offsidewing

I'm not sure if I should be comforted or concerned that there are lots of people with better 'bait monkey self-control' than me!

The Stella is going on a St Croix LTB. Should match up nicely.

After a little research I was all set on buying a Stradic FK reel from one of my favorite JDM sites to round out my bass fishing gear. As I logged onto the site, a voice kept whispering a name in the most convincing voice "Stella... Stella... Stella..." Initially I resisted the urge, but the voice led my wandering hands to click on the Stella image. "Stradic" I said out loud while my right index finger added a 2014 Stella C2500HGS to my cart. Often times I'll talk myself out of the 25 pack of hooks and settle on the 10 pack, I can be cheap sometimes - but there was no such cash saving impulse. As I glanced at the Stella in my cart, I did not hesitate to click "Pay with Paypal." The was no rationalization as I clicked the "Pay Now" button. Oddly, there was no regret or remorse when I received the "You just sent an obscene amount of money for a fishing reel to XXXXXX" email from Paypal. All I feel now is excitement. A special kind of excitement that I will in no way whatsoever share with my wife. I bought a Stella and it's in an airplane on it's way to me right now.

When fishing with a live craw, I put a rubber band around the tail and slip the hook under the rubber band. The craw acts more natural that way. Still, i prefer artificial lures.

Fat Ika. Green w/ Black Flake.

It's also worth noting that in the 80s, everyone in my school district got a Zebco 22 rod/reel combo in the 4th Grade.

I've never had much success bass fishing with any crank baits deeper than 4'. Jointed minnows and jitterbug are about the only Crankbaits I mess with.

Know what you need. Buy what you can afford.

Hello all, I've been doing some research and can't find the answer. I like the new Stradic FK 1000 sized reels for bass fishing light tubes, jigs, senkos, etc. The 1000 is the perfect balance of weight and line capacity. However, if memory serves me correctly, when Shimano rolled out the Stradic Ci4+ the 1000 sized reels didn't have the same drag mechanism that the larger sized reels. Does anyone know if this is the case with the FK reels? Thanks.

Hang in there with the Wacky Rig, bud. Here's a fish I caught on my 8th or 9th cast EVER with a Wacky Rig...

Ok, so I've gone through the Senko FAQ and couldn't find the exact answer I was looking for, so... I have been T-rigging Senkos weightless the past couple years. I bought the O'Wacky Tool from Cabela's this spring to give Wacky Rigging a try during the summer. The rings that came with the tool are great for 4" and 5" Senkos. However, I had my best luck as far as size and volume of fish on the 6" Senkos rigged Wacky weightless. The problem being the O-rings that come with the tool are tight and eventually tear into the 6" senkos after about 8-10 casts. The include rings are great for the 4 and 5" Senkos, but are too tight to accommodate for the girth of the 6" Senko. Does anyone know of the right size O-ring (that can be bought at a hardware store or online) that would be snug on a 6" senko but not tear into them? One thing to consider is I am on "Team Perpendicular" meaning I put the hook through the side of the senko. I have developed a way of using the O-ring and Octo hook to reliably use a wacky rigged senko on a couple fish. However, I just learned about the Wacky Saddle form the Senko FAQ, I am assuming the Large saddles would work best for 6 inch Senkos, but wanted someone who actually uses the saddle to confirm before I purchase some. Thanks everyone!

Bass fishing in Maine is great! Just got back from a 2 week trip in SW Maine. Caught highest volume of fish on a Gitzit brown craw Tube Jig, but caught big ones on a Wacky rigged senko and drop shot a shad shaped worm - both in Green Pumpkin w/ Black Flake. For me Senkos and Fat Ikas for 0-10' of water and Tube Jigs with 1/4 jig head for deeper water. Cast the tube jig out there and bounce it off the bottom. Caught 90% smallies between the 4 of us but when the largemouth did bite, they were good sized.

This Gen-Xer always gets a kick out of the boomers blaming electronics for kids not doing stuff. My grandparents blamed my parents "decline" on rock music. My parents blamed MTV and Madonna for destroying America in the 80s. My father introduced me to lots of things as a kid, fishing is one that stuck with me. Without the evil electronics so many people blame for America's failing youth, I'd still be slinging a Zebco 33 and throwing Crankbaits at pre-spawn locations in August. I'd be wondering why a jitterbug didn't catch fish in the middle of Lake Erie. I'd never be able to research lakes and ponds for my next fishing trip. I'd have to rely on the almost non-existent old-timers who are willing to tell me their Hotspot, techniques, and other secrets to catch fish. I'd probably be saying "I don't need none of the fancy foreign bait casters!" Getting kids to go outside and do stuff is not the electronics responsibility nor is it their fault. The sustained growth of any hobby rests on introducing it to "new" people at any age. Take the politically - opposed coworker fishing and show him how fishing just isn't rubes in cut-off denim shorts and Metallica shirts hot boxing Marlboros while bank beating. Take the DINK Yuppie neighbor and show him how much tech and learned knowledge go into the sport. Make one fishing trip a month all about your kids - don't even take gear for you (or your cell phone). Do those things and our favorite hobby/sport/passion will never decline. And much thanks to anyone sharing fishing with those who haven't tried.

I have the Avid X in both 7' MF and 7' MHF in casting rods. The 7' MF gets most of the work: Wacky rigging senkos 5" and up, 4" tube jigs, Fat Ikas, jerkbaits, just about any lure combo from 3/8 to 1/2 oz. The MHF rod only gets used when I feel compelled to use 1/2 ounce football jigs and trailers in 20+ feet of water. Any lute/bait under 3/8 oz is on spinning gear for me. Last week I wrestled in a 4 lb smallie with the 7' MF using 12# Fluro in a brisk wind. At no point did the rod feel under powered from hook set to capture.

I still prefer the Met, but the BB1 Pro is a fine reel at it's price point.

I had a Lew's BB1 Pro that I sold to fund a Shimano Metanium DC. I didn't realize how good the BB1 Pro was until I owned a Shimano.

it was a lazy afternoon on the lake so I asked my bored teenaged son if he wanted to go kill an hour fishing a rock line off a nearby island. He got a couple 1 lb smallmouth off senkos and I decided to try out the drop shot rig. Haven't had any success with it all summer, but I decided to try and get the hang of it today. Well, on the famous "last cast, then will go in" line, I hooked this old girl. Didn't have a scale in the boat but she was a TANK. And yes, this was my first fish on a drop shot. Was using a 6'8" MXF St Croix LTB, Plueger Supreme XT spinning reel, 6# Yo-Zuri Hybrid, a 1/0 Octupus hook, 3/16 oz pencil weight, and a Yamamoto 4" Shad worm in Green Pumpkin w/ Black Flake.

Spinning - 6'8" MXF St Croix LTB w/ Plunger Supreme XT 30 size Casting - 7' MF St Croix Avid X with Shimano Metanium XG

I fish 5" senkos, Fat Ika, and 3/8 oz jigs with Shimano Metanium reel and Avid X 7' MF Rod. If I had to do it on a budget, cabelas tournament ZX worm rod and Lews Speed Spool Tournament or Shimano Curado I 200HG at half the price.

I live with the daily guilt of losing my 13 year old son's (at least) 5 lb smallie at the boat last year because I tied a bad knot. It was the biggest smallmouth I've seen in person. It rolled and took off under the boat as I was reaching down to get it. We watched as the bent rod slowly straightened as the knot untied. All that was left when he reeled in the line was a gnarled pigtail. I watched a million youtube videos that night on how to tie knots. I feel better in my knot tying skill now, but if a device like that works, it would be a nice compliment to a tackle box.