BrianSnat

I T rig my Senkos and hookset hasn't been a problem. In fact the problem with me is that they inhale the bait and are hooked too deeply. I always C&R bass and hate getting involved in a surgical procedure to get the hook out.

I like using topwaters about half hour before sunset and through the night to about an hour after sunrise. Also any time of the day on cloudy, rainy days. Sometimes in late spring through mid summer I'll hit shady spots with topwaters during the day. And I agree with Tmpr, topwaters can be hot just after a passing thunderstorm. But I think the most productive time I've had with topwaters is early morning darkness just until the sun peaks over the horizon.

I live a short distance from two reservoirs famous for their lake trout fishing, as well as other trout species. I don't have a downrigger so last year I tried deepwater jigging. Problem is that if there is a breeze the boat drifts too fast to keep the jig on the bottom and these waters usually have a breeze. Early this year I went out with my normal fishing tackle and trolled using 1 oz sinkers on a three way swivel to get the lures down. Nothing. I noticed that many of the laker fishermen use lead core line with trolling rods, and planer boards to get as many lines as possible into the water. So I went out and bought two trolling rod and reel outfits, filled them with lead core line and bought two planer boards, giving me 4 lines in the water. Still nothing. Then I noticed that I was often putting the boat in (10 - 11 am) when many of the trout fishermen were finishing up, so today I was on the water 4:30 am and trolled until 9 am. Still nothing. Not sure where to go next but I'll keep trying. Any tips appreciated.

1) Windy conditions turn on the bite - Agree with you on this one. I never noticed considerably better fishing when it's windy. In fact some of my best catches were when the water was glass flat. 2) Points are good fishing locations - Depends on the point. If it continues as a shallower projection into the water with deeper water on one or both sides they can be very good spots 3) Action picks up right before a front moves in - I've never noticed a difference. 4) The intersection of several types of vegetation makes a good target - I think it's a good target but no better or worse than many other targets. 5) Spinnerbaits catch fish - I cant catch them on spinnerbaits either. 6) After a cold front, downsize baits - I think this one nonsense, but sometimes a slower retrieve helps 7) If a bass blows up on a frog and misses, you can catch it with another lure - I've caught many a bass that missed the first time, sometimes on another lure sometimes with the same one. 8) Fish bite well in the fall because they are fattening up for winter - They do bite well in fall but I think it has to do more with water temps and becoming more active after the heat of the summer. 9) Fishing deep structure is productive (because most people are pounding the banks) - It's productive because the fish like to hang out there, particularly when the water heats up in summer 10) If you get bit on one type of cover, that same type of cover will be productive around the lake - I agree that this one is nonsense. There are too many other variables.

I was going to suggest the Pfleuger President along with a Berkley Lightning.

I tried fluorocarbon on my spinning reels but didn't like it. I've tried quite a few others but pretty much stick with Trilene XL. For the money it's a decent line. I wouldn't mind trying Yo-Zuri Hybrid but I can never find it when I think of buying line.

If I were going for bluegill I'd use a UL or L, probably in the 5' - 6' range.

I'd probably take a two MHs and a ML. Since most of my rods are 6' 6" it would probably be that size though I do have a ML that is 7'.

I usually organize my tackle box when the lakes are iced over and maybe once during the season if it gets really out of hand. I'm not an organizational nut. As long as the hooks are back where the hooks belong and the sinkers where the sinkers go and the lures where the lures go I'm happy. Soft plastics I keep in the original bag. They've outgrown my tackle box (which is pretty big) so I found a on old zippered portfolio bag that I keep them in.

If you just have the one boat I'd stick with what you have. If you are constantly moving it from one boat to another then the portable would be a better idea.

You're not going to get a good kayak with your budget, unless you look used. Personally I think the best kayak for fishing is a canoe. I fished from a kayak many times and I don't care for it. You're stuck in pretty much one position and have to constantly maneuver the boat to point to where you want to cast.

In the spring, summer and fall many of my rods are right next to the front door (to the chagrin of my wife), or in the hall closet next to the front door. I pick about 5 rods throw them in the boat with my tackle box, hitch up the boat and go. The only thing that takes thought is where. If the outboard is on the boat and I don't feel like taking it off (that sucker is heavy), I need to drive to a lake that allows gas motors (there are two within 20 mins and another dozen or so more within an hour). If the outboard is off and it's just the electric motor, then I usually just hit the local lake which is LT a 5 minute drive. Unfortunately the rules there don't permit a boat with an outboard even if it is up and not being used.

I like them both, but usually I fish dusk because it's after work. Though many people fish before work, I just don't enjoy fishing when I know I have a time limit because I have to be somewhere. I need to get over that, because I usually wake up at 5 am and I could get in an easy two hours, shower and be in work by 9.

I generally don't eat bass, I release most of what I catch. The only exception is when I'm ice fishing and gut hook a bass with live bait. I've brought them home to eat and tried a variety of recipes. All of them sucked. I don't think bass tastes very good

Sticking a light in a headband may work for a minute or two but I think it would uncomfortable and the light is bound to shift and occasionally fall out. Last thing you want to do is be in the middle of landing a fish with one hand and keeping the light from falling in the drink with the other hand. If you have a Mini Mag Lite, they sell a neoprene head band with a sleeve for the light and red filters for the lens. However I think the best alternative is to get a real headlamp.I've been using headlamps for years and find them essential for night fishing. Last year I upgraded my old Petzel Tikka headlamp to a Black Diamond Storm and love it. On high it has a powerful, focused beam that throws a long way (great for finding a lure stuck in a tree or finding the landing or dock when heading back in). On low there is a warm glow that illuminates the entire boat. The high and low settings are also adjustable within their range. The Storm also features built in two red LEDs if you don't want the strong light to kill your night vision or attract insects. I use the white LEDs 99 percent of the time because I usually don't have the light on long enough to attract too many insects. It's off unless I'm landing and unhooking a fish or tying a knot. Great light, I highly recommend it to anyone who fishes at night and it isn't too expensive as headlamps go. About mid priced.

I've been doing OK just before sunset and a few hours afterward. Had one tough night where I was skunked but normally I'm picking up 3-6 bass in about 3 -4 hours of fishing. Not great but not bad.

I've been night fishing for bass most of my life. When I was a teenager my family had a cabin on a lake. I'd head out after dinner and not come back until 1 or 2 am. 30 some years later I get home from work on summer evenings and hit the local lake about 7ish and fish until well after dark - sometimes past midnight if it's a Friday and I don't have to work the next day. Come to think of it, in the summer if I were to total up the hours I probably fish more after dark than during daylight.

I have no problem whatsoever getting skunked. Catching fish is only part of why I'm out there. I enjoy the hunt just as much as the catching - finding the fish, determining what they are hitting. Sometimes I beat the fish, sometimes they beat me. If every time I went out I was able to pull fish in one after another with no thought whatsoever, it wouldn't be fun to me. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy days when the bite is really on, but I truly don't want that every time. I'm also out there for the fresh air, sun (or rain, or fog), beauty of the lake or stream and just being outdoors. A few weeks ago I was on my home lake in the evening and the bass just weren't cooperating. I went to my go-to spots and nada. My go-to baits didn't produce. I threw everything I knew at them and still nothing. Soon the sun set and the stars came out. The lake was as smooth as glass, temps were perfect, not too hot or cold. It was an absolutely gorgeous evening. I kept fishing and kept coming up empty. Then I lit my cigar, popped open a beer sat back in my chair and did some star gazing. After about a half hour I went back to fishing and was still not catching anything. I stayed out until midnight, alternately fishing and just drifting under the night sky. After 6 hours on the water, zero fish caught. I enjoyed it every bit as much as I would have had I caught 20 bass.

About 30 feet while ice fishing.

I like the Yamamoto Kreature and the Rage Space Monkey.

Most of the time I use Gamakatsu EWG offset hooks ranging from 3/0 to 5/0. For wacky rig or drop shot a 3/0 Gamakatsu octopus hook is what I use most often.

It depends on how handy you are with tools and making things. You have a lot of work ahead and if you have the time and talent for it, you can certainly make this into a great boat. I've seen photos (there are some here) of people turning boats in far worse shape into an awesome fishing machine.

I'm in the same boat. I hated the way Crocs looked, made fun of my wife when she wore them. But after examining them I decided they were the ideal fishing shoe for the boat. They'd be comfortable and dry out almost immediately after I got in the water to launch the boat. I got the camo colors so at least there is a bit more of an outdoorseyness to them. So in the boat it's always Crocs. For shore fishing if I'm going to be wading, I have felt bottom wading shoes and waders. If I'm staying on dry land I prefer to wear gore tex lined trail runners or gore tex light hiking boots. They grip well on rocks, provide good protection and keep my feet dry if I step in a puddle or walk through dewy grass.

I have an older model of Garmin in the same price range. Very happy with it so far and it's been about 5 years. I'm sure all will do the job.

That's a good question. I have a few crankbaits that have thick film of dirty old Megastrike. I was trying to figure out a way to clean it off without ruining the finish of the lure.