NYWayfarer

I have the SLX DC and I do not have the issues you describe. I have the tension set so there is no side to side movement of the spool. Brakes set on “2” for monofilament. My reel is full of 10# Berkley Big Game. Literally no overrun or backlash casting a weightless 4” Senko on a 2/0 worm hook. It is truly the most trouble free baitcaster I have ever owned. The only backlashes I have experienced have been catching something on the backswing or when I have dabbled with the “1” setting on the brakes. I find the only thing I have been able to throw with the brakes on 1 is a 3/4 oz Kastmaster spoon. It was easily the farthest cast I have ever made with a baitcaster.

They must have sold out. All I see is the combos now as well.

St Croix has their customer appreciation day today 6/18/22 savings on a lot of stuff. I ordered a St Croix Reign, Medium Heavy Fast action casting rod in Bayside Blue color for $60 and free shipping.

I have a few scales. My current favorite is a Berkley scale with a lip gripper instead of a hook. Its water resistant. IMO a must in a scale designed to weigh fish.

Here is my take, Hook through the worm: Tears it up faster, worm goes flying when the fish shakes it’s head, the part of the hook in the worm means that much less penetrating surface area than other options. Worm sometimes “turns” and the body of the worm winds up in the hook gap. One O ring: Better penetration from the whole hook being exposed, Bluegill can pull the worm out of the ring if they grab the end and run. Worm lasts longer. Two crossed O rings with hook slid into the “X”: All the benefits of the one O ring plus, best way to keep from losing your worm to Bluegill.

I carry 2-4 rods when bank fishing. I can really get by with just 2 to cover light to heavy baits Medium light spinning combo’s Medium heavy baitcasting combo

I really thought it was a Hellgrammite bit in half. Might be piece of a damselflies upper body according to the chart of macro invertebrates linked above.

It floats. Specifically designed for Ned rigging, the Yamamoto 3” Ned Senko Floater offers the same legendary action that Yamamoto baits are known for but meticulously tuned to be the best Ned bait on the market. Made using a floating formula of plastic, the Yamamoto 3” Ned Senko Floater provides a subtle quivering action and ultra soft texture, just like the original Senko, but is able to float tail up when rigged on a jighead to entice wary fish into biting. The flat head and tapered tail also match up seamlessly with a wide selection of Ned jig heads to create a perfect streamlined Ned rig profile. Available in a range of Yamamoto’s custom colors that are unmatched by any other soft plastics, the Yamamoto 3” Ned Senko Floater will become your new go-to Ned rig

Another good Smallmouth this morning on the Storm Chug Bug. Match the hatch? Looks like the Smallies around here are eating Hellgrammites.

Tried two spots this morning. The pond was a bust. I had two blowups on a Scum Frog but failed to set the hook. Got to learn to wait a few seconds before setting that hook, especially with braid. I left the pond to hop over to the river. Bait of the day there was a 4” Green Pumpkin Stik-O rigged weightless. Casting upstream and letting the bait drift on slack line was the deal.

I went unintentionally frog fishing today. Set out to the local pond with a size 20 spinning reel on a medium light fast action rod with a 4” Senko tied wacky style on 8# mono. I had not been there since the Bass were on beds. To my surprise the pond was full of lily pads and vegetation that had grown to over 50% of the surface. Threw my lure in to the clear spots and caught 3 pickerel. I knew where the Bass were but didn’t want to commit to the vegetation with such light gear. I finally cast my Senko into the green stuff and started skirting the surface with it. Bam! LMB hit it and close to the clearing got him to shore easily. Started pitching again to the vegetation when a bigger Bass grabbed the worm and started digging deep into the weeds. I had to pull him and a mountain of salad through the pad with my poor medium light Bass X rod strained to its limit. I will be going back soon with a baitcaster Medium Heavy rod and 12# minimum line.

The Shimano SLX DC on a 7’ St Croix Bass X is my current favorite combo. I doubt you will regret getting this combo even if it is a bit more coin.

Almost the same with me. Anything 10 lb test and above is thrown on a bait caster. 8 lb test and less is on spinning. My exception is, My Abu Garcia Revo X baitcaster with a shallow spool I bought off of eBay. 8# big game on that. It’s been great for wacky worms, Whopper Plopper 60, and finesse t-rigs (1/0 worm hook 1/8oz bullet weight)

Always have a spinning combo with me. If the bass ain’t biting I am looking for Bluegill to beat the skunk. Also I have had backlashes that have ended my session when all I carried was one baitcaster combo. Never had that happen with spinning gear.

I carry a vacuum sealed bottle filled with cold water. Most of my fishing trips are 3 hours or less unless I am kayaking. Never felt the need for more.

In Brooklyn, NY some of the boys would have to visit that group of witnesses… Ballpeen hammers and kneecaps, you saw nuddin, understand capeesh? ???

My vote would be for a St Croix Victory the one they labeled “The Grunt” it’s all purpose casting

I have the same thought in this case. A fish taking a swipe at a lure and getting foul hooked is different from using a weighted treble to snag it. Luckily I am not obsessed with getting my name in a record book. I would have a picture of me with a huge Bass and the thought that I caught one over 20 pounds. Good enough for me.

My Pelican Premium Pioneer 100XR Kayak is 10 feet and weighs 43 pounds. It’s a sit in kayak and best of all it has a removable high backed chair in it.

For low cost, great casts, walk the dog versatility and good quality my vote goes to the Storm Chug Bug and the Berkley Bullet Pop 70

Bank fishing most times I carry 3 rods. Top water combo, something for fishing the middle column and a bottom fishing combo. I lean 2 against a tree or I have those rod holders you can stick in the dirt. It’s really not a big deal to carry them and it saves me time and line not having to cut and re-tie on different lures if I only had one rod.

My phone is in a Catalyst brand case. The model is the Influence and it has what they call the Crux system for attachments like a tether or a floatation device for your phone. I have both but use the tether the most while kayaking.

Purchased a 4 piece Shimano Convergeance Casting rod. Perfect for my upcoming Florida trip. Took it out this weekend to try and I was able to get small, medium and large fish on it. Nice rod for $80

After not catching one of these guys since 2020 I hooked into a Channel Cat over 3 pounds. Great surprise and a nice fight in the tight spot I caught him in.

It used to be the Revo X but they raised the price of that to $119 So IMO now it is the Abu Garcia Elite Max.