Tony L.

For years, I used fingernail clippers. Then I really broke down and invested in a nice pair of titanium pliers with outside line cutters.

Check out the link below-- it is a blog from a guy that modified pretty much the exact same canoe that you have, on a budget, and using mostly things that he bought from the hardware store. I think that it will do you well. If you are halfway handy, you can pick and choose some (or all) of the features and have a stellar ride like some of the awesome ones that members above have already posted. AND you can have very little invested in doing it. http://www.jaxkayakfishing.com/phpBB/topic30202.html Good Luck!

Hi Seas Grand Slam is a very high quality line. Trilene would be good too, but probably my second choice.

I really like the smaller jigs too. They are absolutely great for all around fishing. I dont always look for trophies when i go out, sometimes i just want to be on the water catching a fish or two, and I don't really care what they are. If it has been a particularly stressful day at work, i dont want to go through the effort of patterning monster bass. I just want to relax, unwind, enjoy some time outdoors and on the water, and feel something give a little tug on the line without investing too much thought into it. I think that it is a blast to reel in a mixed bag of bass and panfish- the action is fast and the element of surprise is thrilling. Have you looked into the Lindy "Watsit Jig" and "Watsit Spin Jig" ? They are pretty unique and one of my favorites hauling in a bit of everything and for catching LMB/SMB in creeks.

Within my price range, I'm liking the pfleuger president. Also have a quantum accurist pt that has been wonderful over the last two seasons. Got it because it was 50% off on black Friday and I have been solidly impressed.

Just keep at it, sounds like you are doing a lot of things right. One of the most important things, which you are already mastering, is being adaptable and switching things up when what you are doing isn't working. Too many people, myself included, have a bad habit of continuing to use the same baits in the sane spots, regardless of condition- simply because it worked once before. The only thing that I would add is to make sure you change up your retrieve style on each of those baits before breaking off and tying on a new one. Change speed. Try working them faster, and more importantly, try working them slower. Try both straight retrieves and, again -- more importantly, try jerks, twitches, and above all for this time of year, pauses. Oftentimes, its less about what you are fishing so much as how you are fishing it. I am partial to using spinnerbaits and swim jigs to find fish because they are kind of nondescript and you can use them at any depth and with any retrieve style. One thought though, if the bottom of your pond is completely void of structure- you have a good idea in sticking with those pads and docks. The topwaters aren't hitting for you, so you need to go deeper. The name of the game for cooling water is S-L-O-W falling lures. I'd look into weightless soft plastic worms or senkos and definitely jigs/trailers that are nice and bulky but not so heavy that they fall like rocks. Drop them as close to the structure as you can get them, but not dircetly on top because those presentations aren't always heavy enough to punch through weeds. If that fails to produce, continue moving deeper and deeper away from the weeds and docks because they might be moving to winter spots. The other thing to look at is baitfish activity. There is also the possibility that the fish aren't holding next to cover at all. If you see lots of surface activity, they may be chasing shad in open water. That's where your deep diving crankbaits would come in. Cast well BEYOND the baitfish school because it takes time for your bait to dive from the surface down to the maximum depth. Casting beyond the place you are hoping to fish it ensures that it is running deep and right where it needs to be when it gets to the sweet spot. Of course, I am also located a good solid 10+ hours north of you... we are going to be at a high of 3 degrees on wednesday- so my fishing conditions are quite diffferent and I have no experience fishing in the south.

When I am not able to fish, I typically read about fishing. Lately I've been going through few books by John Gierach. He's a fly fisherman, not a conventional bass fisherman, but the books are equally applicable to anyone that likes the outdoors. They are meant to be entertaining, not informative, and are mostly philosophical. The guy just gets it. So far, I've been through: No Shortage of Good Days Standing in a River Waving a Stick Another Lousy Day in Paradise I've really enjoyed them all.

That combo sounds good to me. For smallies though, I actually go with 10# braid on the mainline. Others may disagree, but I think the 10lb is easier to manage with the smaller lures and plastics for smallies. I just dont think that heavier line is necessary because smallmouth aren't typically in the same thick slop that you sometimes pull largemouth from. Since you do find them in and around rocks though, that leader is essential. Braid doesn't hold up worth crap against abrasions.

Just settled in to a new house (first time homeowner) and my wife and I will be welcoming our first child in just three more short months. I don't think I could really ask for anything else.

How big are the trout being stocked? The bass might be filling up on them, in which case they can afford to be a bit more picky on what they eat. They might also be keying in on trout and things that look "trout like", paying little attention to anything else because they are so focused on this bountiful new food source.

You could comfortably and safely stand in something as small as a kayak if you put outrigger/stabilizer floats on it. How big is the water you are fishing? That might help you narrow down your choices. Do you fish really big lakes that see some sizeable waves, or are you in mainly smaller, calmer waters?

I bought an o-ring tool for about $5. Seems to make them last quite a bit longer. Small pieces of electrical tape might also do the same thing. I remember someone on here once suggesting that you can also use a small section of a clear plastic drinking straw. Cut it open lengthwise, and it will still curl and hold the original shape. You can wrap it around the Senko and shove your hook through.

I think quantum seems to get overlooked or even downplayed on this forum sometimes. They have some big name people using and endorsing their products though, and my experience with the few quantum reels that I have owned (save for the really cheap one I got from walmart once) has been unbelievably positive. Most of the customer reviews i have read have been positive too. I'd say compare it to others and pull the trigger if you think it feels good in your hands.

You would be surprised what 3000 would get you as far as a boat goes. You can get a great little starter. Be careful though, because that is just the start-- and we aren't just talking about maintenance (used motors on craigslist can actually be very cheap if you need to do any serious work). Depending on your state, you might need to license the boat, almost assuredly the trailer, and maybe even insure it. Watch out for extra fees. If you are prepared for all of this, go for it! I've been toying around with the same idea, but my suv doesn't have a tow package. Rest assured the next one will. I think that I have just settled on a square stern canoe that I plan to outfit with a trolling motor and some outrigger/stabilizers. I'm too clumsy to operate in the tight quarters of a kayak.

Since both rods are identical and both reels are of the same gear ratio, I feel that they both can be used for the same things. I might be missing something, but i think that the choice would really be based on which set of techniques you use most. Pair that with the reel that you personally feel is more most comfortable in your hand (because you'll be holding it more often) and choose your line accordingly. Just out of curiosity... Do you own all the combos already, or are you considering purchasing them?

Cardinals are really solid little reels. I have had one on my panfishing/bluegill rod for over 9 years now, and it is still going strong. I don't know if they still manufacture. Them the same way or if they have gone plastic like everything else---- but they used to be great and i assume they still are. Within it's class, my understanding is that the cherrywood pretty well outperforms everything in the same price range, and even several that cost a bit more.

You are absolutley correct, variations in light significantly change the way that something is seen. Water does too... The different colors/wavelengths that make up that sunlight can only travel so far through water- with different colors being filtered out at different depths.

Had not heard that yet, but that is really big news! It will be interesting to see how that plays out. If anything, I wonder if being folded into a company as big as BPS will lead to a price drop on new boats.

Never used an ice rod for open water, but I can see how they would travel well. Ever consider a telescoping rod? They aren't super sensitive, but they get the job done just fine. I have a 5 1/2 foot one that collapses down to about 11 inches long, and it is in my vehicle everywhere I go. They make them in all sorts of lengths and actions.

Welcome, fellow Hoosier!

I have no doubt that things will be back to normal when they warm up. Try not to worry and don't play with it too much until your reel has a chance to "thaw out" (not that it would really be hurting anything if you did). I think that Aavery2 is absolutely right and the same statement applies in reverse. The grease on the inside will thin down when it warms back up. There may be too much inside in the first place. Feel free to take your reel apart and clean it if you need a winter project. In general, I don't think that cold has too much of an impact on reels you aren't using. Just make sure they are in an area that is dry and has plenty of airflow. Repeated freezing and thawing could trigger condensation and rust if they aren't given some breathing room. Cold storage on fishing line, however, seems to have somewhat more of an impact. The combination of being tightly wound around a spool for extended periods along with the temperature ups and downs seem to give most lines a lot more loops/memory/coils the next time you take them out. This is a non-issue if you change your line at the start of the season.

It is pretty unconventional in our area, but I was talking to a gentleman in gander mtn earlier this year who said his buddy had been catching them on topwaters. At the time that I met this guy, it was very early March, maybe even late February. It couldn't have been more than a week or two after ice-out, so the water was clearly still cold here in Indiana. It was definitely thinking outside of the box, but it seemed to work for this guy. Give it a shot

If you caught one, there almost has to be more in there. I guess there is the possibility that it was released into your pond by another fisherman or carried in by a bird. I'm guessing, though, that the one you caught has to have a mom and a dad, and since bass don't just lay one egg, lots of brothers and sisters.

There was a similar topic that came up a while back. I saved it because I plan to do something similar myself in the next year. Check out this link- it is a blog post that someone made as he modified his canoe. It details every step, and it turned out incredibly well http://www.jaxkayakfishing.com/phpBB/topic30202.html

I agree with this one. If I am fishing to survive, I would be wanting just a bare hook of medium size. Probably something slightly too large for a bluegill and too small for a bass under ideal conditions, but would still be able to hook both species. I'd start by finding a bug or a worm and haul in a bunch of panfish, maybe use one of them as bait for something bigger. Playing the odds and the numbers game, there is a lot more biomass towards the bottom of the food chain and therefore more nourishment. You stand a better chance surviving on a large number of small to medium sized fish as opposed to a few large ones.