Florida Cracker2

I don't use a scale, I just measure on a ruler sticker and go by length. Not accurate...but hey, it's my fish story.

Learn something new every day. I catch a lot of drum and sheapshead, but the saltwater variety.

I started out with medium gear and progressed to ultralite and super ultralight. Still have my punching/flipping gear, but ultralight is a ton of fun. I like to troll with my med. gear while casting my ultralight along the shoreline for panfish and the occasional bass.

I have a spinnfisher V 4500 on a Ugly Stik inshore select and it balances and feels great. It's $60.

I bought my father the president (smallest one) for his ultralite rod and it is a great little reel. Smooth as my NASCI and Spinfisher V for less money.

Penn Fierce (all metal) or President.

I have two inshore selects that have the foam grips...now they have the cork grips, they work well for saltwater. The Elite have much more selections.

I tried it again tonight and the bail needs to be raised about an 1/8 of an inch to get a proper line lay. There is no room for washers as the spool sits flat on the assembly.

I would love to catch a Peacock bass. They have them in Palm Beach which is due east of me. I would think if they thrive there, they would here.

It's good to go with a nice baitcaster reel. As for rods, I have cheap fiberglass noodles to high quality graphite and they all have their uses. I also have spinning reels from the 'coffee grinder' to the ultra smooth, but baitcasters you don't wan't to skimp on.

Seems like there was always one in the garage when I was growing up and its always worked. Pretty sure it's the working one I have now. Have it on an old fiberglass Garcia rod. The era before ceramic inserts and skirted spools. Also before rear drags, but that has come full circle to front drags again.

Year before last, my wife bought me an Ugly Stik Elite 6'6 rod and a NASCI 2500 for Christmas. At first I thought...oh no, wife bought me a fishing combo I had a couple other Ugly Stiks over the years and wasn't overly impressed with them, but I was surprised at the light weight and sensitivity of the Elite. And that NASCI is a very smooth reel. Last Friday I had some birthday money I hadn't spent so I went to BPS and purchased two more. A 7' M and a 7'ML. I had to inspect about 7 rods before I found two that were nice and straight, but for two rods for $100, you can't go wrong. I put the NASCI on the Med. and a Shakespeare Cant Twist 50/30 on the ML. Already 'got blood' on the ML with a small snook withing minutes of putting on the reel. Anyhow, if anyone is on a tight budget (like me), check them out.

Thanks for the reply. It must be the bail because I fill my spinners upside down with the filler spool on the floor and it filled nice and even. I might have to 'tweek it'. I thought a washer might solve the issue, but it builds up at the bottom instead of the top and the spool sits down on the spool assy. and can't go any lower unless I shave the bottom of it; which might be a solution.

Didn't consider putting a washer inside the spool assembly. I'll give that a go, if I have enough thread space.

I have 3 of these reels, two 300s and a 308. One of the 300s works well and I use it off and on. The other two were retired many years ago by the previous owner who gave them to my father some 20+ years ago, then given to me. I went through them removing the hardened grease, cleaning, getting the bails to work...etc. Even sanded, primed and repainted the 300 making it look new again. They both reel smooth and quiet, but has serious line-lay issues. Line spools on level, but after a dozen casts it cones up on me. It's not a simple fix with a washer on these reels. I compared the bail height with the good one and they appear to be the same. The 300 did have some slop on the slider pin, but the 308 has a planetary style of line leveling and has no sign of wear at all. Anyone have any ideas on a remedy?