The Bassman

Close your eyes and it's a Scorp 1001XT only way smoother.

I have both and they're both very smooth. I do like the way the Bantam palms better. For me casting is about the same. Some say that the Bantam comes up a little shorter because of the close line guide orientation. I don't notice any difference.

#5's have been a go to for me on windy fall and spring days. I do change out the smaller rear hook.

Looks like those Zebco Bullets are working just fine.

Most guys will recommend the 7. I personally like a 6.something on my bc's. They seem smoother with less resistance. When I'm fishing I really don't feel handicapped by the speed difference. I think the emphasis on speed has gotten kinda silly in recent years.

I find that a screw lock gets me more mileage out of a t-rigged Senko.

Nice pic. That's how we should be here but we're headed back to 90 tomorrow.

Jimmy Houston likes it so much that his trademark is to kiss every one he catches. And FWIW I know what you mean by puppy breath. Goes with those little needle sharp teeth nipping you. My first bass of the season was on New Year's Day this year and I couldn't smell a thing in 35 degree weather.

Go to digitaka.com. Find Shimano in left column, drop down to reel/baitcasting/SLX MGL. Click on it. Choose any model then click on web catalogue. You'll have to use your browser to translate. Click on the + to drop down specs. Digitaka is about the best price out there and includes shipping.

And that's what really matters. And by the way, welcome to the forums. Looking forward to your contributions (posts, not $$) lol.

Never understood the comparison of a chatterbait to a spinnerbait. I see them as not having any real similarity. To me a chatterbait can both serve as a jig or a crankbait depending how it's retrieved. I like to let mine drop a little then give it a light jerk then vary the retrieve. Sometimes I let it drop and it gets bit on the fall. I caught a nice one around 4 lbs. this afternoon doing just that. You really can't do that with most spinnerbaits. Strike King used to make a short arm for drop fishing.

This. ^^These second gen. SVS reels are actually designed to use all four brakes and focus adjusting from the dial.

Funny how everyone comments on the weight of the Bantam. We forget that the E series weighed the same and were wider. No one ever mentioned how heavy they were but thinks they were the best Shimanos ever. Guys are trying to sell mint Curado E's for about the same as a JDM Bantam (mid 200.00's).

Saw this thread at 5:00 this morning with no replies yet. Ran away as fast as I could. Something about this topic that always gets everyone riled up.

I pull rather than push them on. Pushing makes the bait roll over itself. For all their other shortcomings 'Shroom heads have the easiest keeper. Most others you have to pull down hard over it to even remotely get it to grab the bait. Ratchet type keepers such as Berkley half heads don't hold well at all for me. A drop of super glue, as stated will in fact keep a bait in place a long time.

One of my favorite reels is a Curado 100B from e-bay that was all gummed up and slow. After a little TLC and some mods I think I've got the best 100B on the planet. Looks perfect as there was no rash or nicks.

I'm finding KVD Elite Triple Grips with the barbs smashed down to be the best of both worlds. They hold well and make handling fish so much easier.

Yep. Wouldn't be a challenge otherwise.

My goal is to catch bass in every month. Fished all winter with a few interruptions this past year. Dec. is my only possible obstacle coming up if we have a hard winter. I'm in IN and winters can be anything from light jacket weather to minus teens and thick ice.

I would typically be finessing in such conditions. Today was a good example though how one has to adjust to conditions. Gusty winds ahead of a front put the kibash on small stuff for me. I did a 180 and threw a big wake bait on casting tackle. Result: app. 30 fish with one over 5 and several over 3lb. I know this all sounds impractical on pressured water but it might just be what your fish haven't seen. Was influenced by an article I read to this effect by Doug Stange a while back.

Maybe not but at least he'll look like he sees the humor in it.

I get my prescription ones online from Zenni. Price is a fraction of retail and they're really good quality.

We've had zero measurable rain for three weeks here. I can walk on dry ground where I was catching bass a month ago. One would have thought that after Harvey such an event wouldn't happen again in our lifetime. Weather gurus are citing high gulf temps.

Good job with the weather, Catt. But I still prefer it from the girls on the Weather Channel.

It's every day. I buy from there.