Crestliner2008

Hard to beat a nose hooked 4" Roboworm on the drop shot; along with a 3" Senko, wacky rigged.. I would carolina/texas rig a Zoom Trick worm. And just for general productivity, the green pumpkin Senko. I don't think I could live with on one worm though! Even this list makes me uneasy.

X2 - I prefer the fall rate and action of the Yamamoto Senko.

After you failed with the Ika, have you tried another bait, in the same spot, and caught them? If so, I'd be very surprised. Try this: fish a lure you have extreme confidence in....in a spot you are very sure has bass. Catch one. Put it away and use the Ika. I guarantee you'll catch just as many more fish (maybe a lot more) than if you had stayed with your high confidence bait. And it will reinforce your confidence in the Ika. This Ika is a killer bait, but you have to fish it where they are and you have to believe in it.

Depending on the depth of the lake, I'd look for deep, off-shore structures (humps, long points, rocky sections), that have bait balls associating with them. Wherever you find bait, you'll find smallies. Drop shot 'em and Good Luck!

Awesome pictures! Great fishing too.

Looks like it could be a young of the year perch.

I've bought Ambassadeurs since the early 70's and still have my original one - which one of my grandkids now uses. Still works fine after all the years and all the bass, pike and catfish! The last one I bought was about 10 years ago; it did not have a magnetic brake. To my knowledge, none of Abu's "round" reels do. For the money, those reels just can't be beat. I think I've got a half dozen of them now!

I can certainly tell you this much, smallmouth go deep in summer. Some of my favorite summertime structures are in 35' - 45'. Here the drop shot really shines. I don't regularly fish for largemouth, but a few decent (3 - 5 lbs.) ones I've caught over the past few weeks have been very shallow and early in the am. With 10" Yum "Mitey" worm becoming a very reliable producer. Hope this is of some help.

Shades of "Spoonplugging"! In years past we used to troll frequently for smallies on a large, hill-land reservoir. We pretty much mapped it out in great detail doing this. We learned where the bass were and why. We'd then anchor up and start jig or tube fishing. We eventually learned to drop shot. So, yes, trolling is a very effective way to learn a body of water. If I were fishing a new body of water, without the aid of a good sonar (or even with it), I'd definitely try some trolling.

You might want to consider a "sounding line". This is what we use to use before the Lowrance "Green Box" became available (the first real sonar). You get a 50' length of parachute cord. Tie a simple over-hand knot every 10'. We use to use a small piece of colored ribbon at each interval, so we'd know what depth we were fishing. Then, spend a day just "sounding" the lake and getting a feel for the "lay of the land" so-to-speak. That'll go a long way in teaching you about what's under the surface of the water. I would also consider a heavy 7' (or longer) rod with 50# monofilament line on a "round" reel - such as what musky fishermen use. You might know someone who would lend you such a set-up. Then toss a large wake bait or musky sized Jitterbug, at NIGHT. If there are any big girls in the lake, this will tell you in short order. Good Luck!

I've tried the Hannon snake as recently as last season. Still a box of them. Not impressed. The action in the info-mercials is much better than the actual action you experience. Used them several times with the equipment recommended. Like I say, no takes. Maybe I'll them another whirl this season if I get bored.

When I use to use a Johnson Century - way back when - I always palmed it. Just makes sense, but that way, your fingers can hold the line, ahead of the cup, preventing loose spooling and subsequent tangles.

What are you trying to cast? What rod/reel are you using - baitcasting or spinning? What line are you using now?

What kind of braid are you using? And what pound test is your leader?

Very well explained. Something I've been trying to get some friends to do for awhile now. It takes "faith" to believe in it though!

I haven't used them in years. But I do use a "Pond Magic" 1/8 oz. spinnerbait quite a bit on a local river with great success. I may just have to dig some of those beetle spins out of a box and give 'em a whirl again.

I fish Senkos wacky rigged all the time in 25' - 40'. Fishing for smallies though and while my Senko is sinking I've got a drop shot down there working that too. Using circle hooks, you don't have to be a big rush to "set" the hook. Once I notice my line moving, I reel up the DS and reel in the smallie on the Senko.

Thanks guys! Great suggestions. These rentals don't do anchors because the res is loaded with old stumps and rocks. It eats anchors for breakfast! Would cost the gates way too much to keep them supplied. I've been using a slip ring anchor for the last 12 years and still have it. Why they don't invest in them is a puzzle - I've mentioned it many times. The one thing with a slip ring anchor though, is that you have to know how to use it - and run the half circle (180*) to one side of where you're hung up. Frees up the anchor every time.

I agree, get the 12. It's easier to maintain "pace" along a given depth range with the 12. The 5 may be OK for shallower water, but if you need to count down any, it takes forever! I use both the 12 & the 16 now.

Are you referring to the "Beetle Spin"?

Awesome! Great pictures and some dandy fishing. Congrats!

Hard to beat a big old black MUSKY sized jitterbug. The advantage of this presentation is that it is very visible to the bass and it stays in the strike zone longer than just about anything else. I believe it fishes slower than a buzz bait as well, yet produces a lot of racket - slowly!

I am planing on gathering all the appropriate paraphernalia to equip a 16' rental rig (open style V-hull) on a reservoir here. Their rigs comprise a boat, motor, gas can & life jackets - period! One item needed is obviously an anchor, which I have. What I need now is something that I can stow my anchor rope on - large enough to handle 100' of 3/8" nylon rope, yet being least bulky and easily transported from boat to boat. I've tried an 8" plastic spool I had kicking around the house, but that only held about 60 yards of the rope. Probably need a spool about 12" - 15" in diameter? Not even sure where to get such a thing. And you folks may have a simpler/different suggestion for me? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

Just got mine yesterday too! They are finally getting caught up to the response. Must have cost them a pretty penny. Betcha they never do that again! LOL!

Early morning, I find the original Pop-R to be extremely effective, especially in a no-wind situation. Pop it once.....let it drift down stream for a bit. Then pop it again. That usually does it. When there is a little chop on the water, I like the Sammy.