The Bassman

Seems to be the case with me. Funny, my best crappie last year also came on one.

With the higher end Exsence you're buying a magnesium frame. I believe that above the price of a Stradic CI4+ you're getting diminishing return. I like what @Darren. said from hands on experience. I can second that. (And I still own the FA). I'm sure the FB is even better.

I'd go with the Stradic unless you just want a black reel for another 75-100.00.

Short of using an ultrasonic cleaner acetone or lighter fluid should work fine. Let them sit a while, then agitate. Dry and you're good to go. Contrary to popular belief a perfectly flushed bearing isn't necessary. What little grease that may be left behind will get cut with your low viscosity oil. Unless one is a BFS enthusiast bearing maintenance is way over thought.

Keep in mind that there's two versions of the Exsence, the CI4 model and the metal framed one. Big difference in price. I watched a video that showed that the CI4 was essentially a black Stradic.

You're welcome. Keep us up to date how it goes in your area this spring. Research the lakes up there. Lots of possibilities that we don't have here like pike and musky. You're a hoosier now. None of us really knows what that means other than we live in Indiana.

Shallow draft stuff like jon boats, kayaks, canoes. During low water some wading. I don't have experience there but these places are within reasonable driving distance for you.

Google Eel river in the Logansport area. Known for excellent smallmouth fishing. Also the upper reaches of the White east of Muncie can be good.

Glad to have you aboard. I'm in Indy so quite a ways from you. Not sure where to steer you. I may be wrong but I don't think clubs have as big a presence as they once did. Hope someone can correct me on that. You're real close to a lot of natural lakes that have produced reports from at least one of our members. Good luck and looking forward to your input.

Just wait until you feel how solid it is. I have an HG and it's so smooth I almost feel disconnected from the internals of the reel when I'm retrieving.

Works for any reel.

This is coming from a guy who owned several. They were very functional and easy to service. Beyond that I found them to be quite geary. Newer platforms (I & K) are superior (IMHO) although I'm also one who preferred the old VBS braking system as @JustJamesmentioned.

I'll bet the original bearings are as smooth as anything you can buy. Just soak them in some thinner or acetone and re-oil. That reel is a great caster but wouldn't be great under 1/4 oz. no matter what bearings you use.

I spook fish off the banks all year long in the small waters I fish. May be different in bigger lakes. I fish the sunward side and if there's a breeze blowing toward me all the better (as long as it's not too cold). Under 40 I need to keep the wind behind me for obvious reasons.

Very sorry to hear that. Never knew mine either. Have to think it impacted my personality.

I experimented with single hooks on several of my lures last year. Owner makes a single hook for lure replacement. Problem is that you need to go a couple of sizes bigger than the treble was and invariably the hooks want to interlock with each other. Adding split rings on a Torpedo will make the problem worse. The stock trebles aren't the best but with lures like this you're left with little choice given the way they're mounted. I'd leave them alone and just keep them sharp. My motive was to reduce fish mortality but the hassle wasn't worth it.

I know this is technically wrong but I just start by getting things open with my fingernail then insert the new hook behind the old one and use it to push the old one out. Bigger split rings need something stronger.

With 832 nothing over 15 and preferably 10. 30 is way overkill. 832 is thick for its stated strength. Also, drag ratings aren't important with spinning and way oversold for BC as well. Single digit settings suffice just fine.

Culvert pattern is key to my success in the HOA lakes I fish.

My wife thinks I'm married to my stuff instead of her.

Sounds like me. I'll get on a decent bite then switch, thinking something else is even better. Eventually I'm back where I started after wasting time. This is one reason some of my best outings have come when I walked out the door with one bait that's already tied on and that's it. (I bank fish and usually close to home). As far as my style I really enjoy moving baits like lipless and wakes but finesse catches more for me.

Depends entirely on where you're fishing and what you're fishing with.

I thought Gliss was going to be my new go to a few years ago but found it to be too fragile even at 24#. Granted I don't use a leader. Something between the 24 and the 40# may have changed my mind if they made it. The stuff cast amazingly far.

Good idea. We've had an IN thread for a good while but it keeps getting shuffled back due to a lack of interest.

I use 832. It's much stronger than stated(more so than other brands). 10# will handle most everything. I use 6-10# on different rigs.