Crestliner2008

City Limits Fishing is a fine program. Sometimes he actually doesn't catch anything! Talk about reality!

You can get trophy pike like this in open water. I've fished for pike for over 30 years now, but here in my small state, the odds of a truly large pike are limited. My biggest was 43" and weighed about 22#. Have caught many in the 12 - 15# range. Trolling is the best presentation. Reason is that big pike are territorial and are a true cold water species. So, you have to move around with the bait in order to score. Large 8" Believers, big Rapala type lures and especially large in-line spinners like the Wendel's Musky Harasser are good examples of what you need to present. You have to fish deep as well. If you can find bait balls (large bait....like trout or ciscos) off deep humps or points, you'll eventually score....and score BIG! Good Luck!

Hands down....it's the Quabbin. Last season I CPR'd at least 150 between 2 1/2 and 4 3/4 lbs. there. Have yet to break the 5, but it's coming! I fish it at least every week; most weeks twice. Great body of water, but you need to have your sonar set-up correctly and know how to use it. Let me know if I can be of any assistance this season.

i have, but i never have ANY luck there, i'm sure it's just me though :-/ What do you fish for there and how are you approaching it? If you use your sonar and go early in the day, you can do quite well. I'm mainly a Quabbin fisherman myself, specializing in smallmouth bass. You can view most of my posts about the Q on www.maanglers.com.

Yes, I've fished there a few times. Did very well on 2 occaisions, using the drop shot. Next time I went, I couldn't buy a fish! Nice body of water though. I especially enjoy the upper pond. It just gets a little crazy from mid-June through summer, with all the boating traffic.

I like the tiny bullet weights as well, but I use it a bit differently. I rig it carolina style, with a tiny #10 Spro crane swivel, an appropriate sized red glass bead, then the weight. I've never bothered to peg and have had no ill experiences with this set-up.

Two brands in each category have been around for 30+ years. Not too many other brands can claim that. They flat work. Cranks: Bill Norman Little N's; both shallow & deep versions. Colors to match the hatch where you fish. Spinnerbaits: Fleck Weed Waders; tandem willows for deep & colorados for shallow water. 3 colors of each; black, white & chartreuse.

I sure do remember VW and yes, it was on TV with a tube....all 14" of it! Gadabout Gaddis too....as a mater of fact, I have 1/2 doz. of his original wood fishing lures in their boxes! Probably not worth much, as they are not "name" brand lures per se, but I hang onto them, for sentimental reasons if nothing else. If I live long enough, maybe my grandson will be pleased with them. ;D

Don't over look the in-line spinners.

Most local Fish & Game Clubs in your area can lead you to youth groups who would be more than happy to take that stuff off your hands. And, of course, there's always the Boys Club.

I agree with what's been said. However, if you are cleaning your reels and do not want to disassemble every gear, I've used WD-40 as a grease and dirt cutter. I take off a side plate. Spray the gears thoroughly with it and let it sit for a hour or so. Then I wash the insides out with a hard stream of hot water from the tap. Next I use a hair dryer on it and then proceed to grease and oil. Has worked for me for many, many years. JMO!

Definitely one of my all time favorite baits. I can usually get them from a local bait shop, but the choices are limited. Thanks for the info from TW!

I disagree totally with the suggestions here! Those lures you have could be worth a fortune. Do NOT do anything to them before you have a registered antique dealer appraise them. If you make ONE mistake in handling them improperly, it could negate their value.

From your post, I'm guessing you are in So. CA. That being the case, what kind of equipment are you using; spinning or baitcasting? Are you a shore-bound angler or do you have a boat? If you have a boat, does it have a sonar? And do you know how to use it? What kind of lures are you using? The water you are fishing; clear or stained....deep or shallow? What kind of bait fish are present (you can ask the locals this)? Lots of variables, most of which we'd have to know if we can give you a decent response to your question.

Simple choice for me. Since 50+% of my time is fishing smallies, I'd go with a one piece 7' medium fast action spinning rod with 1500 series Shimano Sahara. Load the reel with 8# test Trilene XL and tie on a 1/8 oz. jig head trailing a 3" curly tail. This would also do for Senko fishing and topwaters for LM bass in a pinch.

One other factor to consider when choosing a spinnerbait is just how long has the company been in business. Fleck has been producing them since the early '70's. And I've been using them since then. Never have had a problem. I've since bought a bunch of T-1's which I really like, but I can't justify the difference in price with the results. The Fleck's are quality made and not expensive. Northern Bass Supply has a great selection btw!

Just where do you believe BPS purchases it's hooks from? Hmmmm....maybe one of those companies? I'm sure they don't make their own! That being said, I totally agree with buying the best hooks you can. Take a good look at Daiichi. Some great hooks!

Great job on those smallies! Hope they were released?

Never tried the "free style" type jigs, but I fish the Hoptkins regularly in the early spring. I usually switch out the trebles on those with large single hooks and have had some pretty decent success. I would fish these new models the same way for starters, then try varying your retrieves.

As already said, 3" - 5" curly tailed grubs trolled behind a 1/8 oz. jig head will definitely put fish in the boat. However, you have to troll rather slow. Just fast enough for the tail start swirling regularly, yet fast enough to keep it just off the bottom. Don't forget the cardinal rules: Depth & Speed control is paramount! If the bottom is rocky or snaggy, I'd recommend a small floating balsa bait, such as the Rapala. If it's not grabbing your jig all the time then stick with those. White or chartreuse are great colors. And if you go with the larger size Kalin grugs, try the smoke with black flake or green pumpkin. You'll do just fine!

I do this rather regularly with very decent results. I use a slip bobber with a wacky rigged Senko. Dyn-O-mite!

Don't worry so much about what they are doing and start to figure out what they want to eat. Most likely you have to present something to them that they just can't refuse. i.e.: drop shot, Senko, Fat Ika, shaky worm (although I've never caught a fish on one yet!), etc.. Any good finesse presentation. Given an opportunity for an easy meal, no bass, regardless of their mood, will pass it up. Just not in their nature.

Absolute true. Whenever you see carp in schools, you're gonna find SM as well. With the water that cold and the sun so direct, you must use a very stealthy approach. Stay low in your boat (sit vs. stand) and cast up current, letting your presentation drift back down into them. I'd use a small in-line spinner or a 4" Senko, wacky rigged and drifted into them. One of these should work.

You need two; a darker shade for sunlight and a lighter shade for cloudy days, early and late in the day. Yellow will take care of the later.

I voted for the T-1. However, before they came along, my No. 1 was the Fleck. Especially the heavy short arm versions for deep smallie fishing.