bassnleo

WOO HOO whata ride

I also like the big hooks. When I'm throwing DD22's I'm not targeting small fish, but do catch them just the same, even on the larger hooks.

LOL, that's awesome!

I have Graphite series and Helium models, 7 or 8 total. Love them all, you won't be dissapointed.

I've been whackin fish since Spring......... I HATE Fall. Why you ask? Means Winter is close...........

fourbizz, couldn't agree more.

Why yes.......... I have some, I will look at it later today and let you know the brand name. Also, if you cannot find the white stuff (usually the white stuff comes from the factory with the jet unit) our local marine store that deals mostly in jet o/b's sells a red grease that works really well. I have some of that to, will also look at name for you.

IMHO your set-up sounds a little light. I use a 6'9" Kistler jig rod and 30 lb braid. Although I agree that the Chatterbait hooks could be better, I keep them sharp and I almost never loose a fish. The bait has a big heavy hook and it's my theory that a heavy rod and line, and a hard hookset, helps bury that hook home thus reducing the number of fish that shake off. May I add that I catch both largies and smallies this way...... Just my .02!

Thank you Nitro , Unfortunatly the D.A.R.E program was discontinued. I still support the cause though! D.A.R.E. was discontinued.....huh???? It's still being taught here and as far as I know it's still being taught worldwide. You mean discontinued where you are? I've been a D.A.R.E. instructor for 10 years......

Man, I'm with you! Why anyone would waste time fishing for green fish when smallmouth are an option is a mystery to me. : If the lake is forecasted to be fishable then I agree. In the Erie area it's not uncommon for the lake to be too rough to take a bass boat out so largies in the bay may be your only option. I've also seen times where the lake was unfishable in the morning and by afternoon it has laid down so out you go to cull the largies you caught in the bay. That lake is so unpredictable at times ya just never know.

I fizz smallies caught deep from lake Erie. I do have a diagram somewhere, I'll try to find it and post it. Al's technique is very close to what I do with a little exception. I don't go straight down the throat, I insert the syringe directly under one of the fish's crushers and angle it a little sideways. You'll know instantly if your doing it right. Like Al mentioned, bubbles will immediately come out of the syringe. Another tip, be careful to only fizz the fish for a second or two. Releasing too much air will cause the swim bladder to deflate completely and cause the fish to actually drown. The needle I use is 16 guage and purchased at a store like Tractor Supply. I actually learned the technique from B.A.S.S. tourney officials at a Lake Erie event. I've had smallies floating around in my livewell belly up but still alive, as soon as they are properly fizzed they go upright and normal looking. All in all it's a pretty cool technique and definately beneficial and necessary to the health of fish caught from deep water!

Here's what's going on around Erie PA! I fished a tournament on the main lake a few weeks ago. I have a few areas for shallow smallies so I hit them. I didn't catch smallies but did catch and see several largemouths, almost all keeper size (15 inches here). I have also caught BIG largemouth out deeper while fishing for smallmouth. Some of the largemouths were in the 4 lb class. An Erie resident whom fishes in our club also reports catching largemouth regularly in deeper places (up to 30 fow) while targeting smallmouth. My opinion.......some may make their way back. I also think that some are staying in the main lake. If there is plenty of food and the right structure/cover I see no reason why they would not thrive in the same haunts as their brown cousin. Largemouth are highly adapatible, just look at all the variety of bodies of water we report catching them in. I hope they take a good foothold on the main lake, that would be pretty cool IMHO.

Bug, if your talking about in front of Lampe Marina and the "Hammermill" stacks, then yes, you can find smallies there. It is kinda tough this time of year, they're kinda scattered, but once that water starts to cool you can catch them within sight of the chute and with more consistency.

Please don't turn this into an "all tournament fisherman are rude thread". There have been many similar threads and they don't fair too well. Just a suggestion, in the future should you encounter such a situation, take down the guys registration number and boat decription. Casually ask him what tournament he is fishing. Report him to the tournament officials. Most tournaments have rules concerning sportsmanship. IMHO, that's a far better resolution than complaining about it on a message board.

There are very very few resident smallmouths in Erie Bay, so few that is almost pointless to target them after the beginning of July. I have fished the bay often in the fall, have also fished numerous October tournaments there. I have never see a smallmouth brought in. However, you can catch them just outside the bay in the main lake. I did see a Fishers of Men tournament won with smallmouths that came from just outside the "chute" leading from the bay to the main lake.

Although I have not had great results with an Ika, I do know a few people whom have had success with them. They are definately not in the same class as the helicopter lure.

Will they stay on the hook? I use beaver style baits.......alot.......but for flipping or pitching presentations. They have a tendency to slide down the hook. I would think that skipping would mutliple that.

Thanks for the suggestions. I have tried a Fat Ika, for some reason I cannot get bit on that bait and have zero confidence in it. I was thinking about a trick worm, I really like the nail idea. senko77, never though about a small swimbait, I may have to give that a whirl. I do use flukes and on occasion will dock fish them. They do skip a country mile. ColdwaterBassin, I'm actually proficient at skipping just about anywhere and with both spinning and casting tackle. SHHHHH about skipping under pontoon boats, you'll give the secret away I actually prefer the boat to be parked w/ motor facing out and skipping baits between the motor and pontoons. I've found boats parked that way will hold more fish more frequently, least around here that is.

I'm getting bored skipping my usual dock baits and looking for a change up. I regulalry use senko style baits, tubes, light jigs. They always work for me but I just want to try something different. Looking for suggestions on a different soft plastic, what works for you? Most of the docks have 1-4 fow of water under them. Will also be skipping baits under pontoon boats...... Thanks!

I use a lawn tractor battery as a cranking battery for my 20 hp outboard. My livewell pump also runs off this battery. It was worked well for me, I just make sure to charge it fully after a few long days of use.

Fish Kennerdell area often, nice area and definately good fishing. It's only about 1/2 hour run time down there from Franklin ramp, by jet boat of course! Apparently it's good for bear hunting also

DUDE.......you and I definately "chew the same fat". I live in Oil City and fish the upper Allegheny all the way to Kinzua dam. Where is your camp? BTW, nice feesh

You will not find smallies in the bay now. They inhabit the bay from April to about early July (at the latest) while spawning. You will have to venture out to main lake for smallies now. The bay has plenty of largies to keep you busy.......

I think he is siting football jigs in particular, which a lot of anglers are dragging in the same areas and under the same conditions as you would fish a carolina rig. The football jig has had a huge surge in popularity, and is overtaking the c-rig as of late. Hank Parkers last article in Bassin' was about this very subject, and he talked about all the tournament anglers opting for the football jig now versus the c-rig. I definitely tend to use a c-rig versus the football in prespawn, but in the summer...I'm more likely to drag the football jig instead of a Carolina rig. The Carolina rig is still the more sublte approach, with your bait weightlessly skipping along the bottom and then slowing settling, which is why I prefer it in the cooler water of prespawn. In the Summer...it seems like just getting your bait down to hug the bottom on those ledges and such works...you can even work that football fairly fast a lot of the time. I like a 1oz football in deeper water, but use a 3/4oz a lot as well to cover that 5-10ft range. I just want to be able to keep it movin' or use good pulls and not have it leave the bottom. The 1oz jig kicks up a lot of debris as well, which is a bonus Good question... Couldn't have said it any better than that. X2

That pic has a wierd angle. The guy holding the ski is 6'3" and 270 lbs.....