IndianaFinesse

I only have a few casting reels, an old shimano bantam, and old gallion, a black max, and the new exceller. The rest for whatever reason don't seem to be that way. I figured out the rough spot when I took it completely apart later, there was some dirt or something on the spool shaft. So after cleaning that off, I spooled it up to seen how it worked. Now that it was clean and oiled, it was as smooth as silk and it turns out I never had to tighten the spool tension down enough to affect it much. It casts amazingly well, far longer than the bantam cu-200 or the black max. I can't fish with it yet because the lakes are iced over, but after I got it cleaned up it definitely feels like a great reel.

When I tighten the spool tension knob by the handle, it also makes it harder to turn the handle even when the reel is engaged. On the rest of my reels, the spool tension knob only effects free spool. Is that the way it always is with the exceller?

I just got my new daiwa axceller in the mail. The problem is when the reel handle is turned it feels like it hits a rough spot every turn or two. I tried taking it apart and oiling it, not completely taking it apart but part of it, but it every few turns it still feels rough for a quarter turn before going back to normal. Is this normal for the exceller, is there something that I can do to fix it, or did I just get a defect?

Well, I just got my exceller. It is less than smooth, every turn or two of the reel handle it hits a rough spot. I tried taking it apart and oiling it, and that helped a little, but it still has rough spots. Is this normal for the exceller?

Not if you get high quality split rings, then they can add up. Plus then you have to figure out how to put new split rings on, and the hooks on the split rings. So not only would that waste split rings, it would also mean putting both the hook and the eye on the split rings, instead of probably just having to put the hook on (unless your replacing the split rings anyway).

I've tried using o-rings, and didn't feel like they increased the durability enough to justify using them. I've also used plastic tubing, and that worked OK but my hooking ratio suffered. Then I tried shrink tubing, and haven't gone back. I can usually get eight to ten bass per senko using shrink tubing. For five inch senko's the 3/8 inch size fits perfectly.

You can do anything a baitcaster can with spinning gear. Casting gear is better for some things, spinning is better for others, and for some it's just personal preference. Pitching is easier done on casting gear, simply because they are more powerful and the line doesn't get tangled around the reel like it does when flipping or pitching with spinning gear.

I'm going to bet on the the winner of the packers/cowboys game are going to play against the patriots in the Superbowl. And the patriots (barring major injury's) are going to win it.

I have not recieved spoonplugging yet, it's not predicted to arrive for another week or two. Several extremely knowledgeable people on this forum and elsewhere have highly recommended it, and according to them it's not so much about spoonplugging (although it does discuss it, that's not necessarily the point) but more about how to find deep water, offshore bass. Such as what a sanctuary and contact points are, what they look like, etc. So yes, it is a book you could read and use the information with other techniques besides spoonplugs and the jump lures described in the book.

I didn't but it alone, I also purchased buck perry's spoonpligging from amazon in the same order. Plus i ordered enough centipedes to last me a year or two.

Not a sale, but a great deal. For some reason amazon has the zoom centipede for only $1.43, but only in the green pumpkin color. It's probably a mistake on their part, so if you want some grab them while you can.

My strength is probably finesse fishing with some type of small plastic on a small mushroom jighead. Usually i use half of a green pumpkin zinkerz on a 1/16 ounce mushroom head, but also a number of other plastics. I'm pretty decent with a frog to, which is about the opposite. One is using a medium lite rod to make shorter casts in weed free areas with a tiny piece of plastic tied onto eight pound line, the other often bombing frogs tied onto fifty pound braid long distances with a heavy powered rod into surface vegetation. Go figure.

I have that exact unit. I mostly use it for when I'm fishing out of a canoe, or ice fishing. It performs as expected, shows depth, cover, fish, the basics. Don't get it if you're looking for a really nice set up, but it works nicely for a portable finder.

Spooks, white buzzbaits, and inline spinners. And it sounds strange, but a white frog will sometimes be the ticket for bass that are up on the surface busting shad.

Packers looked great tonight... Going to be a good game next weekend versus the cowboys.

Good point, I guess I should be a little more willing to pay more for information than lures.

Well, I just ordered a copy of spoonplugging . Hopefully it's worth it, it sounds like it will be. Never paid that much for a book before.

Bummer . I really liked them, hopefully they don't change them except for the powerbait scent.

Does anyone know wether the havoc line of pit bosses are no longer being made, or is the powerbait version just another option?

Get a medium heavy fast action rod, around 7' long. A heavy has a more limited range of techniques. If you get another Abu Garcia rod, I would reccomend getting a rod that is one power lower than what you want, my medium heavy Abu Garcia vigilante fishes more like heavy, so it's almost sole use is frogging.

Are there any sites that have them for less than 20$? I looked at quite a few different places and couldn't find anything less than that, but it seems like there should be some more reasonably priced than $20.

What lures do you use the majority of the time for off shore bass?

Unless it has had major pollution, your fine. I eat fish that i catch about once a week, mostly white bass, crappie, and bluegills, and have known people who grew up eating fish four to five times a week and are still in good health. Most lakes and rivers have less harmful chemicals than the fish hatcheries that raise fish for the market, especially when comparing to Chinese tilapia. You don't want to know what they're fed.

Fight him for it.

You guys are really missing out on a great reel. My bantam cu-200 (the green one) is my favorite cranking reel, even though it's a little larger than some of the newer models. It's casting and smooth retrieve more than makes up for it.