collinfiske_RFC

Looking to get hooked up with a club in the Northern Champlain area. Currently living in Mallets Bay area.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll go check them out!

Hope everyone is staying healthy. I'm in limbo between boats. I figured now would be a good time to to do some reading, especially with everything being shut down the way it is. Does anyone have any good print recommendations that are bass fishing/fishing in general related? Looking for something to pass the time! Thanks!

Odd request but...Anyone have the layout or floor plan for a 1999 Procraft 200 handy? Cannot find one online right now to save my life. Thanks

I wouldn't overthink it too much! If you're only fishing for short period of time make what you got work. It might not be perfect setup, but as long as you can send baits down range that's all that matters. If you're going to be there for an extended amount of time maybe pick up something more specialized locally when you arrive. I use a 7'6 XHXF for punching heavier cover and 7'3 HF for flipping around lighter cover (I'm a shorter dude at 5'9ish). Sensitivity is definitely helpful for feeling what your bait its touching down below. Best of luck

Eye balls and a good pair of polarized lenses

Always loved Bill Dance. By the time I was old enough to be following fishing, he wasn't glued to his seat by choice. It would have been awesome to see some of the guys you were mentioning in their primes!

Hey Ben! Welcome to the forum! The guys on here are great as well as wealth of fishing knowledge! For your question, I would peruse some of the articles shared in the article section about bait selection in the winter time! There is a bunch of great content available by season. What I would do if I was you, would try running a lipless crankbait (usually red, don't know why just gets whacked even with lakes where nothing red is getting fed on) above some of those weed flats. They are pretty versatile. You can try yo-yo it back on the retrieve and ripping it through the top bit of grass might get them. Jerkbaits are another great option. Find what they are feeding on, match the hatch and bomb a jerkbait out there. There is a few different types and guys swear by different kinds. I've had most of my action on ones that sink slowly when they aren't moving. Hope this helps and points you in the right direction. Best of luck!

After looking at a map as previously mentioned, at the bottom of the map you posted has fish that are supposed to be there. Double check with someone local but they definitely could be feeding on bluegill, crappie, perch or trout. That could give you a general reference to what kinds of colors and lures to bring. If you get there and they are munching on some trout there are going to be some big fish in that lake. I've heard legends of trout hungry bass...As far as location of bass no idea where you guys are at. We still have ice thicker than grandmas countertops. There is a lot of great stuff written on here by some really smart guys about fish behavior during different stages of the game. Best of luck hope you nail them.

Bass are going to prefer hard bottom during the spawn. I would target some of the vegetation that needs a harder bottom or see where they end up setting up to spawn. Attack that smaller area during the spring/spawn then move to swim jigs, reaction baits ect. (what everyone else mentioned) around the weeds when they move off. Attack the pockets between the weeds if there are any.

Been following this one from the beginning. Thanks for the adventure guys lol.

Its like a red under armor bag I got for family vacations in the 5th grade. Just so happened to be able to fit everything perfectly. Ill post a picture of it when I get a hold of it. Lives under the deck of the boat now.

Use the same duffel setup, plenty of room for stuff that never gets thrown during the day but makes me feel better when leaving the ramp. Plenty of room for your weigh bag, rod sleeves ect.

Frog is tough even on some of the best days with the right gear. I'm envious of those with a really high hookup percentage. Opening those hooks up from the frog and using a softer frog helps a little bit I've found. Also if throwing the frog, and a hookset is missed, keep a rod rigged next to you with something quiet, light and low profile and send it right in there. Mine is usually a senko or something like that. I've gotten plenty of secondary strikes on the drop right after the blow up.

I'll shrink it an inch or two if i notice they wont pick their nose up on it. I know a couple guys that use it really short like 2in or 3in range that nail them. I think it really just comes down to confidence and whatever length it takes to keep it in front of their nose.

I have caught a couple of big ones on a power shot fishing shallow around docks. 4.5 straight tail, aarons magic, 1/2oz weight is plenty, 2/0 Trokar drop shot hook, 6in from weight to plastic. Weight kicking up bottom turns their heads around a little bit.

It is extremely variable based on lake due to forage availability, water quality, population size and water temperature. All of these can influence growth rates. Bass is going to grow most quickly during its first 1-3 years and growth rate will decline slowly after that. Some of the research I've seen says about 6oz a year in pretty normal conditions. If forage is higher that year and the water stays warmer longer, a bass may have a bigger growth year. I'm guessing around 10-11 years old for that fish if conditions are decent. Hope this helps!

If its brand new out of the box just swap them out before paying a shop out of pocket to fix it. Probably a defect from manufacturer. Could be sand, dust ect. in there too if its been sitting around a while. Simple clean could be the fix.

If I were you, I would spend a lot of time this winter researching "high percentage areas". If you throw the rig you described enough times at one of these areas you will get bit. When fishing a lake, river pond ect., there is going to be more water to fish than humanly possible. To find these high percentage areas it becomes very important that you understand fish behavior. I know it sounds super silly but hang with me. Fish are going to be in different parts of the water during different times of the year. They will also change their locations during changes in water temp, color, current ect. This can be due to a fish trying to maintain its body temperature, spawn seasons or chasing bait. Look for structure along the shoreline fish can relate to or rockpiles where they are chasing bait and staying warm. There is so much literature out there that can help you find the 10% of the lake where the fish are so you can focus your time and resources on it. Good luck! CPF

Super basic point but size and profile matching up whatever they were feeding on prior to arriving in the spot? I'm convinced that's the almost the answer or it at least makes me feel better to explain why they aren't biting something I am throwing. I've had days the other way around where they wont touch a 3/4 and only much 1/2. I find up north I get much more attention with a 1/2 but there be dragons down south where you are. CPF

I work in backcountry EMS and this is a video that circulates every year when lakes start to lock up. It an older video but the MD does a great job explaining what to do if you fall through. Most of it is still considered best practice. CPF

New to ice fishing and have been going after pike. Recently bought some tip ups and have been using shiners with minimal results. I know location of tip ups is important as well and have been trying to stay close to weed lines I know exist when the water is open. Are there any presentations to help increase the amount of hits throughout the day? Thanks, CPF

Dicks Sporting Goods in Burlington VT, (Williston) is still stocked with all sorts of goodies. Lake Champlain will probably keep us safe from that one.

Hey Everyone, Happy Monday. I hope everyone was able to drag themselves to work this morning after the Superbowl. During high school and my first year of college, I was fishing very frequently. Since then (approximately three years ago), I haven't been following the sport nearly as close as I used to. With spring around the corner I'm hoping to get involved again like I was. So I ask what is new? Over the past year or so, what has been big news going around the sport? Who are the new guys to watch for? Any new companies changing the industry? Any other news? Thanks, CPF

Any Mass or RI guys know of any lakes that are opened up to put a boat on?