Scott F

Try it for yourself. After a bass misses your topwater, throw it back and see if it hits the bait again. If it doesn't, throw a senko to the spot and see what happens. Guys talk about it because it works. Why? Who can say for sure. It just does.

For me, the choice comes down to the foot pedal. I refuse to use the ridiculously tall foot pedals that come with cable steer motors. Electric steer motors are a bit slower to turn, but I’m not so impatient that I can’t wait a second or two for it to point where I want. Remotes are handy but I don’t use it while I’m fishing. Being able to control it however from anywhere on the boat is nice. The iPilot on the Minn Kotas is great where you point it in one direction and it will hold your course without your having to stay on the pedal. Spot lock is also a must have. Your budget is the only limit.

So last winter, I picked up a used boat, and put a jet tiller outboard on it intending to use it for fishing shallow rivers for smallies. The boat was just too narrow for me and anybody else to comfortably fish from. I sold the boat, kept the motor and today, picked up a brand new boat. The tiller motor was converted to remote steering for use with a center console. One of the other issues I had with the old boat was the anchor system The electric anchor winch was barely able to pull up the 12lb anchor which was far too small to effectively hold the boat in nearly any amount of current. The new boat, a Blazer 16x48 jon, has a custom made anchor winch with a 55lb chain anchor that will hold the new boat in as fast a current as I'll ever go out fishing. Here's a few pics. This one shows the tower for the anchor system

I don't even try in cold water. The danger that comes with being in a kayak in water that cold is not something I'd want to risk. For your safety, please be extremely careful. Dumping the yak even with a life jacket on could still cause serious trouble. Fish in the deep pools are inactive. You can poke them and they won't even move let alone bite a lure. Feeding fish will be in a place where food is present. I don't know what kind of river you're going to fish, but I'd put a float n' fly in any eddies you might find that are near the deep slow pools that are the wintering areas.

The Garmin's have also been on sale at Cabela's online for some time now.

I haven’t seen any reels that still come with spare spools anymore. Do companies still do that?

You can also use photo resizing software available for free. Change the resolution to 72 dpi and 4x6 size. Pictures should be uploadable here then. Google “photo resizing software” and pick one.

On the free version of the Navionics Web App that I’ve been using, there is no arrow button on the bottom left of the screen.

Are you looking for mapping & depth, GPS or Mapping with GPS? The Navionics web app is just maps with depth contours. It doesn't show you where you are on the water. GPS mapping on your phone like Google Maps shows you where you are on a lake and how to return to the launch. But, it won't show the depth contours. Depth finders with mapping combine depth contours and shows you're location on the lake and how to get back to the launch.

I agree with Team9 (almost) all the way. I never use or need braided line over 10lbs. It has more than enough strength and will cast considerably farther than 15 or 20lb line. At some point, I want my line to break like if I snag a plastic in a spot that I just can't get to. Heavier line is too hard to break and just plain overkill in streams. Using thin line also lets you get away with smaller spinning reels that are lighter than their big brothers.

I'm sure the fishing in the Northwest is great but anybody who is close to Sturgeon Bay already has access to "Great largemouth, smallmouth, walleye Salmon" except for the beauty of Washington and Oregon. If you are planning in visiting Sturgeon Bay, allow yourself more than a weekend. Lake Michigan is big water and wind can easily keep you off the water for a couple of days. It would be a shame to travel all that way and get blown off the water and not be able to fish during your stay. Door County Wisconsin has a lot of natural beauty of it's own and is worth spending a few days even if you aren't fishing.

I've only ever used the chrome and white models.

I live in Northern Illinois and have had the same Mercury motor since 1995. I've never winterized it and it runs as good as it ever has. I do keep the boat in an unheated, attached, garage and I put some Stabil in the tank at the end of the season and that's it. It certainly won't hurt to winterize your motor but, I believe Mercury is trying to drum up service business by scaring you into believing you'll do serious damage if you don't have it done.

In the Midwest, there is a blade called the “Big Dude” or the “Zip Lure” (basically the same bait) that for me flat out fishes every other blade mentioned. I fished with a guy who told me to bring blade baits with me on an outing. I brought Silver Buddy’s, Cicadas, and Heddon Sonars. I was outfished on every trip until I got the same baits, Big Dudes, that my friend was using. I haven’t used anything else ever since.

You'll have an easier time casting a shorter leader. The general rule would be to use a leader that is just longer than your lure. A 6" to 8" steel leader will work just fine. Be sure NOT to get the cheapest leader you can find. The snaps on the cheapos have a very bad snap that almost any pike can tear open.

Pike can be just plain crazy, especially small ones. I've had small pike go air born when they missed hitting my topwater. They missed it so bad, they caught the line above my steel leader and cut it. It actually has happened on more than one occasion! They will roll and your line can get cut in the gills also. I've caught 1000's of pike. You just never know what they might do. One extra note....keep your tackle box closed while there is a good chance of catching a northern. Once you bring one over the side, at some point, one is going to shake loose from your grip and will land in any open tackle box it will find. The mess will be worse than you can imagine.

I'd suggest you go to the lakefront and strike up a conversation with guys who are fishing there. They can best tell you what kind of lures are working. Smallmouth are not accessible from the shore year round. If you show up and no one is there, it usually means nothing is biting. Lake Michigan shore anglers also catch perch, and salmon. If you are on the south side or near downtown, run over to Henry's at 31st & canal for up to date information.

Join a fishing club. There are several multi species clubs, or tournament clubs around Chicago that will help you speed up the learning process. A club will connect you with other fishermen who will show you how and where to catch bass much faster than you could ever do it on your own.

It depends on what lures you are throwing and where you are fishing. Match the rod to the size of the lures. If you are going to use musky type lures, the heavy rod will be fine. I’ve found that although pike will eat large prey, they respond better to smaller lures. A medium heavy rod, probably what you use for bass was always my first choice when I was doing fly in trips ro Canada where the pike average considerably larger than they typically do here in the US.

Plenty of pike are caught without using a leader but it is usually because the line managed to avoid hitting their teeth. If you don't mind leaving lures imbedded in the jaws of pike on occasion, don't use a leader. I like getting my lures back so I use steel. I make my own to keep the costs down.

If your budget is only $50, the Bass Pro is probably OK, but there are dozens of nicer ones out there. Google "fly tying stations", you'll see what I mean. I don't tie much anymore, But I have an entire desk for my fly tying/fishing bench and use this tool caddy ($20) which for me works well and lets me be more flexible depending on what I'm doing.

For me, when I upgraded to spinning reels in the $180 price range (Quantum) it was because they hold up much better than the less expensive reels I had been using. I’ve been very happy with my Quantum Energy and now Quantum Smoke models. My first Energy was over 10 years old ($140 then) before it started to wear down and get noisy. I’d never had reel last me more than 3 or 4 years before that. Higher end reels are generally lighter than less expensive models. If weight is an issue for you, spending more money will buy you a lighter reel (so will getting a smaller one).

To fit the specs you listed, you should be looking at musky rods. St Croix has a Mojo Musky rod, 7'2", 15 inch handle for $150 3-8oz baits or a 7'6" 15" handle, 2-6oz baits for $160. Those both have split grips. The Premier series musky rods have 12-14" handles, full cork, 3-8 or 2-6oz, 7' or 7"6" and run $190-$200

I’m glad to see you and your friend like to fish. Are there very many of your classmates who also like to fish as much as you do? Obviously, anyone who frequents Bass Resource is not among the group of people who would rather be spending time doing something else.

I estimate my 1995 Mercury has around 2000 hours and still runs perfectly.