papajoe222

Depending on the type of vegetation, you may be able to still work a bottom presentation. You’ll still be bringing in a bunch of it along with a fish, but who cares when you’re catching? If it’s millfoil or coontail, you’ll need to stick to fishing the tops and edges. Don’t pass up fishing the inside weed edges. They can produce some nice fish.

I C-Rig small, shallow running cranks using a 1oz. egg sinker. I’ll run that in the same areas others are deep cranking big baits. I’ll crank it for a fast presentation, or use the rod to creep it along. As a bonus, I’ve boated a nice walleye dinner on occasion.

I doubt the difference in gears would make any, if at all, difference in felt smoothness. Often times where a reel is assembled makes a difference in new reels as one place will use excessive amounts of grease for the sole purpose of making the reel feel smoother to the purchaser, while another uses it sparingly.

I don’t grease the worm gear as it attracts dirt. A few drops of reel oil once or twice between cleanings keeps things running smoothly. When it starts looking a little nasty, it’s time to clean the reel.

Are you target fishing, or fan casting an area? The plopper, Jitterbug, buzzbait and spook are good choices for doing both. You can cover water, or target specific cover. With all but the buzzer, you can pause them. Even when fan casting, I recommend pausing and/or changing speeds. Once you get a blow up, you can adjust as you see fit.

For me, the sign of a good day is a bandage covering the spot where I’d hooked myself. Never happens when I get skunked.

By closed line reel, I assume you’re referring to a spin cast reel like a Zebco 33. No problem. Using 6lb. line, you’ll have difficulty setting the hook on a T-rigged worm. Try using a #2 octopus hook and wacky rig it. You can suspend it under a bobber, just be sure to move it occasionally. Or skip the bobber and give it time to sink. Slowly raise your rod tip, reel a little line in and let it fall. Repeat Give it a try.

Welcome. About the only way to be sure is to fish it. You could ask around, but even if it does another angler may not want to divulge that fact. Have you fished that lake from a boat? If you’re limited to fishing from shore, the ponds could offer a better chance of catching.

A word to the wise for you younger anglers. Among eyesight, reflexes, balance and a number of other issues you’ll be facing as you get older, stamina is one that doesn’t need to be affected. I’ve seen a marked decrease in the amount of time I spend on the water on any given day. The reason isn’t my age, it’s lack of daily exercise. Even at 65, I was very active, between walking, playing ball with the grandson, bike rides with the Mrs. etc. I had no problem being on the water for eight hours or more. Sadly those activities are no longer a part of my lifestyle and it’s become a chore to spend more than four hours of serious fishing time on the water. So, stay active. You’ll not only enjoy more time on the water, but likely more time on this side of the grass.

That’s a big pond crappie. There was a time when I’d get a dozen that size from the strip pits here. Sadly over harvesting has really reduced the average size of them. Hopefully, that won’t happen at your pond

I'm not a big fan of landing fish by flipping or swinging them aboard and this is one of the reasons why. If the fish is lip hooked, it's likely worked an opening during the fight and most guys drop their rod tip just prior to swinging in a fish. That throws slack into the line the same as when a fish jumps. End result is the occasional lost fish.

I'm partial to Culprit worms. They have a ribbon tail that gives off plenty of vibration, which bodes well for murky water or night fishing. They also come in more than one size. Although they're not a floating worm, they work extremely well on a C-Rig or split-shot rig. They even make a thicker version for when you want to bulk up without going to a longer worm.

You’re missing out by not using them. Great, versitile soft plastic. Bring ‘em with next time you’re up this way. I’ll take ‘em off your hands and buy you and the Mrs. lunch.

Now I gotta go count jigs and spinnerbaits too???? NOT! Whose idea was this anyway?............................................Uh

It's the reel, not the line. When braid first became popular, companies started producing reels with a cross or X pattern of laying the line on the spool. Many still are, they just aren't advertised as such. Not much you can do about it, but next time you're in the market for a reel, check the worm gear. The farther the groves are from each other, the better for fishing with braid.

My grandson's baseball back-pack doubles as a tackle pack. Two 2pc. combos fit nicely in the bat pouch, a few Plano boxes full of tackle and he's good to go.

Just having some fun with you. Welcome to the board. When you figure out how to post a pic here, do two things. Post a pic of the fish and then PM me how you did it, 'cause I haven't been able to post one since they did an upgrade on the site a while back.

I thought a fun topic might be: What specific lure (brand and model) do you own the most of? To take it a step further, name a hard bait and a soft plastic. I'll start with what surprised me: Bill Norman Deep Little N crankbaits. I have eighteen in my box and another seven on my pegboard of spares. (I thought Spooks would win out, but when I broke it down by specific models, they came up short) For soft plastics, overwhelmingly, the 7.5in. Culprit worm takes the honors. I own way more tubes than worms, but they're divided up so no one company can take honors here. I know we've done threads on favorite lures before, but this may be an eye opener for some as it was for me. I know........Papa has too much time on his hands.

memories of Those kind of days not only keep you plugging away when it's tough going, but get you through those extended periods when you can't go fishing. Congrats

Welcome to the forum Conditions can give you an idea of what type of bait to use, but personal experience and confidence play a big role in that decision process. Learn one presentation well, be it T-rigging soft plastics, crankbaits, or whatever. You'll not only learn how to use it, but under which conditions it works best and when it doesn't work for you. When you feel you've a good understanding of that bait style, do the same with another one with maybe a completely different triggering action. A spinnerbait and a Texas rig, for example.

Then there are those, like myself, that are just so right hand dominate that they can't do anything left handed. I even tried LH reels........................NOT

Let us know how you did. I target a similar lake about 50mi. east of Stone that I plan on hitting next week.

For starters, I'd conentrate on that underwater point (around 2:00 on the map). Another spot I'd give serious consideration to would be either of the cuts at the southern side (5:00 & 7:00), especially if there is any shoreline cover. I can't tell from looking at the map what graduation the contour lines are set (5ft.?) but regardless, the one at 5:00 gives quicker access to deeper water. The east and west bank where the lines are close together would be where I'd target late fall and any ice fishing. There and where that underwater point peters out. After checking out the lake on Google Earth, those docks on the southeast end of the lake and the south shore by those two cuts I mentioned, have good access to deep water. I'd be giving those a shot during mid-day.

The Trokar and Eagle Claw tube hooks are perfect for T-rigging as most EWG hooks have too long of a shank for use on tubes. As for jig heads, I prefer ones with thin wire hooks so I can use 6lb. mono and get good penetration. Most of those have the 90 degree line tie. There are dozens of companies that make tube jigs and many purists pour their own because they have the option of using their preferred hook with whatever weight they want. A true tube jig has the line tie off the top not the tip. The angle that it comes out is what determines how much,or little action the tube will have on the fall.

First question: What size tube will you be using? Second question: Will you be rigging it with the jig's hook exposed, or 'stupid' style? Some tube jigs have hooks with shanks that are too long, especially for a 2.75in. tube. A jig with a 90 degree line tie will spiral more on the drop than one with a 60 degree and even in light vegetation, that can make a difference. Too long a hook shank will interfere will the tail action. Internal weights are a great way to go for a weedless presentation, or when skipping the tube, but you loose that spiraling action that makes a tube unique. I don't have the link, but Glen did a video on rigging tubes and how to work them. It'll point you in the right direction.