I was fishing a rebuilt South Bend 469, a 7' 7-wt. with a Teeny T200 sinker. The rod shoots like a rocket but feels like a graphite 4-wt. when you're hooked up. Also a shooting basket and a Bronson multiplier.
I was watching Bronson multipliers for a few months after a very nice boxed one passed me up at $45 and went on to double that. I let many pass at $30 or so. I grabbed a $10 one that was listed as noisy, but the paint was in great shape. At the same time, one that looked a little better took all the heat and bid to $50. The noise was wear on the bushing face beneath the drive gear. I went through a series of washers to shim it and found it in a thin, thin composite washer - smooth as silk. The handle rivet was splayed and I made it solid by laying a ring of JB weld on the inside.
To catch white bass, an 80' cast from a stripping basket is a big bonus. They follow a streamer forever, and finally hit at your feet. When you happen upon them charging up the river, pushing a shad school, with the schooling largemouths following, they slash at everything. But when they've settled into pods and harems, you see hundreds of fish, but nobody can get a strike. Then it's really technical, and that's what I love. Slowly bounce the bottom, change your strips constantly, they will barely pick it up when it's sitting still. Then when they hit at your feet, you've got 80' of tangled line to get them on the reel - I throw it in the river and let the current straighten it out. The multiplier zips it up in a few seconds.
Heck of a deal for $10.
Ron Mc
and for the rest of you:
do you guys like flies?
Nice story, but if i didn't know better i'd think you were trying to rub it in to us poor suckers that live in the ice age. We have to wait another 2 weeks for Trout season to open and 2 months for Bass. Just jealous i guess. I'll go sit in my basement and sulk while i stare at my reels. 
Canadian
Nice string, Ron.
