the reel ess

It's good for Rat-L-Traps too. You can use thee same rod/reel for it. Heavy mono, like 17# is fine for pitching too.

Daiwa's reel quality is insane. I just finally had to retire a 1983 Procaster Magforce. And I fish a good bit. It was still my go-to reel. And they send replacement parts free, no questions, no delivery charge.

I' still throw a frog on this slop.

I went to Cabela's looking for a decent spinning reel and bought the Pfleuger Trion. I've been fishing with it since late winter. It has whipped a couple over 5#. It's smooth and well-balanced. The drag is smooth as butter and it doesn't seem to twist much, if any. I use 17# braid on it. I feel like it's the exact same reel as the next one up the line without the lightweight parts. For $40 I've been very impressed. I will have another when I wear out another BPS reel. I bought the 40 size. I think I'd recommend the 30 for all around bass fishing.

And I would recommend buying one with a metal frame. That probably means you'll be in the $80 range, undiscounted. But it will last longer and give better service. I know someone will come along and disagree with me. But that has been my experience.

And pay attention to BPS around Christmas. They'll start discounting them about $20 to clear out this year's model making room for next year's.

Watch out for the bull

I was always a T-rig and C-rig and crankbait guy when I was fishing barren lakes. Occasionally, I'd use a topwater or spinnerbait. I started fishing a weedy, mossy reservoir and I had to go to weightless stuff. Trick worm, fluke, spinnerbaits, wacky rig, floating minnow, topwaters, etc. It's a lot different, but still fun.

I am too. One of the quantum leaps for my fishing was going to Gama from the el cheapo brands and Eagle Claw. The other was learning to trust braid on my spin combos. I've caught a lot of fish that I didn't get a good hookset on since then. But everybody has a pain threshold when it comes to fishing expenses. I can pay $3 for 6 quality hooks. I can't pay $8 for 2 hooks.

I can't tell from your description what the actual problem is. If your problem is the cast control won't tighten enough, in the cast control knob, there can be a brass button that is what you are screwing down against the spool to make tension. If your reel is this type, you can take the brass button out and flip it. If it's this type, the button is held in by a C clip. I ordered a replacement once to discover the button could be reversed and use the other side. Hope this is helpful.

BPS Pro Qualifier comes to mind.

Yes, you'll get more bites from a smaller lure of any kind. But even though you downsized, it's still a niche thing. They don't hit a Spook every time out. I tried it last time out thinking conditions were just right for it. Post spawn, big bass roaming, nothing. Try it, but if you get no takers, don't be afraid of the buzzbait, PopR or just go straight to a spinnerbait. They need to be chasing actively to go after a Spook. You may still get a straggler though.

Welcome, my friend from big bass paradise. I have a little dream of retiring to FL and bass fishing my golden years away.

Start near ramp. Lots of good fish there and not enough bait to go around..

Thanks, man. Well, I started to take it apart. I've replaced one on a Daiwa twice. I had the idea I would look to see if it could be turned 180 degrees. And it was LOOSE. I tightened it and oiled the worm gear. Now I can't make it catch. I'll give it a good workout next time out. This rounds out the 5 basic bass fishing combos for me...2 spinning and 3 BC.

That is much different. You can't put back a buck (or even a squirrell for that matter) once you've taken it. You can catch that trophy bass, photograph, release, repeat. Repeatedly. And it can still die of old age and achieve legendary status. That's a beautiful thing.

Anybody else have one of these? I picked it up cheap, used of course. What can you tell me? What's the retrieve ratio? There seems to be no info available online for it. It's a graphite or composite frame reel and has a "flipping switch" on it. I emailed PureFishing.com requesting a part but haven't heard back from them yet (if ever).The levelwind guide that rides on the worm gear seems to be worn and it occasionally stays to one side for a few cranks. If I can fix that free, I have a good little reel.

It would be a sin to not go get your personal best knowing it's there for the taking. You don't have to take them. Heck, I'll go if you feel guilty.

It does sometimes seem like fishing gets better as soon as you get the stink of one fish on you or get the skunk off, so to speak.

That fish ate my personal best!

My wife keeps the house stocked with Target's Method Anti-B liquid soap. It seems to do the trick. I'm not joking. I'll go outside and spray with SPF 1million and come inside and wash hands.

The easiest topwater for me is the Rebel Pop R. Pretty simple. Just pop-pop-rest. repeat. It's also the most effective for me. The Torpedo works the same. I would assume the Hula Popper is similar. But you rarely get bite on any topwater in the middle of the day when the sun is up. It's pretty much confined to an hour at sunrise and one at sunset, unless it's overcast or raining all day or if youc atch bass chasing shad at the surface. Now the frog, like a Spro or Snag Proof, can get more daylight bites in a weedy pond. But not usually just out in the open away from weeds or pads.

I only have one: In-Fisherman's Largemouth Bass Fundamentals. I've read it several times. But it never has really helped me. The reason is it's not fundamentals. It's way more than I need to know. I really don't need to discuss ice-out to catch southern fertile reservoir bass.

Grouper, snapper, sea bass. Meaty fish. I got to go on a long weekend to FL as a work retreat once. I ate grouper every lunch and dinner for 4 days.

Hey, if the pond is nice enough, the house could be worked on.