hooah212002

I've got 6# Elite on my spinning rod. I initially got it because it was cheap, but I certainly will use it again since it is soft and strong.

They are VERY used to seeing frogs. Everyone and their cousins and mothers of cousins uses them there. People that don't even bass fish use them because their brother or someone told them "hey, if you go to that spot, use a frog". It is the only place on the whole lake that is accessible to shore fish for free to the public and Delavan is one of the most popular lakes in Southern WI (especially so for the FIB's). What I have not tried, however, and plan on trying is a Rage Toad (as if I am onto something new that the rest of the lake goers are clueless about). I thought I picked some up last week, but when I checked today, I realized I hadn't. It's on the list.

Holy crap, thanks a ton Paul. I will make sure to heed all of that info. Hopefully I can digest it well enough. The only problem I have is the stealth part. The "bank" is very steep leading to a tiny foot path right along the waters edge, which then is met with steel "siding" of sorts. The "bank" is not necessarily at waters edge. I cannot comfortably (without fear of falling) stand too far from the water. If I had to guess, it's maybe a 45 degree angle. If I were to get a bite standing far enough back as to be stealthy, I would forget about my footing and fall in. I already creep as slowly as possible, like you see in the Vietnam movies when they are watching for trip wires.

HA! the only thing I didn't try, but that was only because I don't have strong enough line (well, not strong enough for me to trust using it in that mess) on my spinning rod. I may just have to go for broke and put my skills to the test to see if I can horse a fish out of there on 6# mono. Thanks.

I believe I have one and will try it, but I am skeptical. I am pretty sure it would very quickly get gunked up. I even have trouble keeping my spinnerbait clean. I constantly have to pick moss crap out of the blades because they aren't spinning. Heck, I even have trouble with brush jigs (ironically, grass jigs get too much grass caught in the eye).

Woo! That's one fine fish, man. Congrats.

Yea, that thought crossed my mind. Then it immediately left because I refuse to use live bait for bass fishing. I enjoy shopping for bass gear nearly as much as I do actually fishing, so to not use all the crap I spend my precious dimes on would be a shame.

I got to my spot today for the first time this year and there were some straight up hogs in there! I could see them every which way. I was walking along the bank and I would see one zoom away even though I was walking ever so gently. I seriously could not walk any lighter. I eyeballed 2 really REALLY good sized pike (had to have been 30 inches plus at least) as well as LOTS of really REALLY good size bass. I saw one that I first though was a pike because it was so long, but upon further inspection realized it was in fact a bass. I started fishing here last year and I could see the fish, but not this many (I would see maybe one or two each time I went) and that is why I am seeking help. I had heard this spot housed some lunkers, but I thought it to be lore of days past. It is not. They are just smart fish. I saw all these fish and they all snubbed everything I threw at them. I bonked a few on the nose with a jig and ran spinnerbaits right in front of their face, only for them to turn away. There were bountiful baitfish and the bigger fish were happy to be right by them. Not once did I see them attack one of the bluegills or smaller bass. The water is clear. Where I fish, there is a channel that runs under the bridge to the main lake and i can see the bottom. The bottom on either side of the channel has maybe 2 ft. of grass/moss (2 ft from the bottom) while the surface is pretty well clear except for sparse floating patches. It averages maybe 4-6 ft in depth including the grass/moss (I think). Suffice to say: it's VERY weedy and VERY clear. The only baits to work so far (last year and this) are white or white/chart spinnerbaits or green punpkin jigs with brown or green pumpkin trailers. The only fish I caught today was on a white spinnerbait. Also of note is that this spot sees a fair amount of boat traffic. Not so much on either side of the channel, but a lot of boats in and out. It IS a no wake zone. So, pros of BR: what do you throw when you can see 'em, you know they are there, but they just look at you like you are nuts. I do fish there at night sometimes, but as weedy as it is, it makes it difficult. It is easier to fish the muck when I can target pockets, few and far between as they may be. I mainly used a jig and a spinnerbait, seeing as they are the easiest in the nastiness. There was zero surface busting, so my frog throwing was short lived (plus it was mid day). I am also well aware that it could have been due to the conditions (relatively calm, blue bird day meaning little to no chop on the water)

Good to hear. Glad you had a good time. I did .... ok yesterday. I took my youngest out and we got a few trout on spinners. I got an ok size bass on a jig, but none were picture worthy. I took both of them out today down in IL by my parents house, but it was a state park and the shorelines were packed. The whole lake was packed. It was ridiculous.This week I'll get out to my spot and do some real fishing by myself.

Your music is so much louder than you talking. Good vidya otherwise.

Dang man. That was meta as heck. Very introspective and telling. Props to you, mate. It takes A LOT to admit something like this and to be so aware of ones self.

Any luck, Mark?

Why are there (typically) special regulations for Trout? for example: in Wisconsin, you have to purchase an inland trout stamp if you fish for "inland" trout (inland meaning away from the Great Lakes), then yet another Great Lakes Trout stamp if you want to fish for trout on one of the Great Lakes. Also, there is a whole seperate regulation book just for trout regulations. Why is this? I know trout is one of the most heavily human stocked fish (or is that wrong?), does that mean it is one of the most heavily fished fish as well?

x2 field and stream inline spinners x1 SK Redeye Shad (Blue/chrome 1/2 oz.) x4 1/8 oz. XCalibur Tungsten bullet weights x4 VMC pro Seires 1/4 oz shaky head jigs Total price: $10.54 Thank you Dicks Sporting Goods

that is what I have heard the most: FL strain are VERY succeptible to even slight temp. changes.

I certainly hope it warms up this weekend. Today was brutal. Productive, but brutal. I really wanted my son to go out but it was just too cold. Good luck to you when you get out. Not sure how much further north you are than me, but the lakes around here have already reported 60 degrees. However, that was before today and this cold front.

I got my license today in preparation or the opener tomorrow and I couldn't wait any longer, so I went to the neighborhood pond with my ultra-light gear and an inline spinner in search of some "panfish". Those pesky bass and trout wouldn't leave it alone! I caught about 15 dinks (and I do mean dinks) in total in only an hour!: about 6 rainbows (my first time EVER catching a trout!) and the rest bass. I hooked into about 6 more, but the spinner i was using is kinda old and the hook is obviously not very sharp (I really didn't plan on catching anything, so I threw it on just to get out fishing). I would have stayed out longer, but rain + wind + barely above freezing makes for a cold afternoon, especially when you leave your house and think "eh, it's not that cold". The moral of this story (and one that would make for a good topic): make sure your hooks are sharp. Also: trout are fun. I can see the allure. Even though they were only little guys, they ran around like crazy. There were a bunch that made me think "man, finally a good one" only for it to be another small one that had a lot of heart. This is going to be a good year if it starts like this.

When I was younger, I got myself a baitcast reel. I had to get one that a 12 year old kid could afford so it was not a very good one. I had the same problems that you described. I couldn't ever cast it without getting a backlash. This was solved both by experience and getting a better quality reel. Mind you, this was when braking systems were not commonplace. Now, pretty much every price range of reel has some sort of braking system and baitcasting is much more accessible to beginners. I have heard lots (and lots and lots) of good things about the H2O Mettle at Academy as a more than sufficient beginners reel. It is next on my purchase list. Also, the Abu Garcia Black Max. I am never at all one to advocate "spend more money" (I am the opposite, rather), but in this case it does pay, so to speak, to shell out a bit more dough. Your experience will be far more pleasant. When you do make the investment, try some mono WITH LINE CONDITIONER! KVD Line and Lure is an utter life saver. There are other brands that other people attest to, but I have not used them so I cannot speak to their efficacy.

Dang guys, lighten up. Preeeettyyy sure this was meant to be light hearted.

Football jigs are (mainly) for rocks. Throw a http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/index.php/brush-jig'>brush jig or http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/index.php/grass-jig'>grass jig. Brush jigs, imo, are more universal. Grass jigs tend to get stuff caught up on the eye (in my experience, which is limited).

Since your eyesight is not so great, run a Q-tip over both sides of the guides to see if there are any nicks. This will catch one no matter how minor that your eyes may have missed.

How small and what kind of circulation do they have? How are they fed (how do they get new water)? What sort of algae management is there? I would also suggest an email to Bass Edge and address it to http://www.bassedge.com/pages/show/Contact_Us'>Bob Lusk, the "Pond Boss" (only so that if it gets read on air you can win a gift card lol) or just a straight up email to http://www.bobluskoutdoors.com/'>Bob himself.

Because: opinions and personal preference.

Would be nice to see an underwater video comparing the action side by side to see which is more "alive".