Master Bassers Blog

   This is my first product review, so I have decided to review one of my newest pieces of equipment, The Johnny Morris signature series Spinning reel.

I have found this reel to be lightweight, and durable (so far).  I have been fishing with it for 1 month and have caught many fish, nothing over 4lbs though, so the demand I have placed on it up to now has been insignificant. I enjoy the smooth casting, the easy grip handle, and the sensitive drag system.  They all work well for me and my style of urban angling.  I like to rip it!

 I have spooled it with 15lb power pro braid, and spooled on my second spool is 30 lb power pro braid.  I will be switching up very soon for the fall salmon, that should be the true test of this reel.  

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Here are some of the specs for the reel.

   JM4000 11BB Reel features: 
-Computer designed balanced rotor to reduce vibration 
-One way clutch system 
- Spool diameter: roughly 60mm, main body roughly140mm in length 
-Strong hollow bail wire 
-Machine cut brass pinion gear 
-Rear supporting pinion, low radial clearance 
-Forged aluminum spool with hole 
-Gear Ratio: 5.1:1 
-Folding handle with durable plastic knob
-Durable, smooth and string drag system

-Brand new soft carry pouch.

-Line Capacity:
0.35mm/145m    12lbs/160yds
0.40mm/110m    14lbs/120yds
0.45mm/85m      16lbs/95yds

    I would recommend this reel, especially to a beginner(although I am not) because of it`s ease-ability…line it up and cast it out.  It`s priced right $100 to $150 price range and it comes with a 1 year warranty, so I have some time to do some damage.

     Again I must stress I haven’t put a lot of hurt on this reel yet, but I have all of September and October and November to really put this reel through some $#@!, and that will determine my final opinion…so look for the update to this review coming this winter.

Images provided by:

http://www.bondfishing.co.nz/index.php

     I went fishing with my 5 year old nephew on Sunday August 30`th, me my brother and his son(my nephew) James headed up to the Muskinonge River in Keswick.  It was 7:30 am when we left, with Tim`s in hand thanks to my brother it`s straight to the river, with many “are we there yet`s ” along the way. 

     We finally do get there, we are on my brothers friends land right on the river, just up from the marina…James`s first fish is what we are looking for.    We have had James out 3 times or so, and he has yet to catch a fish…the first time out he wouldn`t even put the rod in the water, he just dangled the worm an inch above in hopes the fish would jump out.  That was when he was 3, but now he is 5.  He has his Scooby-Doo rod in hand (not bothering with the little Zebco I bought him for his birthday)…worm tipped and away he goes.

     It wasn`t long before he had his first fish on…a little help from dad and he landed his first fish, boy was he excited, until he found out he could not keep the fish, then he was upset.  Not for long…a new worm on and off he goes…he like`s to cast himself, even though he often ends up in a tree, or on the shore, he still is having fun and that’s what counts.

Here is a picture of his first fish, a little rock bass. He is happy, but doesn`t wanna touch the fish yet.

   On we go…James starts to hit it big, pulling in fish after fish…not just rock bass, He catches blue gills, Perch, some small largemouth and some more rock bass.   Eventually he wanted to touch the fish, to throw em back…already trained in catch and release.

    A little more fishing is to be had…but not much, James is beginning to get cranky…his attention span is fading…running wild is his way.  We settle him down for a few more casts and a few more fish are caught.  

     Me and my brother even managed to catch a few.  I got 3 small bass, and 3 small perch, my brother caught 3 small bass as well as a couple of nice blue gills, but today was all bout James.  Hopefully catching his first fish, and being with his father and uncle will be the 1`st in many successful fishing outings to come.  I know I will remember this trip for awhile, just to see the smile on his face, and watch him run around for joy at the feeling of catching his fish was priceless.  Can`t wait to do it again.

  It was my friend David Clarks birthday this past weekend (Aug 23/09), so me Dave, and our friend Mike Shepherd headed up to Mikes cottage on Lake Erie.  We arrived on Friday afternoon, headed into Dunville for some provisions, mainly beer, but some food as well…a quick look around Canadian Tire, then back to the cottage for a decent meal some bevvy`s and discuss our outing in the morning.  Not much sleep was had on this night.

     We wake, and grab our stuff, we are off…outta the house by 5:30 am and on the road, a quick stop at Tim`s, who doesn`t  love it?   We hit the dock where we are to meet our guide for the day Taro Murata from Fishcitytv, he is putting the finishing touches on the boat, 10 minutes later we are on the water and pushing on up the Upper Niagara River, looking across to Buffalo.

  We have our rods in the water by 7:17, and wouldn`t ya know it that I had my first fish on by 7:18.  A nice Lake Erie Smallie, my first Lake Erie Smallie, what a fight on these fish.  Quickly get the fish in, some shots, smiles all around and back to the waters with her.

Let`s have a look… not a bad little bass.  But bigger is what we are looking for so back she goes to fight another day.   We all have our rods in the water, Dave is new to drop shot style fishing, and Mike is just new to fishing, so after a little   coaching from Taro, they both had there techniques down and are starting to pull in some decent fish.

and one of mikes…

     We continued our drifts and on each pass we were pulling in fish after fish, the time just flew by.  We had our little competition going, and everyone was trying to keep up…I hit into some big smallies, now everyone is playing catch up. 

The numbers keep coming, pretty soon we started hitting into double headers,  Dave and me, then Mike and Dave, then me and Mike, it was just non stop action all day.

  The weather started to pick up on us a bit , and we were anxiously watching the storm roll in on the horizon, we were able to get a little more fishing in before the storm broke and we had too buggy back to the dock, we made it just before the heaven opened up on us and released a soaker .  We came in early, so our count was only 50 smallies, I know ONLY 50, but if we had stayed the extra hour or so we may have caught another 10…coulda shoulda woulda I know.  We waited for the storm to pass, helped Taro with the boat, got out the lunkers in the live well for the famous trophy shot,  smiles all round.  Back the fish go, and away we go, fully giddy, and craving more.  We want to go back and it`s only 20 minutes since we left the docks, the pains persist even till today.  All in all it was a great experience, being a urban angler, we don`t get to experience that kind of fishing, falling in love is easy when you have a great guide like Taro Murata, I highly recommend him to anyone that wants to spend the day catching fish, hearing stories and ripping it up with friends.  Man oh man, can`t wait to do it again.

 Well thats it for this fish story, keep an eye out for more exciting fishing adventure, picture, video`s and reviews all coming soon.

 If anyone is interested in Taro`s services you can reach him here… http://www.fishcity.tv/

     Skunked again…although it`s just a word, it brings to the surface many emotions.  Am I stupid, did I forget how to fish, the frustration.  All these things rush threw you in a storm, cresting over you and bringing your inadequacies to bear.  But wait, it`s just fishing right.  Not really, fishing is primal, something like the hunt, and we being animals look upon it as a test of our “manhood” if you will, and when we get skunked, beaten…it makes us feel less than a man.   All this is somewhat outta touch today, fishing is suppose to be about relaxing and enjoying the outdoors, friends and family…I still do that, but when no fish are to be had, the emotions come to the forefront and it all begins again.  The questioning, the doubt…but maybe that’s what keeps us coming back.  The desire to win, to beat the elements, to gain some kind of controll over any situation…and to feel the tightline that brings us such joy.

    Looking forward to may more skunks in my future fishing endeavours, but hopefully more success than not.  Whatever the outcome, fishing will remain my love, my, my desire, my drug!  Bring on the skunks and I will beet you down.

I was just siting and thinking about things,  I was involved in an automobile accident over 2 years ago, a bad enough accident in which I was injured badly.  I crushed my right hand, taking all the skin off my knuckles and fingers down to the bone,  I tore my shoulders and neck to the point where I can no longer perform functions over my head.  I am still waiting for word on therapy to help correct herniated disks in my neck that I have been living with since the accident, we came close to death (me and my friend who was driving).  Now some might look at this as an obsticle or barrier in the way of life, but I see it as an oppurtunity to help propell my life forward.  It has provided me with strength that I did not know was there, emotionally and physical.  It also helped to reconnect me with FISHING, which is why we are all here.  Since the accident, fishing has been my therapy, both for the emotional and physical state of my well being.  It has helped me gain alittle more controll over the fine motor skills need to fish (tie`ing knots and such). It has helped me strengthen my hand, although I still have a loss of strength greater than 40%. It has given me a sense of  peace, if only for a precious few hours I am out, and I owe all of this to the generousity of friends and family. especially my fishing buddy Tangledline (Dave Clark).  Without his support, encouragement and unconditional loyalty to catching fish, these past 2 years may have been a nightmare, instead of the most productive 2 years of fishing in my life.  Thanks Dave, and everyone who has helped me along this journey, though it is far from over, I would neve have made it this far without your help.

Lotsa love!

Big Bass on the Island

Now thats a bass!

wow…19 inches.

Can`t wait till I catch some more.

Welcome to Legendary Fishermen. I’ve just created my  new blog so please, look around and enjoy. I am new to this thing they call blogging, so expect many mistakes along the way.

Thanks!