PaulVE64

I'm as humble as the next guy. I catch a few river smallies when I fish but I have no idea how many I miss. Probably dont want to know that. But I can say that observing the weather, conditions and wildlife within the season is paramount to understanding the savage nomads that are smallmouth bass. Applying their simple impulses and knowing the river at different water levels means finding them. NO FFS NEEDED

It works!

Sorry, just took me to my own Facebook page

Ark Lancer looks nice for $100

I do. But I'm looking for river and creek smallies, so it's more about location than presentation. If I am in my canoe I bring 3 or 4 rods because I have mobility.

That's been my solution up to now.

Ive always been a huge fan of this colour. I'd love to find a soft plastic 'fluke' in MB Elegy Bone. Blue top/Chatruese belly

River Trout or deep Lake Trout. Its sooo different

Does anyone have an opinion on St C Premier 7-6 ML Fast vs St C Victory 7-10 ML XFast. I would go to an older Avid if I could find one.

Geez, I feel ya. Just know it's for fun and learning can happen. I havent caught a smallie since mid November. I'm hoping to find one in the next 2 weeks, which would be respectable for me. Tight lines

The Neko ones are buoyant and indestructible, but they snag up just like everything. A splitshot rig dead drifted seemed to work best.

I lost it on a guy in Beer League once. Kinda ridiculous throwing punches at a guy with a cage on. But I'd been cross checked in the back of the dome one too many times. The ref gave me a roughing minor. Edit - the other guy got a game misconduct

I played for a few years in a charity tournament. Most of the players were average beer leaguers but they would have a few ex-NHLers on each team. My centreman was Norm Ullman a 75 yr old ex-Leaf. We had just been scored on and we were losing when I told Norm we needed a goal. He looked me in the eye and told me to get infront of the net. He won the draw and in what I can only call a game of slow motion keep away he carried the puck into their end and threw me a pass right on the tape between 3 defenders. He was unstoppable when he tried, even at 75.

When I tell my foe to "Eat my Lead" I want it to be a real threat.

We all had vinyl records.

I like a windblown shoreline.

Prespawn to me means water temps near 50°F That's when crawfish get active. I'm throwing a craw/sculpin jig

The best knot is the one your most confident with. For me it's an FG on spinning gear. But I use a max 6ft leader because I personally never want to spool that knot. I've also tied thousands of fg knots so I'm confident.

Its at moments like this that I try to remember that atleast you can dress for the cold

I have a Bill Coleman Craft Canoe that was built in the early 70s. And yes, Bill Coleman was sued by Coleman Canoes but being an irrassable codger he won.

I just reread this thread, so it's a shameless BUMP, I know. What prompted me to respond now is that for the first time since mid November that I've had three consecutive days of sun and a bit of breeze. River still has ice packs in some parts but the right stretch might get stacked up with smallies or walleye or pike. I may be fishing soon.

100% agreed

In my experience cheating to win is common in business , sports and marriage. As much as I detest it I know the cold hard truth is it is rewarding.

It's not "good marabou" but it can be used. Edit - have you the skill to tie it on properly?

But I use every conceivable advantage I can find. Surely the lure should be as realistic as possible. Maybe it's the realistic motion that is missing?