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My new pb, 5.35. Northern Wi fall bite is on!!

Senko got the big one of the outing right at 4 pounds. St Croix 7'6" Legend Elite, Daiwa RG-AB, 8# Nanobraid. Hit about 20 feet out just past a weedline in 2-3 fow.

I was plan to take the boat out to check the shallow creek to see if any big bass hide in there, but my wife got a honey-do-list for me. Chang of plan and I didn't have a lot of time, instead just went to the spot I caught those 5 bass a few days ago. Since I lost my black-blue, I tied Seibert Fogy chatterbait in green pumpkin with Zman diezel trailer. Caught total of 3 with the biggest around 4.5lbs. Video

My left handed Curado K finally arrived on Saturday while I was out fishing. Once I got home, I quickly opened it up and inspected it. Upon first holding it and spinning the handle, I was pretty impressed with the reel. I was bummed that it didn't arrive in time for my trip out on the boat on Saturday, but then my wife asked on Sunday if we could take the dog for a walk around the one local housing community pond. So this was my opportunity to get some on the water time with this reel. Here's my initial thoughts and first trip out impressions of the reel. Briefing: I've always had a soft spot for the Curado reels. My first baitcaster that my father and grandfather got me was an old green bantam Curado back in the mid 90's. I learned baitcasting on that reel and I still have that reel today and it still works just as well as it did back then. Since that time, I have owned (and some I still own) every model of the Curado that has come along. The model I got was the 201K-HG model. For those that aren't aware, this is the left handed model in a 7:1 ratio (31" IPT retrieve). I also have a standard model on pre-order (6:1 ratio, 26" IPT), but those haven't started shipping yet to my knowledge. Unboxing: These reels come in the standard Shimano boxing that we're all accustomed to. Upon taking the reel out, I was immediately impressed with the looks of the reel. The flat black look awesome on this reel, and it looks much more expensive than a $180 reel. The dark green spool and tension knob were a nice touch of the past. The one thing that struck me as odd was the coloring of the handle and drag star. They are a gunmetal silver color, and in certain lighting it looks more silver than gunmetal. With the coloring of this reel being so muted down, a shiny silver handle/drag star looks a little out of place. Shimano has black handles and drag stars on their other reels, so I'm not sure why they didn't stick to that on this model. Not to be confused with what I said earlier, this gunmetal silver in other lighting does look darker, so it's just a matter of what lighting you're in I suppose. Upon grabbing the handle, I immediately noticed that the knobs are bigger around that what I'm used to on my Chronarch's and Metanium's. They definitely beefed them up on this model. I'm not sure how I feel about these larger knobs, but I know some guys prefer a beefier knob, so I'm sure they'll appreciate this feature. Once I turned the handle, I was really shocked. This reel feels as sturdy and smooth as my Metanium MGL. Shimano has really dialed it in with the aluminum frame and micro module gearing because this thing is so fluid whenever you turn the handle. Comparing this reel to the previous I model, this K model feels light years better in basically every category. I'm not saying that the I series was a bad reel, but I feel like this model Curado is under priced with how refined it feels. On The Water: Prior to heading out, I spooled the reel up with 14lb. Gamma Polyflex copolymer line and mounted it on a St. Croix LTB 7'1" Medium powered rod with a fast action. My reel came with the internal brakes set to 2 on, 2 off, and the external dial set on 3 (adjustable from 1-6). I tied on a 3/16oz. swimbait jig head and attached a Rage Tail Menace grub on it for the sake of taking her out on her maiden voyage. So I left the on the stock brake settings from the factory and adjusted my tension knob until I had the desired fall rate that I wanted. Making the first cast, I was impressed with the reel. It was like the factory settings were made for my little swimbait presentation. I experienced no overruns during the cast and no backlashes upon splash down. Color me impressed considering I didn't adjust anything from the factory other than the spool tension. During the hour or so that I fished, I casted numerous different ways to see how the reel handled everything I threw at it. Side arm, overhead, back hand, roll cast, pitching. It handled everything with ease and no issues at all. I was able to pitch with ease and good distance, considering the presentation I was using was probably only around 5/16oz overall. My standard casting distance was on par with what I get out of my Chronarch's and Metanium's, so I was impressed with that. I backed my external dial knob down to 2.5 and got a few more feet on my casts. During the hour or so I fished, I managed to catch four fish and I lost two others. Everything in this pond is in the 9-12" range, so no monsters to really test out the drag, but big enough to bend the rod and feel a wiggle on the end of the line. The reel felt just as smooth retrieving my bait and reeling fish in as I thought it was when I pulled it out of the box at home. If you haven't fished a Shimano reel yet with the micro module gearing, you're missing out on a super smooth reel. I'm really impressed that Shimano has brought this technology down to the Curado lineup. Conclusion: So far, so good with this new K series Curado. I'm going to try to put as much time in with this reel as I can before we have ice here in Pennsylvania. I can't wait to receive my standard 6:1 reel either. From what I can see so far, Shimano has taken a big step in the right direction with the Curado lineup. I know people were very upset over the G series, but the I series was a vast improvement over the G, and now the K is a big improvement over the I series. Only time will tell, but I'd say that the Curado is back to being king of the $200 casting reel market. In my opinion, this K series feels better in the hands and performs better than all of the various Tatula models I've fished with. I know this was only my first outing with this reel, but I wanted to voice my opinion for everyone who is on the edge about this reel. I am going to put in more time with this reel and I will probably update this post or create a new one once I really break this reel in (just like I did with the Chronarch MGL). So stay tuned for more updates. If anyone has any questions, I'll try to help out the best I can.

Caught a good one yesterday from a local strip pit, of course didn't have my scale with me. Some weight guesses please..? Thanks in advance. (She was immediately released after video.)

Got ahold of a good one today on the Chattahoochee. 6lber, green and red seiberts jig

Buddy wanted a fish fry so I took him marsh fishing, we 20 caught in 4 hrs all the same size!

Hover over their name in a thread. A box will appear with their info. At the bottom of the box, click "Ignore user". Don't try it on my name. You can't block me.

I feel something on the end of my line . It is both a bass and a twig . Only after I set the hook does it actually become a bass or a twig .

The bite is still going strong here in upstate NY. Yes, that is a Chug Bug stuck to my jeans. And they're still hitting on top. Caught one with a gnarly scar. All fish caught had bellies like this.

Lefty Curado K's finally arrived!

Sitting here watching a little tv. How its made did a segment on braided line, thought it was interesting.

This is my girlfriend's son's brother-in-law. He just sent this pic to me of him and a nice 9.11lb bass he caught with a watermelon red flake brush hog on Lake Kincaid about 15-20 miles or so from where I live in Pineville. He was out night fishing with his uncle in his uncle's boat last weekend. I really need to get out in a boat and do some night fishing.

Not too graphic; just guys with shirts off. Bodybuilding...my other time consumer. Not sure who else is into it but i've been bb'ing since I was 14. Absolutely love it! There's the physical side and then there's the mental side of it; both very pleasurable to me. A few years ago, I had 3 surgeries in 2 years that set me back from my training. Well I healed up nice, got back on the horse and realized if I'm going to do a show, I better do it now while I'm in half-way decent shape. So at 48, I did my first show; now I'm hooked. I have another planned for April 14 2018, another that fall, then another the spring of 2019. Here's the vid for those who dare.... I'm 48 so usually there is a Master's class which is for competitors 40 and over. This show did not have a Master's class so I had to go into Open Novice and then a full Open class. The oldest competitor in each class was half my age. I placed 4th in both classes which I was very happy with, considering. The spring show will have a Master's class so I'm looking forward to that. Any other BB'ers out there?

Just wanted to share some pics and a good story from my yearly fishing trip in upstate Pennsylvania. I was up with my dad, brother, brother-in-law, and a friend. There were 3 new PB's set, all over 4 lbs. I am happy to report that one of those PB's was mine at 4.12lbs! Caught by swimming a topwater keitech soft body frog over a cove filled with Lilly pads. The blowup on this guy was awesome and ensuing fight did not disappoint. However, it was my brother-in-law's fish that took the title for "story of the week" tipping the scales at 5.04 lbs! Caught on a nose hooked 5 inch curly tail worm with a #8 baitholder trout hook. Gear used was a 5ft zebco trigger grip casting rod and spincast reel spooled with 6lb test mono (it was his first time ever bass fishing). It was getting towards the end of the night and he was just casting out 15-20ft from the boat to pass time until the rest of us were ready to call it quits. He was tired of getting snagged all day so he rigged the tiny hook because he thought it would catch less weeds. After casting for a few minutes and barely paying attention, he accidentally put his worm between a patch of Lilly pads and thought he got snagged until he realized the "snag" was pulling the boat. When I saw his rod thumping I dropped my gear to help him land this fish. While trying to make sure he kept tension on the rod and keeping him in position so the line wouldn't rub against the bottom of the boat (like I said, first time bass fishing), we were able to land his fish. Afterwards, I realized he had the drag on his zebco locked down as tight as it would go. Also, as it turns out, this was his first ever bass. Against all odds, we were able to get her in for a few quick pictures before releasing her back to be caught another day!

Can you be my uncle?? Pretty please???

It sure is pretty here in Pennsylvania this time of year...

Lol. He can block me, I'm mostly full of useless information

...after 10 posts and you've learned enough to block possible useful information. I prefer to "ignore" information I may disagree with. oe

Probably work pretty good for trolling, but going to be h**l trying to fish in the back of most coves when you want to cast.

Are you saying there are other reels out there besides Shimano? LOL

Sounds like my son, if you don't say what "he" wants to hear, he keeps keeps making arguments until he gets the response he wants. That's why, when he ask, I respond once and when he comes back with his comments, my next response is "what ever, it's yours, you can do what ever you want with it" As for my personal experience. Enough to know what I'm doing and able to do anything I want to do to one, as long as it's my own personal boat.

I don't tournament fish much. I have two 7" units on the front deck. One of them is primarily for Panoptix. And I have a 10" and a 5" on the console. About the only one I could do without is the 5" on the console. But I use it for mapping lakes that aren't mapped by any other source. SE Kansas grass grower

You are a smallmouth assassin. The Lindners, KVD, and Zona have nothing on you.

Mine: https://www.gamespot.com/images/1300-3173963 Done some changes, gave the PS4 Fat to my son ( he asked for it ) and got a slim instead, traded the X1 Fat for a slim, retired the GOW X360 for a X360E and retired the GC, got another modded Wii with a 1 TB HDD that has Wii and GC games ( plus NES, SNES and GBA games ).

I’ve been addicted to bodybuilding for two years now. It’s hard to put on serious size when I’m 6’2 and have a 16 year old metabolism, but I’m in the gym every spare minute I have and it’s become not only a hobby but almost a therapy for me as well. There’s nothing like getting off a long shift at Chicfila, putting on some music, shutting out the world, and smashing weights for an hour. Nothing too graphic ?

White bass were stacked thick. Dad got his new PB crappie of 13". Pic doesn't do it justice. The small crappies were a respectable 9-1/2"-10" We didn't keep any whites.

ML spinning rod and a full size Chug 'n Spook is way to heavy (1oz) for your spinning outfit. Change the rod to a MH 7' Mod/fast and line to 30 lb braid, no more missed hook sets. If you ever manage to hook a big bass your changes of controlling it on a ML spinning rod is very low. You could also use Chug 'n Spook Jr (1/2 oz) and change the line to 30 lb braid using your ML rod, still have a problem controlling a big bass. Tom PS, 4000 size reel that weighs 10oz you need to go with MH rod, use the ML rod with a 2000 size reel.

You can use the Internet to search for published white papers with references on each topic of interest. Tom

F=mA Where F = # of fish caught m = Money invested A = Angler Ability Just a little Newtown's Second Law pun there for those that are not physics savvy.

Wow, it took a few minutes to realize I was reading a 10 yr old thread. ........ Since we are here.....last week my wife and I we on my buddies range. I was taking a break, he was on the bow and the Mrs is peeing off the back. He hooked one near a log, hit the TM and my wife was pants down in the water! Almost ticked my pants. She failed to see the humor

I reel set most and if the line darts for the surface, try and time the jump with a firm pull turning the fish at the last minute. This means that I am not housing the fish in. This is one reason, I have gone to high speed reels........no slack especially when they charge the boat

It's a plus that it's in a no wake zone. Would be a bigger plus if the marina has floating piers. As far as stuff growing on the hull, it is what it is. People keep their boats in the water all the time. If you do keep it in the marina, will they supply shore power to keep the batteries charged? You'll want a mooring cover to keep the weather and bird crap out. You'll also want an automatic option for the bilge.

With top waters i dont set the hook. I reel down or feel the weight of the fish and just lean into them, By that i mean once i have contact i turn 90 degrees and let the rod load up to max and just start cranking like mad...

from "Horizontal- an old angle for big bass"- WRB.

As Deep stated "Spring up, Fall down" is the classic rule with bass. Spring the bass are moving up into the spawning cycles, Fall the bass are returning to deeper water, i.e.; the direction the bass are moving. You want to position your boat so it doesn't spook feeding bass so that depends where they are feeding and what they are feeding on. Points, nearly every boat angler approaches points from deep water, stops and casts to shallow water. Bass have a keen sense of detecting your presence using thier lateral line....they hear or feel your boat comming and stop feeding exiting to the safety of deeper water, usually swimming past you while you are casting where they were. It's better to approach the point like a bank angler nearer to shore and cast to the base of the point from as far way as you can cast. Keep working slowly towards the point while casting deeper and paralell to the points side. Work your way out deeper, then work your way around to the opposite side and back towards shore. You will cover every angle and determine by trial and error what the bass react to. Tom

I have one 10' Talon on my PT18. didn't want more wholes in my transom. went with the sandwich bracket.

Did some fishing early this morning and this afternoon. Within the first 30 mins of being there, throwing my black and blue 3/8oz chatter bait with a watermelon red flake super fluke trailer, I got a massive hit. Bam! Set the hook! Oh wow it's a big un! I was pulling and reeling and it didn't seem to put up any fight but the weight felt like 8lbs or better. Kept pulling and reeling and finally it surfaced and I was like "you've got to be kidding me!" It was a freakin' big turtle...lol! First turtle I've ever caught. I did catch a little dink later on. Things just haven't been working out the greatest for me lately.

Caught a bucketload of dinks walking the banks under the midday sun. Who needs neds lol? Mama, just killed a bass. RIP.

Much better week this week than last. The cooler nights are finally starting to get them moving a bit a seems. Not great, but much better. Had a couple nice ones and a bunch of solid fish.

The best tournament rules are those that level the playing field for anglers of all skill levels and that will get you the most participation. I've found that for a family fun tournament the fewer the rules the better. What you have are fine. Mike

Hello Patricia, long time listener but first time caller. Have done a ton of research on this site and finally decided to make an account. I pond hop around Charlotte currently but am strongly considering a move to a yak. Look forward to being more active around here!

Man thats a tough one. The mouth and head on that girl is huuuge. Then it looks a little skinny. My PB was 6.01 at 22". Was a stout fish. Not big and fat belly, just solid. Ill take a wild guess of 5.10.

Baby Rage Craw

My ritual of baits I toss on any given day searching for bass is, topwater popper rebel blue mepps #3 inline spinner silver blade gray tail rapala #f7 orginal floater blue manns classic spinnerbaits 1/4oz white or chartreuse manns baby 1 browncrawdad Strike King #3 inline spinner silver blade, black tail bomber FAT A crank, redapplecraw size 05 bomber FAT A crank, baby bass orange bottom Topnocker in chartreuse #25 color jointed rapala black gold panther marten spinfly rapala orginal floater black c-rig senko wacky rigged c-rig brushog split shot rigged black worm 6" add a bass scent. when I first started bass fishing we used live minnows that would show us exactly what's there at a new spot. You could try throwing small pieces of bread? my misses went to the gym were they had a drainage pond. She was feeding the ducks bread when she seen the fish eating it too. We went there and caught dinks, but as the years progressed the lastime there they were 3lbers. I have no clue how the little bass travel but there is a spring feeding the pond.

Ironic, I've been looking at these. One of these days I'm going to find a nice '36 Chief and write a check. They are few and far between.

If one way isn't working try the next. A lot of us get caught up casting at "targets" nothing wrong with that most times but other times we need to cast at something we can't see. Is it a gradual drop or a steep drop? If it's steep, casting parallel is probably the best option. If it's gradual, maybe uphill, maybe downhill, maybe move elsewhere. If you are in a boat and have electronics, you should be able to have some sense of where the breaks are at. You also should have some ability to determine wind and current. Fish with the wind. Fish with the current.

My new Lund. Very happy with it. Mercury 115 Pro XS Fourstroke and a fortrex 80 that move it along great. A couple HDS units coming next and a shallow water anchor. I haven't decided on talon or blade yet, any suggestions?

Poorly