Tatsu Dave

Well until the really pricey lines started showing up most fisherman never thought about it. Now with line truly getting expensive some do, I still answer your question no I would not restrict my spool size. Too easy to use backing and have the added spool capacity if needed somewhere down the road. I use some pretty expensive line and still see nothing to fuss about, guess its all in different people's perspective. You asked everyone what their choice would be in your post, Some will have different opinions thats all Dave

Thank you for the welcome, I'm enjoying my time here and getting to know more members all the time. Dave

Lot in that three word statement! I stop and fish a flat where two rivers come together every time, my son looks at it with boredom, no structure no pads, nothing........ but its a bass magnet and always will be. The other day we went by and I stopped to give it a couple casts, son had his phone out texting or something. I had been meaning to push the line as it was twisting up some but hadn't, shot out a cast and tangle at the spool I sat there for a couple minutes straightening it out and wishing I had addressed it earlier, started to reel in and felt the fish already on and unaware of what he had sucked in! Long story short it was 3 1/2 lb smallmouth that was cruzing that flat. Now I notice he is alert and casting as we pull up to that flat, an experience is worth a thousand words

Lotta good estimates on here, fisherman that have weighed more than a couple bass I agree he looks 3 - 3 1/2 lbs smallies are harder than largemouth's to estimate for me. Carry some spare batteries in the tackle box, you never need them till you really need them. NICE Fish!

We are still catching them but using finesse presentations with smaller plastics fished slower and deeper. Yesterday I caught a nice one pulling a stickbait behind the boat as we changed position about 100 yds. I know who pulls a stickbait behind the boat with almost no action to speak of? I notice senkos and true centers as well as snake o's have a very tiny but seductive tail wiggle that mimics a baitfish barely finning along, combine that with rainbow trout color and things can happen. Change up and fish shallow in early morning and deeper as the sun gets bright, and even try something they haven't seen.........Good Fishing and tight lines. Dave

Hello to all members and staff, was looking for a place to set my tackle box and call home. Hail from the state of Maine where puckerbrush and dirt boat ramps are common, hope to meet lots of ya on the forum and learn much, knowledge seems to abound here. Retired now so life is simpler, fish summer to early fall and hunt late fall and early winter. Time during our cozy winters for gun and boat work. You'll notice I post a lot about flourocarbon line's - soft plastic bait's - and finesse spinning setup's.......not exactly a full spectrum fisherman but have spent about 36 year's honing the methods I use. Thank you for providing this resource to enjoy and make friends in........see everyone in the forums Dave

With the price of flouro and the fact I would never need more than a 100yds of line I use smaller reels and use backing if I need to. When I used to striper and hybrid fish in the tailrace down in Maryland we used 200yds in case you got a big one that headed downriver with the current. In Maine a big bass won't go far and then slug it out with ya so don't need all the back up.

Sorry can't figure out how to edit my post so I will add owner screwlocs on all my weighted or unweighted hooks including the VMC's

It will work good for you, the weight would depend on how deep you want to fish them. I'm used to shallow water so for me 1/16th would be better in 5' or less while 1/8th would be better on down in deeper spots. I like the VMC drop dead weighted swimbait hooks because they have longer shanks and it gets the hook further back the bait and picks up short hits better.

This summer its been grandebass 4.75" rattlesnakes in trophy hunter, last year my fav was 5" stickbait in rainbow trout or crimescene. I rig both baits on a 3/0 EWG swimbait hook with owner centering pin screwloc. Dave

We catch them in shallow and deep water thru the summer although the fish on shallow structure are usually feeding and will hit more aggressive. Wooden or rocky structure near deeper holes can be deadly spots to use t-rig baits with no weight and let slow fall. One in the picture was directly next to the stickup and the stickbait hit the wood and fell into a quick boil as he nailed it.

We fish a couple spots that are so muddy they leave a bathtub ring around the boat with smallies I like to fish tight on cover(mostly wood) with crime scene, junebug, and trophy hunter( half grn pumpkin and half junebug). I'm a plastic fisherman so 4-5" stickbaits and crawfish imitators are tops on the list. Nothing like a river smallmouth in the current to test the line and drag.......My son with a river smallmouth.

USAF 1967-1975 Hydraulics- Munitions