bassin is addicting

one of the most if not thee most exciting ways to fish!! but it can be hard not to react too soon... like others have said...wait...feel some weight.... then let her have it.. one other thing... you didn't say what frog you were using... some are definitely better/softer than others and have a better hook up ratio.

i thought the "magic color" was sexy shad??? right place...right time....right lure. sure does give you confidence though...and to me thats 75% if not more of it..

i use it on all my lines. can def tell a difference on the Yo Zuri ultra soft and on the McCoy. i use it on spinnerbait skirts and on my frog legs/skirts too. keeps them nice and fresh

Bomber Fat Free Shad.. i had my luck in Crawfish color Jr size dives to 14ft full size dives to 18ft we were fishing a lake where the level was up about 12ft over normal stage. i was able to get down to some grass/weeds and some good success. i was using 8lb McCoy line and was able to get down further than my boater who was using Strike King 6XD with 12lb mono. p.s. i also hooked a 12lb flat head catfish that same day on the FF Shad. i thought i had hooked a monser bass... LOL!!

i've used it for 3 years now on all my spinning reels. i can definitely tell a difference. i spray it on as i spool and then again the night before. and depending how long a drive i have... i'll spray it on before i leave the house. now that i've picked up a BC and have it spooled with 12lb Big Game...i use it on there too

thanks for the advice "new"... i'm still in the "getting dialed" stage..for sure that is probably good advice on the lure weight suggestion. and i probably need to tighten my tensioner a little.....was getting too brave trying to do some flipping and then made an overhead cast without remembering i had loosened it....mistake. i am getting the beginnings of an overrun when i go to making the long casts like you mentioned. i'll try the stationary approach some and see how my learning curve goes. i appreciate your help...

yea.. i use KVD line conditioner.. it really works well... i've got a tournament this sunday with a practice day saturday... i'm plannin' on workin' on my BC saturday from the back of the boat... seein' how it goes.

great method... works really well and it does give it a natural action.. i've been using 1/0 or 2/0 Gammie wide gap finesse hooks too

thanks... for answer... i'll be in "practice mode" for a while i think... a little frustrating... but i'm determined to get there...

what i mean on the drag is afterwards...when done fishing for the day... i always loosen my drag on my spinning reels.... should i do the same on a BC?

thanks for the input. funny you say "it took a lot of line" i got a little cocky today when practicing...loosened the tension more than i should have..and my thumb was a little slow.. got a birds nest that caused me to cut most of the line off the spool lol glad i got the 1/4lb spool of line. i think i'll stick to 3 brakes on for now. and just adjust the tension as i change what i throw.. good idea? also... what about the drag? loosen it like i have been with my spinning gear?

well, after many years of using, and being comfortable with, spinning gear. i finally got my first BC set up. i went with a Citica 200e, Compre med/fast (now may be kicking myself for not getting a MH?) and have it spooled with 12lb big game. been out a couple times to practice... just have a 1/2oz weight tied on. haven't even thrown a lure yet. trying to get "dialed in". started with 4 brakes on (now at 3 on) and the spool tension so it slowly dropped when released. been practicing casts as well as flippin'. needless to say i've had my share of birds nests...still learnin' the thumb thing.. the 2nd time out was much better. found it easier to flip with less spool tension..but gotta be better with the thumb.. lol.. a couple questions.... how many brakes to use is "normal"? also should i assume that spool tension should be backed off for easier flippin'? do you change the spool tension for different type/weight of baits? like if i flip with a 3/8ox bait then decide to throw a lighter weight crankbait..do i mess with the spool tension? am i on the right track? also, i have always loosened my drag on my spinning reels after each trip. is it best to do the same on a BC? sorry for the long post... tryin to pick the brains of you experienced BC guys. thanks for any insight...

4/0 EWG works best for me

so far.. 7" power worm in Camo Bomber fat free shad Jr 1/2oz in Crawfish Zoom ultra vibe speed craw rigged on a keel weighted hook in Green pumpkin magic

will JJ's chartruese dye dark colors? like green pumpkin, watermelon...or even black? i've got the clear JJ's and really like it.. i picked up some Spike-It chartruese only because it was on sale at Dick's and am not impressed. i guess it does fine on white but not much else... and who uses white plastics much?? just wondering if JJ's works on the colors most used.... i would like to tip some of my trailers in chartruese....

i don't really... "set the hook" either.... feel the weight and keep reeling.. i think the Rick Clunn thing about not watching it... is pretty good advice.. that way you don't overreact... just feel the weight and keep the pressure on... kind of like a spinnerbait IMHO

i was directed by guys here to get the same reel...Citica E as my first baitcaster. i picked one up on EBay NIB for $90 shipped. should be here any day... there are some on there now for $99 shipped. everyone seemed to agree that the Citica was the way to go... and the reviews i read on TW and BassPro were awesome.. i'm gettin' a Compre off TW by the end of the week... i'm holding out hoping for a Memorial Day sale. even if it doesn't include Shimano....i'm sure i'll be getting other stuff...

Try it with a keel weighted hook! X2 had a great day yesterday with just that set up.. keel weighted 3/0 EWG. i didn't have any 2/0 with me... but the 3/0 worked fine.. bouncin' it on bottom and then swimming it back..

if its any help... i asked about the same question... which BC to get for my first one... and was pointed toward the Citica... after research i took the advice from here... i just bought a new one on EBay last night for $90. i can't wait for it to get here and start....learning.... good luck...

since i've been strictly using spinning gear i've been very limited to any flippin or pitchin.. now that i'm getting ready to get my first BC setup... what do you like/use the most? i'm thinkin... brush hog or baby brush hog?, mad paca or baby version? what else?? thanks...

since you are fishing from the bank... i would recommend starting out with a variety of texas rigged weightless (or 1/8 oz weight)plastics jmho these are very weedless and you can throw in to some pretty nasty stuff and not get hung up when i do most my fishing from the bank i use my spinner set up and work soft plactics mainly. i still can throw smaller spinnerbaits with good results too. i find jigs and crankbaits are tough to throw without getting hung up from the bank... then you have no way of getting them. if there are a lot of weeds...try a top water weedless frog... a scum frog is pretty cheap to start out... just remember to wait 3-4 seconds after the blow-up to set the hook. there are no dumb questions..... and you will get a good variety of answers here...a bunch of great guys.. good luck

thanks for all the good advice.. so here's what i'm doing.. goin' with a Citica bidding now on EBay for one. if i don't get it i will get one of the "buy it now" ones and hoping TW has a sale for memorial day before i place order for the Compre. even if Shimano isn't included in sale...i know i will pick up some line for my new set up and other "bait monkey" items that will be on sale.. thanks for all the great ideas/feedback can't wait to learn how to throw a BC. i'm so ingrained in my spinning gear. it will be a learning curve, i'm sure.

i don't do the $6 lattes... that's the price of a decent crankbait.. i've found a couple Citica's on EBAY for around $100 right now...who knows what they'll end up goin for. is there that much difference between the 2 reels for a newbee baitcaster? should i be leary of buying on EBAY?

has anyone heard?? don't they usually have a sale for Memorial Day??

here's what i think i've decided.. help me if i'm wrong.. with the Compre on sale at TW for $80 and i've read good reviews here and on TW about the Caenan... i think this set up is what i'm going with for my venture into BC.. and since i have a $100 gift card from TW,i can get this set up for $70.. how can i go wrong or do better?? i'm going to hold off until for a couple days to see if anyone thinks i can do better... i appreciate all input... thanks..