papajoe222

Just wondering what your dad was catching the bowfin on? I've picked them up on an occasional crank, but the only consistent producer has been live or dead shiners.

I like to skip a tube under docks unless I can get up close and pitch a jig there. Most of the lakes I fish have clear water and the fish spook easily, so I'll stay out 10yrds. or so and skip a tube. If I'm just randomly going from dock to dock, I'll have two rods rigged with cranks that run off to the side and cast so that it runs under the dock and bounces off the pilings.

I used the Rapala knot for years until the old eyes made tying knots a bit of a hassle. It's simple to tie and allows the bait the freedom to move easily. Wish I would have known about that canoe mans loop.

Welcome. When getting back int fishing or just starting out, I always recommend finding a versatile bait that covers or can cover different depths and is productive throughout the open water season. Two come to mind and a third isn't that far out of the running. A jig, Senko and a spinnerbait. For the waters you describe and fishing from shore, I'd go with the stick bait and rig it Texas or wacky style without a weight. The water is shallow enough that it will sink to the bottom easily without any and it has the most action without one. Being proficient with more than one bait/presentation lets you adjust to changing conditions. You can adjust your rigging and/or presentation on these baits for those changing conditions so multiple baits aren't necessary.

Are you sure those aren't circle hooks? They make an octopus circle hook Model-2214 that looks almost identical to their regular octopus hook. With a circle hook you don't set the hook, but keeping your rod tip high, you just reel. They are great for any plastic that the fish might swallow.

Just from a couple of statements that you made, I'd venture to say there aren't any big fish. A 2lb. bass is a decent fish and may be one of the bigger fish there. The bottom content, lack of vegetation, abundance of small fish and high phosphorous all add up to a very poor candidate for producing big fish. I'd also venture a guess that there isn't an abundance of bait fish present. That plus the abundance of small fish would stunt the growth rate of all the fish. Your subdivision likely has no lake management plan, which will contribute to the fish population remaining stunted. If there is an association for your subdivision, you could approach them about setting a slot limit and encouraging removal of fish under 12in. and possibly the stocking of a forage species, but don't expect any short term results. A 13in. bass will take five years to reach quality size (18in.+) in our area and that is under good conditions which could take a while to achieve. The good news is that this body of water sounds like a great place to hone your skills, experiment with new techniques and build your confidence. There are a number of big fish producing lakes within an hour or so of the Chicago area you can take that experience to.

About the only big bait that hasn't produced many small fish for me is a 1/2oz. jig with a big craw trailer. Compared to some baits, some would consider it small, but a big bulky trailer on a jig is a big meal for Ms. Bass. I'd bet I could count the number of fish under 15in. I caught on a jig/craw combo last year on my hands. Just something about a jig that seems to produce nicer fish. I catch more small fish on 10in.worms. Before someone comments about a 15in. bass being small, consider the region I'm in and the fact that the bait is a mere 5in. long.

Finding quality fish on pressured waters is a daunting task, but if you're willing to put in the time it can be worth the effort. If you can get a topo map, look at those community holes on it. What do they have in common? What is the bottom content? Is there a common depth to the productive areas of them? Now it's time to do some homework, first on the map. Look for small areas that share similarities with those community holes. There are often off shore points that are visible on a map, but don't appear to be related to the shoreline and they may only run from one depth to another. They're similar to an off shore shelf, but have the features of a point that extends from shore. Follow the creek bed on the map looking for small swings and areas where it parallels small flats. Lastly, get on the water and leave your rods in the locker and check those spots you located on the map with your depth finder. Look for signs of forage and cover on them and mark the ones that have either or both present. No go back and fish them hard. Hopefully you'll discover a pattern you can use on multiple spots. Hope that helps.

Welcome to the onset of old age. I've had five hand surgeries, one shoulder, one elbow and I need to get the other shoulder done soon. It'd be more if they made replacements parts like backs. It could be worse, we could have lived in a time where there were no surgeries to correct those things.

I'm a little late, but you'll understand where I'm coming from sooner than you think. Happy Birthday you old fart in the making.

I've been dealing with depression for years and after multiple changes in medication, I finally have it under 'control'. The hardest part for me was/is friends and family that don't understand. I heard 'Get it under control or Man up' more times than I care to remember. Close friends are nonexistent and my marriage was on the rocks for a while. Bottom line is that it's a long row to hoe. I can't imagine adding the other things you're dealing with. Glad to see you still have a positive approach to things and I wish you the best. PM me when you get AGI certified. Between myself and my son-in-law there is some business for you Best of luck and I'll keep you in my prayers.

If you define a pattern as fishing shallow, or dead falls, or riprap then it could last all year. Then again, that isn't a pattern in my book. Catching two fish off a rock pile on a point in 18ft of water and again on the next point and the next is what I define as a pattern. I'll then go from point to point and search the 18ft zone in search of rocks. I'll continue until that pattern no longer produces. Patterns, as such, rarely last throughout the day. The general area my continue to produce fish for days with other patterns developing.

The tip is actually held in place with a hot glue. what you see behind the tip is the same epoxy used on the thread wraps. It is used to give the look a smooth transition from the blank to the tip. Excessive heating of the tip will damage the epoxy finish and that is why care should be used when heating the tip. The hot glue will loose it's grip on the components at a lower temperature than the epoxy. An easy way to insure alignment of the tip is to rest the rod with the guides pointing straight down. After shreds of the glue stick are placed inside the tip, heat it just enough for the glue to melt and place the tip on the rod. Reheat the tip to ensure the glue is liquified and it will center itself via gravity, then allow it to cool.

I doubt your gear or hook set is the culprit. More than likely, the fish are hitting the back section of the swimbait. The good news is that those fish can be caught. Just as with fish that just bump a spinnerbait or crank, a change in color or size of the bait will often turn hesitant fish into striking. Then there is the ability to add a trailer hook to the bait, which is easily done with a spinnerbait trailer hook, or a treble hook. If the fish are solidly hitting the bait, it will show teeth marks similar tho the way 'bass thumb' looks. their location on the bait will give you a good idea of how interested they are in the bait. The closer to the head of the bait indicates that possibly just a change in retrieve is all that's necessary.

Ich habe ein, aber das Spook ist mein favorite.

Items related strictly to use of the boat include a prop wrench, spare prop and pin for your trolling motor, a small tool kit, first aid kit, jumper cables, tow rope, bailing bucket, a roll of electrical and duct tape and something I never leave shore without, a big dose of common sense.

The presence of wind can be beneficial in determining where active fish may be located, but it isn't the only or most important factor the majority of time. As a bank fisherman, however, you are limited as to the factors you are able to observe. A steady breeze that has been blowing in the same direction for some time will move the forage the baitfish feed on to the windy side of the lake. IF the bait follows AND the fish follow the bait, the windy side would be the place to start as other factors such as depth, structure, and the presence of cover are unknown factors to you. As noted, the time of year needs to be considered as prior to late post spawn, the wind would actually not be of benefit, but could actually deter fish from using that shore.

nothing compares to your first muskie My biggest was a 52in. and I get more pumped remembering my first which was almost 20in. shorter. Congrats on your first and I hope you're young and in good shape, because muskie fishing takes its toll on your body and you sir are now hooked.

BobP beat me to it. I used a Forerunner with topwaters and frequently caught fish on it rather than the 'chasing' bait. I even experimented using it with cranks. Now I just throw a Bo Rig (sp?) with a crank or lipless crank. I've had fish hit the blades, but a lot more hit the following crank.

I've tried baits other than tubes, but jigs and weighted worms just don't seem to skip as easily. That's why I thought a fat, flat plastic bait would be an easy transition for me. I don't side arm when skipping, at least the majority of the time. I use a motion similar to a roll cast with about a rod's length of line out, I'll arc the bait in a circular motion and release as it passes around the 7 o'clock position. I, too, set my tension control knob on the heavy side, but turn the magnets off.

Current is always the biggest factor I consider when there is one. If it's a straight stretch of the creek that you're targeting, I'd consider any current breaks when attempting to determine which shoreline may be better. If you eliminate the current factor, I'd say forage would be my next biggest consideration. If the sunny side has more vegetation, it may hold more active fish. I'm not saying to disreguard the presence of shade, just that I think there are other factors more important to the fish. At the very least, fish one side this outing and another the next. Keep a record of your success, or lack of it and I believe you'll have your answer.

I've done this with limited success, caught plenty of fish on the business end of it, but few on the jig. The most difficult part was rigging it so the line passed through the jig's eye without it or the swivel/leader betting wrapped around the jigs hook. If you're feeling fish and coming up empty on the hook-set with your C-rig. grab a jig or Texas rig. Some things are good the way they are and don't need modification. BTW, that's the voice of experience talking.

Short, precise and right on the money. WRB.

Cowboy Up!

Prior to this season, the only bait I've ever skipped with casting gear is a tube. I should say; successfully skipped. I'm looking to add something like a beaver style, or creature bait this year and was looking at the Pit Boss and Z-Hog as they both have smooth undersides. I'm just wondering what baits you guys find the easiest to skip with and which of these you'd recommend?