Scott F

My friend Paul and I are on a fishing trip in Northern Wisconsin. Last year, the ice went out on May 8. When we booked our trip for this year, we thought, "No way will the ice out be as late next year." Right. Ice was the same day this year. When we arrived, the lake water temp was 45 degrees, not ideal conditions for prespawn smallies. We've fished 3 different lakes since Saturday and today was the first day when water temperatures hit 50. So far, we have been able to scratch out some smallmouth, not the numbers we have come to expect, but with water temps this cold, I'm happy we've been able to catch fish. Nearly all the smallmouth have been caught on Lucky Craft Pointers in sizes 65 and 78. we've used several different colors. I use a light action, 7 foot, St. Croix Premier spinning, with 10lb Suffix 832 braided line. The largemouth bite has been nearly non-existant. We've caught a few in 10 feet of water when smallie fishing, and found one spot along a bank with overhanging trees that was loaded with dinks. The water will have to heat up before they get active. I've got 10 more days here. The weather should be warm and dry for the next few days which should bring the water temps up and really turn on the smallmouth. Paul with a big bass on our only really warm day. Me with an 18 incher. Spawning muskies. Paul with an accidental catch (quickly released) A Sandhill Crane watched us fish. Another 18 inch bass caught by Paul Me with a 19 incher.

Northern pike have already spawned. Bass will probably be on the beds in about 3 weeks, depending on what kind of weather happens. Muskies are spawning right now. Bluegills will be spawning in 3 or 4 weeks

Shell Lake is also pretty good. The smallie bite, which hasn't been great, just died this morning. We got a bunch of greenies first thing but apparently, the smallmouth did not approve of the front that went through last night.

I just got back from The St Croix store in Park Falls WI. Picked up some Premier rods from their "B" stock. Those are rods with slight cosmetic blemishes for $60 each. The $200 Avid B stock rods were $120.

I'm in North central Wisconsin (east of Hayward) right now and the water temps are currently in the middle to upper 40s. The largemouth are staging in deeper water and the smallmouth are just beginning to make their move into the shallows. It will be a few more days before things really get going. We're catching fish, but it is much slower than normal for this time of year.

An invasive species has invaded the lower reaches of Fossil Creek, threatening the premier stream for endangered native fish in Arizona. http://www.paysonrou...e-fossil-creek/

You have to watch the line. I use braid that floats. It is tougher when the sun or wind makes it hard to see the line but when a fish picks up the bait, the floating line will "twitch". As long as you don't have too much slack in the line setting the hook is easy. I fish rivers with senkos and I watch the line as the bait drifts down stream. Seeing the line twitch is about the only way to detect the bite.

It happened in Wisconsin. A gentleman caught a smallmouth that was easily the record. He took it live, to a DNR office to have it weighed with the intention of putting it back to swim away. The DNR verified it, but he would not submit it for the state record because he did not want his name or the location of where he caught it known. Unfortunately, the fish did not survive.

I don't do many short 2 or 3 hour trips. Like next week I'm going on a two week trip where I'll average 10 hours a day for 15 days straight. Other than long trips, if I go out I'll do 6 to 8 hours at a time, 4 to 6 days a month during spring through fall.

I'm guessing that the original poster did not have a license either seeing how he is only 15.

Have you seen their web site? http://www.hbpondmanagement.com They also blog on this web site as the Lake Doctor http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com/blogs A friend of mine who a very good fisherman and guide has fished several of their lakes and is always amazed at the size and numbers of fish of every species that are found in the lakes they manage.

If the Herman brothers set it up, I'd be first in line to write a check. Those guys know how to manage a lake. Real pros. If I wasn't 4 hours away from there, I'd sign up.

A fountain pen that costs as much as a new Ranger. Nothing says, "I have too much money" like owning one of these pens.

I've spent $3,000 to go on a one week fishing trip. $900 for a year's worth of good fishing on unpressured lakes is a good deal to me. It all depends on how much you can afford. If you played golf, a year's green fees is more than $900. If you were paying for a nice boat, your payments would be more than $900 a year. Some guys can only afford $50 rods, some guys $500 rods. If $900 is more than you can afford, fish the public lakes.

Why not just get a moveable one?

Make sure your Uncle buys a license and shows up with the license on his court date. As long as he is honest, courteous, apologetic, and pays his fine, he will probably get his and your gear back. If he is a repeat offender, they may keep the gear. They could keep it either way, most states can confiscate equipment used when breaking the law. Not having a license is not the worst crime so like I said, as long as he shows it was just a mistake and is reasonable about it, they'll probably give it back.

Muskies are funny. Even the biggest fish will eat crappie minnows, 18 inch suckers or 24 inch walleyes. Guys who are serious about muskies usually are looking for the 50 inchers and use big, big baits. There are however, guys who like to catch muskies that like to catch numbers of fish. Those guys use smaller baits that will also work well for pike. In-line spinners like #5 Mepps, or the Mepps Musky Killer can be thrown easily on bass tackle. Safety pin style spinner baits are killers for pike. If you are fishing in heavy cabbage weeds, and you should be, a Johnson Silver Minnow with a 3 or 4 inch white twister tail as a trailer is a must have. A few other good musky baits on the smaller side (for musky baits) are Rapala Super Shad Raps, #13 Rapala X-Raps, and a harder to find bait I like, the Salmo Perch. Be sure to get some steel leaders so when you do get a bite, you won't get bit off. Jaw spreaders, long needle nose pliers and a good net are also required. Watch out for those teeth!

In Manitoba, where barbless hook are required, I've caught a great number of pike, walleye and lake trout on lures with no barb at all and seldom lost any fish. I don't think the barb on the hook is your problem.

How do you know what kind of fish they are?

Are you going to be fishing for pike or musky?If you've got bass tackle, you're all set for pike. If you will be fishing in Wisconsin, there are few pike in the state that will put any strain on any tackle you've been using for bass. Pike can get very large, but most of those are in Canada. Pike are more prone to eat much smaller lures than musky so bass tackle works fine. Muskies are another story. $200 will get you a heavy action budget rod and reel, but you'll still need to get line, leaders and musky lures. You'll need at least another $100 to get started.

If you use heavily scented baits, keep those in the bags they came in unless you like the smell! Regular plastics will not dry out but those like gulp will.

Mepps are my preferred brand. I do a lot of smallmouth fishing and the plain #4 in a silver or gold are my first choices. The squirrel tails are a lot more common, but they don't catch any more fish than the plain ones do, and the plain are at least a buck cheaper. In the "old" days, I used Rooster Tail Vibrics but they were harder to find especially in larger sizes. Smaller spinners will catch tons of fish but I'm not as interested in catching perch, rock bass and smaller bass. The number 5 Mepps is one of my go to lures when I'm pike fishing.

You've got it covered up well, but it's a rock bass.

The labels that are used are small and not easy to read even when the package is new. After they've gotten damp and rubbed on other packages they are even harder to read. All companies don't use the same labeling system. All of this adds to the length of time it takes to locate what you are looking for. I prefer my system. It works for me