The Dam Quick Microlite with a fun size large mouth bass on an ultralight TFO 6'o spin/fly rod cannot have more fun on any tackle, the Microlite has a great drag system and performed flawlessly
** the reel BTW was made for me from scratch ( parts ) by Fred, what a talented good natured person he is **
NICE! :)
You'll be amazed how big of fish you can catch with these set ups.
I like 4 lb. blue Stren best on these rigs.... A bit of stretch with low memory and abrasion resistant.
Keep on catching!
CH, there is a 4 lb test Trilene line spooled on that reel, you really want to try a tremendous line, treat yourself to some Berkley Nanolfil, not a braid or monofilament, zero coiling, good knot strength and most of You'll find you will have increased your casting distance by 50 percent easily, not affiliated with these folks, just a firm believer in a good product when I see and use it and wanting to pass it on to my fellow fisher people ..
Paul
Quote from: SilverRidge on February 09, 2017, 04:00:43 PM
------- you really want to try a tremendous line, treat yourself to some Berkley Nanolfil, not a braid or monofilament, zero coiling, good knot strength and most of You'll find you will have increased your casting distance by 50 percent easily,-----------
Paul
Thanks.
Never tried it, but you describe excellent properties for a light line.
I'll give it a shot.
I know I hate Spiderwire and never cared much for the old Berkley Trilene. But there are types of Stren I'm not overly fond of either. :)
BTW - the good old mono Stren has about the same properties you describe.
Just wondering if you get wind knots with that nanolfil. I've tried several brands of braid using a spinning reel with sibikis and those wind knots are horrible. Thanks
The line is not a braid or any kind of monofilament, some type of synthetic mixture that IMHO makes this the finest line I've ever used, zero memory, used 4-6-8 lb test and have never experienced a wind knot, that's all and good BUT, the thing that fascinates me about this line is the casting distance, not to be believed until one uses it, you know all of us fisher people buy every tackle product we read or hear about in our never ending quest for the ultimate tackle that will make us more proficient in the sport we have chosen, I know I do, but in the long run they are very rarely close to what they advertise. Like the majority of you members been doing it for many moons, and this product has caught my eye more so than any purchase in a long while, again I sound like a salesman for Berkley nanofil lines, no interest in the company other than using their product ..thanks for listening to my rant, I think I put too much sugar in my morning coffee ...
Paul
Darn it.... ;D you're forcing me to go buy a spool of this stuff now. I have a freshly repaired & serviced old 110 on a Berkley Cherrywood rod that needs fresh line. I live out in the sticks so I hope they have it at Wally World. If not it's shopping at Amazon time (as usual)
Looks like I'd want either the "clear mist" or the "low vis green". I'm guessing the "clear mist" is the most invisible?
Looks like this would be especially good in larger size test if it holds up to it's claims.
Sorry I twisted your arm CH ;D ;D I just put some clear mist 4 lb test on my 110n, this line isn't inexpensive I might add believe I paid like $19.95 for 150 yard spool, FishUsa, or Cabelas ( which I was recently told is being bought out by Bass pro shops ) usually inventories the line as fair prices .. Good luck and if you do purchase it let me know yours thoughts on the line, it looks and feels like no other line you've ever handled ...
Paul
Quote from: SilverRidge on February 10, 2017, 06:14:18 PM
Sorry I twisted your arm CH ;D ;D I just put some clear mist 4 lb test on my 110n, this line isn't inexpensive I might add believe I paid like $19.95 for 150 yard spool, FishUsa, or Cabelas ( which I was recently told is being bought out by Bass pro shops ) usually inventories the line as fair prices .. Good luck and if you do purchase it let me know yours thoughts on the line, it looks and feels like no other line you've ever handled ...
Paul
OK :) will do.
Looks like I'll be getting mine Amazon Prime style.
Looks like you can get better deals on 17 lb test in this line.
Likely try some of this too. Looks like good stuff for a big catfish rig.
17 lb test isn't your run of the mill line for freshwater fishing small streams and creeks, no doubt that line test is good for big lake fishing, that's probably why its so much less expensive due to its popularity, I think the heaviest line I've used on a spinnng reel was 10 lb test, the lighter the better for me, more sporting with ultralight tackle IMHO, that's what peaked my interest in the 265 Microlite, the Daiwa 500C in my collection is even smaller than the 265' the 700C is about the same size as the 265, on one of the 500C is spooled a 2 weight line, that's lightweight ! Still very effective if used correctly ..
Well yeah, I agree on the light line. I actually have 3 110's - each spooled different and on different size rods for the purpose used.
2 lb. 4 lb. 6 lb.
I also mainly use 10 lb. or less line. Except when it comes to hauling out big Blue or Shovelhead cats from the larger rivers. You have 15 to 50 lb. fish in current and snags. In that scenario light line is not going to fair well unless you get real lucky.
I also do a lot of channel cat fishing in local lakes and use either my 110N on a 7 ft. ultra light rod loaded with 6 lb. test., my Mitchell 300 loaded with 8lb. Or my Penn 4000 loaded with 10 lb. depending on the day, location and bait.
I'm a rabid ultra light guy though. Mainly fishing trout, bass, walleye, sauger, crappie. either wading or kayaking. And I love using my lightest outfits to catch much bigger fish as a challenge. I've caught some pretty good size pike in Michigan on ultra lights though and some pretty big carp and bass.
Ultra light fishing is very addictive. And Smallmouth are my favorite. Not many things more enjoyable than wading down a clean stream through the woods, nobody around and casting roostertails behind rocks and riffles using a 5ft. rod with a Quick 110 loaded with 4lb. :) . Been doing that for nearly 50 years and it hasn't gotten old yet.
Give the new Penn Fierce ll 1000 a try. I am seldom impressed with the newer ultra lights being I'm a die hard vintage spin fisherman, but this reel is a dandy. USA made, all metal, fantastic drag. Great price too! $50 on Amazon.
Cheers
Quote from: CH on February 11, 2017, 07:14:47 PM
Give the new Penn Fierce ll 1000 a try. I am seldom impressed with the newer ultra lights being I'm a die hard vintage spin fisherman, but this reel is a dandy. USA made, all metal, fantastic drag. Great price too! $50 on Amazon.
Cheers
You might want to double check on the Made in USA part. It's my understanding that the Z & Torque are their only USA made spinning reels.
Quote from: Midway Tommy on February 11, 2017, 10:16:17 PM
Quote from: CH on February 11, 2017, 07:14:47 PM
Give the new Penn Fierce ll 1000 a try. I am seldom impressed with the newer ultra lights being I'm a die hard vintage spin fisherman, but this reel is a dandy. USA made, all metal, fantastic drag. Great price too! $50 on Amazon.
Cheers
You might want to double check on the Made in USA part. It's my understanding that the Z & Torque are their only USA made spinning reels.
Ok, sorry, my mistake. Thank you for correcting me. :)
I had to dig deep to find out the lower end Penn spinners are in fact china made.
That said, they are still said to be made to Penn specs and have to pass Penn quality control.
Still great reels that are very well made IMHO.
And truthfully, these days, made in USA "unfortunately" does not always mean quality. I've bought a lot of USA made garbage.
A real shame as I remember when made in the USA was always a symbol of quality.
I'm hijacking my own thread here, talking about made USA products it's a shame we have that label as inferior workmanship, we are all a product of our environment, Just read that Gander mountain stores are filing for bankruptcy and the Cabelas being bought out by Bass pro shops is on shaky grounds, that's what the WWW will do to major chains ....
Talk to you gents later, on my way to the local Gun show down here in south Florida
Paul
Quote from: SilverRidge on February 12, 2017, 01:03:47 PM
I'm hijacking my own thread here, talking about made USA products it's a shame we have that label as inferior workmanship, we are all a product of our environment, Just read that Gander mountain stores are filing for bankruptcy and the Cabelas being bought out by Bass pro shops is on shaky grounds, that's what the WWW will do to major chains ....
Talk to you gents later, on my way to the local Gun show down here in south Florida
Paul
DAM Quick ..... never was USA made. ;) so I reckon I've always chose quality first over buying American. Of course they match nicely to good old fashioned "American made" Fenwick rods. ;D
I buy quality stuff no matter where it comes from.
Quality is what matters to me.And "true value" for the money spent.
The shame is that the American work ethic is not what it use to be.
The WWW offers choice & competition. Competition & choice is a good thing.
Buy American if it deserves to be bought. But quality & value for the money is what is most important.
Ah yes.... nice warm rain last night - temps in the high sixties. Heading down to the creek to throw hand made USA jigs at smallies & redeye with my West German reel mounted on my USA rod, loaded with my USA line. Global warming does have it's benefits.
my favorite mono I load most my reels with is Ande 6lb test. Hard to beat for the money. My favorite reels now are the dam spinners 110 and 220 suite most my needs, and older penn spinfishers 714, 722, and 430's I have one 4300 like it too all those are USA made. The DAMs in my opinion and after going through the reels are made a little stouter, the AR design of DAM is much better than what any of the penns have I think. I haven't tried braid but have few reels spooled with 15lb braid, it has it's advantages and disadvantages. I like the braid for when I really want the extra sensitivity it provides. I haven't tried the nanofil the price has turned me off for the most part. The powerpro braid is my favorite not as cheap as mono, but it's great quality made here, and not horribly expensive when caught on sale or auctions on the fleabay. I don't spool a ton of reels with it and it last a long time so really the cost isn't bad. CH I'm with you I'm a full on smallmouth addict I like catching everything from drum and sauger on the ohio river to catfish, but I never get enough of a hard pulling smallie in river current on light tackle.
Another dam ultralight I'd like to get a hold of is a 1000. Every time one comes up on fleabay it goes for more than my cheap but is willing to pay for a reel that I need to go through and service.
Quote from: handyandy on February 14, 2017, 08:49:41 PM
Another dam ultralight I'd like to get a hold of is a 1000. Every time one comes up on fleabay it goes for more than my cheap but is willing to pay for a reel that I need to go through and service.
The Champion Series, 00s & 01s, are still good reels but not quite up to the quality of the Microlite, 100 & 110N. They're a little overpriced for my thinking.
I agree I think they usually go for too much hence why I don't have one. Would be nice to have a metal spool wouldn't mind having one I could put braid on for when I really want the sensitivity. Silverridge what is that rod you have your microlite on?
HandyAndy, the rod in the photo is a TFO 6'0 two piece combination fly/spin, one of the many ultralight rods, both spinning and fly fishing
I have been fortunate to acquire, as you can see I'm an ultra light fanatic, even extreme UL, have a few 4'0 fly rods in the quiver that are fun and sporting fishing tools when used correctly, down here in south Florida you can't beat a 6-8 inch Bluegill, shellcracker, pumpkinseed, exotic on small ultralight tackle, great fishing fish for their size ...
Quote from: SilverRidge on February 09, 2017, 04:00:43 PM
CH, there is a 4 lb test Trilene line spooled on that reel, you really want to try a tremendous line, treat yourself to some Berkley Nanolfil, not a braid or monofilament, zero coiling, good knot strength and most of You'll find you will have increased your casting distance by 50 percent easily, not affiliated with these folks, just a firm believer in a good product when I see and use it and wanting to pass it on to my fellow fisher people ..
Paul
My update on the Nanofil alternative as line..........
OK, sounded good & I was tempted. But after talking to different friends who tried it and reading reviews, well I've decided it's not for me.
All it is is "unbraided braid".... same stuff just not braided. It is famous for casting super far but has serious downsides IMHO.
1- very expensive.
2-- very thin diameter .... which mean it takes a lot to fill the reel ( can you say expensive again?) & yes I realize you could do like braid and just use bigger tests that offer bigger diameters. But that kind of makes the "thinner/cast farther aspect less of an attraction.
3- not abrasion resistant. So wears, cuts and nicks easily. Not good for snags, rocks, oyster beds, etc. ( that means potential line breaks easier while fighting fish.)
4- hard to tie good strong knots with. Knots need tied wet, not dry. Needs special knots for this line. Knots not as strong.
So, for me the downsides are not worth it.
Regular mono or carbon casts plenty good enough for me. The reel, rod, lure and technique also has a lot to do with casting distance.
But it's always great to consider or try new things. The quest for perfect gear is never ending.
And of course these are my feelings for what is best for my needs. Everyone has different tastes and needs.
Cheers
Everyone has their specific expectations and, therefor, favorites. Personally, for freshwater fishing, I wouldn't use braid if I got it for free. I hate the toll it takes on rod eyes, roller guides and bail arm edges adjacent to line rollers. Some swear by the minimal stretch but to me it's a huge negative factor. I feel the same way about fluorocarbon. I'll sometimes use a fluor leader but I don't like the fact that it has a tendency to sink to the bottom, plus knots take extra care. Give me a high quality mono in 4, 6 or 8# test any day over low stretch lines. I've played with about every so called "quality" mono made. To me loop memory is one of, if not the, most important attributes of any quality mono. For my money, and the way I fish, you can't beat Trilene XL, and I prefer clear over anything else. Give me a light weight quality extra fast rod, say like a St. Croix Legend Elite or comparable, a good reel and the right weight XL and I'll feel every little pebble on the bottom or every wiggle of the minnow. Plus, when you set the hook the stretch in the mono compensates a little for the extra fast rod. A lot of people cuss twist and line loop memory but I've found the trick to diminishing that is that whenever my outfit sits unused for more than 2 weeks I fasten the hook to a tree branch, walk out about 50 or 60 yards of line and stretch it a few times. You'd be surprised how much difference that can make on line memory and castability.
Quote from: Midway Tommy on February 16, 2017, 08:54:30 PM
---------- Personally, for freshwater fishing, I wouldn't use braid if I got it for free--------
AMEN TO THAT! & for much the same reasons.
Well different strokes for different folks as my grandson would say, I appreciate and find interesting each person comments both negative and positive, thats what we call the learning process, just a few comments without sounding like the old philosopher, at this point in time we live in a tremendous ever changing technological age relating to products, synthetics, metals, composite materials, I see this an opportunity to improve on the way we use and approach things, fishing is a prime example and I for one want to step forward and try out and if applicable use these new space materials to make me more proficient in the undertaking, be that said I know many people are traditionists and feel the older products are more efficent, if that's you pleasure so be it, but and please don't misinterpret my statement, this person does not want to walk out 20-60 yards numerous times to take the memory out of my line I want to purchase a line with no memory and do away with all the outside influences, and get to fishing immediately with full confidence in my tackle ...
Quote from: SilverRidge on February 17, 2017, 04:21:14 PM
Well different strokes for different folks as my grandson would say...........this person does not want to walk out 20-60 yards numerous times to take the memory out of my line I want to purchase a line with no memory and do away with all the outside influences, and get to fishing immediately with full confidence in my tackle ...
Agreed, that's why there's more than one option out there............It's not a big ordeal, 5 minutes max and you're good to go 'til the next time it sits around for a few weeks. It's also good for finding nicks, abrasions and line weakness, before that fish of a lifetime does. :)
While we are the subject of fishing lines, just outa curiosity do you learned gents use snap swivels or some type of connector when tying on lures or do you tie directly from the line to the lure? And why? Thanks
Quote from: SilverRidge on February 17, 2017, 06:07:02 PM
While we are the subject of fishing lines, just outa curiosity do you learned gents use snap swivels or some type of connector when tying on lures or do you tie directly from the line to the lure? And why? Thanks
With ultra light I always tie directly. IMHO snaps, swivels and such ruin the action of U.L. lures. IMHO the whole idea behind U.L. fishing is less is better. (BTW- I tie directly with all fishing unless terminal tackle is needed for certain types of rigs calling for it's use - usually for bait fishing = double hooks, spreaders, drop sinkers, etc, etc or because the quarry has sharp teeth = hence a leader)
Also IMHO......I'm all for adopting new technology when it's an improvement, but.... new does not automatically mean better. A whole lot of old technology surviving the years because if it's good...it's good and time only reinforces proving it's good. Like a good old technology DAM Quick reel :).
Lastly with U.L. weight lines I personally have never had to un-spool any and stretch the loops out. Maybe its because I use good old fashioned Blue Stren? <GRIN> But all joking aside, I'm thinking U.L. lines likely do not tend to have this problem as much. (I have tugged heavier mono to get out the loops a few times, was not a big deal) And a bit of stretch is also a very good thing, especially in ultra light line.(also IMHO) And like Tommy pointed out...a good rod has a lot of feel.
On a related note -- a lot of people make the mistake of reeling while the fish is pulling the drag. This causes your line to twist and loop up. ( with a spinning reel) The correct way is to never reel while the fish is pulling line out with the drag. Pump the rod and reel the slack.
I guess I like mono because over all it's the best line.... invisible, priced right, doesn't sink fast, holds up well, etc, etc. Of course I am speaking U.L. fishing. Although mono is great in many applications, other types of lines are better in some applications. They all have their niche.
Like the old Chevy or Ford conversation... To each their own. ( I am a Chevy guy btw!)
This conversation made me think back to when I was a kid and using steel rods with old Pflueger bait casters spooled up with some very groovy multi-colored cloth braid. Baited up with either Wheaties dough balls or big fat night crawlers caught fresh the night before in the back yard. Caught a lot of carp & bullhead fishing the river by the house like that.
Quote from: SilverRidge on February 17, 2017, 06:07:02 PM
While we are the subject of fishing lines, just outa curiosity do you learned gents use snap swivels or some type of connector when tying on lures or do you tie directly from the line to the lure? And why? Thanks
Kind of like CH, it depends on what I'm fishing for and what I'm fishing with. When jig fishing, whether it's UL, light or medium light (I seldom fish heavier than a light reel except for musky or pike) I tie direct. I've messed with the quick change clips a few time, but not often and don't really care that much for them. Live bait rigging always has a direct tie barrel or ball swivel ahead of the leader. Same scenario with toothy critters and lures, barrel swivel ahead of the steel leader. As far as straight up lures it depends on the lure and application. Trolling lures will have at least a 3' heavier # mono leader with a barrel swivel ahead of the leader, sometimes even a 3 way swivel with a 2' weighted dropper. If the lure calls for a snap swivel to obtain truer action, like many of the newer lures, so be it. I don't do a lot of bass fishing so my preferences probably aren't real scientific, it's just how I like to fish. In order of preference, for me, it's live bait rigging, jig &/or jig/minnow, and when I feel really lazy and want to relax, slip bobber. ;D
I don't use braid on everything for the stated reasons already but I do like it on some rods for early spring/winter small mouth bass, or jigging for sauger/walleye when the water is still rather cold I prefer it for the super sensitivity and fast sink rate. I have three rods/reels with braid and it's only 10lb. I have one large bait caster with 60lb braid for snagging paddle fish big cats and the occasional salt water trip. I may spool up my dam super with 60lb braid as well not sure debating between it or 30lb mono. Most of rods which are used mostly for bass fishing have 6lb ande mono at least 6 or more have that. Another two or three have 8lb mono Ande again. Have a large spinning set up with 25lb mono. My favorite mono I've used has been Ande. With the braid I usually use a mono or fluro leader so I have something more abrasion resistant at the end. As far as swivels goes depends on what I'm fishing like a lot have said.
caught these yesterday afternoon evening on the ohio river below mcalpine lock and dam. Caught about half of them on the little dam 110 Fred made for me on a 5' 6" st croix premier graphite with 6lb ande mono. The rest were had on old penn 430 I went through with 15lb braid, 8 flouro leader, falcon 6' 6" rod.
Quote from: handyandy on February 27, 2017, 06:43:15 PM
caught these yesterday afternoon evening on the ohio river below mcalpine lock and dam. Caught about half of them on the little dam 110 Fred made for me on a 5' 6" st croix premier graphite with 6lb ande mono. The rest were had on old penn 430 I went through with 15lb braid, 8 flouro leader, falcon 6' 6" rod.
NICE! :)
Are those sauger or saugeye..... can't tell from the pic. Looking like saugeye.
Been catching saugeye myself for about a month in the tail waters of one lake I fish. Just started getting into good walleye fishing in a neighboring lake in the last week.
Saugeye best on Rapala & white doll fly. Walleye best on spinner/worm and jig/worm combos.
Been using my super long 7ft. ultra light Diawa rod, Quick 110N spooled with 6lb. blue Stren mono on the "pike perch".
Darn channels & blues have been hitting great last couple weeks in the Ohio too! And white bass & crappie up early.
Smallmouth time coming up fast now!
There are some perks to global warming in this part of the country this year. Of course other parts have been slammed with blizzards, ice & floods.
Our luck in the Ohio valley won't hold out either I suspect.............I'm looking for lots of flooding followed by super hot and dry summer. That seems to be the usual pattern for the area in these kind of years.
We shall see.
Till then -- KEEP ON CATCHING! :)
all sauger sometimes get a occasional walleye or saugeye. I like catching them but don't always get a whole lot of days I'm able to go while they are in at the dams and the river isn't way up. Who knows what the spring and summer will be. I prefer a little drier summer that keeps the rivers down and better for smallies. Around here on the ohio the sauger always seem to prefer white bucktail jigs or twister tail jig tipped with a minnow. I use a 1/2oz jig on up depending on the current where ever they are holding. When they are holding in deeper pockets it can take some weight to get the bottom and jig well depending on the current. Sauger will probably begin to disperse soon and then white bass, stripers, and wipers will be coming in.