Bizzo

Sorry if I gave some erroneous info! I'm not sure what that was, magnetic brake or whatever, but I know the Cabelas guy showed me that when I was looking at Pflueger reels ( I went with the prodigy) and I was pretty sure that was what he meant. Hope all this helps ya guy!

I believe if you take off the side plate you will see about 6 or 8 little switches in there in a circle. They are the magnetic brake setting switches. I assume that they are all either pushed in or out right now, probably out. Pushing them all sets it to its highest level, so you basically have 6 or 8 different settings for this, depending on the number of switches. Hope this makes sense!

I think I may take that advice, I like simple! Thanks RW!

So I went out tonight for a few hours, 4 bites, 3 fish. All I did was a lighter hookset and also switched out the hook on all my topwater baits for Mustad/Gamakatsu hooks. Every bite got hooked and brought in except for one. I would have had that one but an improper knot and too much drag equals a lost lure and fish. :'( Anyway, got 2 good ones and one lil' guy, a good couple of hours!

Ok, so here is my plan. I am switching to 14# mono for topwater rigs. I have been setting the hook on the hit also, which I know now is a big reason I am not getting more fish. I also had a great reply in another thread about what to use from a guy who has fished exactly where I do. I also have 5 days off this week and weekend, so I will be sure to bring back a report of my success. Also, I don't know if I have a "fluke" but I do have these gulp brand split tail minnow things that seem to fit the bill. Should I just throw them into slack current and jig em in? Thanks all for the great tips, and keep em' coming!

Wow, thank you so much for the fantastic response! I have been fishing mainly behind my friends house (he lives 100 yds from the river) and walking up and down the bank. There is an island just upstream from him that splits the river that I want to try tonight. Any other suggestions? Oh, and what "pools" do you mean? Thank you again!

Thanks for the reply Taliesin, I also have a problem with getting plenty of bites, I use topwater so I see them, but few hookups. This is what made me think of using a trailer hook. Any thoughts?

So I went to my local Gander mtn today to get some stinger hooks because I am losing 6 out of seven fish when I am fishing smallies in the river. I was told by a guy that works there that my problem is using a very stiff action pole and power pro line. said I am probably ripping the hooksout of their mouths, not to mention that power pro supposedly doesnt let the lure perform with its true action like mono does. Does this sound right to you?

Tritz18, are you fishing in a lake or a river? I am wondering how to use plastic baits in the river I fish in, seems like it would be difficult in the current.

First of all, I caught my first smallie today! I was pretty stoked. I have been fishing for largemouth for years, but never for smallmouth, and I can say I am hooked. My fish was maybe a pound and a half, and it fought like a five pound largemouth. I did also want to ask a question, I heard that in front of structure like boulders is where active fish hang out and to cast baits like a buzzbait or what I have been using which is a torpedo frog looking thing with a propeller. I also heard that behind the structure where the current is slack is where to cast finesse baits like sinkos because these are the inactive fish. What do you think?

Thank you very much for the great reply RW!

The bait for catfish that works best for me is big suckers that have been sitting in the sun for about 2 days. I cut em in half and put them on a treble hook and the cats just go crazy. When I am using this bait I have usually been unable to fish 2 poles because the bites come so fast. I have also had some great luck lately with sonnys dip bait. It is IMO the best there is for dip bait.

I actually feel kinda dumb asking this, but I was wondering just exactly how you "read" a river to try and fish for smallies. Someone told me once about "holes" and "runs" but I am not sure I understand exactly what they meant. Can anyone provide some info? Specifically I have been fishing the Mississippi in southern MN. near the twin cities, Monticello MN to be exact. Any and all river fishing for smallie tips are welcomed! Where I fish there seems to be lots of small rapids and deep holes.

Very well put! Thank you all for the feedback. As I mentioned, I will be keeping this reel, but I think I am going to go for a shorter handled pole. The one I got with the reel has a very long handle below the reel that tends to get in my way a bit. I will get one that is long enough to two hand cast, but doesn't get in my way. Thanks again guys!

Thanks for all the replies guys!

Can I ask why you dont like spinning gear?

Hello all, I have been thinking about custom making my own rods and was just wondering if anyone had some good guides/advice/places to get quality parts. Also what kinds of parts I should use. I realize that this is pretty broad, and I am starting with zero experience. any advice is welcome!

Thanks for the feedback guys, I think I will keep the Cabelas reel, the "lifetime" guarantee and the cabelas store being 5 minutes from my house are 2 big resons. Plus, I do really like it. I havent been bass fishing in about 5 years, and havent casted a bait caster in at least as long. I went out to the yard with this and was dropping it wherever I wanted within ten minutes. Plus, my yard isnt big enough to cast this as far as I could. All in all it seems like a sweet reel for around 100$. Thanks again!

Thanks for the reply! I still wonder about the quality of Pflueger reels, anyone have any thoughts on those? I also noticed in reviews about the cabelas reel (after I bought it of course) that ppl are having problems with the gears going out. That worries me a bit.

Hello, I recently bought a cabelas prodigy bait casting reel (made by daiwa) and was wondering if anyone else had them and what they thought of them. I was choosing between this and a pflueger trion and wanted to get something that would last a long time. Both were highly recommended and both were right in my price range. Anyone had one for awhile that can give me some feedback? Or any thoughts pflueger or cabelas reels in general? Thanks!

Can I ask what makes it (powerpro) so good? Is it low vis? Thats what I like about Fireline Crystal.