Crestliner2008

You might want to take along a Johnson Silver Minnow as a backup.

Another vote for the President! Great reels. You can spend a lot more but it's doubtful you will experience better performance. I've switched from the Shimano's to Pfluegers. I'm very pleased.

Very nice report and story. That is a brute of a pike for sure!

Can't tell you how many pike I've taken out of the Ct. River system here in MA on the big Sluggos. Sorry they do not work for some of you. They certainly work for Me. I've taken some big largemouths on them as well.

For about 8 seasons now, I've been using a smaller, lighter snap hook from Netcraft: Snap Hooks These are light enough to float a fly (in the small size #1). I use size #2 for all my 1/32 - 1/8 oz. jig heads. Not only gives you the freedom of movement for the lure, but also facilitates quick changing. If the eyes on the small cranks are recessed, you might have to go up to the #3, but I use many crappie cranks with the #2 with no problems. I use the Trilene knot to tie my 4# test flurocarbon to the snap hooks. Best creation since sliced bread! LOL!

Here's another option for your mind's turmoil. Try a 9" Sluggo Texposed on a 7/0 (or larger) off-set hook. If there's a pike anywhere around it will go after this bad boy.

More than likely, you'll do better looking for them in the 90' range. We've taken them in over 100', but the majority will be slightly shallower. The blade is still the best presentation as it gives off flash plus vibration. The "where" part of your question is just a matter of using your electronics to see fish populations at which depth. You can pretty much figure that arches over the 90'+ depths are lakers.

Cast it and let it hit the bottom. Start a slow retrieve back; just make sure it's a fast enough retrieve to give the spoon some action. I normally hang a 4" white plastic curly tailed grub on the hook. One other thing with the Johnson. Sharpen the hook before you use it. They are notorious for dull hooks. Pike have a heavily boned mouth and you'll need to really set that hook hard. Good luck!

If you are after lakers, then find the deepest water and try vertical jigging with blade baits. An on/off bottom jigging will get you bit. Other species are probably more likely to be caught trolling spoons, similar to the Thomson Buoyant, in shallower areas. I've caught a lot of rainbows with a jig dressed with 2" crappie plastics.

What is the deepest part of the river? If the pike are more than just hammer-handles they tend to more cold water fish than we'd like to think. Find deep holes or runs with current breaks and try a Johnson Silver Minnow in the 1 1/4 oz. size. Don't' be surprised if you don't get hammered by a large catfish as well.

If it's crappie you are specifically targeting, then I would alter the suggestion slightly. I'd go with a 1/16 oz. jig with 2" curly tails instead. Slightly smaller profile and more appealing to the majority of crappie.

I second "reason's" post above. A simple 3" curly tailed grub on a 1/8 oz. ball head jig with get you bit, regardless of the species you are targeting.....trout.....bass.....catfish.....you name it. Probably the most effective lure ever created by man.

Can't tell you how many smallmouth bass I've caught on a 3" chartreuse curly tailed fished on a plain 1/8 oz. ball head jig. Simply cast it out, count it down and a steady retrieve will get you bit. Never fished largemouths with these lures, but I can't imagine they would not work equally as well. If I only had one lure to use, this would be it, hands down!

I'm a MegaStrike fan. Have been using it for years, especially when drop shotting plastics. I don't use an attractant with hardbaits though.

I can only speak for the spinning reels. I have 4 now and plan on sticking with that brand for a long time. Use to be a Shimano fan, but no longer. Especially since they kicked up their pricing. Hard to beat the President at about $60.00, in my opinion.

If it wasn't for color, lure manufacturers would go broke. Depth & speed controls are paramount. Action & size follow those with color lagging way behind. Beyond that, the color that catches you the most fish is probably pretty close to what they want if you're clued into the first 4 controls. JMO.

Great eating fish too!

If it moves and the bass interprets that movement to be something to eat, it will strike. It has to. Bass are opportunistic feeders. I am in the camp where I do not believe the bass evaluates the precise pattern of live forage.

I use to have every issue of In'Fisherman. Donated them to a school project on structure fishing. I also still have Lindy's "Big Book of Fishing". That was published sometime in early 70's. It featured Al & Ron Lindner, along with Bill Binkleman. I believe it is the first publication depicting the famous "Lindy Rig". I'll have to see if I can find some "old stuff" in the attic!

When I fish the 10" worms, I use a swimbait hook with a 3/8 oz. belly weight. The bass seem to like it.

Wrong. It's 2# test Fireline Crystal, with a 2# test fluorocarbon leader.

Definitely go with a Pflueger President - probably a #6930 size. Match that up with a 7' Berkley "Shock" spinning rod in Medium action. You can get him a spool of 10# test PowerPro braid and a spool of 8# test fluorocarbon (for leader material) and you're good to go. All within your budget.

LOVE that Rodenator!!!! According to NatGeo, moles are very territorial. When they latch onto a "property", no other moles can venture in. So what it all boils down to is that you have one mole causing all the damage on your lawn. For such a little guy, he sure can damage up a storm!

Congratulations! What a way to start out! Great job!

I only use the Alberto knot for leader to braid connections. I use the Palomar for my drop shot hooks. I use the Trilene knot for everything else.