NYWayfarer

I take the following with me on my kayak and when I bank fish: Scissors Pliers Fish Grips Scale Tape measure Folding knife (Ozark Trail 6.5 inch 1 handed opening knife, titanium coated blade and glass,nylon orange handle)

I don't eat Bass. There are too many species of fish I can catch that I like better for eating. Trout, Fluke and Flounder come to mind.

My friend purchased one of these while we were on vacation last week. He let me cast it a few times. I was impressed. Casted great and the reel feels solid. Aluminum framed, dual brake reel for $50 is a good deal.

I feel the same way. As far as the Lew's combos go you can get aluminum framed spinning reels on the Mach 2 and Mach Crush combos. The only aluminum framed baitcasting combo they offer is the Custom Black. The Mach 1 and Crush baitcasters are pretty solid for graphite framed reels though.

Everyone's priorities are different. My priorities in a kayak were weight and comfortable seat. Weight for the fact that I would be car topping the kayak with foam blocks on my sedan. I would also have to transport the kayak a small distance to the local launch area from the parking lot. My Kayak is 28lbs. I can easily lift it over my head. That low weight saved me one day when there was an accident at the launch and it was closed upon my return from fishing. I was able to find a spot about half a mile from the launch to get my kayak out of the water and carry it to my car. Comfortable seat is a must if plan on spending more than 2 hours in the kayak.

I have the Mach 1 Baitcasting combo. Great combo that I used and abused last year. Did a lot of bank fishing in rocky areas with overhanging trees. The combo held up well and I liked the rod so much I wound up buying another one when they went on sale at Dick's for $35 The reel is really nice as it seems to have all the same features of my Lew's Tournament MB but made of graphite not aluminum. If you are looking for a spinning combo I would go up a step to the Mach 2 as that reel is made of aluminum and is much more durable than the Mach 1 I was never a fan of combos as usually one of the pieces, rod or reel, is of inferior quality to make the combo affordable or seem like a deal. Some of the combos I have seen are only $10 to $20 more than buying the reel itself! Lew's however, makes some great combos. I have several, including the Mach Crush series both spinning and casting. Love them all and lately have been the first things I grab when going fishing.

I wonder what they eventually do with the demo reels. Clearance merch perhaps?

I have had boaters give me the side eye for fishing “their spot” It’s usually the run and gunners who speed to a spot, fish and then speed off. In a kayak I am not going anywhere fast and it bothers folks.

If you are planning on pairing the rod with a Daiwa reel stick with Dobyns. I can't be the only one that gets the shivers thinking of a Daiwa reel on a Shimano rod or vice versa

I like Arena football better than this new stuff.

8 to 14" of snow, sleet and ice expected in my neck of the woods over the next 24 hours. My family Florida vacation can't come fast enough.

I have taken off my boots and socks, rolled up my jeans to the knees and waded into 40 degree water to retrieve a crankbait. Only because it was my favorite.

It sure can. It's one of the reasons I have so many rods. I am trying to find one in the Goldilocks zone, not to light, no to heavy, just right...to me.

All the people who are bad at fractions have liked your post

In my younger days I would close the bails on my spinning reel with a turn of the handle. Loved hearing that snap and "ka-*****" sound. Over the years I have re-trained myself to close the bail by hand. It is now second nature to do it that way to me. The reasons? I read it saves wear and tear on your bail spring and closing the bail with the handle supposedly twists your line more.

You could always get some Flambeau Zerust plasti-tabs for your tackle trays. My tackle bag has Molle straps on it. I usually hang my crankbaits on them to air dry. Works well as the lure that is hanging will dry by the time I want to swap it with the lure I am using.

The reel on that combo appears to be similar to the Lew's Custom Pro Speed Spin I have. Pretty much the same stats but 2 less bearings. I love every thing about the reel. Fat bail, Awesome handle with Winn grip knob, flush and drain port, great drag, smooth and quiet. I run a straight fluoro hybrid 8-10# on mine. I think you will be very happy with the combo.

Kastking braid scissors. They are super sharp. They come with a belt clip sheath and lanyard. Handle has a spot to attach a keyring bungee and carabiner.

Another vote for the Lew’s Tournament MB

Grats! On a Beetle Spin, nice!

Make a video game out of it. A year ago there were some kids circling my neighborhood pond catching Pokémon on their phones. I was in full view of them catching Bass! Morale of the story, in todays world pixels beat fins and scales. Sad but true.

The reason I posted is I feel your pain. I took apart a baitcaster to clean it. Dropped the pieces on the floor and had the same gremlins as you grab some. Lost never to be found. I put the baitcaster back in the box and bought a new reel. the box is in my basement somewhere.

Last year was the first year I intentionally targeted a bedding Bass at a local pond. Took a while to entice it to strike but I eventually landed the fish, took a quick pic and released the fish. It swam right back to the bed and continued about it's business. Went to the pond the next day and it was still there. There is only so much I can worry about an animal I make a hobby of using a sharp object to rip it out of it's environment into one it can't breath in before tossing it back all traumatized.

Good excuse to go out and buy a new reel. I am being entirely serious right now.

Didn't see one for the ultralight version. I could be mistaken. Seeing how that is a combo aimed at youth anglers I doubt it will have a spigot joint. I can see a kid forcing the two pieces together, hell some adults do that.