redux

I replaced the spool bearings with full ceramics in all my Shimano 71s years ago. They normally are available on ebay, come direct from China, and are inexpensive. I had to learn to manage the speed on my casts and get good with feathering because it is easy to overpower your bait and wind can pull more line since the spool spins so easy. I think the best thing about them is that I can cast farther with less effort and can also go to weightless baits when I need to. They give me versatility without thinking about my rod/reel pairings.

I have the 7'2" ML casting rod for super light stuff. Yes, it is not the same as a spinning rod, but I don't like anything above 1/4 ounce on it and I usually don't throw anything over 3/16. No idea of this is helpful.

Pics of the Toho Gold Ring-a-ling, please.

I miss the big bags of baits and good line selection.

Looking at my beat up Bitter's hat. I miss that place.

LOL No worries. Just a quick scan of the shore looking for giant boat houses with 3 little hoohas on top. I think it took 30 seconds. Lucky I guess ?

I think it might be this place. https://goo.gl/maps/iyWte35XF5YMuXdB8?coh=178571&entry=tt

The Millenia Lake Walking Trail by the Mall at Millenia had some big fish 10 years ago. https://goo.gl/maps/tUmvhPKLkKVwJWrMA?coh=178571&entry=tt

He's in the Classic and that's a good thing. ?‍♀️

He'll be alright no matter what he does. Just sad to see BASS stumble.

BASS knew about Cox fishing this event at the beginning of the season and should have made a ruling then. Leaving it til after he fishes the event and letting it create division amongst the anglers is poor leadership. I think he should be disquailified per the rules, but BASS dropped the ball letting it get to this point.

The bearings you need to think about for casting are the bearings that the spool axle ride on. Figure out the size of those, order full ceramics off ebay, and replace the stock bearings. They won't fix a dumpster fire, but they will do wonders for any mid-range reel and up. Ceramics are super light and they take very little energy to get them going so you can use really light baits. They also don't rust so you can run them bone dry which helps because they grease/oil isn't fighting the bearing's momentum. Thay also sound cool like glass packs in a '93 Mustang.

I've found that a weightless jerk shad works too. Especially when you see schooling bass going crazy on top water.

I'll take my 7'3"heavy Falcon low rider with a Shimano 71 XF and upgraded full ceramic bearings.

FG for sure. It is small and strong. Kind of a pain to learn, but it is worth the time. I use 40# PP braid on most of my baitcasters with flouro leaders anywhere from 15# to 25#. I have a few with 60# and sometimes tie on a 25# leader, but usually just run straight braid on those. My spin rods are 15# and 20# braid and I use 15# Yo-Zuri Hybrid or 15# flouro. The knot is completely solid. Some of my rods have a rod-length leader while others have double that. A few have 30+ yard leaders because of the baits I am throwing. One thing to remember is the flouro can hinge a bit at the base of the flouro where it meets the braid. If you run that line for awhile it can get weak and break just after the knot.