TimJ

and if they get a bit tough, use your LM knowledge and rig a carolina with a smaller hook than usual and some type of crawfish plastic, about the same size/colour as you are finding in their mouths.

beautiful fish! and great conditions too. StClair is on right now too. A friend was out Monday and had a blast with jerkbaits and tubes in 4-6ft. his biggest was just under 5. TJ

welcome and get ready to learn. TJ

my fav is to use them as rear hooks on jerkbaits (x-raps, etc) and topwaters (pop-rs). almost like having a trailer hook for short strikers and slashers. many smallies have been hooked just inside the bottom lip by that extended hook.

Chris...just a thought...have you ever used a swivel between your 2 types of line? it may accomplish the weight that you need without using a split shot, it will eliminate any small amt of line twist and still only 2 knots. you could vary the size of the swivel to get a bit different weight. this has been a nice thread to read. thanks.

my abu 4600CBs, over 20 yrs old and still stout for flipping.

great fish all around Dwight. I would say nice start but since you end smallies late, go to FLA and clean up, take a few weeks to relax and now Erie again...you never stopped to start again! TJ

thanks. if weather allows and we get out, I'll let you know. TJ

great fish Chris. those pics are pretty special too. gotta love the osprey taking a look at you.

are they up high?...topwaters, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits. if they are mid level...crankbaits, pointers(susp minnows), senkos, maybe spooks if they will come up. if they are near bottom...tubes, deeper cranks. I'm sure that you will get more in depth from others. I forgot to add...if you can, run your baits parallel to the dropoffs to stay in contact areas longer.

have you tried berkley cross-lok snaps? they do not have any protruding end to grab grass like the duo-lock, if you worry about that kind of thing. cross-loks come in black. I use sizes 1 and 3. years of use without any problems. TJ

go in and get 'em...dipping a t-rig worm or jig into holes will produce. or if you must use a spinnerbait, kill it and let it flutter down into holes and breaks.

how is the water colour coming out of the StClair R? I will be out Wed or Thurs to give LSC a shot. hoping for some decent weather, warmth and low wind...and cleaner water. TJ

welcome from a neighbor just south... Tim J

I use pointers and xraps about equally with the susp rogue way behind. generally, I use the pointer if I want a slower action and the xrap for more slash...but not always. Tim J

thanks guys, I checked it out at TW. I must say that I only used the hot knife idea on a table at home after fishing but this stuff looks great. Tim J

an old butter knife and a lighter...heat up the knife, hold the plastic gently, slide the knife into the tear, gently compress the plastic together as the knife pulls free. done. there are also commercial, basically, "plastic welders" available that take an AA battery or 2...works like a solder pencil. if you put too much pressure on the plastic, you may end up with a warped bait compared to the original. Tim J

congratulations! isn't it a great feeling? way to go TJ

if there is one thing about topwaters that I have learned on StClair is that there are no rules. yes there are definitely times when topwaters are prime but do not put them away just because "its not right". for me, besides the late June/early July spook bite, I always have a pop-r tied on through the summer. there have been too many times when I threw the pop-r at high noon over sparse cover in crystal clear water and caught numbers and size of SM. also, its a nice school bait when surface activity happens. just something to think about. Tim J

next time Lee. nice fish Vince. that is quite a lake...lol. what did they bite? the boys have been reading up on t-rigs...bringing back good memories. Tim J Hey Vince nice fish you caught. Remember that I am the King of that Lake Corey

I'm looking at May 3-4 since they are my first days off after the opener. Joe, you are right about the muddy water. the walleye guys are talking less than a foot of vis some days since this rain started. need some relief and more SW winds to help out along that MI shoreline. Good luck to you. please let us know how it goes. TJ

confidence and experience go hand in hand, in my mind. look at most any sport...a hitter gets in the zone and sees the ball like a beach ball...or...a golfer is hitting and putting better than usual...the zone! its not a cliche to me. Ive had my days in the zone where everything goes right and, especially, everything slows down...in hockey and in fishing. as many here can attest to, when you stick and land the first few fish of the day, your self-pressure is lifted and those days almost always continue to be great. it seems like whatever you do, it works. at that point, you are confident in your abilities and your experience is making decisions for you, almost like a reflex. just my 0.02 TJ

since we all seem to be getting out the truth, I also bought some 20 and 65lb power pro, skinny dippers (thanks again Lee), KVD L&L and my I-cant-wait baits, the cavitrons in blk/blk and white/gold. that feels better telling the truth...lol TJ

I ordered my 3-Dobyns through TW and they matched the 15% off price from BTD. Abe on the phone was great. It was my first time calling but won't be my last. TJ

can you close the flow-thru hole in the end of the sock? this will cause a bit more hold for you. might make a bit of difference. I'm with Jenga...1 or 2 (usually 2) bags on StClair for my 1675 Lund. slows down the drag and/or allows you to "fish" a bait even in rougher conditions. TJ