Marty

John, why? What if one wants to keep some images on the card? On each camera I've formatted the card only once at the start. What am I at risk for?

Thanks, then maybe I will consider it a wake bait rather than a subsurface crankbait.

Have used this just once for about 10-15 minutes from shore. Hard to tell, but it didn't seem to be getting down to that 1' depth like Baby 1- does, it looked like just a few inches. Obviously I need to use it more, but just based on the one use it looks like it would be more usable as a wake bait than as a shallow crank. What are the observations and thoughts of those who have used it?

Don't know what the "best" is. I use a Mustad Ultra Point with the plastic keeper in size 4/0. I think a keeper hook gives you more fish per bait.

http://www.lurenet.com/productdetail.aspx?id=4630

Maybe they'd do like the old days, use a heavy sinker on some line as their "depthfinder."

I carry no more than two colors. One is muted, like shad or bluegill, the other is louder, like firetiger. Of course, I could be 100% wrong but I just don't see more colors resulting in more fish for me over the course of a season.

I use a standard stream thermometer. Years ago I had a Deptherm and had much worse luck with it than Crestliner.

I'll second that.

I use a steady retrieve. I don't know if it's slow or medium, it's the speed that seems right to me.

I don't consider catfish (at least channel catfish) an odd fish to catch on artificials. Perhaps artificials wouldn't be the first choice when targeting them, but I've caught a number of them on jigs with grubs, crankbaits, and my most recent on a Chatterbait-style lure.

They certainly do come and go, but this is not your typical recession. The market was down almost 60%, people are living in cars and retirees have lost a huge amount of assets (as have non-retirees). My son found a job four months after being laid off, he took a pay cut of 20-25% and I consider him to have been hugely lucky considering what's going on. It's easy to say don't hit the panic button, but tell that to someone who doesn't know where their next month's rent is coming from.

Sorry. I do almost all my carp fishing in the Erie Canal and wouldn't know what to say about ponds or lakes.

Use any technique that seems to fit the conditions. In my case, it's mostly topwaters, soft plastics, shallow crankbaits and spinnerbait/Chatterbait-type lures.

You can use corn, bread, cereal and many other baits. I always use corn. By cereal, I mean Wheaties or Bran Flakes or the like. Grab a handful, immerse and squeeze out the excess water. If you use a sinker, use a slip sinker and fish with the bail open. Watch your line, they'll usually take off with the bait. All you need to do is close the bail to set the hook. Get ready for some fun, they'll take you for quite a ride and make your reel sing.

I just called a friend who lives on the lake and she says it's ice-free. Good luck!! (Don't know about ramps, but she says she's seen boats).

I use a shoulder bag. There's no way I could recommend something specific to you. You have to match your own storage needs. John's suggestion of vests and packs that fly fishermen use is fine; it's not for me because I carry too much and my stuff is bigger than what will fit in typical vest pockets. You have a number of options available to you.

The wind is too much if it makes boating unsafe. I wouldn't worry about it adversely affecting the pike.

Perch, walleye and smallies are all present in the bays and ponds connected to Lake Ontario. As far as inland ponds, the few smallies I've caught seemed to be ones that someone tossed in, as opposed to part of an actual population. I don't ever recall a walleye and the perch I can count on one hand. The LMB, pike, sunnies, and rockies are all over the place.

I have sent lures back to Rapala at least twice and received replacements both times. Also to other companies. Why eat the cost for their defect?

Handle them with a lip gripper, such as this one from Cabela's. I also hold them by the gill plates, but be careful to avoid the actual gills. These fish have a habit of keeping their jaws clamped, making it difficult to remove a lure that's inside their mouth. An inexpensive fish jaw spreader is an extremely handy tool. DO NOT USE A TOWEL IF YOU PLAN TO RELEASE THE FISH. It removes the protective slime, making the fish more vulnerable to disease.

I agree with most of the advice here. Do your homework. When negotiating and the sales rep says that's the lowest he can go, just say "thanks, can't do it" and walk away. You might hear your name called before you're out the door. And don't forget, because of the lousy economy making it a buyer's market, you should be able to strike a better deal than you would under more normal circumstances.

The only commercial place I'm aware of is Jay-Ve Tackle on Norton St. There's a Rochester-based forum member who works on reels and I'm sure he'll give you some information if he reads this thread.

You've got pike in the subject line but pickerel in the message. But either will readily grab any conceivable lure, including your Daredevles. Of all the lures, I'd give the nod to spinnerbaits for both, but it's a very close call.

Good luck. If the team's performance matches Kiffin's mouth, you'll be in a BCS Bowl!! ;D