lecisnith

Metallica's "The Thing That Should Not Be" Or Rolling Stones "Paint it Black"

It's a well known fact that fishing is a direct cause of alcohol ingestion. Bassresource is simply trying to be responsible...

But can he invert his fret hand like Herman Li?

When I first bought mine and didn't know what I was doing I had a lot of backlash(first baitcaster). But after a lot of fondling the knobs and practicing it got better. Now it never backslashes.

In Williamsburg, which is about 15 minutes East of Traverse City and Grand Traverse Bay, there is Lake Skegemog, which connects with Elk Lake and Torch Lake via Torch River. The smallmouth fishing is usually very good, tons of standing timber, lay downs, submerged timber. There are a few spots that you can find largemouth that are good size, including a marsh area on the southeastern part of the lake that is killer for topwater fishing in the morning and evening. I've caught a lot of pike and, while not actively fishing for them, had three musky break me off. Most musky fishing is done in Elk Lake. And if you don't like that, GT Bay is right around the corner. Lots of crappie, too. Good crappie that will go after a 4.5" tube.

Michigan has two free fishing weekends. One Memorial day weekend, and another in January for ice fishing. Or steelhead, or whatever else you catch when it's butt cold outside.

edfitzvb, on 19 Feb 2015 - 05:26 AM, said: 2.) Tightening the drag and reeling against the drag while holding the spool to clear tangles works about 90% of the time, although in some cases you have to do it multiple times. A bad overrun could take 8-10 tries to completely clear No s***? That should make my life a little easier.

I use a black max combo. I can get an easy 35 yards on my cast, and thats with 20# mono rigged for topwater, quite a bit further with different lures and more weight. It is what I learned on, and it has caught me some nice fish.

I've often felt the same thing. I was especially concerned when I started using right handed baitcasters because my left arm is about as powerful as my five-year-old niece's. But I didn't seem to have too many issues with hookset ratios after the switch, may even have been better. I guess time will tell this year when I dig a little further into my repertoire...

Lakes in the Traverse City area for me. Skegemog, GT Bay, Lake Leelanau, Duck Lake, Green Lake. And I'm sure the spawn will take place from middle May through June, just like last year. I'm just happy that we'll be able to get in an extra month or so once the Natural Resources Committee announces the year-round catch and release season next month. On a side note, you posted in "Northeast" forum. I haven't figured out yet whether Michigan belongs in that or "central".

Right now gander mountain has an awesome deal on daiwa lexa gear. Reels for 70, rods for $50. I highly recommend checking it out.

Oh, I was bonkers long before that. Didn't help matters much. But I had five bucks in my pocket and got out of work early. Decided to go home and practice practice practice. I figured a higher test line would be best for the sinker getting snagged in the weeds in the vacant lot next to my house. This was before I knew much about things like memory, and line diameter affecting casting distance. Last year was a good learning year for me.

I learned on an Abu Garcia Blackmax2. I spooled it originally with flourocarbon, which I promptly had to cut out because I had NO IDEA what I was doing. Went and picked up a 300 yard spool of 25# south bend mono for three bucks and practiced in my back yard with a 1/2 ounce sinker, adjusting brakes and tension until I found my sweet spot. It took me a long time to figure out I had to rely on the rod for distance rather than trying to Nolan Ryan it out there. You will probably find that a sidearm cast is your best bet for a happy medium of accuracy, distance, and ease of movement. Overhead casts, I find, seem to have an odd release point and I end up trying to strong-arm it. You should be able to make an accurate cast up to 35-40 yards or more from sidearm without a whole lot of effort. And, finally, if you're having trouble with overhead casts, just stick to what works...

I would think about what you want to do with it. The lexa models have a higher gear ratio and IPT than the MG models available. If it were me I would grab the Lexa. The rods are on sale for half price, too along with e-gift cards for both. I just talked myself into the 6.4:1 Lexa and the lexa trigger grip 7'7" cranking rod. There goes another $120...

What do I need? Depends on who you ask. I'm looking for a cranking reel so the 5.4:1 would be great, but I'm also not picky about much. But if you asked my wife she would tell you I have enough..

Laser pro speed spool on sale at Cabela's for about half price ($70). Recommendations? Only in 7.1.1 gear ratio, which I've got already, but seems like too good of a deal to pass up.

Anyone use these for anything other than hollow body swimbaits? I've been messing with rigging them on senkos and solid nosed flipping tubes during snowmaggeddon. Seems like pearl senkos would be good and looks very natural on a 4.5" tube.

That's good to hear as I will be fishing swimbaits for the first time this year in very clear water. Tubes and spinners are my favorite to date, though. And jerks.

The way I got back into it was a $40 medium spinning combo, a couple of spinners and some plastic worms. Gander mountain even gives you free hooks with their plastics...

Do we win it or do we have to earn it? Because I'm willing to do a lot...

I understand capability, but confidence is my biggest issue.

My first baitcaster was an Abu Garcia black max2. Super cheap, but also super fun, effective, and durable. Of the 6 set-ups that I have used at any given time, that was probably used 75% of the time last season, catching 90% of my fish. From 1# crappie to 18# pike. Just because it's not expensive doesn't mean it won't perform and a $70 combo is not too much if you decide you don't like it.

I used the Palomar for everything the last two years. First time I tied a Trilene knot I had a 4-5 pound smallie untie it at the boat. Literally, first time I cast a lure with a Trilene knot. I've just been trying different knots during my breaks from watching the snow build up and seems like the clinch is about as strong as any and quicker and easier to tie.

Can get a few colors of bronzeye frogs for $6 at Gandermountain.com.

Standard is your knot but don't pull the tag through the new loop...