michang5

x2 on the PP S8S. I have a size 25 reel with 20# braid and 10# fluoro leader. And a Stradic 1000fi with 10# braid and 6# fluoro leader. Happy with both setups. I recommend the hi-viz S8S.

Thanks, everyone, for identifying the possible issues. After a failed attempt to clean and repair an old Sedona (which ruined it), I figured I would trust the professionals this time. Took it in to a local repair shop. The guy behind the counter (not the repair person) said it might be overage of grease binding things up or a slightly bent bail.* I should get it back in a few days to a week. Will report back. *Of course when the guy flipped the bail a few times it wasn't so bad. Definitely more noticeable yesterday when I was out yesterday in the 40-degree temp.

I recently purchased a used Stradic 1000FI. The retrieve and drag are unbelievably smooth, and I've been fortunate to catch some 3s and a 4 on it already. I'm very happy with it EXCEPT the bail is a bit sticky. Opening it is not a problem. Casting is not a problem. I always flip the bail by hand before the retrieve, but when I do so it only closes... say 4/5ths of the way. Applying a bit more pressure closes it completely. It seems a bit more sticky when it's cold out. I've wiped down the two joint/juncture points where the bail and spool "arms" meet with a damp cloth. I pumped a bit of compressed air in between. I've read suggestions to put a drop of reel oil and open/close the bail to work the oil in. I've read other suggestions that only a pro should try to fix the bail. Any thoughts? Thanks!

I recently got my 8YO daughter a Pflueger Trion spincast reel at Academy. I originally got the smallest size, but felt that didn't hold enough line for me to use in a pinch. So I exchanged it for the next size up. I believe it's the TRI6SCB: http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/pflueger-trion-6scb-freshwater-spincast-reel-convertible/pid-929343?N=273169065&Ntt=pflueger+spincast&Ntk=All I matched it with a 5'6" Medium Ugly Stik GX2 rod. It is a casting rod with a pistol grip. Model: USCAP561M http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=23122836 I spooled on 10lb braid with a 6lb fluoro leader (which is what I use on my finesse spinning setup). I tested it one afternoon, cast it well, and caught a few dinks. Good luck! **I tried to see if she could use my spinning setup (size 25 reel with 6'6" rod) and it was too heavy, off-balanced and complicated. YMMV.

I started bass fishing when I was 39. I'm 40 now. Can't get enough of it!

Update: Really no difference in terms of bowing/slack line between 10# and 20% braid. Length of leader between 8-14' didn't make much difference either. Got my first wind knots with the 10# braid when I snagged, jerked and snapped the line at the lure. Advantage: 20#. I was able to get a bit more casting distance with the 10# line, but that could have easily been the differences in rod and reel brands and reel size. But I'll say advantage: 10#. I brought in three good fish (3.5, 3.0, and 4.0) with no noticeable strain on the braid or 6# leader. So other than being able to spool more 10# on a size 10 reel, I don't think there is a strong reason to buy and carry both lines. I suspect I will only buy 20# braid moving forward and carry 6# and 10# fluoro for different leaders.

Thanks, everyone. I was able to put together my new setup today: new-to-me Stradic 1000FI with new St. Croix Premier 6'6". Spooled on 10# PowerPro Super 8 Slick (yellow) with a few yards of backing. As suggested, I started with a very long leader of 6# Invizx. I honestly couldn't tell if the bow was better or worse because I couldn't see the line. It was so thin! In addition, in the shallow water I was fishing I couldn't see the high-vis yellow sticking out of the water as I've been used to. I lost my bite detector. As I oftentimes rely on seeing the braid swim away or tick to know when I have a fish on, I had cut the leader back. It's still a few feet longer than I'm used to (about 14' vs. 8'). I had to leave, but I plan on testing this length of leader tomorrow. I'll report back on bow, bite detection and overall performance. P.S. The long leader of Invizx would flower off my spool if I wasn't careful. I tried to match the line direction and sprayed KVD L&L during spooling, but it didn't help. Obviously the L&L only had a short time to work, but again, I can't see how having a full size 10 spool of Invizx wouldn't be hard to manage.

Saw this on another thread and picked up a pack of small Parasite Clips: http://www.basspro.com/Parasite-Worm-Weight-Clips/product/93400/ I've tested with the equally fragile Zoom UV Speedworm, and the results were very positive. I fished a few new bank spots last weekend and twice got snagged on the backcast. In the past, the plastic would have been destroyed, but the clip protected the tip and top half of the worm perfectly. The texposed area still ripped, but a little superglue should fix it up. Eager to try it with a t-rigged senko next time.

Thanks, all. I'm going to pick up a spool of 10# braid and a spool of 6# Invizx. I should have some flexibility with these in the arsenal: 10# PP S8S braid 20# PP S8S braid 6# Invizx 10# Seaguar Red Label 15# Invizx (for baitcaster)

Thanks, J Francho. The thought had crossed my mind. My one experience with running a long length of fluoro was a disaster. It was purely a test, but I spooled on a cast length of 12# Invizx on top of some depleted braid. Even with liberal amounts of KVD L&L, the line just flowered off the size 25-30 spool. I know a bad test with too heavy fluoro should not color my opinion, but I'm still a bit worried that 6# or 8# fluoro (let's says Invizx again) would peel off the smaller size 10 reel I'm planning on getting.

FWIW.... A lot of people are adamant that senkos should be thrown weightless. I've only thrown them once weighted. Caught a dink, but in the BOW I was fishing, the dinks would have bitten a rubber band on a hook.

I have been using 20# PowerPro Super 8 Slick with my spinning setup. I do use a 10# fluoro leader with it. I've been throwing wacky Senkos and finesse worms lately and caught a PB 5.75 a few weeks ago. Needless to say, I've been very happy with it. The one bit of concern I have is that I typically have a fair amount of slack-line bow between me and the lure. I find that I'm reeling more often to minimize the bow and I'm worried that I may be overworking the plastic and/or missing bites. Would a downsize to 10# braid help? I can't figure out whether the thinner line would be more susceptible to wind, water and gravity, making the bow worse? Or vice versa? The other issue with switching would be the likely need to downsize my leader, too, increasing costs and gear. Those that have used both, is it worth switching? Thanks! P.S. I'm only wondering in relation to finesse tactics and wacky. I have a baitcaster to handle the heavier applications.

I'm looking to get a 6930 soon, so please post your thoughts on the reel. As for the braid and backing, I've played with different ratios of backing to braid on my Okuma reel (which has a tiny bit larger spool than the 6930). Found that 1/3 backing to 2/3 braid wasted the braid. 1/2 and 1/2 was better, especially if your casting heavier lures that can really get some distance. But recently, I've been throwing more finesse baits that don't travel as far, so I've got 2/3 backing to 1/3 braid. When I hurl my 5" senkos as far as I can, I've got about 25 yards of braid left on the spool. The rest is backing. And since I'm tying a 7' leader to my braid, one spool of PowerPro Super 8 Slick braid should last a really long time.

Ww2farmer is correct. I stood in Academy with a 1.0 and pack of #4s. "No way these are the right size." Matched them to a pack of #6 hooks. Much better.

I am bank fisherman and went straight braid for a couple of weeks. I liked the ease (no leader to tie; color braid with yellow marker and go). However an unexpected issue came up. I got snagged a few times and had to break off the line. Twice I left MANY MANY yards of braid floating in the water attached to the lure*. As a result, I had to buy another box of PP braid last week to respool. Breaking off 7-10' of Invizx is a much more economical proposition. *Weeks later I returned to one of the spots I broke off a length of braid. I cast and got hung up. I ended up bringing in a suspiciously familiar length of yellow braid with a Gama hook and purple Senko. Was able to salvage the hook.

I am also curious about the KVD 1.0 hook size. Fewer than a dozen casts and I got hung on a plant. Pulling it out resulted in one of the treble barbs shearing off.

I've rigged the 4" chartreuse one as a trailer for chatterbaits and swimjigs. Have had a small amount of success. Ordered two packs recently -- chartreuse and watermelon. Both 4". Any successful ideas on using the smaller size? Carolina rig? Small shakey head or bare jig hook? Or is the smallest size best suited for my trailer application?

Long-time Austinite here. Glad you freed yourself because no one was probably outside to call for help. Everyone was at Costco buying bottled water, sterno and fire logs in anticipation of Snow-mageddon 2013. We're a bunch of Toms-wearing wusses around here.

Shared this on another thread a few weeks back.

I'm sure here are heavier spinning setups and lighter baitcasting setups, but I'd check your total weight on the desired combo(s). My Tatula and *** Black 7'1" is quite a big heavier than my Okuma spinning reel and rod.

I caught this worm/leech recently.

x2, except I use Alberto knot to join my 20 and 12.

I ended up going for three hours around lunchtime. It was second time on this BOW. Pressure was over 30.43 the entire time. Caught seven dinks and one 2.5 pounder. At one point I swapped out the baby brush hog because I was tired of catching dinks. Nothing until I switched back. Caught the bigger fish on my last cast of the day. Despite the lack of size, I had a fun time!

It's been raining and cold in Central Texas for a week. Today is beautiful and sunny, but the air pressure is through the roof (30.48 and climbing). Would you go fishing today?

I'm very new to crankbaits, but the Luck-E-Strike RC2 Series 3 in tasty shad has been the only thing that has worked the last two weeks. It travels 1-2 feet deep. Question: If I'm fishing shallow grass beds and picking up small amounts of grass every other cast (usually not clumps), should I stick with the 1-2 footer? Or try one that goes 0-6 inches?