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Thread: On the cheap --

  1. #1
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    Default On the cheap --


    I have been fishing 5' UL for almost two decades now, but this spring I fell for a 7' Shakespeare MicroLite rod. On that I put an old Shakespeare 225UL Alpha reel (the ones with the bronze and the fleck coloring from maybe 2006 or so, but still my favorite reet). I spooled it with 4# GAMMA ESP Ice (breaks at 4.9# with a diameter of 0.006"/.15mm). I was throwing 1/64 black head on a #10 hook with a black 1.25" Bobby Garland Itty Bit Swim'R tail. All I carry are black jig heads (powder painted) and this tail only in all black and all white. That is all I find I need. One color or the other works or nothing works. I keep the buggy whip rigged in the car with me. I get to fish on a whim.
    I went sunfishing for about an hour and a half on the way home from the supermarket this morning. It wasn't a fish on every cast but it got pretty close to that. I put em all back but could have kept 8 or 10 big enough to fillet. All of em were big enough for fry hards. I had a blast.
    I used the ice line because it is softer than summer lines and lays beautifully on the spool. It is also sensitive to a fault even being soft.
    There have been a couple of pike and small largemouths at a couple of pounds that have joined the party in the past on this rod. That is great fun! The Alpha drag is just plain smooth, too. Those little reels have landed 38" and 40" muskies for me using standard GAMMA poly flex 4#.
    One doesn't need to spend a fortune to have fun with this sport.
    Thanks gunwhatgun thanked you for this post

  2. #2
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    I agree, but it sure is fun getting new stuff!!
    Likes hdhntr, BobC LIKED above post

  3. #3
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    How does Gamma hi-vis line compare in visibility to Mr. Crappie hi-vis? Does it come in bulk spools?

  4. #4
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    Agree with everything you said.
    My challenge is casting lure designs made from the parts of two soft plastic lures and rigging them on a 1/24 or 1/16 oz unpainted ball head with either a #6 or #4 hook depending on body length. I catch pretty much anything that swims : caught 5 species yesterday on different lures in different colors.


    The only difference is the line I use: 8# test/ 2 lb diameter Kastking braid spooled on spinning and spincast reels.
    If the drag is smooth and gear ratio 4:1 of faster, I'll use any reel especially under if under $40. I also like the brand rod you use. Mine is 6' - same brand and light action.
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    Man those fish can put a whack on different lures and feel 3x their size when fought on light tackle !
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  5. #5
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    I still have and use that 7ft Shakespeare Micro and if it breaks I'll go and spend that $16 again..... Great rod to keep in the truck..... Or boat.....
    Likes skeetbum, Techno2000, Redge, z520tom LIKED above post

  6. #6
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    I don't spend a whole lot of money on rods and reels. Have three ABU's but got them years ago. Most expensive one was a 6500 C3 and as I really paid about $60 for it. Have a 2500 I got about 18 yrs ago and saw one on the internet for sale somewhere for $1250! Couldn't believe anyone would pay that much for a reel. Of course I love mine and would not sell it at pretty much any price. Just isn't necessary to spend a lot of money to fish. Have a Mitchell 300 from the 1940's I wanted a new rod for. Found a Shakespere splnning combo in the Bi Mart for $19 and liked the rod, full handle! Bought it and really like it with the 300 on it. Took that little Shakespere reel and put it on a kokanee rod and feel's just fine. If all it lasted was one season it would be worth the money.
    Likes rebranger, pigboy LIKED above post

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by SKs Crappie Catching Adventures View Post
    I still have and use that 7ft Shakespeare Micro and if it breaks I'll go and spend that $16 again..... Great rod to keep in the truck..... Or boat.....
    Or the back seat of your work car. I keep mine rigged and since I almost never have a passenger it lays right across the passenger seat beside me. I got shoreline all around me no matter which direction I go... The variety of plastic tails available makes it completely unnecessary to ever rely on live bait, not for panfish; so I make frequent detours from trips to wet a line. I live by myself; so I have no one I need to answer to about take a couple of hours off here or there. I just have to be careful not to melt the ice cream on the way home from the grocery store.

  8. #8
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    You certainly don’t need expensive gear to catch fish. No doubt about that. My 10 year old son uses Shakespeare UL rods with Abu Garcia cardinal reels. He catches a bunch of fish with that setup.


    Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
    Matt Schroeder - AGFC - (877)470-3309 - [email protected]
    Likes hdhntr LIKED above post

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Schmoopie View Post
    How does Gamma hi-vis line compare in visibility to Mr. Crappie hi-vis? Does it come in bulk spools?
    I get my Gamma direct from the Black Knight factory in Pennsylvania. I don't generally use hi-vis not for UL or ice. I prefer the clear. But check out the website: Fishing Line– GammaFishing
    Bulk spools? yes in a couple of larger sizes for just about everything they offer. All sizes have charts showing line diameter and both rated and actual breaking test. I have never used Mr Crappie and prefer clear lines anyway; so I can't honestly answer you on that. Gamma PolyFlex comes in a number of colors and they have a dedicated hi-vis Panfish line. I will say this I have compared the GAMMA I use to Trilene and Stren and it is superior to both, more superior to Trilene than to Stren. I also tried Nanofil when it first came out and took it back for refund, disgusted with it. You can also get braid and fluorocarbon from Black Knight. I am not a fly fisherman but IIRC they also make FrogHair fly leaders.

    Some years back the fishing lines of GAMMA got sold to Black Knight industries, who kept the product name and the process. I did not notice any decrease in quality. Ordering direct online gets solid service from Black Knight and quick turn around. I have been dealing with them for years and have no complaints. The only hi-vis I use is when I upgrade to 8 pound yellow for carp. But what I keep in the car for whim outings is clear 4# ESP Ice and clear 4# PolyFlex on UL rods. I keep a selection of jig heads and plastic tails right there beside the rods. I find that with GAMMA I really do not need the lack of stretch of a braid to feel the lightest bites, but then I am also a line and rod tip watcher, too. That extra bit of stretch is a also buffer that is sometimes needed on the UL setup, because everything eats tiny quite commonly. Bonus game fish are surprisingly common even on the smallest offerings.

    It is important to match your LINE DIAMETER and LIMPNESS to the ACTION of the rod/reel combination and the WEIGHT of the lure being cast. To handle over weight fish you need to be able to trust your drag and then it falls to your skill both in presentation and handling hookups.
    Likes gunwhatgun, Fishfishwish, z520tom LIKED above post

  10. #10
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    I couldn't agree with you more. Ive caught a lot of fish on cheap rods and reels.

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