River Rat316

This one is not last year, but I didn't get much time chasing smallies last year, this isn't my personal best but its a good pic and the fish is fatter than me ;D

Stickbait (senko) wacky rigged, any color for the conditions but my favs are watermelon chart flake, Green Pumpkin Gold flake, or salt and pepper!

Tubes can be deadly on LMB, I have mopped up in areas where everyone was pitching jigs to woodcover, and I came in behind them and pitched a tube instead

Forgot bomber square a, I don't crank much but when I do in the river it is my go to!

That nmight go down as the best all time story I have ever read on any board... hillarious!!

I got a showdown last year, and it is amazing, I have turned around and drove an hour back home before just to get it, I really won't go ice fishing without it. My next purchase is a camera, it will at least keep the kids occupied!

A river smallie absolutely crushing a fast moving buzzbait is by far the best for me, second would be the crushing thump on a jig and pig followed by a solid connection and the rod bowing and a little drag peeling off, either largie or smallie on that one.

Like said before they are more subtle than a xrap, both are good, however the xraps usually don't get used in water colder than 55 degeres for me, they are to erractic and a more subtle approach works better for me at that point. LC are well worth the price, you don't need every color, and since they run shallow you rarely lose one, try a 78 in Ghost minnow, Pearl ayu, and Perch. get a couple 100's in other colors and you are set, total investment less than $60 if you buy smart when you find sales or clearances

Charles at fishingskirts.com is top notch, you can find everything you need for making punch skirts, I got my hubs just haven't had time to goof with them yet

Our small lakes still have over 20" on them... supposed to be near 40 all week though so by the end of the week they will still have 20" on them but the snow might be down to where you can drive off the plowed roads on them :'( We can't bass fish till Memrial day weekend though, so if they were open I would be even madder

Cripes, poor guy is a Tigers fan, I almost feel a little sorry for him now, I notice he didn't mention the Lions though ;D That was a great interview! Shows that these guys are all normal people!

Good Job on second! Hang in there, sounds like you got the right attitude!

Remeber, what we the fisherman think is "good action" from a lure, and what fish think are 2 different things. Some of the better soft swimbaits are pretty subtle, but the fish eat them

Dick Nites is pretty thick, but its a pain to keep cause it likes to dry out

Leech is a premier Large mouth destination in this state, it doesn't get the publicity that tonka or someothers get but it is good. There are also thousands of small lakes in that area that are capable of 6lbers. The smallie fishing in that area can also be really good, you aren't but a couple hours away from some premier smallie fishing, Vermillion, Kabetogama, LOW, Rainy River, and tons of small water that is closer! If I had my choice I would be living up there right now, but the general says no way.

I have these available in sizes from 1/4 to 1 oz http://www.northstarbaits.com/spinnerbaits.html You can get any blades you want with them. The sizes under 1/2 oz are built on a size under frame and the 5/8 and larger are built on a 1/2oz frame. The 1oz bait can be fished at a moderate retreive down to 20+' if you let it get down there first. I also have alot more colors and models to add including some triple and quad blade models that were pretty hot last year.

The finesse jig has the standard lead barb, which works pretty good. At this time the grass jig does not have one, I have an older mold that I hacked up for a wire trailer keeper last summer though, since this is the jig I fish alot in the weeds, and it worked out nicely. I am thinking about adding this to the model that is on the website. I am still trying to get a custom mold done for grass jigs though, when I find out where this is going I will make a decision on what to do.

I wouldn't ask a pro staff to try and be a role model, I feel like that position should be taken by a parent/ relative, but there charachter comes way before any fishing accomplishments. If they represent me, my company and everyhting I have worked for you can rest assured that they will be standup guys.

For all purpose light baits, anything to finesse jigs, hair jigs, wacky worms I use a 7' f Shimano Compre with a 1500 size Sahara with 8lb Gamma copoly on one spool and 20/6 braid on the other (hardly ever use the braid spool). Otherwise for winging spinenrbaits under tight shoreline cover I use a 5'6" pistol grip (can't remember brand, Berkely something) with a Daiwa 150h, once I shake the rust off with that little pistol grip I am usually fairly accurate (within 6"-1' and can get a nice quiet entry with a spinnerbait or swim jig.

Monkey hasn't came back yet, I tink she kicked it in the seeds... besides I got 3 months befoe I can bass fish, Its hard enough making stuff for other people all day during the winter, let alone looking at baits you want to test out!

The stuff they are clearancing was the original stuff that was having some problems, mainly rigging and falling apart and stuff. For $1 a pack its not a bad deal, the stuff was originally like 7 or 8$ a pack. They have new stuff coming out this year that is supposed to be a better formula. I personally don't like any of the new generation of stuff, Mister twisters formula was the only stuff I ever caught fish on (Exude) but they don't even make that anymore

I was gonna get some last night when BTD was having there 20% off thing, then the wife walked in the room and that monkey got scared and ran away

I generally start out smaller, but depending on conditions (like fall) I will throw 6-8" baits

BPS needs to step up and get a store in MN

x2 ~ ;D ;D btw - I am really excited about feeding your hair jigs to a few smb. A-Jay Im really excited to.... but won't get the chance to do it till the end of May now.... stupid closed seasons