PhishLI

It's noseheavy and sinks fast with less flutter on the fall, and it's attitude stays nose down as you crank it or hop it.

There's no good reason to get a 300 size reel without a metal handle/gear side plate, especially when the street, not msrp, prices are so close.

I don't mess with the Monkey.

The Catalina is barely larger than a Tatula CT. I use these on all of my reels under 300 size: https://www.amazon.com/SF-Casting-Baitcast-Reels-Baitcaster/dp/B0775M9TSJ/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&m=A17HZK8R17EXXR&qid=1582616566&s=merchant-items&sr=1-8&th=1&psc=1 They fit great.

Congrats. Just wanted to mention this: The spool bearings on the Catalina must've been a touch dry. This isn't unusual with the Daiwas I've gotten recently. Anyway, they were sounding a little bit zippy. A drop between in inner race and the shield on each bearing made them happy. Use the Bantam oil from your Shimanos, or the Daiwa reel oiler if you have one. I've used both on Daiwa bearings in the past without issue. My Catalina gets better with each use. It's easily my longest caster. I like letting 'em fly, so I'm extra happy. Love that Shellcrcaker. I've gotten all of my bites in this cold water by cranking it down about 1-2 feet and keeping there.

Nice. They're beefy reels. The 150's going on a pitch/punch rod and the 200 on a swimbait rod.

Lots of targets. Lots of juicy holes. It's not frustrating when they're biting. It can be when they're not, but then I just bite down on my mouthpiece and plow forward.

It could happen! I need some football fish glory pics!

I made it up to F&S and was able to score the VMC boxer heads in 1/8 and 1/4 oz. I rigged up three 4" Easy Shiners on the 1/8 jig heads and two dummies. The rig set up like this clocked in at 2 ozs. We'll have 50° and high sun with sw winds tomorrow, following 20s this morning, but I'm going anyway. I'll try slinging this monstrosity into a deep trench and work it up a slope towards the shore, which is my only option where I'll be wading. I'm pumped! Thanks for the suggestions fellas!

MBB, This is what I fish in often. If a fish pulls me into this with a medium it'll probably end badly. Early in the season when the pads have just popped up I can squeak by with a stout MHF rod, specifically the 13 OB2 7'3" MHF, rated to one ounce and 30lb braid. But when the cabbage fills in I up the rod to HF and 40-50 lb braid. I've never been broken off with the heavier line, but I was once with the 30. That won't happen again. Most beaver types and a 3/8 oz weight will put you near or over 3/4 oz, then add in a superline hook that's able to cope with this typs of terrain plus a fish. You'll need some beef. You don't need to spend a fortune here. I'm usually fishing this stuff at it's heaviest with a Tatula XT 7'3" HF rated to 1 1/2 oz. I frog it with an el cheapo Lew's Carbon Fire 7'3" HF rated to 1 oz. I've even thrown heavier baits than frogs in the heart of this mess with the Lew's, caught fish, and haven't been able to kill it. It's actually quite good for this stuff and beyond. Anyway, I wouldn't consider a medium power rod anywhere near brush piles or pad fields. While it's good practice to consider splitting a rods lure rating when choosing a bait's total weight, it's not a hard fast rule. It depends on the rod.

I'll have an 09 in Olive by tomorrow. I had go with amazon 'cause BPS's price is off the wall. The suspending lipless cranks are working now, so this bad boy could be special 'round here. Can't wait!

You're asking way too much of a medium rod with that rating throwing that total weight where you'd want to throw it. You might get away with until you don't.

Everything you said plus a new one. Last Saturday was bitter cold here. I had babysitting duty all by my lonesome. The cutie konked out at 7:00 and she stayed asleep, praise Buddha. Bored and totally tackle organized I found something fishing related to do. I cracked open a bin loaded with torn plastics of every type. I keep them all. Armed with a 1 oz bottle of Mend-it I went to work. 4 hours later I had a huge pile of restored plastic baits. I'm sure I lost some brain cells inhaling that stuff in a closed space, but boy oh boy am I happy about saving those baits and a nice chunk of loot. It's a brand new winter tradition for me.

Sure, but line capacity when using 25 pound mono and chucking big baits way out there might be an issue. The truth is I'll never really use this reel for that duty, even if the geartrain is up to the task. 20lb mono will be the highest I'll go in stock form. I have 300-400 sized reels for bigger baits. However, I wouldn't mind having the deeper HD spool to swap in for lighter baits like Ganteral Jrs., etc. When I'm not on a boat I want to cover water and bomb cast. A lighter weight aftermarket SV spool is also in this reel's future. Anyway, there's nothing wrong with the stock spool, I just like playing with toys, especially if there're options available, and there are in this case.

Mattlures Tournament Series Carp, Bullhead, and Walleye.

Me: I already have enough reels. Monkey: No. No you don't. Me: OK, you're right. Click. Tatula 200 and 150.

Hopefully you enjoy smiling.

That's primarily why I want to get going on this. One of our deeper local lakes holds smallmouth. They don't seem to achieve football status like the one's you get, but not bad either. I got my best one ever there, a 21 1/2"er last September. The fight was insane! It's impossible to explain it properly to my friends who've only caught largemouth.

This time last year I picked up two different size Eco Pro A-rigs at the World Fishing Expo in Suffern, NY. It's coming up again next week and it struck me that I still haven't rigged them up yet. I think they've marinated long enough and I'm ready to make my big move, but where to start? Please let me know what you like regarding jig heads.

I use 15# PP on my Tat LT 3000 on a MF rod and 30# J-Braid on my BG 2500 on a MH rod. Zero issues with line management with the BG and this heavier line, and I can fish tougher spots without worry. Casting distance is still really good too.

I'm stuck fishing a bunch of ponds and small lakes with this issue.The single best bait/hook combo I've found that comes through this mess better than anything is the 4.2" Megabass Hazedong Shad on an Owner Twistlock Light 3/32 oz belly weighted hook. This particular hook is an important part of the equation, IMO. The total combined weight is 10 grams, or just under 3/8 oz, so you can sling it nicely with a baitcaster. It can be fished just about anywhere in the water column depending on how you retrieve it. It also happens to be a fish catching machine as it represents an easy to swallow meal having just about the perfect shape and size. My best producing color has been Green Pumpkin/ Blue followed by Numa Ebi followed by Moroko.

I sprayed my waders off when I got home the other morning, but forgot to disconnect the garden hose. The temps dropped like a rock tonight and it's currently frozen to the spigot. I'm definitely jealous. We won't see 55 degree water for months. Great catches! Congrats!

Mattlures Ultimate Bluegill in Male Gill. 5" of bite size glory!

I put some good time on mine Monday. I just about spooled it throwing a 3/4 oz Dark Sleeper. 12lb Big Game. 7'3" stick. 3/8 oz baits are quite manageable. It's more than a prettier Tatula. It's buttery smooth pulling weight. A true upgrade. I'm ordering a Zillion HD spool for heavier line for bigger baits, once I confirm fitment.

I'm a righty. Getting good at overhead bomb cast took me longer to get right than other casts when using my right arm. It was more about refining my casting mechanics and thumb control during a higher effort movement, and at very low brake settings, than anything else. I probably do it more than any other cast now especially when I'm wading lakes. i need to cover water. The odd thing is this: It's the thing I could do best with my left arm right off the bat. I can throw baits nearly as far with my left. Its the other techniques that are lagging behind, like my brain is wired in reverse. Skipping, which I do lots of righty, is killing me lefty, but I won't quit on it.