Late February Trip - Tips?

[QuaternarySloth]

1 minute ago, dtrs5kprs said:

Just err large on the reel. Need a big spool to maximize the benefits of the FC. Bigger than the regular "bass" 25/2500 size everyone likes to run.

Just curious, how does the bigger spool maximize the FC? I've never really used FC. Pitched around a lot of dock cables at LotZ and my go-to was P-Line CXX because it held up pretty well.

[Royal Blue]

Am I the only one that thinks that I lose a bunch of feel with the larger reel?  I've stuck to the 2500 size Pflueger for that very reason.

[dtrs5kprs]

1 hour ago, QuaternarySloth said:

Just curious, how does the bigger spool maximize the FC? I've never really used FC. Pitched around a lot of dock cables at LotZ and my go-to was P-Line CXX because it held up pretty well.

It keeps twist to a minimum, and let's it flow off the spool more freely. Use a good conditioner too. Reel Magic, KVD, etc.

6 minutes ago, Royal Blue said:

Am I the only one that thinks that I lose a bunch of feel with the larger reel?  I've stuck to the 2500 size Pflueger for that very reason.

Not a problem I've had. I've been running 3000 size Daiwas since 2006, well before I picked up the Ned. Everything from 4:1 to 6:1 gears, Excelers, Legalis, Lexas, etc.

Are you having trouble with the drag? 

[Champ188]

I think he's talking about the sheer weight of the larger reel, Dave.  I had some reservations, too, when I went from the 2500 to 3000 size in the Pfleugers I bought recently. However, I quickly found that the tradeout of a little more weight for the difference in line management (almost zero twist) was more than worth the move up in size.

[dtrs5kprs]

Y'all need to hit some curls ?.

[Ham]

If you're going to spend money to get a lighter blank and better guides, you might want a lighter reel as well. 

We all like what we like. Shimanos bind when wet. And Daiwas are heavy and slow. I've been buying Pfluegers lately. 

Last Arbor I got has big spool and is 8.5 oz vs 10.8 ounces for the Daiwa Lexa 3000 which I heard was on sale at Cabela's. 

[dtrs5kprs]

That Lexa is a tank. Bought two last year. They may be the only two I add. Super smooth, but heavy. 

The Legalis is what I'll be replacing any Excelers with, assuming they ever give up. Have replaced a couple of springs on them, but otherwise they keep running.

But I fish weird, or so I'm told. If you quit trying to feel the bait and fish, it becomes a non-issue.

[QuaternarySloth]

1 minute ago, dtrs5kprs said:

That Lexa is a tank. Bought two last year. They may be the only two I add. Super smooth, but heavy. 

The Legalis is what I'll be replacing any Excelers with, assuming they ever give up. Have replaced a couple of springs on them, but otherwise they keep running.

But I fish weird, or so I'm told. If you quit trying to feel the bait and fish, it becomes a non-issue.

I guess I will just pick one and roll with it to see how it goes. Luckily my wife supports my fishing addiction and is cool with buying stuff.

[Ham]

3 minutes ago, dtrs5kprs said:

 

But I fish weird, or so I'm told. If you quit trying to feel the bait and fish, it becomes a non-issue.

You're certainly well equipped for the way you fish. You fish a softer tip rod than most to accommodate that MASSIVE hook set. For those that haven't see it,  imagine Bo Jackson hitting a baseball as hard as he can. Dave sets the hook harder than that. 

[QuaternarySloth]

9 minutes ago, Ham said:

You're certainly well equipped for the way you fish. You fish a softer tip rod than most to accommodate that MASSIVE hook set. For those that haven't see it,  imagine Bo Jackson hitting a baseball as hard as he can. Dave sets the hook harder than that. 

I've never seen it obviously but I have this image of a hookset so massive there is no need to reel anything in, the fish comes flying into the boat.