Crestliner2008

Co-incidentally, this week's In'Fisherman TV program showed them experimenting with casting spoons for smallmouth! Casting it out a long ways, while counting it down. Then just reeling in, pausing to let the spoon flicker back down a few feet before reeling again, etc.. Something my dad taught me, using Daredevils over 40 years ago, after locating fish by trolling on Champlain! Got to give it a whirl again...for sure!

July, 1989 - Onota Lake in Pittsfield, MA - Northern Pike, 21 lbs., 4 oz., 20" girth, 43" long. Trolling a Wendel's Musky Harrasser on a light baitcasting rig with 12 lb. test dacron line with steel leader. Not the biggest taken in this lake, but the biggest taken in open water when specifically targetting this species. Had just won $150. on a lottery ticket. The mount cost me almost $400.! Oh well, it was worth it.

Great information Bossdog, Thanks! I'm very familiar with the blades, but have only tried the spoons a few times. When do you fish the spoons? I always fish the blades on the bottom, barely twitching off before letting them re-settle. Never tried them on suspended bass, but now I'm going to! Tail spinners are another good bait for on/off bottom presentations. They might work for suspended smallies too. Thanks again.

rw, I've actually heard of folks catching bass with a BUZZBAIT after ice out!? Now that's a twist!

Best curly tailed grubs going are Kalin's - IMO. Especially the 5" size.

Ditto with what RW said, however, it would be better if we knew what the water temperature was and the max. depths in the river you are fishing?

Not for a general line (for which I would recommend a mono like XL or Stren Original), but if you are looking for a fluoro line, do yourself a favor and try the Berkley Vanish. I know, everyone says it's crap, right? Well, I've been using it for 4 seasons now. No problems...no worries. As long as you know how to tie a good knot. I'll be using it this season too.

Kozak - you just cast it out & let it hit the bottom. Barely twitch it off the bottom - you stop when you feel the vibration of the lure. Let it settle back down. Then twitch it off again...after a long pause, maybe 15 - 30 seconds. They usually hit it on the twitch, probably after watching it dead stick for awhile. Don't be concerned about the brand name - use any of them or mold your own. I'd recomment braid and a stiff rod. Smallies prefer gold....LM go for the silver. But a lot has to do with the water you are fishing. Hope this helps.

We'll be getting it tomorrow! Wind chills last night were -10* with the air in the single numbers. Toooooo long a winter this year!

Absolutely beautiful looking lures! Hope to try one out this coming season as well.

I can see no problem fishing the Ika in current? One of my favorite summertime presentations is casting them upstream along bridge abutments and letting the current carry them down alongside. Can't imagine why current would have an ill effect, unless you are trying to retrieve it cross-current? I drift the Ika down the current in a lot of similar situations and I've caught a lot of river smallmouth this way. But I am unfamiliar with your waters.

Bring the glue to a "hobby shop" - the kind that deals with miniatures and trains and such. They usually have a wide selection of specialized glues and thinners. I'm sure they can help you. I wouldn't use the nail polish remover unless you are told to do so by the experts. Mixing chemicals can have dissasterous effects! Be careful.

Great link and comments. THANKS!

Hard jerkbaits such as the X-Rap, Pointers or Husky Jerks. Fish slow, with lots of pauses inbetween. The drop shot could also produce at this time.

Water <42* use a slow horizontal presentations like the X-Raps or Pointers and don't leave home without a few blade baits; >42* to <55* would be the time for the drop shot, Senkos and other slow, verticle presentations, including the blades. These temp breaks are just what I know about around here - other areas could be different? JMO.

You definitely should try the CT. River this time of the year. Most launches right now are wide open. The water is a bit high and dirty, but do-able. Find some deep holes above dams, where the smallmouth are wintering. Use blade baits. You'll connect.

The 3" Sluggo, nose hooked, on a drop shot is dynomite for smallies!

I'd look for the deepest holes very close to the main current, but slack enough for them to stage, without expending a lot of energy. They are probably still in their winter patterns in preparation for their first move up stream. Finding them is the tough part. Especially with heavily stained water and without the use of an UW camera. If you do have one, your odds will improve dramatically. Find the fish....anchor within a short cast. Try a blade bait, barely twitched off the bottom, with a good 15 sec. pause inbetween. If that doesn't work, try slow rolling a spinnerbait or try a tail spinner. Be patient; as long as you know there are fish below you. Be persistent and you'll score.

"Active" is a relative word. Bass are always active to some degree. Contrary to popular belief, bass do NOT go dormant in winter. They have to eat. Maybe not very often, but they will eat. I'll start targetting bass (LM & SM) as soon as the ice opens up enough to put my boat in. Right now they're probably in their winter haunts; deep holes or structures where their prey regularly passes by and where the bass won't have to move much for a meal. And yes, if you had access to open water right now, you could catch bass! The main problem you would be faced with would be finding them. A great time for a blade bait. After ice out, the bass will start to move up and become even more "active". This is the time for the jerkbaits, or slow rolled spinnerbaits (slow, horizontal presentations). When the water temp gets above 45* to 50*, they'll start setting up on structures adjacent to the spawning flats (I'm not suggesting they're interested in spawning, just that they are getting ready for what nature dictates they must. Now you can try the drop shot, Senkos & tubes; anything with a more verticle/slow presentation being a better option.

Is the water clear or heavily stained?

I'm happy this has been brought up. Two questions: 1) I've seen several fishing shows on verticle jigging. They all use a SMOOTH finish Hopkins typle spoon in the 1 - 1 1/2 oz. sizes. But I can't find them anywhere!? Does anyone know where to get this type of finish? 2) Has anyone tried those new "Free-style" jigging spoons - those with the double singer hooks? Thanks!

I have a Pflueger "Silkcast" No. 1953 on a Heddon "Pal" tubular steel baitcasting rod. An old "knuckle-buster" reel, it is . Still functional and I still take it out from time to time - in the backyard - to reminise. Got my first pike on this rig back in the early 60's at Lake Champlain. Caught my first largemouth on it, in the CT. River - on a wood Lucky 13 - which I still have as well. Life has been pretty decent.

I agree with a lot being said here; but a lot of folks visiting here are relatively new to the fishing world, or are raising a family. I take exception to those who try to make someone believe that they have to pay up to $200.+ for a fishing rod. Bull. I've caught a lot of fish in my day (63 this month) and have never even considered spending more than $70. or $80. for a rod - and that's only been since I've retired, that I've spent this much! I would be affraid of using a $300. rod for anything other than a wall decoration. For those well "healed" enough that's fine - and more power to 'em. But for us working folks, a regular BPS rod will truly suffice the "average" angler. And it will do nothing to enhanse his/her knowledge to extend themselves, just to keep up with the "Jone's" of our sport. Buying an expensive rod & reel may improve (slightly) the fit, finish, feel or prestige - but nothing but knowledge will put fish in the boat - or on the shore. JMO.

I know for a fact that MA has several lakes & rivers where a 10 lb. bass can be taken. You wonder why the folks, that have seen some of these monsters, have been unsuccessful in catching them? Simple. If a fisherman can see them, they can be seen by the bass; which puts the fish in a defensive, negative posture. To catch one, you have to treat them as you would a whitetail and hunt them carefully, paying attention to your environment and using a stealthy approach. Or, you can use grenades. ;D (Just kidding folks!)

I'm from MA and yes, it was a bit over 15 lbs.. But that was like over 20 years ago. And it was caught thru the ice, not open water. The fish had to be way beyond her prime; probably near the end of her life. This was a very old fish, but MA has had some nice bass taken from her waters. I've seen a couple approaching 10 lbs. taken in years past. Very old fish. What the explanation is; probably due to living in a reservoir or lake with a moving stream thru it. Good forage base. Little fishing pressure.