of course before the buyout. I haven't been to the BassPro yet, but the Cabelas is pretty nice. I went to a BassPro when I was in NC, and it appeared to be originally a Bass Pro.

I see Bass Pro has some ball bearing swivels. They appear to be about $3.5 for 5. I didn't pick any up when I was there, because I wanted to see if I could find some reviews on them first. Anyone try those?

Howdy and welcome.

I'm a beginning skipper. Jigs, flukes, and texas rigged lures so far have been successfully skipped. Jigs skip the best of things I've tried. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits are a no go.

That's awesome, congratulations! My nearest of either Cabelas or BPS is an hour away. I love to go in there and browse for an hour or two.

It's been so long since I tried them that I can't remember what they taste like.

I did buy some spro ball bearing swivels, and it has completely cured my line twist issues with roostertails.

I use pocket frogs some, and they hold up just fine until the legs get ripped off by bluegill. I have removed the legs and put skirt material in their place on one, but I haven't fished it like that enough to catch one.

A shad or a crawdad doesn't change color to camouflage in the water color. I mostly throw the colors I like regardless of water color. Now... sure, sometimes I'll pick a color based on water color or time of day. But I'm just as likely to throw a junebug fluke on a clear sky and clear water day, as I am on an overcast or dingy water day.

Howdy and welcome.

I use Big Game mono for almost all of my needs. I use 8, 10, and 12 pound tests on baitcasting rigs. It handles great.

I occasionally deadstick a cast while I help the boy with his rod, or with changing lures on a second rod. I end up gut hooking them if I get one like that though so I don't like doing it much.

Of my current reels it'd be a BPS Pro Qualifier 2. If it was any reel, it'd be the BPS Johnny Morris Platinum.