WRB

Contact Mike at Roboworm he knows who stocks that color or will make it if you buy 100.
 Tom

TW has Lew’s Spinning Speed stick on sale, full cork handle $72 shipped.
Tom

Daiwa Tatula 200 7.3:1 has a high 32.2” IPT that will not change much after casting 40 yards. 
Tom

Warranty should cover it, return it to where you purchased it.
What is known as tangle free guides that slant forward help prevent what happen.
Tom

3M Scotch-weld DP420 epoxy is very strong and compatible with the materials. Get Color black.
Get rid of the steel split ring it will corrode.
Suggest .188 wide 304 stainless steel cable tie SSCT08, CTAM/Kable Kontrol.
Tom
 

HelmsMate Tiller extension telescoping 18”-24”.  Also small outboard tiller to stick steering kits available but pricey.
Welcome to BR
Tom

Patio furniture/marine vinyl cleaner with UV protection and Tarp cover. Use PVC plastic pipe for tenting the cover so it drains off water.
Tom

Yep going out to dinner
 

Use a size 4 drop shot weedless hook and nose hook the cricket on a split shot rig.
Tom

I bought Vanford 2500 about 3 years ago and just checked it for any handle play it is solid no movement and very smooth operation.
I suggest you return the new reel for a replacement.
Tom

That’s how we usually stumble into good spots by trail and error. Using way points is how I return to spots off shore now.
Always observing the environment and terrain for signs that indicate potential, need to fish to find out what’s is actually there.
Tom
 

Yep, used Spinrites in both weights plus Pedigo was my favorite pork rind trailer L3 & L4 until Uncle Josh bought the company and killed it.
Little George tail spinner became the go to spinrites.
I had a mold made with a sliding line design that incorporate a small vinyl skirt in both spinerite shape and tail spinner that work good, don’t have the mold anymore, still have a few lures.
Tom

👍support your local tackle shop!
Tom

Like lots of terms used by bass anglers isolated structure needs to be defined.
The entire lake bottom is structure of some type. Man made structures like bridge and dock pilings could be called isolated structure or structure.
My view point is an underwater island or hump is structure and a large boulder or rock pile located on the hump is isolated structure. There are hundreds of different types of isolated structure, could be a stump in lieu of a boulder for example.
Cover is another term to define. So use the isolated rock pile or stump with a weed bed ( cover) growing on top. You can’t see the isolated structure but it’s there and so are the bass, that is the spot you want to target.
Remember that green aquatic plants produce dissolved oxygen during day light and provide shade cooling the water temps comfortable for bass and other fish.
The isolated structure provides the bass a place to hide and is home to prey, win, win, win for predators like bass.
Tom

Welcome to BR.
Everyones idea of what a big bass is varies a lot so let’s start with your goal, how big?
There are a few seasonal period where big female bass are the most catchable; the pre spawn as the colder winter water warms into the low 50’s and the spawn when those big female bass move up onto beds. That time period is now where you live and fish.
The next best time is summer nights.
In smaller bodies of water the biggest bass seek out an area with abundant prey source and good sanctuary.
Your job is to study your lakes and ponds to determine what is the preferred dominate prey source and locations where the bass can easily find them plus a safe place to rest nearby.
Targeting big bass takes work nobody local has a panacea lure or secret place they will share with you.
All we can do is suggest what is higher percentage lures and presentations.
Tom 

Excellent reel with good drag. My son caught a lot bass on his outfit because he could 2 hand cast with the balanced combo. He somehow managed to land a 26 lb channel cat with his light combo using a split shot rigged reaper!
Tom
 

Natural lake or man made impoundment?
Natural lakes normally have more dermasel meaning shoreline vegetation bass that feed in creatures and fish that live near shore.
Man made reservoirs have lots of off shore structure elements like road beds, bridges, culverts flood farms and fences etc that attract pelagic fish that bass feed on.
My guess is you have a natural lake and need to focus near shore. Most of your bass fishing will be casting to visual targets obvious to you and every other bass angler.
Keep in mind it takes power to run the more higher end sonar units.
Lithium batteries are expensive buy save over 50% of the weight.
2D with side scan is all you need.
Tom
 

Too early for both bass and crappie fishing at Big Bear lake imo, good trout fishing however.
Big Bear’s micro climate is very cold and the remains cold until May when both Bass and Crappie are more active.
The majority of Big Bears Smallmouth population lives in the western or dam end of the lake from Metcalf Bay west, deeper water areas.
Drop or Slip Shot rigged Roboworm in purple tones or oxblood red flake and black hair jigs for Smallmouth or Largemouth and marabou crappie jigs fished around docks for crappie. From shore a Thill slip bobber set about 10’-12’ with 2 lb leader, size 16 gold treble hook with Power bait dough ball about 3/8 diameter ball for trout or trout spinners, spoons like Thomas Boyant in gold colors, 4 lbs line.
Neighbor lake Arrowhead has good Smallmouth bass fishing, but a private lake.
Tom
PS, Cachuma has a good Smallmouth and Crappie in February.

You don’t want the tray any shorter, need space for the control cables to exit.
Tom

Nope

Should in the spawn cycle.
Tom

Bantam is a small reel but strong enough. The line capacity may not be suffice for larger diameter line.
If need to add force just clamp your thumb down on the spool.
Tom

Use a small rubber band under the hook barb and over the hook eye for a weed guard for a ball head.
We used to squeeze the round ball head flat on 2 sides with a vice to make a aspirin head. Old School stuff that still works.
Doll Fly, the original hair jig was a ball head.
Tom

1. Take the spool off and clean the inside.
2. Lubricate the drive shaft with the spool off, use light reel oil. Try rotating the reel handle to feel if it turns and isolates the drive shaft easily.
3. Remove the handle side side plate and drain any water. Put a dab of  reel grease on the gears and re assemble. Re install the spool and adjust the drag.
Done.
Tom 

Loomis higher end rods have a very different “action” bending % vs power rating. Generally JWR rods are fast using the upper 1/4th of the rod length flex and power rating average or similar to Dobyns. 2 = ML, 3= M and 4 = MH, 5 = H.
Tom