Conventional

[Stewie]

I only fish conventional, mostly plugging, no levelwind either. This year's goal is to learn to work a pencil with it. Nearly all my fishing buddies goof on me constantly for not using a spinner. If I can't master the pencil by the second week in June, I'm gong to have to go get one of them spinner thingies myself.

[Islander77]

Originally Posted by Stewie

I only fish conventional, mostly plugging, no levelwind either. This year's goal is to learn to work a pencil with it. Nearly all my fishing buddies goof on me constantly for not using a spinner. If I can't master the pencil by the second week in June, I'm gong to have to go get one of them spinner thingies myself.

Stewie.. Cast pencil grip rod between legs and wrap left hand around rod pinch line to keep pressuer on it and to twich rod reel slow easy as a spinner with a pencil.... I too fish convench id say 99.5 % of the time.. I only throw a spinner outta boredom... As YT and Thumper can atest to...
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[redlite]

I am the WORST conventional caster in the world, but for drifting eels in the canal in my opinion it is crucial to use conventional. Everything else gets the spinner. Jig on finger with aqauskinz finger thingy and set hook with finger then crank on to VS.
Reason for conventional when drifting eels being, that as your eel rips along in the current, with a conventional line comes off and drifts smoothly unencumbered looking natural. With a spinner, the line does not peel off as smoothly as the line hangs up on the spool. every miniscule pause in line going out causes the eel to swing in against the side as you act as a pivot point. Subsequently, your eel does not stay in the sweet zone long enough. Casting distance is sacrificed a little with the conventional vs spinner, but not much. I have had way too many problems trying to flip a bail closed on a spinner when the fish is running. So I don't lkie a bailed spinner for drifting eels. Most of the time it feels the tension and spits it.
I still have a backlash to pick out from this past year.......

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by redlite

I am the WORST conventional caster in the world, but for drifting eels in the canal in my opinion it is crucial to use conventional. Everything else gets the spinner. Jig on finger with aqauskinz finger thingy and set hook with finger then crank on to VS.
Reason for conventional when drifting eels being, that as your eel rips along in the current, with a conventional line comes off and drifts smoothly unencumbered looking natural. With a spinner, the line does not peel off as smoothly as the line hangs up on the spool. every miniscule pause in line going out causes the eel to swing in against the side as you act as a pivot point. Subsequently, your eel does not stay in the sweet zone long enough. Casting distance is sacrificed a little with the conventional vs spinner, but not much. I have had way too many problems trying to flip a bail closed on a spinner when the fish is running. So I don't lkie a bailed spinner for drifting eels. Most of the time it feels the tension and spits it.
I still have a backlash to pick out from this past year.......

Do you realize that you're to blame for him thinking that he wants to go back to convech? After speaking with you, he tells me he's gonna start fishing eels in the canal, and is even considering building an eel tank. He wouldn't be caught dead last year with an eel on his line.

[OLD GOAT]

Stewie Hope this helps. I press down on the line against the reel crossbar so that the line between the crossbar and the spool are packed tight regardless of the rod waggling with loose line to a surface plug.
I find it's easier with mono.

[Stewie]

Mister Goat, That's what I was going to try(got some hints last fall). Islander cheats and uses a levelwind(a really really fast reel though). I've gotten by this far without pencils, now I'm going to need a bigger bag.

[MAKAI]

And more rods , Stewie

[Islander77]

Originally Posted by Stewie

Mister Goat, That's what I was going to try(got some hints last fall). Islander cheats and uses a levelwind(a really really fast reel though). I've gotten by this far without pencils, now I'm going to need a bigger bag.

Hey my Abu and saltist are not that fast And yea I use a LW.. ok Stewie I like my fingers and thumbs to not be cut to bone with braid from fish runnin.. Now on the boat all bout non levelwinds untill vertical jiggin... The lw/ non lw argument dont affect me seein as I still say you dont need to throw 200 yards.. seein as most the time the fish are hiding around shore structure 30 feet in front of you or under you depending on where your standin... But havin cast your saltist non level I will say its still a fast reel.. also if your usin your thumb to wind on line your all ready half way to the pinch method i mentioned..

[MAKAI]

Originally Posted by fishbones

Do you realize that you're to blame for him thinking that he wants to go back to convech? After speaking with you, he tells me he's gonna start fishing eels in the canal, and is even considering building an eel tank. He wouldn't be caught dead last year with an eel on his line.

Mike, for this there is no safety net.
The eels will become your Gorgon sisters.
Only Perseus can help you then.

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by fishbones

He wouldn't be caught dead last year with an eel on his line.

could say the same for you up until fall!
sooner or later everyone comes to their senses.

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

could say the same for you up until fall!
sooner or later everyone comes to their senses.

I blame you for sending me down that dark road. Remember the night when I was fishing eels on your boat while you and Spence were gazing into the sky looking for shooting stars? That was the first time I had fished eels in years. Then I used them one more time that fall and a lot last fall. I still use plugs probably 75 percent of the time, though.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by fishbones

Do you realize that you're to blame for him thinking that he wants to go back to convech? After speaking with you, he tells me he's gonna start fishing eels in the canal, and is even considering building an eel tank. He wouldn't be caught dead last year with an eel on his line.

He always scoffed whenever I asked if he wanted me to pick up a few extra eels for him.