NYWayfarer

Topwater bite has been great this 4th of July weekend. The Rebel Pop-R with VMC hybrid hooks was putting in overtime. When I noticed Sunfish taking swipes at it I switched to a Storm Hopper Popper and caught them and a Smallmouth.

I’m caught that as well. His Lew’s reel has dual brakes.

I imagine it went something like this: KVD: “I want to be hands on with developing my Lew’s reel and I want it to be a certain inches per turn for crankbaits.” PDT (project development team) “Ok Kevin” *Goes to catalog and takes one part from column A and one from column B to make the reel Kevin requested.

Lew’s Mach Crush combo. 30# Kastking Superpower braid.

My son used a Superman spincast combo from Walmart at that age. The first couple of times we went I let him cast the plastic fish shaped plug it came with. When I caught a fish on my combo I let him reel it in.

All that’s a available is the 7’MH/F casting rod. over time I realized you and I judge things differently. You are very technical while I am more of a “it feels good” kind of guy. I have developed a respect for your type of analysis and respect for your opinion. My recommendation is based on it’s less than $40 and fishes better than some rods I paid $80+ dollars for. That’s good enough for me. The exposed threads on my St Croix Triumph $100 rod bother me more than the expose threads on this sub $40 rod. The guides are fine for the mono I use on my Lew’s LFS.

The juvenile version of these Sunfish in my area do have red fins. Some adults as well.

Lew’s Hank Parker series casting rod. Unbelievable value for a rod under $40

I like the Winn grip round handles better than the EVA. Lew’s makes them in 2 sizes. I prefer the smaller size on my Mach 2 reel over the oversized ones on my Mach Crush.

You said a baitcaster and 12-14 pound braid. Thats too light a line for baitcasters IMO. Try some good ole mono line. 12# Berkley Big Game is great stuff.

Sure does. The action on those appendages is incredible. Definitely picking some of these up when they are available.

Love that KVD baitcaster. Priced like a tournament MP and seems to be the same reel with a fancy paint job and different knobs. I want one of those Mach Crush spinning combos. Hope the reel is still aluminum but I would still get one for that awesome Tennessee handle Winn grip rod. I was disappointed that the Crush baitcaster still seems to be graphite.

Man I got to fish Tennessee a lot more next time I vacation there. You have a little bit of everything.

I assume you are talking about a combo. as the IM7 is the rods carbon rating. Would it be the Lew's Xfinity by chance? If it is that reel has a dial on the side for the magnetic brakes. Set it to maximum and since you said the "cap" (tension control knob) is where it needs to be make a cast. If it backlashes it's defective and go exchange it. Some of those combos get broken from handling in the store. If it doesn't backlash turn the side dial down one notch at a time until you get the max distance you can without backlashing.

Some of those Speed Spools have a lube port in the bottom. One screw to remove and you can add grease to the gears there. Might help until you can do a deep cleaning.

We have folks here that talk to their dogs but won't talk to a human being. Pass them on a trail and say "good morning", get no response but hear them saying, "you want to take a swim or get a drink" to their dog.

My topwater baits are getting a workout. Whopper Ploppers, Poppers and spooks. Only lost one this year when my son's line snapped and we watched the lure float down the river. They don't have to be restocked. Just sharpen the hooks every once in awhile and they are good to go. Split shot, light wire Aberdeen hooks and snap swivels are almost impossible to find around here.

For some reason that spool design makes me think line will get caught under it. Some reels I have owned had that issue, 13 Fishing Creed comes to mind. Usually happened when using light lures and had some line spill off the spool while reeling.

I actually found one of these lures a few weeks ago. Going to try it this weekend with all the great advice above.

I like the looks as well. The blue reminds me of my Field and Stream Tec Spec Elite rods. Those rods are beautifully colored broomsticks. Got them for $19 down from $80. I know you expressed interest in the Mach Crush combo. If you can get it on sale I would recommend it. Mine is one of most heavily used combos as it it one of my farthest casting reels I own. It’s noisy and plastic but it works and takes a beating. Your conservative looking combos comment hit home with me. I like stuff that looks good as well as performs good.

This sunfish hit my Pop-R like a Bass. Fought like one as well. The debate rages on as to what kind of Sunfish this is. I say Redbreast Sunfish but some folks think it’s a Longear Sunfish. I don’t know the Longear’s range and if they are in Northern NY Other than the Great Lakes http://

Short sleeve T-shirt, baseball cap, Sunglasses, jeans and boots in 90-100 degree heat. Sunscreen on all exposed areas. Those clothes are for sun and tick protection. I am one of those folks that gets cold real fast. Don’t sweat much either. If the heat bothers me I find a shady spot to fish.

Lew’s KVD reels look nice.

Same here. My 16 year old son wanted me to show him how to use a baitcaster. He picked it up quick. Only 2 backlashes. First one I fixed for him. Second one he was able to get out by himself. He caught the only topwater fish that day on a Whopper Plopper.

After losing a big Bass that shook my Rebel Pop-R I changed out the terrible stock ones. I used a VMC size 4 1x strong round bend short shank treble on the front and a VMC size 4 1x strong bladed hybrid short shank treble on the back. I think it works better. Some of today’s fish came on the tiny child rig. The screw in 1/8 oz weight when superglued are working great And the day would not be complete without a Plopper fish. Broke in the new Bone 75 with this nice Smallmouth