WI_Angler1989

+1 for Bassmaster. I always read (and didn't buy) them from my local bookstore. Always a good time having some coffee and reading some fishing mags. I JUST got my first issue in the mail today too. 1 year and a tackle bag for $10. Not bad. I do love the endless info online but there's something satisfying about a good ole fashioned magazine.

I'd guess a tube jig. A Cabin Creek Salty Critter Jr in watermelon blue flake rigged on a Confidence Baits Draggin Head. However, if the rivers are crazy high early on, like most years, it will be a jerkbait. When the river is high, lakes are the only option. I'd LIKE my first fish to come on a Siebert Sniper jig, but jerkbaits work so well in my local water it'll be tough.

Well, d**n...that's some confidence right there haha. I would be using 8lb test probably, maybe 6lb but Idk if its necessary. The rods I'm thinking of trying it on would be used for a variety of presentations: jerkbaits, small cranks, grubs (a lot), aglias, finesse spinerbaits, topwater. Pretty much everything that isn't a bottom contact setup. I use spinning exclusively. Haven't caught a fish here in WI that I couldn't handle on them.

Thanks for the advice RW, how lucky, I have quite a bit of KVD line conditioner still too!

I'm looking into yozuri hybrid line for next year. I'd be using it on spinning gear on 2 of my st croix avids. Anyone out there have any experience with it on spinning gear? How the abrasion resistance? Stretch? Memory? I use Stren original now, how do they compare?

I love me some Cabin Creek tubes! Salty Critter Jr's to be exact. I rig them up on confidence baits draggin heads and go town. It's completely weedless and the tubes are soft and have great action.

+1 on the altoids tin! I love doing that. I can fit a few draggin head jigs, a few aglias, a finesse Spinnerbait and the usual clippers/scissors in a tin and then be set. I usually just pocket the plastics (cargo shorts) and I'm good. I do need some forceps for this outfit though. I've got a vintage old Lucky Strikes cigarette tin from my great grandpa that I use for this as well. Fits the pocket perfectly. That's usually just in my tackle bag though, with scissors, clippers, knot guide, small tape measurer, etc.

Price plays a big part for me too. Stren has always served me well. I fish a LOT of shallow rivers that have lots of depth change which makes sinking lines harder to use and easier to lose the lure. I've always had trouble deciding which fluoro to use as a mainline line. I use spinning gear and know how tough some lines and tests can be with them. Mainly I do braid to fluoro leader.

I use a backpack when shore fishing and wading too. Sometimes trying new places from shore means I've gotta go hiking and climbing around shore. A Backpack makes that possible. I usually have more space than I need, with a 3500 Plano box packed full of jigs and lures, a bunch of bags of plastics, pliers, and a fluoro spool for leaders. There's a side length pocket that fits my big Kleen Kanteen bottle perfectly and a smaller pocket in front for snacks etc. There's also a phone pocket on the front of one of the straps that is nowhere NEAR big enough for my Galaxy, but perfect for my knife. All in all its a sweet setup really. The bag is just a free military bag one of my cousins gave me when he joined. I've never cared for camouflage but it works so well I can live with it. With all that space I still manage to forget things haha

+1 to the mono users. I've used Stren recently and like it a lot. It works well for jerkbaits because it has a bit of stretch, which helps the acation for me. Braid or fluoro have no stretch and don't get the same erratic retrieve as mono.

This one time, I saw some open water. Well, I thought I did, but it was just ice.

Bomber square A is a 1' runner and cheap Spro little fat John is 1-3' and pricey Those are the 2 I have experience with at least. Tons of options though. Go to a tackle site, crankbaits, pick the depth and browse.

Sounds good, message sent.

Where a post is shouldn't matter Inow my opinion. If moving it gives someone a better chance to find it and get what they're looking for, good.

Hey, I live in Eau Eau claire myself. Mind me asking what lake you caught all the smallies out of? I'm hoping to expand my range a bit and fish new spots more next season.

Anyone on here from/fished around the Eau claire, chippewa County ares in wi? I'm on the hunt for new smallie fishing areas in the spring.

I use my ESEE Izula 2 for everything, fishing or not. That's always on me. As for a headlamp, honestly I have one I got from a friend while camping and it works well. I believe it's Ozark trail.

For me its all the same regardless of lakes or rivers. In no particular order: 1/8 oz tubes, Rapala Husky Jerk (various colors), Mepps Aglia #3 brown/silver, 4" Kalins Lunker Grub (smokes and greens), and 1/4 oz finesse jig with a matching craw trailer. Let the fish tell you what to use, start with what seems like the best choice based on water color, temp, season and wind etc.

+1 on the Cabin creeks. Personally, I use the salty critter jr. It's 2.5 inches and works amazingly for me here on river smallies. Plus, free Shipping on their site is awesome! It's why I even found the brand, heard good things and figured i may as well try a bag since it's free shipping. The rest is history.

It doesn't specify. It does say that it's a Mustad ultra point hook.

Hmm, sounds pretty cool. It's like a Smallie Alabama rig haha

#1- Cabin Creek Salty Critter Jr, watermelon blue fleck. #2- Rapala Husky Jerk, 4" perch, silver or gold depending on the conditions. #3- 1/4 oz Mepps Aglia, brown dressed with a silver blade. #4- 7" Berkley Power Worm+1/8 oz tungsten worm weight, watermelon red. #5- War Eagle Mike McClelland Finesse Spinnerbait 3/16, sexy shad.

Thanks, man! I liked them online, and love them in person. The pics don't do them justice. Wish I had gotten a black and blue though.

Nice! I'm gonna have to keep an eye out for a sale. Did you see about it here or on the website?