the reel ess

I remember when my daughter was little she would complain that my reel sprayed her with mist when I cast. I do so miss the little buddy phase. She's 21 now and about to be a senior in college. We're still buddies. We binge TV shows together. We occasionally hike, but I'm still a little less than 100% from surgery.

My mom died from ALS. It's horrible. I wouldn't wish that disease on my worst enemy. I traded a '66 Mustang in need of some TLC for cousin's 1986 fish & ski when I was about 36. I told the wife it was our family boat. I told my dad we would fish a lot since he no longer had a fishing boat. Well, turns out the wife wasn't really into fishing or boating. After a few years my dad told me he got tired too quickly for fishing. He was getting up in age and not really in good shape. That was a sad day for me. My daughter loved going with me when she was little and I could do no wrong. But that changed when she got a little older and got into girlie stuff. So there I was on the big lake competing with boats loaded with technology for 1-2 lb. bass. Fast forward a few years and I almost gave the boat away to be rid of it. Bought a kayak, then bought a nicer one, then sold it and simplified again. That's my niche. Small, a simple craft on small waters away from anyone else fishing. I've caught more and bigger bass and enjoyed myself more than I ever would have in a bass boat.

Perhaps it's the rod's fault, not the line. I use 15# Big Game for this and spinnerbaits. I use a MH/F rod. I don't even lean into it until I feel the fish. I've never felt I was losing fish due to the line. I also use a trailer hook. But I do use braid for a lot of other presentations and wouldn't hesitate for buzzbaits if for some reason I needed to. Honestly, I like the way the mono knot holds the wire tight.

I have all the things you do usually, except I usually use a T-rig instead of a jig.

I think it's the floating model. Looks like the word FLOATER is scratched off.

20# braid on spinning 30# braid for flipping/pitching 50# braid for frogs 12-15# Berkley Big Game on BC for trebles, spinner/buzzbaits-anywhere a little stretch and forgiveness is appreciated. 15# Big Game is very tough. I feel certain it's stronger than its rating. Braid lasts a very long time. I use a backing of cheap mono and buy smaller spools of braid. Big Game is so cheap you can afford to respool whenever you feel like it. I also keep a spool in my bag in case I birdnest the braid on my pitching combo-it has happened while on vacation. You can use braid twice. Reel it off on another reel, repeat, reel it back onto the first reel. You're now using the unused end. Good as new. You can also use a Sharpie to darken the line when it gets bleached out from use and the sun.

Megastrike Roland Martin Big Bass. I've had the same one, same skirt for 6 or more years. It has a head that swivels 180 degrees so bass can't leverage it as well, a thicker wire so it doesn't break and a closed eye tie. It also comes in golden shiner pattern, which is a must for me. https://www.megastrike.com/bigbassspinnerbait?scrollToProduct=big-bass-spinnerbait-golden-shiner-br-br

I've had several Trions and they've been fantastic reels. I found one unopened in a pawn shop for $18. But if you click the link, they only have a size 40, which I feel is a little too big. I know because I have one-it is a workhorse and will whoop a big bass with a MH/F rod. The President combo is a deal. Basically getting a combo at the retail price of the reel alone. If they had a 2 pc. MH 7' I might grab one for a travel rod.

5-6. As with my own fish, the camera steals a pound and a half. 🤣

I didn't like it either. I'm sure they work, but I can't throw it all day.

I don't even take my own advice on this one, but...fish at night in the dog days.

Comments I've read about them is they do get bites, but few hookups. Of course, you should probably bend up the hooks a little as you would with a frog. I like the hook placement better on this one.

I have yet to catch a fish on a frog or toad this year, not that I've fished a lot. But I went to my buddy's pond last Wednesday that usually has killer frog action and no dice. The lilies had not emerged yet.

I'll report back when I've used it. It's been raining every couple hours here since Thursday. We've gotten probably 8" or more in that time. I had to put a pump under the house in the low spot to keep water away from my gas water heater, a lesson I learned a few years ago.

I have a 6/0 but it's a belly weighted swimbait hook. I was considering melting the lead off it. LOL. I probably will go wit the exposed flipping hook for the first time and decide if I even like the bait before investing more than $10 in 3 hooks. Thanks all.