PhishLI

Camp & Grind It's the opposite of run 'n gun which, as I've found, doesn't yield the same results in my particular spots. The ones who can't help themselves but to fish this way get their souls crushed consistently around here, just like I used to until I wised up. Since I figured this out, I'm able to find something more often than not in places where it's hard to find anything at all. It doesn't mean I never switch spots, just not until I've sifted through one area almost painfully, slowly. I've learned to like it, fishing this way, even though it's against my nature. There have been so many times where I was about to give up on a zone but didn't and the hunch paid off nicely, and occasionally very nicely. They're mostly hard-earned moments, but adrenaline is an amazing anesthetic.

I've done my fair share of beatching about TW, but I've gotta kick it to ya real and say my last few orders shipped super fast and came very fast, and that was using the free shipping option including a 2 rod order.

I have too. It flies. Weighs a whisper under 10 grams and not very wind catching either. No problem using a Tat 80 or even the 150 for this bait, but I'm not disputing that the Alphas isn't better because I don't have one. Just saying I've had no issues slinging the Frittside 5.

I went with this for the same things. If it matters to you, it balances midway on the reel nut with a 6.2oz Curado/SLX BFS. 13 Fishing Muse Black Casting Rods | Tackle Warehouse MBC610ML Fast 6-12lb 1/8-3/8oz 10+Tip ***/2" Muse Cast C

Yes, and I would know.

100 sized reels typically have spools of 32-34 mm in diameter that can weigh from 21-30 grams loaded with line if that line is braid. Add some weight for straight plastic line. They can cast 3.5grams or 1/8oz total weight effectively? Define effectively. Is that more effectively than a spool with a similar diameter topping out at 10 grams or less with line? On a side note, how many times on this forum have we heard that rods cast, not reels, and that reels just wind in line? Has everyone who's listed their BFS setups been duped?

You're correct. I went with the SLX/Curado/Scorpion BFS, which are all essentially the same reel with different paint jobs and bearing counts, as a borderline BFS setup simply because I wanted to use straight fluoro, coploly, or mono. The SLX's 9 gram spool can deal with the sqeeze and associated stress that plastic lines put on a thinner-walled spool. This is discouraged on 4-5 gram spools like AMO, Roro, etc, as is can distort them. So, I'm doing this borderline BFS thing with 5 grams being the lightest weight I'll be throwing. I've been resisting buying the Roro for my Tat 80 and using straight 8lb braid, but I'm getting wobbly by the minute with the monkey whispering sweetly in my ear: "You know you want it, dumbazz"

Just started to dabble. I'll only have from ice out until late May to use it as weeds become way too much here afterward. JDM SLX BFS/13 Muse Black 6'10" ML/Omen Green II 7'7" M Sufix 6lb Fluoro I've had it out for just two very cold one-hour sessions on the Muse getting a feel for it throwing finesse TRD neds on 1/16oz heads, light cranks and jerkbaits, and 1/16oz bitsy bugs with small trailers. Spool bearings weren't flushed for the demo seshs, but they will be. This will be my boat/yak setup for shorter work mostly in one of our two smallie lakes as it really can't compete in the max-distance department with a 3000 sized spinning reel spooled with light braid to leader on a 7'M. But that's not why I got it. I got it to be able to use straight fluoro without dealing with leaders or with the headache of spinning reel line twist.

It's reallllly bad when a levelwind freezes. No such luck here. We'll be frozen over any moment. I'll be filling cork handles and U-40ing to feed my jones. It's fishing related anyway. Either way, it's OK. I firmly believe that spring fishing is better served around here by a good winter ice-over. The remaining dead or dying weeds get knocked down completely by the cold instead of lingering endlessly and slowly rotting away causing dead zones where they ordinarily wouldn't be. Spring will be here in the blink of an eye. Scary how time flies.

I just found where they're explaining it. ping @gimruis Scroll to the 16:50 mark if it doesn't begin there automatically. Explanation concludes at the 19:20 mark

It was the 2022 Lake Fork Tourney. Can't find specifics doing a normal search, but I believe it was one 24"er for 8lbs allowed in the live well for weigh ins. Something like that. There were marshals in every boat weighing fish. That was the one where Livesy, Palaniuk, and Swindle all got century belts with swindle and Palaniuk with the same final weight and Livesy winning.

Randall Tharp seemed ready and excited about going into the EQs on yesterday's IKE Live. It's worth a watch. Said he was glad it's 9 tourneys now instead of 3. Also said he qualified 3 times for the Elites before he accepted because he felt that under the old minimum 3-tournaments-fished requirement, he wasn't ready for the big leagues. He also reflected on how many guys who made it in the past under those rules but who bombed out badly and left broke and discouraged. He felt that they weren't conditioned for the big time or built enough of a sponsor base. I thought it was a great template that they might adopt going forward, and a reasonable compromise to what they do traditionally.

They are though. They did a catch, weigh, and release tournament a few years ago per that states DNR with the exception that one bass 8lbs or over would be allowed at weigh-in. Taku was killing them and brought in a few if I recall.

Did you break down the reel to get to the spool bearing in the handle side sideplate?

On today's IKE Live with Randall Tharp, Mike announced ABU as a new sponsor to IKE Live. A reward for not going with Rapala/13 Fishing and sticking with ABU? Could be. BTW, good episode. Tharp is pumped about the Opens EQs.

No. SS Magforce is quite different than SV found in the Steez Air.

Randall Tharp's entering the Opens. On IKE Live now.

No, typically only the metal side plate models. They have a groove machined into the bearing well to receive the spring clip (15). However, all models have the spring clip retainer on the palming side plate. The star shaped friction fit retainer (49) is found on recent plastic handle-side side plate models.

Amen. Gotta say, I saw far less new dudes this past year than last though. I suppose they got discouraged because of the low catch rate due to the overwhelming poaching pressure. Whatever caused them to quit, sorry to see them go, NOT!

Yes

The new 100 has a differently styled frame. Spool weights are the same as the Elite at about 14 grams, but the Elite has a stiffer inductor spring as do other Daiwas intended for longer casts. The initial promo vid from Daiwa says the 23 100 has a metal side-plate, but this isn't mentioned on TW's site or any other seller's pages AFAIK. They also claimed it has a double bearing supported pinion, but it just the standard Tatula long spool configuration. However, the schematic shows a spring clip retainer for the spool bearing on that side which is a good sign that it may have a metal side plate after all, but I have yet to confirm this. Hopefully it does. The SVs don't other than the 70. 23 Tatula 100 section

Amazon.com : Abu Garcia Max X Low Profile Baitcast Reel, Size LP (1539734), 4 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings + 1 Roller Bearing, Synthetic Star Drag, Max of 15lb | 6.8kg, Left-Handed - Box, Multi : Sports & Outdoors

He top 10'd last year at Seminole. Correct. Rapala just bought 13 Fishing. IKE is with ABU. Perhaps he was given an ultimatum to go with 13 like KVD had to with Lew's over Quantum so as to not lose Strike King. Who knows exactly why? Between IKE Live, Bass U, his TV show, and his YT channel, Ike has one of the highest social media profiles of any current pro which is more important to sponsors than anything else these days, including tournament results.

I stand corrected! Maybe I'll give it a shot.

They are, but every species in the lake besides carp will eat them or try to. And they're super durable. Notice the tarnish on the jig head of the rigged bait. That's because it's been on there for a year, and I haven't needed to dig into the rest of the pack because they just can't destroy it, even after a million pecks by gills and eats by bass, pickerel, crappie, and perch. If you decide to give it a whirl, try out the Sprayed Grass color. It's been the clear winner for me. It doesn't show up well in the picture I took, but its subtle pink/purple speckle-flash seems to really get their interest. If you'd like to try something other than a typical mushroom head Ned hook, check out the Decoy shown in the pic. You'll be able to swim this bait through grass and lily pads when rigged on it. Very weedless and sleeker than a 1/6oz bullet weight, so it cuts right through, and the bait will still stand up on bottom on the pause. Just something else to try on your new spinning rig. It's also a great trailer for a 1/16oz Bitsy Bug.