papajoe222

I've always used suspending jerkbaits in colder water and floaters in warmer water, but today I had great success with a floater when paused long enough for it to start rising. The water temp was 62-64. I switched to a suspending version and the bite all but died. I didn't have time to switch back to the floater, but I gotta believe that they just prefer a floater in the fall. For those of you that fish jerkbaits a lot, do you agree?

The mods can delete this if they feel it's political. I can not believe how many of my Facebook friends are unaware that the President of the USA is not elected by the popular vote, but by the Electoral College and the fact that it takes a minimum of 270 of those votes to be elected. Our educational system is truly lacking when college graduates don't know how our government works. There was a time when you had to pass a general civics and American history test before you could graduate high school.

I've done that and smacked the wife more than once. The last time she said: "You're using braid, you don't need to set the hook so hard!" LOL Thank God she has a good sense of humor.

I use trailer hooks when fishing buzzers and spinnerbaits with braid. I feel they make up for the no stretch of the line and the number of fish I catch on that trailer reinforces that logic. The only two times I don't use one is when fishing weeds and when slow rolling

I like brass weights, but rarely go heavier than 1/4oz. anymore. Always with a glass bead. For years, I used heavy brass for C-rigs, but tungsten transmits so much more info back to me that it's become my go to for that.

Welcome to BR Clear water with a steep drop and rocky bottom sounds a lot like a strip pit. Regardless, the fish will most likely be suspending. To find out what depth, work your way down the water column with cranks until you find them. If the bite dies off, swim a tube or jig through the same depth.

I'd stick to Perch and fire tiger patterned cranks and jerkbaits in or around whatever green weeds you can find. No weeds, rock and gravel would be my second option, in 10-15ft. Once the water temps. drop close to 50, you can drop the cranks in favor of a drop shot with a long leader and move deeper if you don't contact fish in that depth range.

I'll start off by saying I never throw a chatterbait. I would venture to say though, it likely has something to do with vibration vs. flash. With me, it's a Colorado spinnerbait in the spring and a willow in the fall. Same thing happens with cranks. Orange belly in the spring and white or chartruse in the fall.Don't know why and I really don't care to.

DELAVAN report On the water for a couple of hours yesterday: Water temp. 65, wind SW @ 17mph 8 bass, biggest was 19in. And three pike. 15-18ft. Got all but one bass and one pike on a One Knocker and everything else on a 1/2oz. Single willow spinnerbait Only six trailers in the parking lot I love this fishery

One thing about being a Sox fan vs. a Cubs fan, we know they can still get there. Cubs fans would be breaking out their Hawks attire if the Cubs were down 2-0. JT will be singing and I'll be on the edge of my seat in anticipation of another great October comeback.

If you're talking just the reel, take your pick of any in 6.3:1 or similar. If you're talking rod and reel, a BassPro Qualifier in that gearing paired to a M/H Mod.Fast in a length that suits you.

I prefer a light wire hook for T-rig tubes, but I don't fish them with braid or a M/H rod either. I've never had one straighten out. I've landed 8-10lb. cats without incident. I'll switch to a flipping hook when punching or flipping with braid.

30lb. is all I use, except for punching thick weeds. I would base your choice on the type of presentations you use most and the type, or lack of, cover you encounter frequently.

I use a single chart. willow blade on a short arm spinnerbait for smallies in the fall. The pike seem to like it, too

I haven't heard of this one. Who makes it?

Great choice for your #1, mine is a tube. More specifically it's an internally weighted tube rigged weedless. I can present it anywhere in the water column with any number of different actions, plus I can go with a vertical or horizontal presentation. I guarantee both yours and mine will be tied on one of the five rods on my deck for the remainder of the season here.

This still has a good possibility of happening and I personally think it'd be the best match-up of the teams in the playoffs. Of course, that's providing the Cubs don't let down their fans, again. I wonder who the scapegoat will be this time. oops, sorry about the 'goat' thing Cubs fans. I'm rooting for them to make it to the series and for a seventh game to really make it interesting.

Many of the lakes in my area close to fishing at the end of the month, so I will also be hitting the water every chance I get. Although my favorite southern Wisconsin lake does not, I plan on hitting it before the water temps drop below 50. If I hit the lottery, I do plan on contacting Jeff about a trip to Mexico after the holidays. If not, it'll be another long winter with that pesky monkey.

Thanks for the quick replies. I've been looking to add a MH cranking rod as I already have a Med. And a MH that is closer to a Hvy power that I use for the deep stuff. Got a deal on this blank and a ISWB 945

I'm looking to build a cranking rod for those baits that run 10-16ft. and am undecided as to which blank to build on.....RX7 CB70MH or RX7 CB70H. I would think the MH would fit the bill, but I have zero experience with the Rainshadow line.

That (drilling holes and filling with epoxy) was the quick fix I was thinking of. Thanks I'll recommend both ways

A new tackle shop opened up in town a few months ago and the owner knows I build my own rods. He called me on Monday and said he has a customer that has a problem with his favorite rod. The reel seat is no longer secure. They wanted to know if there was a way to re-glue it to the blank without stripping it and the cork handle from the rod. I know of a quick fix, but am apprehensive about suggesting it as I don't know how long lasting it would be. Is there a way to remove the seat without ruining the cork handle in the process?

Just keep it away from those no no's. Don't worry about the rods, I've yet to build a rod that didn't fall in love with my Daiwas

The answer to your problem isn't to by inexpensive tubes, it's to keep them pesky smallies from tearing up the tubes in the first place. Next time try using baitcasting gear. You'll possibly backlash on every third cast or so and that'll cut down your losses by 30%.

On Powers I've only caught one bass over 5lb. and I swear I've caught her twice. both times off the same hump. I'm heading out to Delavan this Sat. If you see me, give me a shout I can help you get skunked too.