papajoe222

I just don't get the back pack thing. Don't get me wrong, a back pack has it's place but there are much better tackle storage and transportation options IMO. The only advantage I see to a pack vs. a bag is if you're walking a long distance with a lot of other gear. If you're shore fishing, carrying everything you own is a waste of energy. If you'll be fishing from a boat, eliminating an extra trip back to the car to load up doesn't sound logical to me. Sorry, just an old fart ranting. If you're looking for a versatile pack, check out Sportsmans Guide they have a great pack on sale that has both large compartments and small along with pockets for sunglasses, tools, and water bottles. If I recall correctly and I'm usually 40-50% correct on my recollections, it's currently on sale for $39.00 for non members. I've had mine for three years and it's seen plenty of use. I was wrong about the price. Here's the link http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/military-style-medium-transport-pack.aspx?a=961612

Welcome. It's great to see new members from my neck of the woods. There are a couple of small lakes in LaPort county I've fished along with Webster for muskie.

This is a great time for tubes, but a slow fall rate will likely work better than a heavier one that will fall straighter and faster. The lighter weight (1/8oz or less) will pick up those suspended fish that won't chase a faster falling bait. If you don't have any light tube jigs, a small split shot 8-12in. above a tube will give you the slow fall, but anything but an internal weight will limit the spiral fall that is a big reason tubes produce over other soft plastics.

I've lost track of the quality bass I've caught on that and other pike and muskie baits. They and other inline spinners, smaller Jakes and even some double inline buzzers have all produced bass for me. I haven't tried them when specifically targeting bass, but I don't see why they wouldn't produce.

If the normal, triggering affect of a falling tube isn't what the fish are responding to, I'll opt for a skirted jig (no rattles). The only time I T-rig a tube is when I'm flipping and the only time I flip a tube is in pads or cabbage.

X2, Or when you purchase a lure you've never tried out in six different colors and sizes.

Smallies will hold around current breaks in faster moving water, but rarely in colder water. I'd target areas of very little to no current that are close to faster water, not fast moving, just faster than the slack water areas. An extended 'seam' or the slack area ahead or behind a major obsticle or eddy. Deep water access is a plus factor, so that area downstream of the dam where the water goes slack is ideal early and later in the year.

Could be that's when you are most confident. Unlike LM, I believe a smallie's strike zone expands rather than shrinks on a sunny day. I've had them come up 20-30ft. on a sunny day to hit a Spook. Rarely on an overcast day.

For rivers and streams, I like a Mepps spinner with a yellow or chart. blade. For lakes, I prefer a SuperSpook Jr. , but I've caught more on a tube (green pumpkin with the ends dipped in Spike-It)

I personally don't care for the weed guard on them. I've missed more than a few fish because it didn't collapse enough for the hook's point to catch. I ended cutting the looped end off and shortening the remaining wires. The hooks themselves are excellent, but if I'm looking for a weedless hook, I go with my old standby EagleClaw 249WA

If you're like me, most of my fishing knowledge was self taught. Magazines, TV shows, etc. There were, however, a few people in my life that actually took the time to show me a few of the things that have made a big difference in my angling experienes. My dad, of course, ignited the passion in me. He was a live bait fisherman and a jig and minnow was my introduction to casting not just bobber watching. A patient old man showed me how to play a fish on spinning gear after he witnessed me loose two nice walley in a row. A good friend taught me that it's almost as much fun teaching and seeing your 'student' catch fish as it is catching them yourself. Last, but certainly not least a friend that is no longer with us taught me that I'm never alone when fishing by myself and that's the best time I've found to talk to Him.

Well, I've about run out of fishing related things to do. I'm just adding the finishing touches to my last rod build of the off season. Everything other than the boat is ready to go, but it's sitting in the drive with 6in. of snow on it's winter cover. Now it's planning time. I figure three trips this spring and another two in the fall. Lodging, transportation choices, and destinations should take a little time. Somewhere before the power plant lakes open in March, I have a few little honey do's to both occupy my time and keep me from having a fishing widow (she would kill me).

Made the decision to attend this past week-end and have already received an invite to share a cabin. Now if I can find someone from IL or WI to share the ride down, that'll take some of the financial burden off my back and I can just enjoy the anticipation of meeting up with what I believe is a great bunch of guys and gals. :respect-059:

Okay, I pulled the trigger an will be attending, but I need help. I'd like to drive down and back, but I'd also like to share expenses. Does anyone need a fourth for a cabin rental, or a second to share a room? Anyone in IL or WI willing to share the ride and expense going down (I'll supply transportation)? More than one would keep transportation expense even lower for all.

I lost a friend a couple of years ago that, upon hooking into a big fish, would stomp his feet on the floor of the boat like a little kid. Always brought a smile to my face. Man I miss him.

I use a file also. I do have a diamond sharpener that I'll use to touch them up, but if they're totaly sliding off my thumbnail, the file gets the nod.

I'm finishing up getting my gear ready and prepping my used rods is the last on the list. Soapy watr and a Q-Tip is what I normally use. Just wondering what you guys use for cleaning.

I go out 3-5 times a week and although I'm tempted, I never leave my gear in my boat. The exception is my plastics. I do, however, keep it in my truck where it's placed when leaving the lake. Both my boat and truck are kept in my driveway, but in the truck the gear is out of sight to prying eyes.

I have no problems using braid for most applications, but there are times when I will either use a FC leader or straight FC. Clear/ pressured water makes up 80% of those and if possible, I'll go with all flouro in those situations. It isn't that I don't have confidence in using any kind of leader, It's that adding another knot to my connection with a lure increases the possibility of knot failure. The other thing, and it may be a personal preference, is I don't like loosing baits and attaching a lighter line as a leader increases that possibility. BTW, moving this topic to rod, reels and line forum would likely get you more responses.

Just wondering how far you'd travel to find some open water to fish this time of year. Yes I'm talking about my northern bretheren and there is no need for my southern brothers to be dissin' us. For me, it's like a 300 mile drive and I don't know if I'd be willing to pull my boat out of storage, but I'm getting pretty desparate.

Here I thought you were refering to Opening Day, you know the one that's like two months from now.

I fish one lake here in Illinois that has a 10hp limit. The limit was imposed before the lake was flooded as the sole intention was to develop it for fishing. On week-ends the limit is strictly enforced and just like any other lake, it gets heavily used. Even so, it's a joy to fish this lake, especially on the week-ends as jet skiers, pleasure boaters, wind surfers, etc. don't interfere. I'd rather make the sacrifice of using only my T/M than deal with those distractions. One lake that I fish in southern Wisconsin has a no wake restriction from 8:00 PM until 10:00 AM. Both recreational boaters and fishermen get to enjoy this heavily populated water. Yes, there are those that bend the rules, but there are also those of us that tactfully remind them that their infractions won't be tolerated.

Thanks Same situation I'm in, so I already ordered a 2pc. blank and components so I can always have a rod in the car.

The overall length and angle of the lip is a general guideline to help determine the approximate diving angle and depth, but the placement of the line tie and the width of the lip also come into play. Like A-Jay said, take 'em out and check them. I break my baits down into three catagories for storage purposes (shallow, medium and deep), but I also mark the lips with the exact running depth if I know it.

Unless I want to bulk up a jig, which threading a plastic trailer up the hook shank and flaring the skirt out will do, I normally hook most trailers the same as a pork chunk. If loosing the trailer, or having it interfere with the hook up is a concern, I'll use a couple of the plastic circles I punch from margarine lids and use to secure my spinnerbait trailer hooks. I've used HitchHikers, but this method limits the the side to side movement of the trailer for me.