detroit1

No new surface baits for me this year. Have about 40, use about 6.

If i could start all over, i would have bought WAY less lures and spend the $$ for better rods & reels.

You would be better off buying new hooks and split ring pliers than trying to sharpen old ones. IMHO.

Use spinning tackle if you want long-distance casting a small or light lure.

I also like tight-wobblers when the water is cold and clear, (shad raps, Crankbait corps. "fingerling", or any Non-Rattling cranks. I'll switch to wides & rattles if i'm not getting bit though. :-/

I have always wanted to place some fish magnets in some of the lakes i fish, but in the state of michigan, you cannot put anything in the water. I guess i'll have to wait for a tree to blow down in the water and drag it out to a suitable place...

I fished Intermediate about 5 yrs. ago (once). I didn't catch but a few small lm, but saw some huge crawfish. The lake was muddied up or for all i know it could be that color all the time. I fish on the Clam (lk/river) and usually catch them pretty good. Nice area.

I'm like the M.Falcon - buying lures for 35 years, i GUESS that i don't need any new ones. After reading RW brag on those fat ikas - i'll try them this year. BPS had some palm trees so i picked up a pack. (should've got more). I got into repainting last winter, but i didn't fish with them much last year, so maybe i'll fish those more this year. I need to improve my jig fishing.

There's a lot of guys on this site that i would love to fish with. Unfortunate for me , i know more about fishing than the people i take out, so i don't get to be the pupil, just the teacher. My wife is a good fishing partner- she sunbathes and reads in the back of the boat and i can fish anywhere or anyhow i want. RW...those smallies look like fun and i could drive the 650 miles....

Thanks Munkin.

You are right Tokyo T., sorry fisherdave, i was in a funk yesterday. :-/

Which tacklebag/box? I hope you don't fish alone- you wouldn't have anyone to ask what lure to use. ;DSometimes i'm a smart-azz, but dang dude- that's something you can figure out on your own, i hope.

Stay home, or at least don't come up here Bucknut! Just kidding- it is a pretty good show up here in Novi. KVD is worth the admission price. I'll be going next thursday and can't wait-the bait monkey is outta his cage! Anyone else going?

One rod and 5 baits? That'll be impossible for any of us here! But, in the spirit of the question, mine would be as follows: 7' All Star med. spin, 3500 size reel, 8# clr/blue Trilene XL. Baits would be- custom 3/8 oz spinnerbait(white skirt/gold willows); Bandit shallow Flat Maxx (perch);Norman dd22(white/olive back);Culprit 7.25" ribbontail worm(grape) on a 1/4 oz. slider head; and a Dropshot with a 3"-3.5" fluke(alewife). Dang- that's hard to do. Happy holidays everyone and have a safe year.....

I also rig them mostly on a 1/8 oz ball jig, sometimes on a slider head if i Have to fish in the weeds. 3" to get a bite, 4" for a goodun'. Although, a 5" white Kalin's t-rigged is fun fished as a buzzbait.

I don't know if i have what you're talking about Muddy, but i bought 7 Storm cranks a few years back (2$ bin). They are thin, had great looking paint, some were about 3/8 oz both shallow & deep, and a few that look like about 7/8 oz deep divers.(maybe 14') I never caught anything on these although i didn't give em a fair chance. Stupid baitmonkey! I will never learn... :-/

I bought a 12' model ( don't know the id#), and liked it. It comes thru the water a little easier than a Norman or Bomber. I didn't like the color, but i will change that this winter..

Hey J. - the lakes i fish are clear and i've seen maybe 2 trees in the water (storm), in over 35 yrs. of fishing- and i love cranks. Weedlines, dropoffs, flats, anywhere you throw your other lures. You don't need trees to fish a crank.

Just wondering how many gallons of gas you've bought for your boat this year. I used about 25 gallons, for 41 trips . 8-) 16' deep v alum/50hp Evin. I know that some of you guys may use that it 1 day...

I agree with R.W., spin=lighter/finesse, b/c=heavier/power-fishing. Although i do have a 7' med./hvy spinning rod with 10# test line that i use for lures to 5/8 oz. on those windy days, and for jigs and worms when it's calm.

About 15 yrs. ago i caught a 15.5" and a 14" lm on a big-o. Last year i caught a 12" lm on a dropshot, and while bringing it in, a big (over 30") pike grabbed him sideways. My buddy was getting my camera ready while i delicately tried to get both up to the surface without pulling the pike off. I got it close to the surface, the picture was snapped and the pike let go. That poor bass was ripped from back to belly on one side, still breathing, and NOT bleeding. I slipped it back in the water, and it swam off...

Well, i'm now done for the year. Went out yesterday (11/4) and caught 3. A 12" sm on a wee-r, and 2 lm (a fat 15") on a dropshot. It sucks having to decide when your last trip of the year will be, but we got to do it. The water temp was 50 degrees, and no fall turnover yet. 41 trips this yr. without being shutout. First time that's happened for me.

Who hasn't beat the golden domers this year? ;D

I guess i'm gonna half to pick up a pak or two this winter for next season. I never would think of fishing those backwards! This i gotta see. Thanks rw for sharing. I love this site!!

I've never tried Cajun line before- do you use it on both spinning & baitcast reels? Is it a mono of a different color?