TimJ

I'm patient enough to fish an area with fish until they bite...and usually intuitive enough (or lucky) to know when to leave. Had to do the "stay home" thing a few times before I was comfortable though. I used to have better intuition on all things nature when I spent more time fishing and hunting but am a bit lacking these days. My favourite example is noticing the rabbit's round eye through the grass before I saw the rabbit...just one of those things. TJ

thanks George. any other info on any other places out there? TJ

I'm with bassnleo...it's not a difficult job, but it is, as stated, thankless. To repeat what has been said, be prepared. Know your rules. Prior to the event, let the anglers know rules that may be specific to the event, even if you think they know. My experience came with a competitor speeding in a no-wake zone. After clearly stating the areas and rules in those areas, everyone agreed that they understood. It was a black and white call to penalize the team...and they had winning weight. Some friends of theirs couldn't understand but all of the competitors did and that's what counted. We don't have any apps or provincial paperwork here in Ontario...yet...so that makes it easier. I guess it's like being an umpire or ref...know the rules , make a call and stick with it. Good luck. TJ

Glenn, I looked throught the forum headers and really couldn't find a place for this. Instead of staying at a condo, I figured that I'd take a quick look at cabins or cottages near or on West Toho. I am aware of Richardson's but can't find an email or site anywhere. Any info on Richardson's or any others would be appreciated...cabins, cottages, house rental. Looking for March 13-21/2010 (flexible). Thanks. TJ.

Thank you George. I will keep my eyes open for more info and may ask more pointed questions closer to our trip date if we decide to include Stick. ps...nice read in yamamoto article. TJ

That lake looks like an adventure waiting to happen! We have planned on fishing Toho in March with our own boat and Stick Marsh has been grabbing my interest. If I'm correct, it looks like about 75-90 minutes from Kissimmee. Our fishing time will probably be controlled by the weather but one day on Stick may come into play. I see one ramp in the NE corner. Is this public? Are there regs on how many people can fish there or is this an open, public lake? For safety sake, can I get a map which generally outlines danger areas such as the wood areas OR does the excellent map posted do the job (with a bit of drawing in)? I'm sure that more questions will come to light but Stick and the nearby lakes have become options. Thanks very much. TJ

for a real quick/emergency trailer on jigs or spoons, try a gator tail broken off tail (sickle-type). great action on the drop. TJ ...yeah, I noticed you were looking for new trailers. just thought I'd throw it in.

pop-r. need a bit of dark colour on belly for me...LM & SM almost anytime. buzz bait. white/chart with black or blue...'cause it's a blast to fish. pupfish (or look-alike). bone...'cause it's so easy to walk and the smallies love it. TJ

year: my sons discovered the simple fun of spinnerbaiting a weed flat for LM and pike and whatever else was there. decade: taught my sons the basics of bass fishing...each has at least one 5lb+ StClair smallie! TJ

my only northern winter tactic: HEAD SOUTH! TJ

I still have to read more in the sticky but 1 pt that I have read elsewhere (probably in the sticky, too) is to use a small o-ring on the senko and put your hook through the o-ring instead of the senko when wacky rigging. it saves baits as they dont tear as often. TJ

welcome...definitely beautiful area up there. TJ

question: is this a pupfish? the hooks are not original as I have went through a few sets. no toothy critters have ate it...yet. thanks. TJ

I learned how to fish on the banks of the Detroit River. A fellow camper taught me the basics of worm fishing on a small lake in Michigan. We caught the only bass at the campground that day and I was hooked. Initially, I was self-taught on bass fishing but that consisted of mostly manns jelly worms, spinnerbaits, jitterbugs and hula poppers. I read every magazine and watched every tv show and video that I could to try to learn more. After joining a club and attending and then fishing tournaments, my learning curve accelerated. This is truly a sport with no end to learning. Dad never fished with me but always encouraged me...it would have been nice. TJ

Geez...I'm realizing that since I haven't had to stay on top of the newest stuff, I have fallen way behind. With my tournament days mostly behind me, my sons and I have been happy to fish with the gear that we have. You guys and gals must read some of my posts and think that you went back in time. I am sure that when the time comes to buy some new rods, it will be like my hockey experience...like going from wood sticks to graphite! TJ

JDW, I'm with you on the bug and pop-r. I find it much easier to walk the pop-r with my spinning rig, though. My favourite spook-type lure was given to me about 6+ yrs ago. A lure distributor friend got a few to try out...I think it's a pupfish, in bone. We just call it "the dildo". I will post a pic later today after I dig it out and maybe someone can tell me if it's actually a pupfish. This thing walks like a charm. I've retired it from most pike areas and St.Clair open waters...muskie...but I still use it a lot. TJ

Reading this info about the TT hooks makes me think I may have been fishing with inferior hooks for, oh, 25+ yrs... Using Brute TTs for flipping, I have never broken one hook. I have had them show rust, which gets relegated to the practice stuff, but I keep them dry...and the points need sharpening more often...but I'm cool with them. I haven't used regular TTs much so I can't really comment. I am fishing Ontario and 5+ LM are not common. I am very confident in my hooks...just wondering if I should be using something else on our FLA trip???...bigger fish possible! TJ

I predict that one of my sons will land a 10+ on Toho in March with Fishin Daddy's help...right Lee? sorry Glenn...I don't have a clue other than I will fish more with my sons and we will catch something! TJ

diverse trips so I have to split this up. they're all pretty basic. for smallies... spinnerbait...1/2 oz double willow tubes...greens and browns with gold and/or purple flake pop-r/spook carolina/drop rigs with gobies or craws hard jerkbait...x-rap/pointer and for LM... pop-r flipping setup with good old producto 6"...prob black-grape to start spinnerbait buzzbait tubes with very light guido heads ...and #6...floating worms betcha can't tell that I'm more in tune with the smallies these days... TJ

I am with most of you in that I would learn much from any pro or great local to whom I could talk...but being from this area, I think that I would like to pick Steve Clapper's brain on 1) Erie and 2) St.Clair...but mostly Erie! TJ

I have used the same Fenwick Iron Hawk and 2-Cabelas telescopic flipping sticks for over 20 yrs now. They don't get the use now that they did while I fished tourneys but my kids and I are putting more use on them every summer... when we can get away from the StClair smallies. TJ

If I'm flipping, I have a Brute Tru-Turn tied on. With other plastics, I'm using TT and EWGs. I don't mind taking the time to keep them sharp since the TTs aren't a "high-tech" point. TJ

If the water is a bit off, you can add a rattle to a spoon like a jig-a-whopper. It is not flat and has a v-shape cross-section. Works great on walleye in the Detroit River. I don't tend to throw blades or spoons for bass in dingy water though...although I will search rough water with a hopkins in the summer. TJ

Paul, not only do I re-read the good stuff, I also treat it like a school book and mark/highlight stuff that I will use. Makes it easier when I go back to it. Quite awhile ago, Jon Bondy and I were fishing a St.Clair club event and along comes Mickey Bruce, pre-fishing for a B.A.S.S. event. He was quick to share ideas and Jon started a friendship with him which, I believe, exists to this day. Jon has done well himself, too. Having been lucky enough to fish in 3 Elites/Top 150s on St.Clair (as an AM), I found that the pros were very open to discussing just about anything. Sitting around in the boat pre-tournament chatting about the business side with Woo Daves was out there...and this was after his Classic win! Tim Jarrold

beautiful stuff people!!! TJ