Returning Fisherman seeks advice on equipment.

[Thirtysilver]

1 hour ago, BrianMDTX said:

That’s the ones. The Revros is a great reel for the $$, and I was pleasantly surprised at the sensitivity of the Procyon. It’s a nice finesse rig. Start off with some 6 or 8 lb mono for easing back into fishing without any hassles. 

Will do brother.  I did order some braided and flor, but I will start with mono as I never played with braided before.

Ty for all your help

[BrianMDTX]

37 minutes ago, Thirtysilver said:

Will do brother.  I did order some braided and flor, but I will start with mono as I never played with braided before.

Ty for all your help

In brief, like you I was away from fishing a long time. In my case, about 30 years! A lot had changed in that time. Never heard of finesse fishing, never heard of jerkbaits (they were plugs lol), never heard of a wacky rig. But IMO, change is good. The equipment today is top-notch and there are so many ways to catch bass today it’s mind-boggling. 

 

You can use braid with with a flouro leader; I suggest mono to start as it’s simple and one less thing to learn. Spool up some 6 or 8 lb mono, get some Gamakutsu 1/0 octopus circle hooks and 3/0 EWG worm hooks, a couple packs of 5” Senkos and start casting some wacky rigs and weightless Texas rigs and you’ll catch bass. 

 

Couple of things: close the bail manually. All my old (45-50 year) spinning reels you had to crank the handle to close the bail. That induces line twist. Cast the lure and close the bail by hand. If fishing a wacky rig, you’ll get most strikes on the initial fall. Watch your line. If it stops before it’s on the bottom or you see it start running out or to the side, lift the rod tip to the 10:00 position and reel the line in tight and those hooks will set themselves. It seems counter-productive not to set the hook, but with octopus circle hooks, the hook will set itself. 

 

Good of luck and tight lines!

[Thirtysilver]

9 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

In brief, like you I was away from fishing a long time. In my case, about 30 years! A lot had changed in that time. Never heard of finesse fishing, never heard of jerkbaits (they were plugs lol), never heard of a wacky rig. But IMO, change is good. The equipment today is top-notch and there are so many ways to catch bass today it’s mind-boggling. 

 

You can use braid with with a flouro leader; I suggest mono to start as it’s simple and one less thing to learn. Spool up some 6 or 8 lb mono, get some Gamakutsu 1/0 octopus circle hooks and 3/0 EWG worm hooks, a couple packs of 5” Senkos and start casting some wacky rigs and weightless Texas rigs and you’ll catch bass. 

 

Couple of things: close the bail manually. All my old (45-50 year) spinning reels you had to crank the handle to close the bail. That induces line twist. Cast the lure and close the bail by hand. If fishing a wacky rig, you’ll get most strikes on the initial fall. Watch your line. If it stops before it’s on the bottom or you see it start running out or to the side, lift the rod tip to the 10:00 position and reel the line in tight and those hooks will set themselves. It seems counter-productive not to set the hook, but with octopus circle hooks, the hook will set itself. 

 

Good of luck and tight lines!

I was almost 25 years late. 

Tyvm for the info, I appreciate it a ton.

Everyone tyvm

[BrianMDTX]

6 minutes ago, Thirtysilver said:

I was almost 25 years late. 

Tyvm for the info, I appreciate it a ton.

Everyone tyvm

Trust me. Keep an open mind and you will learn tons on BR. Probably the best outdoors site I’ve ever been on. 

[Thirtysilver]

10 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

In brief, like you I was away from fishing a long time. In my case, about 30 years! A lot had changed in that time. Never heard of finesse fishing, never heard of jerkbaits (they were plugs lol), never heard of a wacky rig. But IMO, change is good. The equipment today is top-notch and there are so many ways to catch bass today it’s mind-boggling. 

 

You can use braid with with a flouro leader; I suggest mono to start as it’s simple and one less thing to learn. Spool up some 6 or 8 lb mono, get some Gamakutsu 1/0 octopus circle hooks and 3/0 EWG worm hooks, a couple packs of 5” Senkos and start casting some wacky rigs and weightless Texas rigs and you’ll catch bass. 

 

Couple of things: close the bail manually. All my old (45-50 year) spinning reels you had to crank the handle to close the bail. That induces line twist. Cast the lure and close the bail by hand. If fishing a wacky rig, you’ll get most strikes on the initial fall. Watch your line. If it stops before it’s on the bottom or you see it start running out or to the side, lift the rod tip to the 10:00 position and reel the line in tight and those hooks will set themselves. It seems counter-productive not to set the hook, but with octopus circle hooks, the hook will set itself. 

 

Good of luck and tight lines!

Ok, the worms and hooks are almost all wiped out on amazon but, what is the difference between 5" and 5-inch?  I am having a brain fart. 

[MN Fisher]

12 minutes ago, Thirtysilver said:

Ok, the worms and hooks are almost all wiped out on amazon but, what is the difference between 5" and 5-inch?  I am having a brain fart. 

Nothing - just how the seller wrote it out.

[BrianMDTX]

32 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Nothing - just how the seller wrote it out.

See, Thirtysilver? Learned sumpthin’ new on BR already! ?

[Thirtysilver]

Just now, BrianMDTX said:

See, Thirtysilver? Learned sumpthin’ new on BR already! ?

I am on a budget and went against the grain with yum-Dingers.  Got 5 colors all researched online lol.  I am a nerd.  I don't know what I can do about hooks -- they are out all over.  May just wait it out because I used crappy hooks before -- never again. 

Truth  

[Big Hands]

I spent many summer vacations at Lake Lahontan, just east of Carson City. Obvious bass fishing opportunities in that area are not exactly plentiful. I have seen largemouth caught at Lahontan, but the white bass are far more prevalent there. And, the largemouth in that area are not likely to be tackle busters. 

 

I think I would look for something like a medium/fast action spinning rod in the 7' length range. I'd look into a Daiwa Revros LT2500 reel mounted to a Daiwa Tatula XT (TXT701MFS) spinning rod.

 

Is that the only good choice for that money?

 

Nope, but it's a specific recommendation within your budget range that would serve you well if you're really lost on what to get.

[Thirtysilver]

Just now, Big Hands said:

I spent many summer vacations at Lake Lahontan, just east of Carson City. Obvious bass fishing opportunities in that area are not exactly plentiful. I have seen largemouth caught at Lahontan, but the white bass are far more prevalent there. And, the largemouth in that area are not likely to be tackle busters. 

 

I think I would look for something like a medium/fast action spinning rod in the 7' length range. I'd look into a Daiwa Revros LT2500 reel mounted to a Daiwa Tatula XT (TXT701MFS) spinning rod.

 

Is that the only good choice for that money?

 

Nope, but it's a specific recommendation within your budget range that would serve you well if you're really lost on what to get.

Right on, someone that knows my lil lake by me. Is that the best place around that area for Largemouth that you know of?  I'am in Dayton and can travel around a bit.

I got my set up coming -- went with the Daiwa PCYN661MXS Procyon Rod and the  Daiwa REVLT2500 Revros Lt Spinning Reel.
Ty for the heads up

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, Thirtysilver said:

I am on a budget and went against the grain with yum-Dingers.  Got 5 colors all researched online lol.  I am a nerd.  I don't know what I can do about hooks -- they are out all over.  May just wait it out because I used crappy hooks before -- never again. 

Truth  

Yum Dingers are well spoken of by several here and get good reviews elsewhere - just that Senko is 'the King'.

 

Check Cabelas, BPS, Dick's and others. Eagle Claw Lazer and VMC are lower priced, but perfectly respectable hooks.

[BrianMDTX]

I like Yum Dingers. They’re tougher than Senkos for sure. They sink slower, which is sometimes not so good, but sometimes is great. It ain’t up to you on that point-it’s up to the bass! 
 

I found 1/0 Gamakatsu octopus circle hooks on Amazon. Not sure if they ship to you. 

[Thirtysilver]

4 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

I like Yum Dingers. They’re tougher than Senkos for sure. They sink slower, which is sometimes not so good, but sometimes is great. It ain’t up to you on that point-it’s up to the bass! 
 

I found 1/0 Gamakatsu octopus circle hooks on Amazon. Not sure if they ship to you. 

I figured I could get some nail weights to make them sink a little faster (Read about on here).  Yup for those coming but the off-set were not until feb 16th.  that's ok though.

[BrianMDTX]

1 minute ago, Thirtysilver said:

I figured I could get some nail weights to make them sink a little faster (Read about on here).  Yup for those coming but the off-set were not until feb 16th.  that's ok though.

IMO they’re worth the wait. They are great hooks for wacky rigs. 
 

I use O rings for Senkos religiously, but no need for them with Dingers. 

[NOC 1]

21 hours ago, Thirtysilver said:

Lol, you all going to make me broke before I get to step foot out there!    ty for heads up.

Hmmm...you ARE new to this aren't you?

 

It starts with a $70 rod and progresses somehow to an $80,000 bass boat (which of course requires a $50,000 truck to tow it) loaded with $500 rod and reel combos and a small tackle store worth of tackle, lures, and gadgets. Then there is the wonderful world of fishing trips to places that you think are better to fish than the ones close to home.

 

Get out while you can, take up a cheaper hobby most any of the others are...

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, NOC 1 said:

Get out while you can, take up a cheaper hobby most any of the others are...

Oh great - we were trying to keep the Bait Monkey distracted until the new guy was 'all in'...now you've woken the little primate and he's poised to attack.

[NOC 1]

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Oh great - we were trying to keep the Bait Monkey distracted until the new guy was 'all in'...now you've woken the little primate and he's poised to attack.

I think it was already too late. ?

[WRB]

You live on the Eastern slope of the High Sierra’s known for trout fishing. My advice is get a spinning outfit capable of casting Rapala minnows and inline spinners like Panther Martin.  The Slip shot rig and drop shot rigs work good on medium fast spinning tackle. 

Tom   

[Eric 26]

My vote would be to try a local mom and pop shop (preferred) but if none available try the box stores. You’ll get a better idea of what others are using and hopefully some good advice to boot.

[Thirtysilver]

13 hours ago, WRB said:

You live on the Eastern slope of the High Sierra’s known for trout fishing. My advice is get a spinning outfit capable of casting Rapala minnows and inline spinners like Panther Martin.  The Slip shot rig and drop shot rigs work good on medium fast spinning tackle. 

Tom   

So, go for the trout and hit the bass when I can? 

Ty for the info, I shall pick some up.