Marty

Fish can be pretty tough to unhook when they have both the main and trailer hooks. For the last year or so I've been crimping down the barb on the trailer.

I'm getting a deja vu. Have you asked this within the last week?

I use trailer hooks on my buzzbaits. Most fish are hooked on the main hook, but there are just enough on the trailer hook only that I wouldn't want to fish without them.

Only you can decide that. Setting aside any comparisons with other products, Sweet Beavers are an excellent bait. You've already bought them and you can use them with confidence.

Sure you do, and you've already used it: "Sicko."

A pike would have light spots on a darker background.

I use them spring through fall, generally in water that's in the mid-50s or higher, although I've caught fish in colder water.

Rapala has a number of lures with the Shad Rap name. All I've used are the original balsa, no-rattle Shad Raps, both the shallow and deep-diving versions. I've never used them as jerkbaits, but they're outstanding cranks.

Smallmouth will take a wide variety of lures, including your topwaters, but you ought to have more than just topwaters. I'd add crankbaits, both lipped and lipless, spinnerbaits, and grubs and tubes on jigheads.

I agree, it's wrong. However, we're the problem because we're enablers. We keep buying this stuff so the manufacturers don't get the message. Plus I would imagine not many of us are writing letters of complaint. Stop buying these lures and let the companies know why and you'll see the quality of the hooks shoot up!!

Of course, spoons are classic trout lures. One that might not be at the forefront is grubs on jigheads, which do indeed catch fish. (Most spoons come with a treble, but that can be swapped for a single hook.)

Conventional wisdom says that you might use non-rattling baits in clear water to avoid spooking them and rattlers in dirty water to get the fish's attention. However, the trouble with that is that rattlers work in clear water and quiet lures work in dirty water. But you can't go wrong by at least starting out based on the conventional wisdom My unproven gut feeling is that rattles are somewhat overrated.

I've done a huge amount of shore fishing, and really, any bait can be used that the cover will allow and that is appropriate for the conditions. Topwaters, shallow cranks, spinnerbaits, Chatterbait-style, in-line spinners, and a variety of soft plastics have all accounted for a lot of fish. My three biggest were from shore, two on topwaters and the 3rd on a Senko.

I don't live near Tobacco Road, but I'm well aware of Paulus, as he played in high school about an hour away from here. Today it's being reported he might play QB for the University of Michigan.

Yes, interesting indeed. We'll see how this plays out, can a QB make the NFL without playing for four years? Stay tuned.

I've used one brand (Tuf-Line) that did seem to impair proper casting, in that it kept catching on itself and the cast stopped short abruptly. It is true that rats' nests can happen, but they also happen with other types of line. I've had my share of impossible tangles--possibly due to my own carelessness--but no more with braid than mono. I'm doing most of my spinning with braid the last couple of years. For me, the upside supersedes the downside.

I have my complaints with the store, but I'd be majorly disappointed--but not shocked--if it happens.

I use the Fiskar's kids' scissors, but without a spring. I paid $1 at Wal-Mart a few years back. The Fiskar's are identical to the original Culprit Braid Blades, so I'm virtually positive that Culprit outsourced them to Fiskar's.

Well said, my fellow northerner. I too am a canoe owner but the difference between you and me is about 25° of water temperature. ;D

I don't follow hockey very much, but I was aware of BU's win. It was just a couple of days ago when I read the story about BU's coach, about how some years ago he was promoted to A.D., then stepped down after two weeks because he realized that he was a coach, not an administrator. Interesting story, to say the least.

Thanks John (didn't notice the answer, that's why I'm four days late).

I don't go that far, but I do fish topwaters a disproportionate amount of the time. That's because I like them, and because some places I fish are weed-choked and, most important, they're very effective!! I have a huge amount of confidence in them and you'll find me using them any time the water's warm enough, say approximately 55°.

When I see the term "shad" without a qualifier, I assume the reference is to threadfin shad. That is a southern species for the most part, south of the Ohio River. However, gizzard shad are very common in the north.

I've been using size #1 duolock snaps for years. That size is rated for 20#. My line is never stronger than 15#. I always use a Palomar knot with no problems. As far as avoiding the snap because it forces you to tie fresh knots, that may be necessary for some, but not all. Over the years I've trained myself to check my line frequently, regardless of whether there's a snap or not. Obviously, you have to do what works the best for you.

What does this mean? If you mean the label on the supply spool is facing up, then that is not the way to do it. Labels are put on both ways. The spool should be on the floor such that the line comes off it counterclockwise.