Preytorien

What model of craw trailers do you suggest I use in concurrence with the brush jig (3/8oz)?

My wife ordered me the Seibert Stocking Stuffer pack for Christmas. Talk about nice! I'm used to using the $2-3 jigs at whatever local big box store is near me, and I've done well in the past. But these jigs are a significant difference. It's too cold and frozen for me to be out today, but if the quality that these are made with are any indication of their effectiveness, I'll be likely setting my PB this year with these jigs. Thanks Seibert!

That piece goes on the underside/back of the reel. It holds the shaft that the gears slide on in place and keeps it from sliding out the back of the reel when you crank. I don't have a schematic for yours either, but there is a little screw that will hold it in place. It can't install backwards (that I know of). But it's actually quite important to have installed or you might get dicey results when you're cranking the handle.

I agree with this. Sufix 832 has proven to me to be the best I've used. Among Sufix 832, Power Pro, and Spiderwire, the Sufix 832 has been very good, and the best I've used. Great line. As in all braids I've used, the end of them typically start to fade, the color washes out, so like someone stated above I usually sharpie the last rod length on mine too.

Perfect guys, thanks for the help! I'll use both bits of wisdom this coming year.

I've had some good sucess with catching bass underneath docks in the midday summer sun. But one thing I've never thought to determine was how deep under the docks they'll suspend. I feel if I could understand it better, might sucess might be more common. Is there a specific depth they'll be at? Or just right underneath? Or the bottom? Anyone have experience knowing where in the water column they'll suspend under docks?

Two things really..... 1. Bought and learned how to use a baitcasting setup. I went with a friend who gave me a great 5-minute lesson on how to use one, and I was hooked. I've been very pleased with my results since. 2. Started learning the senko. I'm sure I have more to learn, but this year I was introduced to it by my best friend and he showed me the ropes. I've had some great luck with it. I'm excited to have it in my arsenal for next year.

I admit I catch myself comparing myself to other anglers I may fish with. But I've tried to steer myself away from that mentality, like Mitch, I see it as "me versus the fish" rather than any certain angler. Concerning methods, this may be a high standard, but I think out of your list it's a good one to set. It's like continuing education or certification for work. More is better. I think the more techniques you can learn and master (to the best of your knowledge), the more success and general achievement you'll have in fishing. Now, don't get me wrong, learning new things can be obsessive, just watch me trying to learn to pitch a jig off my porch while there's snow on the ground! But in general, this is a good "high standard" to set. Fishing equipment.....this is probably the vice of most of us on here. We know that better equipment GENERALLY means more reliability and performance. So it's probably the thing I obsess over the most and set high standards. Thankfully, the good Lord knows my penchant for overspending on this stuff, so He set my salary at work the best amount to keep me in check! So far it's done well, I have some great equipment that does a great job and is reliable and backed with great warranty and customer service....what more could I ask for

Excellent! I have a Seibert stocking stuffer pack underneath the tree, and I'm looking forward to using them this year. Great pics! I can only hope I have just as much to show for it as you! Great job!

Just got one of these in a gift exchange, it sure is odd looking, but then again so are many of our baits! Ha! Can't wait to try it out!

Yea I think I like the swept handle. Do I order 2120 and 2121 for the Core as well or order the Curado E versions? If I've not mentioned it, thanks so much for the help thus far.

With so many people saying they prefer a left-hand reel, I wonder why there are so many more offerings from manufacturers for right-hand reels? Not complaining, my favorite reel is left handed, but just in browsing, it seems like there are so many more right-hand reels. I've also noticed a lot of resellers only list their right-hand reels as the ones on sale when they have deep discounts/door busters/whatever, the left-hand models are regular price. Weird.....either way, my reels are all the orientation I prefer. So I'm good

That is a great looking Curado. I might just do that. Thanks so much! Which Core model has the star I need? Any of them?

Me! Your fellow hoosier (although I'm a Purdue boy m'self). I love my Sahara. It's been butter smooth since the day I got it. Mine's paired to a Clarus 6'8" M-Xfast rod. Its my go-to finesse rig. But I agree, for the price you're paying, the quality and performance are outstanding. A couple of my buddies have been converts to the Sahara after they've seen how simple and maintenance free mine has been over the past 2 years. I have the exact model reviewed in this video, the 2500FD, which one do you have? What's your rod setup?

Maybe this is a question that's come up before, but I did a search and didn't find what I was looking for. I have a new Curado 201G7 series baitcaster, and I'd like to upgrade the drag star on it from the plastic one to a better one, whether that be aluminum, carbon, whatever. First off, I see one on eBay, but the thing is around $60! I only paid $120 for this reel, I hardly think I'm going to pay half the price of this reel for an anodized srag star. Is there one cheaper? Secondly, will the drag star from another Shimano model fit the Curado? That'd probably be the easiest way to go if it's possible, and probably cheaper than aftermarket prices. Any help on the subject would be great. Thanks guys

I've wondered that for some time. I'm not really sure the answer, but I know for me, a right-handed person, I like a lefthand reel. I think it's because I like the feel of the rod in my right hand, which needs to have more power, which my right arm seems to be more powerful than my left. Add to that the fact that I don't have to switch hands or anything after I've made my cast.....all things you've pointed out. I dunno.....just a guess. Haha. I just like lefthand reels better for my own personal use. I'm sure we'll see some interesting answers, which I'm curious about because I've often wondered the same thing.

In sports, many athletes have pre-game rituals. Wayne Gretzky would put his pads on in a certain order, Wade Boggs ate chicken, the list goes on. What pre-fishing outing rituals or superstitions do you have? I don't know if mine is more common sense or ritual, but I pretty much can't throw a lure in the water until I've first reseated the line on my baitcasters (at least once, many times twice). And concerning superstition I have this one baseball cap.....and darned if I get skunked every time I leave the house without it!

While cleaning one of my BPS reels this week, I noticed a part in it that was broken, part of the brakes. I called BPS Rod and Reel to order the replacement, which probably would've been pretty inexpensive. To my surprise, I immediately got through to an actual AMERICAN person, a friendly lady who knew exactly what part I was talking about. She said that those parts come from their manufacturer already installed on the spool, and to take one off of the spool would make it unsellable to another person in need of it. Without question or anything she took my address and said an entirely new spool is headed my way, free of charge, I'll get it in 7-10 business days. I was shocked, I'm sure I sounded that way to her as well, she kind of chuckled when I asked if she was sure and I didn't mind paying for the parts. That in my opinion is great customer service! I have some Shimano gear under the tree, and I hear their customer service is pretty good too on warranty items. I've heard St. Croix also has great service. I like to hear success stories.......anyone else have any great customer service stories?

I just recently cleaned all of my reels with the advice from Francho and Rippin Lips (thanks guys) Those babies run better than they ever have. I have to say I was a bit daunted at first, but since it's snowy and miserable here in Central IN for the time being, it gave me a chance to do the job. It was quite a bit of fun to tear it down (carefully), keep things sorted, and see just exactly how my reels work and the subtle differences between models and manufacturers. It kind of takes you to the next level with your passion for the sport. Try it, you'll be hooked when you do!

Those Carbonlite rods are amazing rods. I have one that i use with the Carbonlite baitcaster. Man is that rod sensitive!

Yes! I did..... Got a new Shimano Curado (7.1:1) + Shimano Crucial combo (6'8" MH-Xfast) We'll be on top of ice for quite a while more here in Indiana, so I'm itching to get out there and rock and roll with this baby!

The search tool is great, and really knocks down the sheer massive volume of topics to wade through to find an answer. I've more than once found it to be generally helpful. But lately I see people replying to posts and saying "just search it." Not to cause problems, but that's a pretty useless reply. I have done these searches people talk about, and the bigger this wonderful site gets, the more its like looking for a needle in a haystack when you do a forum search. Sometimes the searches result in exactly what you're looking for, but many times, especially for broad topics, you'll still have to wade through massive amounts of information hoping one topic will contain the information you're looking for. Consider the fact that at the time I type this there are 22,532 topics, with 234,135 replies in the "Rods, Reels, Line and Knots" category alone. Typing in "Braid Line" results in 14 pages of topics with enormous numbers of replies. Some of those conversations have over 100 replies. That starts putting your percentage of finding the answer to your specific question about Braid Line below 1% when you "just search it." So you can see where "just searching" becomes a whole lot more time consuming and far less accurate than just typing in a question and getting answers. Besides, I never have a probem with re-answering questions here, that's what the forum is for. Google is for searching....

I'm planning a day-long getaway with a couple buddies of mine in the middle of spring. We're heading to Lake Webster here in Indiana. Along with what I hear is decent bass fishing in the summer, it's also a hotspot here locally for muskie in the fall, from what I hear it's some of the best non-northern states' muskie fishing around anywhere! Knowing that, should I tip my line with a wire leader, for the "just in case" scenario? I'll be fishing for bass, with bass lures and such, but I've heard plenty say a muskie will hit larger cranks and topwaters. Would it be possible to play and land a pretty good sized muskie using bass tackle? Knowing I'll be pitching into pads and such, I'll probably spool with 65lb braid. I presume the braid could handle it, but what about the rod/reel?