Adjusting to Braided Line

If you haven't picked up the April edition of FLW's Bass Fishing magazine, grab a copy and take a look at the article on properly adjusting to braided line. If you haven't made the switch yet, its worth your consideration. In honor of the article, we're revisiting our video on properly adjusting to braided line.

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There have been a few advancements in braided line since this video was uploaded but we still make all of these same adjustments. The brands of line may have changed (Sufix 832 is hard to beat) but the concepts and principals are as applicable now as the day the video was shot. Do yourself a favor and start making the switch to an "All Braid Diet" before your next trip!

How to Walk a Frog

Earlier this week Tim and Matt got to spend a day frog fishing the California Delta. As the day was winding down we realized that many of the fish had been caught while "walking" the frog. While many anglers know how to do this, some do not. We decided to take a few minutes and try to teach you how simple it really is to "walk the frog".

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While this concept is incredibly simple, the reality can be very difficult for most anglers. Hopefully this step by step tutorial will help you dial in your technique so that you can catch more frog fish on your next outing.

The frog in this video is a River2Sea Bully Wa but this concept can be applied to ANY frog on the market. Always remember, if the frog isn't walking, its not the frog you're probably just over-working it!

Ken Leverich Benefit Tournament

This week we didn't have time for a new video because we're feverishly preparing for the Ken Leverich Benefit Tournament. The good news is, you're invited! If you live anywhere near the West Coast we invite you to come out to Russo's Marina on the California Delta, April 26th. Join the Tactical Bassin family for a day of fishing and fun while raising money for a great cause!

• Entry Fee: $120 per team (Half of entry fee will go directly to Ken's medical bills)
• Big Fish Option: $30 per angler ($60 per team)
• Raffle to follow weigh-in!

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The raffle is growing every day with overwhelming support from Eye Surrender Eyewear, JSJ Baits, Butch Brown, C&C Marine, Phenix Rods, River2Sea, Gone Fishin' Marine, Polymer80, Fishawn Plug Knockers, and more!

To be a part simply donate $10 or more to Ken’s medical bill fund at: http://www.gofundme.com/kenandbethleverich and bring a copy of your donation confirmation email to the tournament and receive three raffle tickets for every $10 you donated! We will also be selling raffle tickets at the event for $5 each. All proceeds from raffle tickets sales will go towards funding Ken’s medical bills.

Ken Leverich was a great man and father to Matt Leverich, an avid Northern California Tournament Angler who has supported Tactical Bassin from the very beginning. Ken recently lost his fight with ALS (Lou Gherig's disease). We're hosting this tournament to help the family raise funds to deal with the remaining medical bills and appreciate your involvement! If you can't make the event but feel the urge to help support the Leverich family, you can donate directly at http://www.gofundme.com/kenandbethleverich

If you have any questions feel free to contact us by email at tacticalbassin@gmail.com

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Understanding Reels and Gear Ratios

Fishing equipment is getting more expensive every year so understanding what you need before making a purchase is very important. Purchasing the right rod comes down to choosing a model you like but reels require more details. Most quality reels are offered in several different gear ratios so choosing the speed that meets your needs is critical.

After getting multiple requests for a video about what gear ratios we use for different techniques, Matt finally sat down in front of the camera to give a brief explanation of his preferences.

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Matt keeps it pretty simple. As you'll see in the video, he only uses three ratios, and really, could get by with two. His specific reel preferences  for each speed are:

5:1 ratio: Shimano Curado or Calcutta

6:1 ratio: Shimano Curado or Caenan

7:1 Ratio: Shimano Curado or Lews BB-1 Pro