bgathletics6

Until the past year, I have never put much thought into the specifics of equipment required for technique specific fishing. My current go to rod/ reel combos are a Shimano 2500FX series rod/ reel combo and a BPS Pro Qualifier combo. My spinning rod is spooled with 10lb mono, and my baitcast reel is spooled with 17lb mono. I know my PQ rod is a fast action whereas my spinning rod is a moderate action. Now, I primarily fish Texas or wacky rigged plastics since they work great in the ponds I frequent. Heavy cover is not a big concern, but there are some areas with downed trees/ limbs/ etc. Question 1) Would I be better off switching to fluoro or braid for my baitcast setup if I stick to plastics? Question 2) Will fluro provide a significant advantage over mono for crank baits and lighter plastics on my spinner setup? If so, what test should I be looking at? Thanks!

Walked in my local Walmart to purchase ammo on Memorial Day and found this stuff on sale. I have mono lines ranging in test from 6-17lbs. I have never used braid, so I thought this may be a good time to test the waters. Any users out there with experience using this/ tips on it's success? I haven't spooled my reel yet, and I wanted to get some input. Thanks!

State Park ramp??? Bridge??? This sounds promising.

I recently moved to the area. Looking for easy-"ish" to get to places. I've been to the Liberty Park pond but haven't seen much action over there. I heard fishing at the Clarksville Marina was nice, but I don't have a boat so I'd be fishing from the bank. Do any of you know some good ponds/ offshoots of the Cumberland that offer good fishing? Thanks in advance for the help!

I recently re-spooled my reel. The first time I spooled it was the first time I had spooled a bait cast reel, so I assumed that the line accumulating mainly on one side of the reel was just due to an error on my part. Now that I have done the process a second time I have run across the same issue. The spool of line is not level across the reel and tends to favor the right side. More line on the right side, less line on the left. I'm curious to see what I can do to fix this or if it has no effect. Thanks again!

Currently my spinning reels and my one bait cast reel have Trilene XT. In this last Fishing Classic, I purchased a big spool of the BPS Excel. 1200 yds of 17lb for $8. If it lacks in quality then I won't mind to keep it on the shelf. I have read reviews about it's quality dropping over the years, but I went ahead and got it because of the price. I have used Trilene forever, but never tried Big Game. I think I'll stick with Trilene because I haven't had any issues with it yet. My spinning reels haven't been re-spooled for at least a year, and they're still casting and reeling in fish just fine. If I switch lines at all, I will likely go with fluorocarbon. I like that it still has a stretch factor while allowing lures like worms to sink naturally without the line floating.

Appreciate the advice. Tons of helpful members on here!

Will using mono for all my reels hurt my performance? I understand that braid and fluoro both have their benefits for specific styles of fishing, but don't think I can maximize their effectiveness. I fish in ponds, lake and river shores. I rarely fish from a boat and therefore do not get to difficult/ thick cover. I fish topwater cranks, shallow spinning baits, and texas/ wacky rigged plastics. Some ponds I fish have sparse grass, cat tails, and lily pads. Thanks to the recent BPS sales I got a cheap 1500yd spool of mono. I don't believe I will reap the benefits of fluoro and braid, but I am just waiting for someone to convince me otherwise.

I also purchased the JM Carbonlite and Pro Qualifier combo as my first bait cast setup. Actually got it at my local BPS for a whole lot cheaper than advertised online. BUT, that aside, I think it's a great setup. You'll find many people on here will recommend the reel. The bunches of information on this forum will help you better understand the reel and how to set it up. I have taken it out about 6 times since I purchased it Valentine's weekend and am extremely happy. Mine is a 7:1:1 ratio and can bring in line very fast. I'm used to my spinning reels and have caught many fish with them, but the speed and quality of the Pro Qualifier has me hooked. I'm already looking to buy another combo to use with different line/ lures. If you get it you won't be disappointed. I have read through almost every page of this thread. It helped me understand in detail the importance of rod choice as well. Hope it helps!

How do I know when the brakes are engaged? I currently have 2 switches in the position closest to the inside of the housing. the 4 remaining are pushed outwards.

Just joined the site and am already finding tons of useful information. I have been fishing since I was a kid but didn't start taking it seriously until about 2 years ago. I primarily fish a private pond on the in-laws' property. I have fished the Harpeth and Cumberland rivers and would like to get more involved in fishing rivers and lakes. I'm new to the Clarksville, TN area so I'd love to learn more about what fishing holes are around here! Glad to be here, and I look forward to learning from the site.

Thanks to a good ole search I found this gem of a post. I got one of these reels in a combo this past weekend and am also looking for help setting up the DBS. I have set the spool tension to allow the lure to fall slowly to the ground. I will fish primarily with crank baits and Power Baits. Is it good to start off with 2 brakes engaged or use the 4 as WIGuide suggests? Also, I have no clue how to get the side plate off this reel. Thanks!

For a <$100 option, I purchased a BPS Pro Qualifier reel/ JM carbonlite rod combo this past weekend at my local BPS. 7:1:1 ratio, medium/heavy fast action rod. My first bait cast combo, and it was easy to set up. I'm sure there are some qualified members here that can give you more detailed explanations, but this combo was affordable for me and looks to be a great setup.