papajoe222

When graphite rods and braided line first became popular, I found myself experiencing setting the hook too quickly. The only fish I was landing were hooked in the lip area and only rarely in the upper jaw, if I even landed them. I started changing my rod position when working my baits so that my rod tip ended up at almost 12:00. Reeling down from that position to set the hook allowed the fish a little more time to get the bait entirely in it's mouth. It also increased the sensitivity when detecting bites. The other thing you might try is going to lighter line. A few break offs on the hook set will remind you to take it easy on the hook set and that should slow down your reaction time.

Do you have much experience with the creek or at least a section of it? Is a quartering cast your best option in the given current, or have you been using a different approach? Lastly, are you looking to continue with soft plastics, or possibly expanding to also using hard baits? With the rock bottom a crank similar to a Rebel Craw could be a killer an will avoid many hang ups when bringing it down current. Another option with a crank is to bring it slowly upstream and let the current drive it down into holding areas. That presentation can bring about some violent strikes as the lure is approaching the fish from behind and will startle a resting fish.

I think the location theme has really blossomed on this site because a lot of posts are aimed at finding a magic lure or presentation. eg."I'm heading out to my cousins 40 acre pond tomorrow. What should I throw?" In answering, somewhere in a reply it should be mentioned that it depends on a number of factors, prior to advising the OP that a Senko will always catch fish, or a crankbait is the ultimate pond bait right now. Many anglers don't approach lure selection with the idea that lures are tools and a hammer isn't a tool for stapling shingles any more than a Spook is a tool for winter time bassin. Assuming the OP has enough experience to know how to find big fish or that many waters don't hold a large percentage of large fish is also a big injustice. I don't believe an angler that posses that experience would be offended by a response that states the obvious, provided the original question is addressed.

Attempted to post this earlier from my i-pad, evidently I have issues when using it. We all know that no bait can be the most productive in every situation although there are baits that can produce under a variety of conditions. What if there was one type of bait (crank, spinner, soft plastic, whatever) that could be the most productive under any situation and you had the power to determine what it was? What hard or soft plastic catagory would that bait be in and why would you choose it over every other type of bait? I am a Spook Nut, but under these circumstances I'd have to opt for a plastic worm. There is something about fishing them that is addictive for me. It is constantly transmitting information to me and providing I concentrate on what it's doing, I don't have time to think about much else. Then there is the rush I get during the pause between detecting the strike and setting the hook, the apprehension of not knowing what I hooked or how big it might be, they are cheaper than the majority of baits on the market and their color can be altered easily. Of course, if you were the one to make the decision and you chose a Spook I'd be jumping up and down. So hard bait or soft plastic, your choice?

We all know that there isn't any one bait that is always the best choice given the current conditions. What if there was and you could dictate which type of bait. Would you choose a hard bait over a soft plastic one? No need to mention specific brands, just the category that bait fits into. Either way, give your reasoning; ease of use, cost, because it's fun to use, whatever. For the sake of this discussion, let's consider skirted jigs as a hard bait and a bare jig with some form of soft plastic a soft plastic bait. As much as I love my Spooks, I'd go with a plastic worm. To me, there is just something special about fishing them. They're a discovery tool, relatively cheap, are both a numbers and big fish bait, it isn't a no brainer bait so I'm always concentrating and it takes a bit more skill to present and to determine a bite vs. most hard baits. There's that moment of anticipation and uncertainty that takes place between the bump or tap you feel or you line jumping or moving off and your actual hook set.

Every year, once I've discovered a prefered bait or presentation, I wonder the same thing. Is it because of different size baitfish, different species, different type of prevalant forage (craws vs. minnows), lack of sufficient forage (this might up the odds for top-water presentations), what type of plankton the forage is keying on, or am I more confident or do I enjoy using a particular bait or presentation and therefore think the fish prefer it over a different one. I figured it out years ago...............What, did you really think I was going to share years of research with a bunch of strangers on the internet? Okay, here's what I figured out: I don't care why, I only care about finding out what the hot bait/presentation is this year. Once I figure that out I forget about 'why' and enjoy the fact that I know what's hot this year.

If it's a manual inflated one, no. As long as the CO2 cartridge hasn't been punctured, the only thing you need to do is inspect it. The same goes for the automatic cartridge, but the 'bobbin' should be replaced if it shows any sign of moisture absorption or every few seasons as per the owners manual.You can check the bladder by inflating it by mouth

It's like comparing oranges. A navel orange is not better than a seeded orange. They look and taste very similar, but most will opt for the navel, even though it may be more expensive. Personally, I don't feel a mass produced plastic bait can come close to a hand poured one or a bait that is marketed heavily can compete price wise with a store brand. The closest I've seen in a mass produced bait mirroring a hand poured version is the RageTail line of plastics from StrikeKing and the best store brand............well, I can't give an opinion, I don't use any.

I think everyone has lost a fish that they will never forget. That is, until they loose or catch a bigger one. Hopefully it will not happen to you again and you will forget because you will catch a bigger one. Glass half full, remember.

I had used the copolymer previously and I believe it's a different line as this line is thinner than I remember that being. I recall it being stiffer also. This line can use a little conditioner, more for easing the coiling than for taming any tendency for it to jump off the spool. I just ordered a spool of the UltraSoft, but it's going to take some awesome performance to get me to switch from Trilene XL

A few guys were boating good numbers of little fish in the 12-15ft. zone, but most of the better fish I saw caught were from the weeds that had deep water close. My biggest came out of 3ft. of water between two docks. I had been switching spinnerbaits and saw baitfish activity, sat on the spot for ten minutes or so and the black buzzbait was more than she could resist. The owner of one of the docks was banging away working on a yak hanger. I thanked him for spooking the fish out from under his dock. LOL

Not to start a debate, I'm just curious. Do you use live bait? If so, is it your primary presentation? I rarely do and when I do it's always on a second rod out behind the boat (the bait, not the rod) Uncle Homer put me on to this tactic and it's produced some great catches, especially in the fall.

For me, it seems that every summer a different lure or presentation seems to stay hot. Last year it was deep cranks fished shallow. This year, it's been shallow cranks fished deep. I can only recall a couple of years in a row when the same lure/presentation was the hot one. What has it been on your favorite lake?

The only time I 'keep" legal bass is when I put them in my live well during a tournament. They're released after weigh-in. On most of the lakes we fish, about a third of the guys will bring in a limit. It's rare for all the entrants to bag a limit and when it does happen, most fish are barely legal length. I've had days when I couldn't boat a limit of keepers and other days on the same lake when I'd get twenty or more. If you fish the same lake frequently and haven't, or rarely bag a limit check with other anglers. The lake may just need to have a slot limit to get the numbers of keeper fish higher.

Zip Lock Bags in different sizes. They'll save your I-phone, the contents of your wallet, even your biodegradable toilet tissue. The're not just for sandwiches Leroy. If it's a fishing trip, learn how to use the hook removal tactic and keep a loop of 60# braid or equivelent in your first aid kit. An extra pair of sunglasses or saftey glasses for use when fishing whether it's sunny or cloudy. A good set of 12ft. jumper cables. Keep 'em in your car year round and take them with you in your boat every time out, or get a set for the boat too. A tube of silicone for repairs to anything from your luggage to your boat's cover. Curing time is a little slow, but the repairs are waterproof and coating wire connections will keep them from corroding. Gorilla Glue will handle most things it won't.

Check the fishing reports forum for a Delavan report

I didn't get on the water until 7:30, but by 10:00 I had boated six nice 16in.+ bass and a couple of pike on a black double buzzer and a chart. Spinnerbait. Those fish were all in 7ft. Or less along the east shoreline. A weightless stick worm produced a couple more over the deepest weeds along that same stretch and that same spinnerbaits netted a couple of decent pike on the flat off the south side of the channel peninsula . I wish I hadn't dragged my feet getting on the water My plan was to get there at sun-up, but the rain delayed my departure.

What you've been experiencing isn't a result of the dog days, it's a result of unstable and constantly changing weather. We've been experiencing the same difficulties where I am (just west of you). You can and probably should go smaller and slow down, but unless you're knocking them on the head on the cast, don't expect too many bites. This is why I don't downsize. I know I'm only going to get a couple of bites an hour and I want them to be strong bites, not just fish making a half hearted swipe at my lure. I will, however slow down to the point of dead sticking with a shakey head. The fish are still in the area where you've contacted them before, it's just that pinpointing them and then getting them to bite can be painstakingly difficult. If you're up to it, you can still get a few over the course of the day, but don't expect them to be active for any length of time until the weather stabilizes.

If you're looking to add a little color it's the way to go. I've used both to color many of my plastics. If you're just looking to add scent, I'd skip it. RageTails and any of the Coffee scented baits from StrikeKing don't need it and that comment is from a guy that adds scent (CB's Hawg Sauce) to just about everything including hard baits.

Unless fishing is just a way to pass time, or an excuse to get away and have a six pack or two, the answere is; when you're looking up at the grass rather than down on it. I have 21 rods, 16 reels, 4 tackle bags and over two dozen 3700 series boxes full of lures and that isn't counting soft plastics. Many of the rods and a few of the reels will never again see use, but I would never part with them. Most of the other gear was bought on impulse during the off season as that's when the bait monkey seems to know I'm most vulnerable.

I don't own a pair, but if you understand polarization, your assumption is likely correct. If you can not see the lines when viewing through the lenses while wearing, or from a distance when looking at the mirrored side I wouldn't be concerned. The mirror finish may have something to do with being able to see the lines. Bottom line is, if being able to see them makes them unsatisfactory to you, return them.

My son-in-law asked me to 'super tune' his four baitcasters for him. I told him that for the amount of fishing he does (8-10 outings a year) and the low end reels he wanted me to work on that he wouldn't notice the difference. He insisted and I only cleaned and lubed the reels. He said he sure could tell the difference, thinking that I had 'tuned' them for him. When I told him what I actually did, he couldn't believe that a simple cleaning an lube could make such a difference. Grant you, the reels were filthy and hadn't been cleaned since he bought them, but I doubt that polishing gears, drag washers, spool release, etc. along with bearing and drag upgrades after a good cleaning would be noticeable to him. I don't assume to know your experience level, but if you're a once every other Saturday type of angler, I'd give it some serious thought. I'm not attempting to take business away from DVT, they do great work and I recommend them highly. Just want you to look at both sides of the coin prior to pulling the trigger.

I rely heavily on bigger tube baits when fishing docks and many times as a drop bait. The majority of the time it'll be rigged on a tube jig head with the hook exposed or with an internal weight rigged weedless. Both riggings allow the tube to spiral on the fall and I believe it gives the fish a look they don't see often as I think most guys opt for a jig in those situations. I'm still using my baitcast gear, just bigger tubes. So, am I wrong in my assumption? Is a tube your 'go to' for getting those fish burried in the shade under docks, or do you skip your jig to those spots more often than not?

Mann's Jelly Worm and JJ's.

Welcome to the forum. Check out the 'Where are all the Illinois guys' thread, there are a lot of us that fish the chain and southern Wisc. While you're at it, stop by the introduction forum (you can find it by clicking on forums on the main page and a different drop down menu will appear) and tell us a little about yourself. Also, you can click on any members screen name above their avitar to learn a little about them. BTW, I'm originally from Chicago and still live in the area.