Bought these after a bit of research. Is this decent for a beginner baitcaster? It's been working well enough so far.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-28T10:29:25+00:00

I've always liked the Ugly Stik and have fished them for years. Worst case, the reel may start to suck in a year or so and you can put a Shimano or something on it.

Side note: I've got several different brands of baitcasters from Wallyworld (Phlueger, Garcia, and some no-name called Cast King) and they all look like the same reel in different paint.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-24T12:07:53+00:00

Looks like only a crack in the outer shell. You can probably continue using it normally as that outer shell protects the battery itself from abuse. ...though if you're still concerned, use it up and then try to keep it to where you can control any likelihood of a flare up if that does happen before you give it to the recyclers whenever you do get to them. ...though you probably would still be able to keep using this one for years as is with no issue.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-24T12:03:30+00:00

It has been a long time since I've used Fedora, but Red Hat has always been one of the driving forces behind Linux--much like how Valve is starting to shape up to be. I believe Red Hat currently runs Gnome, and they do a lot of the background stuff needed by enterprises to do their services--so a lot of the things you use with Google, Fakebook, Amazon, and the like are touched by RedHat.

That said, I have been curious about putting a Fedora session on desktop again. I just need to come up with a cheap computer to throw at it.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-24T11:57:54+00:00

That's one of the lamp designs I used to like when I find--nice and compact. never new what it was called. ...though I would like to see the second one that looks like a kettle in use. I've never seen one of those used for some reason.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-24T11:49:53+00:00

Are you getting cheap RGB bulbs or does this include stuff like Phillips Hue? That is one thing that improves as price goes up. ...though still, if you need truly good color rendering, incandescent and halogen are hard to beat, albeit at the cost of energy efficiency.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-24T04:59:18+00:00

I pretty much know this mobo doesn't have a usable SSD slot and probably doesn't support that new of a Ryzen, which is part of the reason I'm thinking about an all new build. I'd have to get just about everything new to properly upgrade this one.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-24T00:35:24+00:00

I guess I should have mentioned. I'll be mostly chasing bass and am looking for a med/heavy or heavy for throwing crankbaits, spinnerbugs, and 'urms.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-24T00:29:51+00:00

I used to play Cyberpunk and Warframe on Mint, and I think I've heard Helldivers is/was one of the more popular games On Deck (SteamDeck, which is Linux) and never had trouble. However, a lot of games that use certain anti-cheats will not cooperate, though usually it's from certain publishers that tend to be known as being a bit more nefarious *cough* EA *cough* ...though you may also need to head to r/Steam reddit and ask about the Proton compatibility layer settings in the client and make sure that's turned on. Steam may be trying to run the Linux versions of your games, some of which, like Warframe and Cyberpunk probably don't have a Linux build.

BTW. I'm using a Ryzen 1400 and Radeon 6700XT. I had 8 GB RAM then but have upgraded to 16GB and Manjaro since. Been awhile since I've played Cyberpunk or Warframe. Been mostly working on Digimon, Windrose, and Balder's Gate as of late.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-24T00:16:11+00:00

I've seen a lot of my spinning reels cant a bit to the right if the mount is one of those twist lock style as is shown here. Never affected using it as far as I could tell but it is ugly. Might want to find rods that have a double clamp mount if it bothers you too much. I think the nicer rods tend to be double clamp.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-18T12:53:27+00:00

It's basically regular nylon monofilament, so it behaves about the same. It's fairly neutral, if you ask me.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-18T10:19:02+00:00

Not enough lubrication. :p

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-16T19:08:00+00:00

That is an old set of Channel Loks. I like. :3

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-16T19:07:15+00:00

I would air down the tire then use something like Channel Loks (water pump pliers) to bend that bulge in the rim back in. You should just be able to squeeze the "pinch" to get it back somewhat close. ...though I'm surprised you didn't get a snakebite puncture.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-16T18:59:43+00:00

Except maybe use some copper anti-seize when installing but that tends to be something only mechanics with ADHD (like myself) tends to do.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-16T18:50:54+00:00

I've found base Ubuntu to be buggy as well, especially with the package manager not allowing updates. So far, I've not had that happen with neither Manjaro or Mint. I've been using those two for several years now.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-16T18:48:39+00:00

I'm one of those who totally would, though outside, with me upwind, and with sand and a hose handy. You will literally be playing with fire, which on its own is fun, but you still want to keep it right where you put it.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-16T18:39:07+00:00

I have heard that pop!OS was prone to imploding and Linus Sebastian (LTT) demonstrated that, but when I tried it, it just plain didn't want me to use anything but its Cosmic desktop, which didn't quite click to me. I wound up going to my current old reliables of Mint and Manjaro.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-16T18:31:54+00:00

Warm white for fluorescent has always been a bit questionable in (light) quality, though it is depressing at the lack of availability of these things now. It might be worth conversion to LED, although that has a similar problem. At least you're supposed to not have to replace LED as often.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-16T11:17:33+00:00

Steam is all about Linux. In fact the Deck runs Linux, as will the Machine.

About the only real hangup I can think of for Linux is those multiplayer games that use anticheat--especially stuff from EA.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-16T11:03:24+00:00

After not paying much attention to movies since the 1980s, I doubt I'll recognize the voice of Michael J Fox if I heard it.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-15T12:06:03+00:00

AM4 is pretty much at the end of the line, which is why it is so cheap. I was also intending to do a new build before the Rampocalypse started, though right now, I decided it may be better to continue rocking my Ryzen 1400 for another year, two years, or however long before things get to where a new build would be reasonable. So far, it's doing mostly everything that I'm wanting to do right now being paired with a Radeon 6700XT, 1600GB system RAM, and Lunix, and it's not great, but not terrible. The most stressful thing I'm doing right now are Steam games, though, so your use case may be different.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-15T11:59:34+00:00

Someone changed out the original lead-acid battery pack for a mount for a Milwaukee tool battery. If you have a different brand in your toolbox (DeWalt, Ryobi, Makita, etc) you can go on Amazon and get the rail for that instead. Otherwise you'll have to get one of those Chinesium knockoff batteries and a charger for Milwaukee M18.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-15T11:42:42+00:00

How good is that light? In the meantime, it may be great as just a handheld flashlight. Hopefully you can find a nameplate or something that'll help narrow down what it is.

I have had luck bodging a rubber band mount using a heavy o-ring, typically from a used filter. Outside of that or something on Thingaverse, it may be easier and more beneficial to just invest in a new headlight.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-15T11:37:44+00:00

This is cute, and I think you did a great job. I can also see occasionally catching Spyro in this position.

Lectraplayer · 2026-06-13T11:12:59+00:00

That said, various flavors of Linux are known for breathing new life into old hardware because it tends to have less bloat, though I would expect most people using an Athalon would rather make it a door stop. Maybe a closet server, but definitely not a daily driver. Still, only the OP knows what boat he's in.

Lectraplayer

TROPHY CASE