NYWayfarer

The Kastking fish gripper is identical to the Rapala plastic black and white grippers I also own. They are strong and lock down tight. I have had no issues yet with holding fish (LMB and Pickerel) that are up to 4lbs. The handle on the grip has a pointy part on it that can be annoying as it digs into my hand. Be aware when I ordered this from Amazon the first one I got was broke. I emailed Kastking and got a replacement plus some swag goodies for my troubles. The Kastking Customer Service rep told me that when items are returned to Amazon with no reason given for the return they go back on the shelf to be resold again. The second scale and gripper came in perfect working order. Both.

I have the Kastking waterproof, floating digital scale. Comes with a fish gripper for $29 (15% off coupon available now on Amazon) It is accurate as I have weighed several things around the house to check it out. I needed a waterproof scale after losing two scales to moisture. The floating part is great for when I am fishing in my kayak.

Grats! awesome catch, pics and video.

My suggestion is the Lew's Mach II Metal Speed Spin $79.99 full retail price. On any given day a Google search will turn up several vendors that sell it in the $50 range. You get a whole lot of reel for the money. -Aluminum body and sideplate -Winn Dri-Tec paddle knobs -10 bearings -6.2:1 gear ratio (over 30" of line per turn)

My Dad loves ultralight set-ups. He always says fish with the lightest line you can. For Bass fishing on spinning reels I use 4-8# line. On Baitcasters I use 10-12# line. I caught my PB Smallmouth on 10# line and my PB Largemouth on 6# line.

Lesson learned the hard way. I also caught my PB LMB decades ago. It was before before cellphones so all I have is a pic from a disposable camera of it. I owned one of those de-liar spring scales and there was a scale on my fishin magician gadget but didn’t have either that day. Nowadays I don’t leave for a fishing trip without a scale. Bank, boat or kayak doesn’t matter it’s with me. It floats so I don’t worry about losing it or getting it wet. Grats BTW nice Bass! My guess is it’s just shy of 5 pounds.

I have both reels. The aluminum framed Tournament MB for $110 is the better deal. The Crush is an amazing baitcaster but it has a graphite frame. The higher retail cost comes from the oversized Winn Grip knobs.

I agree the LFS is worth the $99 price tag however it does go on sale from time to time. I got mine for less than $70 on sale at DSG last year. As far as budget spinning reels I would recommend the Lew's Mach 2 Metal Speed Spin It has a $79 retail price but can be found for as low as $50 on sale most days ($44 at Outfitters Warehouse). For that price you get a whole lot of reel for basically what you pay for a Pflueger President (which I also own) Aluminum framed reel. 6.2:1 gear ratio Winn Grip knob 10 bearing system Braid ready spool

I have the Mark Rose Speed Spool. Got on clearance for $30 cracked clamshell packaging. It's a decent reel that I caught my biggest Smallmouth of 2018 with. Comparing it to the Lew's LFS, Tournament MB and Mach 1 and Mach Crush baitcasters I have is not fair. It's a budget reel and feels like one. Out of the three reels you mention I would go with the Xfinity Speed Spool. The Green one is a budget version of the Mach 1 and the Orange one is a budget Crush (even has the Winn Grip knobs)

Action, salt and fall rate is my theory. Rigged weightless on 3/0 wide gap hook they have a shimmy on the fall that mimics something alive. Same when wacky rigged. The salt helps the drop rate and masks the plastic taste so when they bite they don't spit it out right away. A magical bait for sure.

I have been catching lots of fish...just not Bass. Catch what the waters give you. Right now they are giving me Trout and Perch. The weather is unseasonably cool and wet. Yesterday broke an 11 day streak of days with some form of rain. Rivers are high, fast and cold with mountain snow runoff. Still seeing some of that snow in patches on some of the higher elevations. I predict Bass action will heat up here after the 20th. My logs show that was the magic date last year.

Those handles with the zig zag grips (Winn?) caught my eye. That's as "bling" as it gets. Nice review. Thanks.

I was at a conference for work last week in Buffalo No trip to Buffalo NY would be complete however without having this local delicacy. Beef on Weck. roast beef on a kummelweck roll (roll topped with caraway seeds and kosher salt) side of horseradish and au jus Glass of Crown and Coke to wash it down.

Not a fan of the VMC wacky weedless hooks. They use a wire weed guard that I have had issues with. something about the way it sits under the barb is the problem IMO I like the Berkley Fusion wacky weedless as it uses a heavy piece of fluorocarbon as a weedguard. The only issue free weedless hook I have that uses a wire is the Eagle Claw brand.

Roboworm Biospawn Plasmatails

My father never used a baitcaster so growing up I had no one to teach me. When I wanted to learn to use one I went to a sporting goods store and picked out a reel. The clerk asked me "right or left handed" and I told him I was right handed. He handed me a right handed baitcaster. I brought it home and the first thing I noticed was the handle was on the opposite side when compared to my spinning reel. I thought this can't be right (no pun intended) I kept it. I cast and switch hands and over time it's become second nature like breathing. Funny thing is when my son picked up a baitcaster for the first time he said to me, the handle is on the wrong side. Great minds...

I would love to catch an Oscar. I had an Albino Tiger Oscar for years in a 55 gallon aquarium. Raised him from fry size on flakes, eventually guppies then feeder goldfish. He was dinner plate sized when I gave him to someone with a bigger tank.

Low oxygen levels would be my guess.

A private fishing paradise for sure. Grats on the epic day.

My drop shot set up last year was a Lew's Carbon Fire 6'6" ML/F rod (DSG exclusive) and a Kastking Sharky III 2000 size reel with 6-8# line. I went with a 7' M rod and a size 3000 reel after a fight with a 3 pound Channel Cat. I have since switched back as the ML rod and smaller reel are a better fit for the drop shot technique.

Pond fishing has been great for multi-species fishing. Big Pumpkinseeds Stocked Brook Trout. Amazing how they look like baby Lake Trout.

11 days straight with some form of rain in the Northern Capital Region. The Hudson is raging and still very cold. I was able to get out and bank fish a local pond on Googan Saturday and Sunday. Three hour sessions both days. 8 fish total, 4 each day. Mostly stocked Brook Trout and some Sunfish. 1 Bass hit on a wacky rigged Dinger I was casting parallel to shore.

I have a Kastking digital scale. Pros: weighs in in pounds and ounces waterproof floats (great for kayaking) memory stores 9 catches Comes with a fishgripper. cons: Uses a hearing aid battery

Used to close the bail by turning the handle. I have retrained myself to close it by hand. I can imagine that it saves wear and tear on the bail spring.

Ditto. I use a wacky weedless hook when I C-Rig them.