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For Idaho, not a bad fish

Hey folks, it's been a couple weeks since I've posted anything here, and I've been a little inactive. A couple weeks ago, I got out to my home water of Lake Simcoe in search of some mid summer smalljaws. Fishing was tough with blue sky, post frontal conditions but time on the water prevailed and I managed the figure them out by early afternoon and put some decent fish in the boat throwing prodigy tubes and dropkick worms. On July 25, I got my new PB !!! Got him at 6:14 pm and weighed in at a whopping 9lbs3oz. Welcome my first son, Henry James Rowbotham. He'll be pounding smallies with me in no time. Mommy and baby are doing great and within a week, she's already let me out fishing twice. I picked the right one, thats for sure!! Here's some pics from the last couple days.

No its not meant to be burned. Fish it just fast enough to make the tail kick. It should be swimming at slow speeds but if its not swimming as much as you want there is a little trick you can do. Run a paperclip through the hook eye and submerge the bait in boiling water for 1 minute. This will soften the bait up a tad and if its crooked at all, it will straighten it. Make sure it cools down in a perfectly straight position, like hanging from the hook eye with the paperclip. The bait will then be a little more active at slower speeds. Adding a treble will make it more stable and its recommended for better hook ups if your not fishing weeds. ( I wrote the same response in the other thread )

Took me long enough but I finally took Lake out in the boat last Wednesday. Figured it was time, he is 7.5 months old after all . He got to meet one of the fish we'll be looking for on Thursday night at Douglas too

Bass fishermen and women have the tendency to run to the lake, river or pond and start fishing as soon as possible and fish for most of the day on sunny or cloudy days. Some of us go out in the rain. And I would say the majority of us do not protect ourselves from the sun's harmful rays while fishing or boating. I had my annual cancer screening by my dermatologist this week and no skin cancers were discovered. However, my dermatologist once again chastised me for being sunburn and for not wearing my BUM or using sunscreen. She told me that melanoma can appear behind your ears; on your scalp; under your armpits; and even on the bottom of your feet. Any place the skin is weak the cancer can begin. And if not caught and treated rapidly your chance of survival is very low. I do not want to preach about protecting ourselves from the sun's harmful rays. I want to bring up this subject to make everyone aware of the dangers we face from the sun, both on sunny and cloudy days so you can do what you feel is best for you and your family. Please do your research on skin cancers; get checked by a dermatologist once a year; wear protective clothing even if it makes you look like a nerd; and use a good sunscreen. I lost a friend to skin cancer three years ago and he left behind three beautiful toddlers and a wonderful wife. My cousin, who I fished with in south Louisiana growing up, has already had six small melanoma's removed from his face. We want everyone to live a happy and prosperous life with many 8-pound ladies in the boat and to do so we have to vigilant regarding our health, especially the silent killer, skin cancer. Just my two cents. Your input, please.

I pulled another all- nighter on one of my favorite summer time lakes last night. It was warm, humid and flat calm all night. The complete stillness of these nights only makes them that much more intense. Conditions were perfect for tossing a jig & craw and that produced at least half the bass I landed. A single bladed spinner bait was the other half of this two pronged approach. The bite was slow to come on but once that quarter moon sunk behind the trees, both the brown & green bass found my baits quite appealing. I like that. Several fish coughed up whole and what looked like recently gobbled up crayfish, which gave me confidence to keep tossing the jig. Right at day break I started zipping a square bill crank around and managed a few more fatties. Didn’t catch anything really over-sized but on a night like that – they’re all good ones. On a separate note – Though I’ve been out with it a couple of times previously, this was the first night trip with the new Pinnacle rod & reel set up. I’ll be doing a review on it at the end of the month. Still need a bit more time with it first but my initially impressions are quite good. More to follow on that. A-Jay

Owner just brought out a new 5/0 Toad Double twistlock hook. This is what a rage toad looks like cradled within the hook. For you guys missing hook ups on a single hook this might be the ticket. What do you think Steve?

Once again I slipped away for a couple hours and bank fished a local lake. Generally around this time each year most folks here have given up on slop - choked water. I agree that it can be a pain to fish such conditions but also some of the most fun. Throwing a white Sizemic Toad on a 3/0 round bend Mustad hook seemed to be just what they wanted. The floating mat is so thick that birds walk on it. I missed quite a few fish but seeing some of them burst through that mat and smack those toads was a lot of fun. I landed 13 and missed at least half that many. The bigger ones were in the two pound class. All in all a good morning.

Night ops rule.

Glad you're OK You may want to readdress your "Out in the Woods" wardrobe; specifically your footwear. A-Jay

Which Chronarch, 200E or 150 Ci4? The 200E and STX are comparable with the STX having dual braking if that's of any interest to you. The Ci4 is a step above either. Neither is head and shoulders over the other. Comes down to personal preference and the deal.

After you make a cast when using braid, it doesn't hurt to look at your spool just to make sure that you haven't got a little bit of an overrun that might cause the jerky kinda backlash that you are talking about. It also doesn't hurt to pull 2 or 3 feet of line out after a cast just to be sure.

I believe the Shimano is a much better baitcaster than the Abu. I've owned both, still own the Chronarch but sold the STX because it just didn't feel to be on par with the other reels I own. BTW, I'm a Daiwa fan.

Thanks everyone!! I may try to go the backpack route, it seems to be the bag of choice. I don' t take a whole lot, 3-3600 series boxes, spinnerbait box, and soft plastics. I throw in a digital scale, pliers, clippers, line, and a knife. Appreciate everyone taking time to answer. Heading to the lake in the morning.

I'll start off by stating these 2 facts, 1 - I'm a Shimano guy to the bone and 2 - I've never even fished with a Revo, all I've ever done is mess around with them at the tackle shop. I own 6 E series reels; one 50 size, one 300 size, and four 200 size. I've fished them all pretty hard with the exception of the 50, especially the 200's and I haven't had so much as a single minutes worth of trouble out of one of them. They are super versatile reels because they come in three gear ratios, they are very simple to break down and maintain yourself (only needs to be done once a year unless you use them in the salt), the are very easy to "tune"/upgrade, and last but most importantly in my book they're super reliable. I'm not at all saying the Garcia isn't a good product, I'm simply saying I have zero experience with them whatsoever. In fact I don't even know anyone who fishes one. All my buddies either fish Shimano, Quantum, or Daiwa. My entire point to you is simply this, there's almost no way you get let down buy purchasing a Chronarch 200E.

You could always do it Alabama style with a pool noodle and a trolling motor...

X2. Even stock, I have one brake on and the tension loose. I don't want to ruffle any feathers, but for me there is no scenario in which that Revo comes close to the CH200E.

I use Rapala digital electronic scales. I've had five of them - four "50lb Mini Digital" and one "50lb Sportsman's Digital." All have been accurate to within two ounces at the 10-pound weight range. The only problem I've had has nothing to do with accuracy - it's had to do with the on/off switch getting dodgy then failing on one of the Mini Digital models. So, I've tossed one of the five but still have four in service (1 in the boat, 1 in the bank-fishing pack, 1 in the car, 1 as a spare in the house). Great service for around $20. Test report here: Rapala Mini Digital Scale - Load Test Report

Our bass club charges $50 for a nonboater fee. The fee is intended to help with the gas and oil costs for the boat and truck. Sometimes you use less than $50 in gas and oil towing and running your boat; other times you use over $100 towing and running the boat. Works out fine for us. My only complaint is the "back boating" the other guys do to the nonboater. It is embarrassing to see a boater in the front of the boat hog the good spots. On an outing on Buggs Island I went as a nonboater and my boater got upset with me as I had two nice ones in the well to his one. He was ticked off until he took a 5 to 4 lead late in the afternoon. On the Pamunkey River I made sure my nonboater got onto fish and had good angles to catch them. He finished two spots higher than me in the tournament and I am proud I did that for him. It was his highest finish and the first time he had a five fish limit. I have had two tournament winners fish out of the back of my boat and I am the only boater that can claim that in our club. The financial consideration is one thing; sportsmanship and fellowship is another that I believe is much more important.

The horny toad was the first toad I fished - it was responsible for unbelievable catches, as more companies came to the market I started noticing the differences in styles - horny toads, case plastics toad and the mann hard-nose are, for me, a good choice when it is calm or the fish want a less aggressive lure - cane toads, rage toads, ribbits and toads of that ilk (ones that make more commotion) are better when there's a little breeze or the bass want a more aggressive action. These are subtle nuances that can make a huge difference in a particular days success - stay open and flexible and willing to experiment.

I know this gets said a lot. But I am going to let some in on a little secret that my just help your bank fishing. I have been wading trout and smallmouth fishing for the last many years and off and on bank fishing for what ever. Stealth has become an important part of any of it. Especially since I am a LARGE guy. At 6'3 and 330lbs I have learned to be a little sneaker than the next guy. Especially since my partner for most of my fishing was half my size. slow and stealth can be our friend. So what is the big secret? What is the one thing that I see everyone making a mistake? I am blessed with small stream with plenty of smallmouth and a pond with a lot of hungry largemouth within walking distance of my house. Even a world class brown trout fishery within 3 miles. I get to see kids and their parent out enjoying all. This simplest thing could change their hookup count. Before you go plowing to the water edge, Stop. I mean stop walking and approaching the water edge. Even crouch down if need be. I usually stay back a minimum of about 15' to start. Make your first cast from here. This approach keeps your foot step vibration and any shadow or the view of you from the fish or to a reduced level. This first cast can be the best of the day. I usually work an entire trip like this, especially if bass or trout are the target. They both tend to hand around the shore line structure and are very shy. I know everyone is looking for a magic lure. But try this approach and make your first cast before get to the water. Hope this helps someone. Ern

Well, my wife finally agreed to let me get a bass boat. Only catch, I had to sell my kayak with electronics in it, etc. So I did. Only issue now is that I am back to bank fishing and using my friend's pelican 2 man bass raider a couple times a week with him. Not too bad, but right now I feel like I lost some independence. I have a few more months before the money is ready, but a guy wanted the kayak at a great offer and I had to take the $$$ to put in savings. :-(

People ask me, why is it that I fish so much... I give them a generic answer, like "because it's fun". This morning, though, I feel compelled to let out why I do what I do. I guess I can break it down into two main subjects; the sport/hunt , and the water itself. The first one is easy, as the pursuit of fish provides an entertainment value shared by many. The latter, however, goes much deeper than satisfying the need for fun. The water doesn't disappoint. When people let you down, the water won't. "Best friends" may never call, but the water calls me constantly, and never fails to answer my call. The water is always there for you, when no one else is. It has the uncanny ability to take whatever problems you go to it with, and wash them away. Like you, the water has secrets, if you take the time to listen to them. And oftentimes, the water will unlock secrets about you to yourself.

I have a problem with my costas constantly fogging in the morning. I wipe them down and they re fog immediately. Anyone else have/had this problem and know how to fix it?

SNAKE!! lol.....glad you're ok!

Walmart baby!!!!

Thanks man. It's not like I'm in a rush. Just lost my aquatic transportation for a little bit. Lol

That's definitely interesting to know. I'm going to look into that stuff. Thanks, Yeti!

Glass lenses? Mine fog on certain days when it is hot and humid going from a cool environ to the outside. Used to have something I think called "no fog" that I'd rub on my glasses (back when I wore glasses). Can't remember if it worked well or not, to be honest. Once the glasses adjust to the conditions, do they stop fogging? I should say that there's a second issue, that is when it is hot and I'm sweaty and wearing a hat. I end up having to take them off for a spell because there's just no breeze to cool me down.

Good to know!

Less plastics less weight. Backpacks make my trek to and from my fishing holes so much easier. My hands are free to carry rods and help to clear the way if needed. I have to chuckle every time I see a bucket head with his bucket, rods, tackle box. Some of these guys have to make two trips. They stare at me when I walk by them with my backpack, fold up chair , three rods and a free hand. IMO backpacks are the most efficient way to carry your tackle when your on the banks.

Try 20lb braid & see how much more depth you will get. You will be surprised.

Man, Melvern was tough for us today. Real tough. That lake always has a learning curve for me because I simply don't fish it a lot. My very first trip I was so spoiled, but the last two times I've been out have been rough. I also took conorsixtakc both times...funny how that works... Anyway, caught a few dinks. And I mean dinks. By the sound of it today no one was really doing well. Forgot how busy that lake gets on the weekend during the summer. Still fun to get out that way and take a break from Clinton. If you guys are into it, I contribute to a local blog called Kansas Outdoorsman. I haven't written since last season, so this post is basically a year in review up to about two weeks ago. Have a read! http://kansasoutdoorsman.com/2014/08/02/brians-year-in-review-getting-caught-up/

I like my old greenie Bantums LOL

The catch may be in the level wind, AR clutch or gears. It's impossible to say without seeing it. If you'd like to send it in, include your screen name and I'll apply a 10% discount on labor. Service is $22 (less 10%) plus shipping and parts if needed. PM, Email or call with ant questions. Mike

7'6 feneick aetos 8lb test 1lb diameter, 6ft leader of 4lb flouro Any 2500 series reel Dry creek 2 3/4 with 1/4 tapered tube head. Smoke or green pumpkin in colour. Super long casts and dead slow drag. Most try to work the tube to fast. I have caught more bigger smallies just letting it sit on the bottom. Techique was perfected to a science the csfl tournament series applied a no ancoring rule!! Be eating a sandwich watchin a smallie cart wheel. You can beef up your line size depending on water clarity but this is my set up for crystal clear natural lakes were visabitity is 20+ft down.

I can count with the fingers of one hand how many bad lures Rapala has made and would still have fingers left to continue the count, in my book the only bad Rapala I´ve encountered is the Long Cast Minnow, oh yeah, it flies through the air like a bullet but the itsy bitsy teeny tiny lip is really fragile. So you be the judge how good any lure that has stamped Rapala on it, that also includes Blue Fox and Storm.

I can't answer your original question and I am anxious to see more answers. Too many of the posts I see on these forums are concerns about what color bait or what shape the plastic should be because the poster isn't catching any fish. The better questions are always where should I be fishing? There are times when one color or one bait will out fish everything else, but more often than not, if you put a bait, any bait, in the right place, it will get bit. In my experience, knowing where to drop a line is the biggest key to success. Learning how bass relate to flats, dropoffs and structure is what will make me a better fisherman. Good post!

Get the Curado i, the Curado i, or the Curado i. Any of those three will be a good choice. Hootie

Yes its good therapy for the modern life and theres so many more reasons to fish So many..

Batteries fetch 10 bucks each around here at the metal recycling place .put you have to have a drivers license to get money now .it helped some.I've had a few things stolen but I'm paranoid so nothing big

I'm back! My computer was down for a bit and I've been really busy with work and all... Still been doing some fishing though

Hi folks, I'm new to this forum and relatively new to fishing. But I've been watching lots of videos and learning many new things. I'm in Frederick, and I only get a chance to fish small ponds most of the time (Whittier, Cullur Lake, etc.) Once in a while I get over to Black Hills. I fish for bass and that's pretty much it. I'm a 35-year-old married man with 3 little boys, so I don't get out much. lol Look forward to learning things on here and maybe picking up some new fishing-buddies.

One thing i did not mention... get rid of the tackle box for a backpack.. Invest in a descent backpack with a few front zipper pockets.. If you buy one of the kvd speed bags.. it comes with 3 plano boxes. I remove them and put all my soft plastics in the bag.. I use one box for hooks, weights amd swivels etc.. one for hard baits... one for jigs and misc stuff. Having a backpack is better than using a hand carrying A tackle box in my opinion. You can instead carry 1-2 rods and a beer.... Good luck

Hey all! This afternoon I went fishing at a nearby pond that has a dock and is pressured heavily everyday by fishermen ( most of them are using bread or corn and are catching crappie, but a good amount of them fish for and catch bass) I went there at 3 30 and fished frogs in the pads for a while, then jigs , then senkos. Then I tried spinnerbaits, Jerkbaits, senkos and crankbaits in the open water. I tried swimbaits and finesse worms yet the fish just would not bite! a couple other fishermen were there and were having the same bad luck. Then at 8:00 I tie on a motor oil with red flake color senko , weightless . I cast out into open water but next to the edge of the lily pads. I feel a big thump on my line and set the hook. Fish fought for a couple minutes, great fish. Landed him and he was 20 in long, 3 lb 12 oz. skinny fish but very nice! Persistence pays off!! Booyah!!!! Photo : http://imgur.com/8ukJ5CI

Having surgery this morning to remove another skin cancer, this time on my back. The damage occurred years ago, that is when protection is so important. As we age the cancer starts to show up too late to prevent it, all we can do now is save what's we have. Tom

This past week, a friend and I made a trip north into Wisconsin for a few days and floated a couple of rivers in personal pontoons. The weatherman threatened to cancel one of the days by predicting an all day rain, but he couldn't have been more wrong as both days were just perfect. Although it was warm by Wisconsin standards while we were there, the cool spring and summer still has the water cooler than normal. Normally by this time, the bass are in the full summer pattern, hanging out near the faster water but few were found there. We still caught a fair number of fish with a few pushing 18 and several over 16 inches. Sinking plastics, worked for both of us and I also got some on a topwater popper and I also did well with an In-line spinner. I just LOVE being up North. The beautiful rivers, the wildlife, the great smallie fishing and the adventure of the road trip just can't be beat.

Wow, what a GREAT fish!

Everyone that I take fishing,they catch more than me,while fishing from the back seat.