bassnleo

Why are you wandering around the stores when you could go fishing? I have friends who have already caught bay fish this year. I ventured to Pymatuning today, not for bass, but for dinner! Brought home 23 crappies, all over 10 inches.

I just wanted to put out a update on the status of GAMMA Fishing Lines. Many anglers think GAMMA is done and out of business, and that couldn't be further from the truth! GAMMA line is in production and hopefully word and sales will pick up again once the word gets out on a larger scale. For anyone not aware, GAMMA Fishing Divison was purchased by Dark Knight Industries of Oil City PA. The new owner of the divison is a personal friend and I had the chance to visit him 2 days ago at his new line facility. The new owner is passoniate about GAMMA line and putting in endless hours to bring GAMMA back to where it was a few years ago. It's cool to see all the machines and how the line is prepared for distribution! As far as the product line, nothing has changed. All the flourocarbon, co-polymer, leaders, fly fishing leaders, etc.....is still being manufactured. There will be some future changes with packaging and other minor things but nothing earth shattering. I'd be glad to answer any questions about GAMMA, feel free to ask. If I don't know the answer, I'll get you one.

I've caught them close to the bay, and away from the bay. Like I mentioned, anywhere the smallies roam now also can hold largies. One small spot I found last year had a 5 lb smallie and a 4 pound largie, on consecutive casts, in 27 fow.

North end of Pymatuning. There are several backwater bays that have close ramp access and are really good in the Spring. North end of Wilhelm. The electric only portion above I-79 is well suited for yaks and small boats. Has lots of cover in the form of wood and weeds. Tamarak Lake (near Cochranton). It's electric only and plenty of largemouth and muskies. Justus Lake (near Franklin). Also called Two Mile Run Lake. It's electric only and has largemouth, smallmouth, panfish, trout, walleye, musky. Largies are mostly on the small side but the lake does conatin some giants. I've seen two 8 pound largies caught in the last 2 years. IMHO, Spring time and around the spawn is best. French Creek. If you're ok doing a float, the creek offers riffles, runs, and some deeper pools, that hold smallies, muskies, northerns, walleye. Plenty of access. I'd suggest Utica to Franklin. That float would take you a few hours (at least) and offers good fishing. Allegheny River from Franklin to Kennerdell. Plenty of access and you'll have to decide how long you want to float then plan your day. Lots of smallies and walleye, pike, musky. A short disclaimer- If you're going to do French Creek or the Allegheny, your yak skills in moving water should be pretty good. Not that you'll hit "rapids" but some riffles will have you moving at a pretty good pace. Also, if you're using any PFBC access you will need to have your yak registered.

Not only have I heard about the main lake largemouth, I've experienced it! I have a theory about the largemouth........ The weeds in the bay are crud now, most areas at least. They used to grow lush and green. Now much of the bay is that stringy stuff that supports nothing. That does puzzle me though, why aren't the bay weeds growing? In response, the largies have moved to more suitable habitat, the humps, rockpiles, and bait, that the main lake offers. I had a spot in the bay, beautiful drop off that had thick, beautiful, milfoil on the break and down to 11 feet. I could easily whack 15+ pounds in 5 fish, even in my sleep! Since about 2006 not a stich of milfoil has grown there, just the shotty, stringy, stuff. The bass vacated that area. I've caught 4+ pound largies right beside the smallies on the main lake. Interestingly, the largies seem to take on the football shape the smallies traditionally had, short and FAT! That's my theroy and I'm sticking to it!

From the East End Angler website: "One is a 6.36 lb smallmouth that was taken in the stink hole and the other is a short fish at 261/2" but weighted in at 10.66lbs." In regards to the "short fish" I sure hope he is referring to a steelhead cause a 10.66 smallie would shatter the state record for smallmouth. Dwight, did you look at the website pics? If he is referring to the 6.36 being the pic with the guy wearing a black ski cap, "Thank you for shopping here" in the pic background, I think that's a largemouth. I don't see any pics of an angler holding a smallmouth. Could he have the species wrong? The edge of the fish's jaw defiantely goes way back and beyond the eye, and the color of the fish, makes me say largie. Not saying a smallie wouldn't be there yet, or even be caught yet, but that is a largemouth IMHO. And I have to add......it makes me shiver to think that fish was kept. The largemouth fishing on the bay just hasn't been what it was years ago. Catching them has been fairly easy but in terms of size, smaller fish have dominated. Heck, it was only taking 13-14 pounds of largemouth (for 6 fish) to win some team events there the past few Summers. It used to take well over 20 (least the ones I won or did well in). A 6+ largie is there to spawn. Shame if it was wasn't released to improve the population.

Hey man, the bay is ice free but obviously conditions haven't been too favorable. I do suspect that with these recent night time lows in the 20's and teens that a skim may have formed again on marina bay or maybe horeshoe, or even parts of the lagoons. There was the yearly shad die off this past week which usually signals the start of the bass bite but I have not spoken to anyone directly that has fished yet. Last year, the second weekend in April, we were whacking the smallies on the main bay. I'll keep you updated as I hear any reports.

Yes. Up in the North where we live almost every body of water has a smallmouth population. Some, if not most, have a population mixed with largemouth and smallmouth. Since you are from NE Ohio, 3 prime examples close to you: Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake, Pymatuning. All 3 have great smallmouth and largemouth populations, and frankly, in tournament situations you'll often see anglers targeting the smallmouth up here. On average they tend to be a little heavier than the largies.

I'd highly suggest that before you try and make a guide and another team look bad that you have hard facts to prove your point or at least post them if you do. Although the circumstances may suggest some impropriety, it appears that according to the rules you posted, a guide simply taking them out w/o pay is not a violation of the rules. It's not fair of you to post the guide's website in an attempt to show him in a less than favorable light.

We received rain since yesterday, and it's still raining. Slated to turn to snow tonight and dump 6-10 inches before Friday night. I'd venture to say that when the lakes do thaw, they'll be high. A local lake we hit when the ice goes is notorious for a Spring shoreline flippin bite. If the water rises as I think it will, the flippin bite will be tough. There will be so much flooded cover on the shorlines (trees, bushes, etc..) that the fish will be scattered and way back in, often in places that cannot be reached by boat due to thickness. It does make for neat exploring though .

Wiegel Brothers Marine in Franklin PA will service both of your motors...

I beat the snot out of my reels. Don't clean them, lube them, I generally don't take care of them. Just me and the way I am. That being said, I own about 15 Accurists and have had probably 18 total over the past 10 years. Have retired 3 of them. Always been a good, durable, reliable reel for me and takes the neglect I put my reels through.

Don't try it on a lake like Erie, with a goby 6 inches up and a 4" worm 15 inches up..... Dosen't work at all :.

Then don't watch............

Another that will be sending a PM for a paycheck. And.......yes, I have sponsors!

Thought this thread needed brought back for the non-believers. "Could the Pittsburgh Steelers go all the way?" I'll say YES. LOL

when and where... I must go as well... March 3rd, MotorCity Casino Hotel 7 PM - 10 PM. Wife and I are going and staying at the hotel for the evening. Short end of Winter getaway! If you go to the Staind website the solo acoustic tour is listed. I booked the package (2 tix plus room) for like $240. Of course the room is the expensive part but the place looks awesome. Like Ghoti, I don't really like country music but I like the new song.

Going to Detroit in March to see Aaron's solo acoustic show. I like County Boy, hoping he sings it then. His solo album is due out in the beginning of March also.

My blade of choice is a 1/2 or 3/4 ounce Silver Buddy. 2 colors get it done, silver and gold.

I own 4 Kistler Z Bone rods, 1 spinning and 3 casting, all with micro guides. I absolutlely love them and if I could I'd have all my rods rewrapped with micros.

Join the frustrated crowd! I had packs of 4-5 lb smallies busting bait all around me last weekend. I tried everything possible and could not get them to bite anything artificial. They soley wanted those little baitfish. For me in clear water, the best fall bite usually starts below 55 degrees. I actually had my best days when it was 50 or below. It seems the colder it gets the better they bite and can at times be really aggressive. Numerous times I've caught smallies on jerkbaits in 45 degree water.

Yes, I'm using the super flukes. I'm all ears....... BTW, they're eating it again, and good . Gotta love the fall bite.

If you're my drawn co-angler for the day, and we do not know each other, and I take you to fish or areas that I have located, no way in heck are you GPS'ing my stuff. If we go to your stuff, no way in heck am I GPS'ing it. Now if each gives permission to do so, then it's a little different. It comes down to ethics.....

Fish set up on the edge of a weed flat is a typical summertime pattern. Your water temps are falling and most likely will continue to do so as Fall lengthens. Often times the bait and bass will move shallower in preparation for Fall and Winter. Personally, if I did not find the bass on the weed edge I would have moved shallower and into the weeds looking for the fish. Often times in the Fall the bass will be set up right smack dab in the middle of the cover (any weeds still alive or green) or on ditches, weed points, any irregularities, within in the flat. Another key is to find the areas on the flat with hard bottom. Fishing an entire flat in the Fall can be like having teeth pulled but once you locate the fish you often times can load the boat.

Used the finesse hook this past weekend. IMHO, I'd say "mixed" results at best. Now, keep in mind the river smallies here are a little off. I did hook and land 4 or 5 but also had several that didn't hook up when they bit. I did experiment with different colors and retrieves. May have to keep at it until they start to bite better then I'll be able to better guage the hooks success or failures.