Scott F

Classic Rock, Blues, Jazz.

Except during the spawn when the females are full of eggs and the males are are squirting sperm, there is no way, short of cutting the fish open, to tell for sure. Even during the spawn, not all females have eggs so even then, sometimes it's just a guess.

I don't use anything heavier than 20 pound test braid on my baitcasters. I don't fish heavy cover. I also don't have problems with line digging in because I don't lock down my drag and I don't pull snags out by pulling from the reel. I also don't use leaders.

I also disagree. Years ago, a guy put a book together where he tested 200 different lures to measure how deep each lure actually ran. He trolled the lures behind a boat and pulled another boat behind with a depth finder over the top of each lure. While testing lures with 12lb test mono, the follow boat could see fish hitting lures on the depth finder and taking them out of the cone angle of the sonar. The guy holding the rod, most of the time, never felt a thing. The same tests using heavier line that did not stretch as much felt more of the bites. The friction of the water actually stretches line. Have you ever let your line out the back of the boat with no lure tied on? Since I use a lot spinning rods, lines will twist over time and I let the line out to let it untwist. You'd be amazed at how much drag there is on bare line. Why do you think guys use the huge, swing for the fences hook sweeps with mono and fluoro? They are needed to overcome the amount of stretch.

Minooka huh, there is a "secret" spot on the Illinois River just outside of town. If the water isn't too high, it's a good shore fishing spot. Send me a PM and I'll give you directions you also have the DuPage River not far away, lots of good smallmouth action there. The Fox and Kankakee Rivers are also within reasonable distances. All 3 have good shore access and good wading possibilities. Nice to have you here. I live about 15 minutes from Minooka myself.

On the Northern lakes and rivers, for me, 50 degree surface temp is the magic number.

Just what every fisherman needs! http://www.moef.dk/fishfingers/

Too bad your arms aren't any longer, that fish would look even bigger!

Rechargeables all the way. I used to take a battery like this on my Canadian fishing trips and with a little care, they'd last all week. Not having to buy AA batteries repeatedly is a big advantage.

More likely, they might gather where the current comes IN to a lake, like at the bottom of the waterfall. They will seldom hold directly in the current. They find current breaks where the current is blocked by a rock or a log and they don't have to fight to stay in place. They hold in these slack areas and wait for food to pass by. They'll dart out, grab the food and move back out of the current. They don't want to get swept over a waterfall any more than you do.

Since bass are not eating while on their beds, they are only defending their offspring, I don't think the color of the lure would make any difference. Except, that a light colored lure is easier to see by the angler. That lets you know when the fish has picked up the bait to remove it from the bed.

From dictionary.com sport[spawrt, spohrt] noun 1.an athletic activity requiring skill or physicalprowess and often of a competitive nature, asracing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling,boxing, hunting, fishing, etc. 2.a particular form of this, especially in the out of doors. 3. diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime. According to definition 3, poker would be considered a sport.

It's a Matzuo, Okoru Shad Popper. Not currently available in their catalog. It's funny, I just posted earlier today that I have some of those and they've been my number one topwater for smallmouth. I have 3 of them left and none of them have much paint left on them.

So the Minnesota-Wisconsin border is now an international border? The Mississippi River up where it is the border between the states (not countries) is pretty wide is it not? The general rules about small river fishing don't always apply on such large rivers. Current still plays a major role, but if you are in the main channel, aside from watching out for barges, you still have to find the current breaks. These are often wing dams. Can be tricky if you don't know where they are or how to approach them. Some are shallow enough they'll take out your lower unit, some are deeper. Holding near them takes good boat control where the current is strong. Might be best to hire a guide to cut down the learning curve and keep you safe.

I have some Mitzuo poppers that I got out of a budget bin for about $2 each. I replaced the hooks and tied some feathers on the rear treble. I've gotten a ton of smallies on those over the years. Another bait that I rely on is the Rapala Skitter Walk. Walks easily and the smallies love it.

I've been storing my plastics just like you do for 25 years with no problems.

I'll be up in Oneida/Vilas county area for 17 days beginning May 9. Considering the ice went out up there on May 8 the last two years, I'm sure glad to see it breaking up right now.

A lot of places that repair props can weld on a new skeg Call around and get a price before you buy the motor.

Plano makes so many versions of the 3600 size box with several different ways the compartments can be sectioned off. Go to their web site and research, I'm sure you'll find one that suits your needs.

I know a few guys who wore holes in the hull from dragging them over rocks and gravel on rivers. Everyone I know who fishes from a kayak does it mostly on rivers, I personally don't run into many who only fish lakes with them.

Several years ago, I had guides on Rainy Lake on the MN/Ontario border who recommended that exact bait for smallmouth. I still have a few.

For me, what I call active is when they really turn on. When I see 50 degree surface temps, I know I'm going to do well.

These are not cheap, but this place has solutions for mounting depth finders on inflatables, kayaks and other boats. http://www.fishfindermounts.com

Water temperature has a lot to do with how a bait suspends. What was the temp of the water you used? I'd do your experiment again with different water temps to see how they way they suspend changes before I made any judgements.

Now that this came up again, I'm curious, how much do they get for that sandwich? There are like 6 different sub sandwich chain shops in my area. Only one of them has very reasonable prices and good food.