Scott F

A predator like a pike can be very beneficial to a pond. Without something to eat some bluegills, they can very quickly over populate a pond to the point where they become stunted and there are no decent sized 'gills left.

The transducer is probably mounted on the motor. It has to be in the water to function. It only looks straight down so it only shows what is directly under the motor. Turning the motor still only shows what is under the motor.

There is no right way or wrong way. Do what feels comfortable to you. For many years, almost all reels available only had the reel handle on the right side so that's what everyone used. Today, many reels come in both versions so we have the luxury of being able to choose whichever you prefer.

Hey! I resemble that remark. Maybe that's why nobody will fish with me.

I use it. I think it works just fine. I don't care much about the color though. I don't believe that bass have the ability to reason to make the connection that line poses any danger.

Yes they are.

A stickbait is a bait like a Senko. Senko has become the generic term for the straight, plastic, sinking worm. It's original design model was a Bic pen. It looks like a stick. There are dozens of companies that have since copied the original Senko.

I don't seal my Z man baits. I keep them in Plano utility boxes but I don't mix them with other plastic baits. They do stick to each other but it hasn't damaged any of them.

I've been removing plastics from the original bags for 30 years. I still have some of those plastics and they haven't dried out yet. I wouldn't be concerned about it.

If you like the boat you have, I'd keep it. Before you've paid off the new boat, you'll be replacing the batteries and trailer bearings on it. If you want to make an investment, you may think about just replacing the motor. That's where most of the problems you may have in the future are going to happen.

I do it differently. I fish a lot of rivers and in the shallow stuff I fish, even in fast current, I still use the lightest jig I can. The heavier the jig the more you lose. The bass are used to looking up for their food to come to them moving with the current. I like baits that move naturally with the current and don't hang up all the time.

Everybody I know throws a piece of carpet over the edge of the vehicle. The yak' slides easily over the carpet and on to the roof.

I seldom get asked for my ID while I'm in there. I only carry my wallet when I leave the house.

I buy my fishing licenses online and print out multiple copies. One in my car, one in my wallet, one in my boat, one in my tackle box. If I don't have a license near me, I'm probably in the bathroom.

What have you got against catching catfish or even carp? They put up a heck of a fight, a lot more than bass do.

If there is weakness and numbing in the side of your hand, it could be what I had. Cubital tunnel syndrome. It's a pinched nerve in the elbow. That nerve that we call the funny bone gets pinched. See a doctor that will refer you to a neurologist. I had surgery to move the nerve. Fixed me right up. It sounds like it might be in the early stages so physical therapy might be the answer. Again, see a doctor.

Fishing pressure. I know it's a fact of life for most of you but I arrange my fishing to avoid places where there are tons of other fishermen. In the spring, there are very few bass fishermen on the lakes I fish and in the summer, I stick to rivers where I seldom see anybody.

My suggestion is to leave your kayak in the garage and never take it out anywhere so there is never a chance you might scratch it. Seriously, you bought it to fish from, go and fish the river. Yes you are going to scratch it on rocks, gravel, boat ramps, driveways and through the mud no matter where you fish. Do the best you can to keep it clean and scratch free. Kayaks are great on rivers and smallies are a blast to catch. Don't avoid rivers just because you want to keep your boat from looking like you actually use it.

I understand why YOU use a swivel. I was asking the poster I quoted why HE used a swivel. By the way, I use inline spinners. My spinners do not cause my line to twist. On my Mepps spinners, only the blade spins not the entire lure lure so the line doesn't twist.

I understand the convenience of using a snap to make changing lures easy but what purpose does the swivel serve?

No problem. It's probably over kill. I fished for trophy northerns all over Canada and never used anything that stout. Match the rod to the baits you intend to throw. Even though pike will eat big suckers, our best success never came on huge baits.

#4, silver blade, plain-no squirrel tail.

I don't like cranks in current. If you throw them upstream, you have to move them very fast to get them to wobble the way they are supposed to. If you throw them downstream, you don't have to move them at all to get them vibrating which can be good if you can position then in just the right place. I seldom get many fish randomly in a pool. Inactive fish are found in slow moving pools and they don't bite much. I fish the head of the pool or the tail where the pool ends. Feeding bass hold near current where food comes to them. They sit just out of the current so they don't have to waste energy fighting the fast water.

Generally speaking, smallies won't be found in the strong current. They will be close to it, tucked in behind a rock or in an eddy. Fish in these spots are there to feed and generally are not very picky. If it looks edible they'll take it. Any bait that you can direct through those holding areas will work. Topwaters and inline spinners work for me. You're already using small jigs and senkos. It almost doesn't matter what bait you use as long as it looks like food to them.

It will be on the CBS Sports Network at 6pm on Friday.