NYWayfarer

No surprise. The RT Menace flat out works. Companies have to find a way to get in on that success. Heck, even after they chew off the tails Bass still bite them. http://

I want to thank you for this post. I do a lot of sidearm casting as it has always been easier for me. This weekend I followed these directions for overhand casting and really noticed a difference.

Lew’s TP1 Black Speed Stick model # TP1B69MLFS it’s a 6’9” medium light/fast Rod. The TP1 Black line of rods have become my favorites. Light, sensitive, good looking rods with the Winn grips.

I used this shipment as a test run for two reasons. One to see what Irod is like. So far I like it, seems pretty nice. Second to see what Midway’s shipping was like. Big fail on that one. Shipping was free and fast but the container stinks. If the rod came in a decent tube I would have ordered the clearance Irod Genesis II. No chance of that now.

How was your shipping experience? My rod arrived in a very bent tube...

Makes sense now. My answer to reel flex would be to say get an aluminum framed reel which is what I thought he had. Big Smallies will put a hurting on even the best gear. They fight like demons.

Thought I would start this thread for those of us who have had bad shipping experiences. This week I was almost two for two in this category. First, I ordered another Lew’s Hank Parker casting rod from Walmart. It arrived in a square cardboard box no padding inside. The tip was protected by a piece of cardboard stapled in two places. The cardboard protected the top quarter of the rod. Upon removing the cardboard I inspected the rod everything was fine except the tips insert was missing. I searched the box and didn’t find it. It leads me to believe the rod was damaged before shipping. I am convinced this is true since when I went in store to return it the rod scanned at $9 I paid around $40 for the rod with tax. The only reason it would ring up for $9 is if it was in the clearance isle. Second, while I was at work today my shipment from MidwayUSA arrived. I ordered a Irod Fiber clearance rod for $60. My son was home and brought the rod in when it arrived and sent me this pic. http:// You can imagine my reaction. I asked him to open it as by the grace of God if it wasn’t broken it was bent and I didn’t want it to stay that way for the 5 hours it would take for me to get home and open it. He was able to open it an extract the rod which was intact. When I arrived at home I inspected it and luckily there is no damage. It was bubble wrapped on both ends and covered in a plastic wrap. I give Irod credit for durability to withstand this treatment. The cardboard tube while better than Walmart’s cardboard box was not up to the rigors of shipping. Going to send them a pic for QA purposes. Feel free to,share your own nightmares here and vent. It’s been a frustrating week for me and mail order fishing items.

When I think spinning gear I think finesse. Things like Drop shot and Ned rig for Bass. Nothing where you need to cover water quickly or burn fish out of cover. So no, the gear ratio on a spinning reel doesn’t mean much to me.

If you want your OCD to truly flair up the Ned was half a Z-Man Zinker and not a TRD. ?

Fish structure they say. This Smallmouth took me on a joyride over and under this log before I was able to land him. Fantastic fight that really got my blood pumping.

I have a Quantum Code bought years ago. It is the last of my Quantum reels. The rest have not withstood the test of time. Most of the reels I had were on the cheaper end of their catalog. Like the Optix.

Flexing on an aluminum framed spinning reel? The Fuego has the Hardbodyz aluminum frame Daiwa makes. I have an old Daiwa Capricorn made with the same aluminum.

I have the Lew's Custom Pro Speed Spin in the 3000 size. It's a great reel, aluminum frame, Winn grip knob, smooth and bulletproof just a bit heavy. Wish I would have gotten the 2000 size. Can't go wrong with this reel it looks and performs fantastic. However, I recommend the Lew's Speed Spin reel for $59.99 it's become my favorite spinning reel in a short time. It's as smooth as the Custom Pro but being made of graphite its lighter (and cheaper) The handle is my favorite part. It's one where you reel backwards to tighten it. Lots of other Lew's spinning reels come with handles that tighten with a knob on the opposite side. I find these to come loose at the worse times and constantly need re-tightening.

I have studied the action of this rig while using it. I find the bait falls away from me. When using the screw in mushroom weight it has a shimmy on the fall. The bait stands straight up on semi-slack line and hops nicely when the rod is twitched. I feel the strike 99% of the time. Yesterday was the first time I did not detect the strike. I thought I was snagged and yanked hard and a Bass came flying out of the water!

I use a screw in 1/8 oz mushroom head weight and a 1/0 straight shank worm hook from Zoneloc. They call this variation of the Ned the Tiny Child Rig. It's as weedless as it gets. I have had very few issues with getting caught on anything with it. It's basically an upside down T-Rig. http://

I did not switch. It’s on my Pro TI. I have a 600 yard spool which is going to last awhile.

I had the same experience. I even tried Reel Snot and Lew’s line conditioner. Nothing tamed the 10# hybrid.

I bought the Lew's baitcasting reel grease. I use it on both my baitcasters and spinning gear.

Always, but the Plopper bite has dried up over the last few days. Last time I caught a fish on the Plopper was July 1st

Thanks for the tip. I am still on the search for the perfect spinning rod for my Lew’s Speed Spin Father’s Day gift. I pulled the trigger on the Irod Fiber finesse 7’ Medium spinning rod. Couldn’t pass it up for $62, down from $100 I have no experience with Irod products but it got good reviews and the specs are right what I am looking for.

Problems with the Ned, try the tiny child rig. My river has a rocky snaggy bottom. Since I switched to the TCR I have lost way fewer lures and my hookups stay the same. The rig is a TRD with a weight at the bottom and a Neko or 1/0 straight shank worm hook rigged weedless. http:// The Rebel lures are great for fishing. I second the recommendation. Rebel Wee Craw http:// Rebel Hellgrammite http://

The Smallmouth were biting everything today. Caught them on in-line spinners, Rebel Craw and Hellgrammite, tiny child rig and Yum Dingers. This one was the best today. As I was reeling it in there was one double it’s size following it. Got a great release vid of him as well.

Started manually closing my bail at the turn of the century. I heard it saves the bail spring.

Crazy. ”Hello little buddy” at this point I thought, start the scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail with the white rabbit. Whopper Plopper hooks are laser sharp. After getting hooked once, luckily not past the barb I bought some wire cutter fishing shears from BPS. Now I have a ritual for unhooking fish caught with the WP. First I secure them with fish grippers then I unhook. Don’t care if I lose the fish whilet securing them with the grippers it’s not worth the pain of getting hooked with the alternative method.

My friend lives in Orlando Florida. We often schedule what we call “Fishing together but apart days” basically fishing at the same time but in different states. We take pics and send them to each other. He often has to leave early because of the oppressive heat and humidity. Today was one of those days. The high here today was 88 degrees and the humidity of the last few days was gone. It was nice here.