BassinLou

Tourney special. I still have a few those. When I starting getting serious with bass fishing i started with those. I use them now for loaners. You will to when your time comes.

Diggy, that was a nice description and explanation imho.

Congrats, enjoy this time fishing

If that is the outfit you really want, I would get the 6.4:1 ratio. I find that ratio is just right especially if this reel is going to be a multi- use reel. As far as the rod, I have the exact rod and I really enjoy it.

Absolutely. The rain cools of the water and bass in my experience perk up a little bit more. Don't you feel a little revitalized after cooling your self off with cool water after being in the heat for a while? I think the bass react the same way imho.

Ipeeinmywetsuit looks like you have work cut for you. Here is my 2 cents worth. I recently purchased a Lews Tournament MG. I went MG because I am used to magnetic braking reels. My abu Sx handles the same way, great reel. This new Lews reel handled great as well.If I am not mistaken they also carry this model left handed. I personally think its great your branching out and experiencing different reels. I do the same thing. That is what led me to the Lews reel. I also have Abu's, Shimano's and Quantums. They have all treated me well and I have caught a lot of nice fish on each of these reels. Continue doing your homework and you will end up with reel that will suit you.

The heat has been brutal. I fished in the everglades on Saturday left the house at 7:30am my weight was 192, came back at home at 8pm weight 187. I took cooler with 20lbs of ice on the trip, I personally drank 6 - 20oz gatorade's 2- softdrinks, 1 liter of water, and still when I got home I had to put down at least another 20oz of water and was wiped out all of Sunday. Was it worth it.... Heck Yeah! the fishing was awesome. All kidding aside, proper clothing and hydration is critical this time of year.

X3 on the Avid, premier is nice I have a couple, however the Avid is much better.

Since your on a budget, you can use mono for texas rigging and straight braid for froggin. If you can stretch your budget a little bit more get some FC or better yet and it will be cheaper for you, get the yozuri hybrid line. I have recently been trying that line out for my leaders and I have had success.

I use 50# PP, with a 7'4" H St. Croix rage. You need to use strong rod with backbone because as you will soon find out you will be put in a situation that a bass will decide to hit in a heavily thick area of pads, branches, or grass and if your not properly prepared you will lose.

St Croix Avid

I cannot vouch for the reel, however I can for the rod. I actually enjoy this rod. I have two of them. One on a spinner and one on a BC. If something happens to the rod during the first year BPS will replace it no questions asked. I should know, a baby gator bit the tip off one of them.

I use mono as a leader for jerkbaits and soft jerkbaits like flukes. I feel that the mono gives the bait more fluidity and not has stiff has braid or fc on same application. Everything else I use fc or braid.

When I was young kid my father was going to cast his jerk bait and he didn't notice I walked up behind him. The jerkbait hooked itself right into my cheek. Needless to say, I have been hooked ever since.

Frog bite is the best. Shane congrats on the show can't wait to see it on Monday night.

I have been following this forum for a while now and the Lews discussions have always caught my attention. I enjoy and own several brands. I have Abu, Shimano and Quantum reels and now Lews. I ordered a 6.4:1 however what I was sent was a 5.4:1. I decided to give that ratio a try and if I didn't like it I can always return it. I went fishing yesterday and my experience was the following: I am definitely returning the reel for my original choice of 6.4: 1. Removing the ratios out of the equation, I was impressed with this reel. There is another post on this forum relating to lubricating this reel out of the box, I found that right out of the box the reel was great. This reel is lightweight, smooth, casts very well once you adjust it properly, and for the price it is a great piece of hardware IMHO. I have it paired with 7 ft MH St. Croix Avid. I have feeling once I get the model I originally wanted, this outfit will be one of my favorite ones for years to come.

Hi folks, I have not shared much in a little while however this may be useful for some of you. My brother-in-law and I went fishing on the alley yesterday and focused our attention to the miami canal. Yes, reports are great at MM41, however, I have found that if MM41 is producing so are other areas along the alley. We had a blast, that area has not produced for us this year so far until yesterday. We boated 32 bass, majority of fish were 2 - 3.5lbs and had countless misses. The best part is that it was all top water. Frogs mostly, 2- 3.5lbs fish may not sound like weight for some of you, but on a frog bite it is awesome. Boat traffic was non existent. After 10 am we were the only ones in that entire stretch of canal for almost the entire day. The one key point I will share is that the fish were relating to cover. Looks like I have been writing too much, guess that's what happens when you haven't posted in a while LOL. Hope this info helps some of you.

Beautiful fish, great job on the catch and the release.

Thank you for the replies.

Hi folks, I have an older white and gold shimano stradic 2500 FH that needs some work done. Can anyone recommend me a reliable repair person in the Miami/South Broward area? Your help will be appreciated.

Thanks for the stories, keep them coming.

Braid, may seem expensive, however a spool of it will last you for quite some time. Braid outlasts mono.

I swear Big O are sure you are not fishing close to a nuclear reactor or something?? LOL. My goodness, all you catch is 10lb +. For giggles show us that you also catch something small. Or don't you?? LOL. great job, keep the pics coming.

Nice fish Piscicidal. I was going to Lox yesterday myself and my brother in law talked me out of it because of weather. Still kicking myself in the butt for listening to him. Weather was overcast but no rain til nightfall. Again, Nice fish.

St. Croix Rage series falls at the high end of your range.