C&R

Anyone know anything about the Quantum EXO pti spinning reel. I see it can be purchased for about $100 and it usually has a price of $200. Hope someone can give me some "experienced advice" Thanks, Bobby

Thanks to all who replied to my inquiry as to a good dependable spinning reel back in June. After reading all the posts, I bought 2 pflueger Presidents and a Cabala's Prodigy. Well, after 5 floats over the last 3 weeks, the President that I use 70% of the time is already starting to bind on retrieve. There where so many good reports on the President reel that I thought I had found a good inexpensive ($50) reel. Well, that is not the case for me. I fell victim to the "low price" again. Back to Cabala's she goes. So now,,,,,,guess I need to look for a reel that has "shielded Bearings",,,,,,,,,,,,ANY SUGGESTION???? AGAIN. BWT,,,,,floated yesterday and caught lots of good ones on topwater on a frog,,,,,,,,,one largemouth 20". That cooler weather was a bonus. Thanks for any suggestions.

Yep, you will loose a few with a pinched barb,,,,,,,,,but you will be able to remove so many more deeply hooked smallies and therefore not kill them. That way they will continue to live and grow and my grandkids will be able to catch them later.

Wow, wow,,,,,,,,,,,what great responses to my shimano problem. I learned "WAY TOO MUCH'' about spinning reels. However, thanks to all who commented. I recently settled in on a Cabalas's Prodigy ($70- on sale) and thanks to a fellow member who alerted me to a sale tackle warehouse had over the 4th, I bought a Pfleugar President 6930 for $50, which included shipping and no tax. Felt those two prices were good. Wanted to try the Quantum Energy. Too much $$$ for me...... but hope to catch it one day on a good sale. Love the Prodigy and President. However, it looks like it will be another week before I can get back on the creeks due to what "Mother Nature" just unloaded on us here in S.W. Mo. After reading about some members using bait casters for light soft plastics, lures, etc,,, because of spinning reels not holding up,,,,,,,, I would love any suggestions on a good bait casting set up that can throw the "light stuff" for smallies. Yahoo,,,,,,,,thanks to all

Wow, can't believe we r slamming shimano products, but that is the way I feel too,,,,,,,,unless u want to pay wayyyyyyyyy to much $$$$ for a creek reel. Hey Al, what model in the okuma and Johnny Morris series do u like?

Last year I bought a couple of $80 shimano sahara spinning reels thinking I was buying a good quality reel for my creek fishing. They worked perfect for about a month. Then I noticed with a little moisture on them from normal use, the reeling became rough and difficult . It did not take long on the internet to find countless articles describing the same problem. I am sure Shimano will repair them, but I am not sure if they will correct the problem. Looking for some suggestions on some reels under a $100 that are holding up for you guys. Anyone know anything about the pflueger President ($60) ?? Thanks

Last year I bought a couple of $80 shimano sahara spinning reels thinking I was buying a good quality reel for my creek fishing. They worked perfect for about a month. Then I noticed with a little moisture on them from normal use, the reeling became rough and difficult . It did not take long on the internet to find countless articles describing the same problem. I am sure Shimano will repair them, but I am not sure if they will correct the problem. Looking for some suggestions on some reels under a $100 that are holding up for you guys. Anyone know anything about the pflueger President ($60) ?? Thanks

Hopefully someone will post what they know about the white bass and water situation on the Spring and Neosho rivers. Thanks

Great info. Confirms my thoughts about needing to stay in contact with the rig. So many articles indicated that the "no feel", or "total slack line" approach is the way to fish it, but that seems to invite gut hooks. And I ALWAYS pinch my barbs, but still hate to preform dental work on the smallies that swallow it, even with a pinched barb. My smallie fishing is 99% on s.w.missouri creeks. Seems the ned rig isn't suited for any real current where a bitsy tube is. Anyone effectively fish the ned in lite to medium current with success. Seems you may need to us a heaver jig, and then that seems to go away from how you are suppose to fish the ned. So how do you fish it in current?

I will be using the neg rig this year after all the positive articles listed here. However, what about this: seems the smallies will be swallowing a lot of these rigs when fishing it the way you are suppose to. That is, fishing in on slack line, etc. I love the bitsy tube, and have a lot of trouble keeping them from swallowing the tube.

Has anyone tried this "slide off weed guard" made by Creative Fish Company? Don't see how it would stay on after catching a smallie,,,,but it sure looks good to me. Hope someone has some results for me. Thx.

Sold

I have a very good and little used ( maybe 5 hrs ) 54 lb motor guide with foot control that has a 36" shaft. I want to trade it for a similar one that has a 42" shaft as I just got a bigger boat. I am in Bella Vista. Thx. Bobby

Hitting Elk or Indian creek tomorrow afternoon. Anyone have any comments on topwater possibilities this time of year. Topwater sure was good this year, but I haven't been on the river in about a month. Thanks for any comments.

Please, someone post something about smallies,,,,,,,,,I am dying to hear if anyone is doing any good at all. Ok, sorry guys this isn't a smallmouth story, but,,,,,,,,,,,, We were chasing white bass last Fri on the Spring River east of Neosho above Twin Bridges in Oklahoma,,,,,,,,not catching anything worth bragging about,,,,,,,,,,but as we were "trolling" back down the river toward the bridge, I hooked "a log" on my 6lb test line using a 2" white crank bait. Hit reverse on the motor to try and keep it from breaking off the log,,,,,,,,,,then, it seems like something was slowly pulling my line, but I am thinking surely '' not a fish" that heavy,,,,,,,,,,yep, something was pullin for sure. Well, after about 30 min of slowly following something with my boat, I got over him and was finally able to start dragging him up. Well as u can imagine, it was a spoonbill.........snagged in the tail with 1 hook,,,,,,,,,,after getting him to the surface, he decided to go down again for another 15 min or so........Finally, we got him up and with our net getting 1/2 of him and grabbing the other half with his paddle,,,,,,,,,,,we got him in the boat...........6 lb test and 1 hook in the tail.........yahoo. Is it time for smallies????????? Anyone got a report about a real fish................meaning not a spoonbill

Looking to buy a newer camo boat for hunting and fishing. 16' 6" to17' 6", min of 40 hp, console, 2008 or newer. Thanks

Al, about how many did your jerkbaits catch compared to your hair jigs.??? Also, I am mainly a summer time creek guy and use a tube + a lot of buzz baits. About when you think the soft plastics like a tube become effective?? Thanks

Phil, I am going to try your jig fishing this coming Mon. from my boat. Thinking that with the much warmer temps, the corp. may not be generating much. If so, will your technique still be productive in slow water? Especially if I can't get up to the cable, I may have to stay below Point Royale. What do you think? Thanks

Looking to change to a "sit on top kayak" from my canoe for fishing the local rivers for smallies. Have always like the canoe for being able to sit higher in the water and also to be able to stand up when I wanted. I understand the "sit on top" kayaks offers those same features. Please share any personal info any of you may have,,,,, like model name, size, price, etc. Hope someone knows of a good one that is not in the price range of the Hobie kayaks. Thanks for sharing.

Wow,,,,,,,,17" s ,,,,,,,,most people tend to "over estimate" the size of their fish caught. That one looks bigger than that to me,,,,,,,,,,,, Way to be "honest"

Moguy, thx for the post. Seems like your wife had made what I am looking for. Just want a mild power 1.5 magnification made for polarized, wrap around sunglasses. Does that sound like what ur wife had?? Do u remember what the cost was??

So Al, you say you are aware of single vision sunglasses that are polarized (where the lens has only one power, not bifocals). That is what I am wanting. So far I have not found that combination yet. And if so, you got them from your eye doctor?

Has anyone tried any polarized, single vision sunglasses? I am not talking about the ones that are bifocals- the ones with the magnifying part on the bottom of the lens. I am looking for a pair of polarized, wrap around glasses where the entire lens is magnified, like reading glasses. I have tried the clip on polarized shades over my glasses, but they are a pain and don't keep the sun from coming in on the sides. That is why I am hoping to find a wrap around type frame. Boring subject, but what else are we to talk about when there is ice, snow and single digit temps here for a while. Thanks for any leads,,,,,,,,,,, Bobby

TrophyFishR, Do you have a fishing report??? I'm going this p.m.

You say, "about to get really good",,,,,what do you think will last the longest??? ,,soft plastic or topwater bite,