Super User Further North Posted January 1, 2022 Super User Posted January 1, 2022 I'm pondering adding a heavy two handed rod for musky flies...it'll give me more options, and potentially reduce wear and tear on my shoulder. It may increase distance too, but I'm concerned about how well the techniques I'd have to use will work from a boat. I also have some ideas for new flies, and a couple variations of soft plastics I want to try for pike and musky. This year's new bait was a 10" version of Strike King's now discontinued Smokin' Rooster...I'm thinking of new colors for it in 2022. 1 Quote
Super User TOXIC Posted January 1, 2022 Super User Posted January 1, 2022 I can’t foresee anything new that I want to try. I am first and foremost a finesse guy and my last “new” technique was a Ned rig and boy howdy has it been a producer. I would have never dreamed of throwing some of the Ned baits I have and catching the size fish I have. That being said, I’m off to Florida nest month and will have a full truck of baits. 1 Quote
Super User Further North Posted January 1, 2022 Author Super User Posted January 1, 2022 27 minutes ago, TOXIC said: I am first and foremost a finesse guy and my last “new” technique was a Ned rig and boy howdy has it been a producer. I built a bait casting rod around Ned rigs, it was a fun experiment. 7' 9" ML TFO Inshore rod, the smallest Shimano Aldebaran reel, 30# braid to about 7 ft of fluoro leader. It's a fun rig to play with...I'm just much of a fan of spinning rods. Quote
Craig P Posted January 1, 2022 Posted January 1, 2022 My local lake has Walleye, some really good sized ones too but anytime someone catches one (and posts about it) it is always a by-product catch. Myself included on the by-product catch. I want to try and learn how to find and target them specifically. Learning this however is going to be a tall order for me as I am have been SO addicted to bass fishing the last few years. 1 Quote
Super User Further North Posted January 1, 2022 Author Super User Posted January 1, 2022 1 hour ago, Craig P said: My local lake has Walleye, some really good sized ones too but anytime someone catches one (and posts about it) it is always a by-product catch. Myself included on the by-product catch. I want to try and learn how to find and target them specifically. Learning this however is going to be a tall order for me as I am have been SO addicted to bass fishing the last few years. I went quite a ways down the walleye path a few years ago...and discovered that I don't enjoy fishing for them with the techniques that are most successful. I'm just not wired for sitting and jigging, or trolling...my loss. 1 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 1, 2022 Global Moderator Posted January 1, 2022 I need to get a big striper this year, didn’t get a single one last year that I remember. And what’s funny is i tried for them more than normal so maybe I should ignore them to accomplish this ……… 1 Quote
Super User Further North Posted January 1, 2022 Author Super User Posted January 1, 2022 14 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said: I need to get a big striper this year, didn’t get a single one last year that I remember. And what’s funny is i tried for them more than normal so maybe I should ignore them to accomplish this ……… Ha! I was trying to catch big pike and kept catching @!%$ING muskies. ? Not really. I was fishing for anything with teeth. 1 1 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 1, 2022 Global Moderator Posted January 1, 2022 3 minutes ago, Further North said: Ha! I was trying to catch big pike and kept catching @!%$ING muskies. ? Not really. I was fishing for anything with teeth. Murphy’s law is more predictable than fish. I set out striper bait live and dead all year, nothing ever hit it. If I’m jigging crappie or something one of those things will eat a 2 inch soft plastic 1 Quote
Super User DitchPanda Posted January 1, 2022 Super User Posted January 1, 2022 Gonna add a few new top waters this season..namely the rebel.jumping minnow and using a rapala original floater on top. 1 Quote
Super User gim Posted January 1, 2022 Super User Posted January 1, 2022 One of these springs I am gonna go to the Rainy River and target lake sturgeon. Maybe this is the year. 2 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 1, 2022 Global Moderator Posted January 1, 2022 22 minutes ago, gimruis said: One of these springs I am gonna go to the Rainy River and target lake sturgeon. Maybe this is the year. This ole crappie fisherman I know caught two of them below Douglas dam the other day, I think with small live minnows Quote
Super User gim Posted January 1, 2022 Super User Posted January 1, 2022 24 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said: This ole crappie fisherman I know caught two of them below Douglas dam the other day, I think with small live minnows Minnesota is very strict when it comes to specifically targeting them here. There is a limited spring season on the Rainy River and also a season on the St Croix River which is on the MN-WI border. My cousin went to the Rainy last spring and caught a decent one. Apparently you just throw down a weighted rig with a gob of night crawlers into a deep hole in the river and then wait. And then probably wait some more. Maybe the prehistoric swimming fossil of a lifetime will eventually show up. 1 Quote
Super User bowhunter63 Posted January 2, 2022 Super User Posted January 2, 2022 Gonna use some braid more , Especially in finesse fishing. 1 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 2, 2022 Global Moderator Posted January 2, 2022 1 hour ago, bowhunter63 said: Gonna use some braid more , Especially in finesse fishing. I use braid for the opposite of finesse fishing 1 Quote
Super User bowhunter63 Posted January 2, 2022 Super User Posted January 2, 2022 1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said: I use braid for the opposite of finesse fishing Do you straight braid or with a leader Quote
Super User Further North Posted January 2, 2022 Author Super User Posted January 2, 2022 6 hours ago, DitchPanda said: Gonna add a few new top waters this season..namely the rebel.jumping minnow and using a rapala original floater on top. I should do that some day. I fish topwater for bass with my fly rod all the time...just never got the itch with gear. How weird is that? 5 hours ago, gimruis said: One of these springs I am gonna go to the Rainy River and target lake sturgeon. Maybe this is the year. Cool. I have a buddy out in Oregon that fishes for them...it's nuts. ...there's bunches of them here in our rivers...we sneak up on them in the drift boat all the time. We could probably catch one if we had the patience. 1 hour ago, bowhunter63 said: Do you straight braid or with a leader I use a leader. Mono on bass, tieable wire on anything a pike or musky might eat. 1 Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted January 2, 2022 Super User Posted January 2, 2022 I don’t know what species may be had, I hope bass. I just put Humminbird Mega Live on my boat. I know there will be a big learning curve and I will be chucking baits at what ever I see as I get things figured out. 1 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 2, 2022 Global Moderator Posted January 2, 2022 9 hours ago, bowhunter63 said: Do you straight braid or with a leader Straight 50-65 for snatching fish quickly out of milfoil 1 Quote
Super User Further North Posted January 2, 2022 Author Super User Posted January 2, 2022 6 hours ago, Jig Man said: I just put Humminbird Mega Live on my boat. I know there will be a big learning curve and I will be chucking baits at what ever I see as I get things figured out. I'd be excited about that too. I've sorta pondered it, but there's no way for me to hang it on my boat without it being in the way, and a PITA to use. 5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said: Straight 50-65 for snatching fish quickly out of milfoil We can't really do that here, unless there no chance of pike or musky. I'd still have to tie on a foot of wire... Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 3, 2022 Global Moderator Posted January 3, 2022 6 hours ago, Further North said: I'd be excited about that too. I've sorta pondered it, but there's no way for me to hang it on my boat without it being in the way, and a PITA to use. We can't really do that here, unless there no chance of pike or musky. I'd still have to tie on a foot of wire... We have some toothy creatures too. lots of big Muskie but they never bite anything so no worries there. Gar, however, bite ever lure they see. I’ve caught them over 40” many times with 65 braid and 6 lb mono. They peel off all your line like a tuna i don’t throw expensive plugs so I’m not using wire. 3 Quote
Super User Further North Posted January 3, 2022 Author Super User Posted January 3, 2022 5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said: We have some toothy creatures too. lots of big Muskie but they never bite anything so no worries there. I know some folks that have the secret to getting those Tennessee muskies to eat. 5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said: Gar, however, bite ever lure they see. I’ve caught them over 40” many times with 65 braid and 6 lb mono. They peel off all your line like a tuna Gar are are nuts. I used to fish for them on the lake I grew up on. If you can figure out a way to get a hook in 'em (you obviously have), you're in for a heck of a ride! Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 3, 2022 Global Moderator Posted January 3, 2022 7 hours ago, Further North said: I know some folks that have the secret to getting those Tennessee muskies to eat. Gar are are nuts. I used to fish for them on the lake I grew up on. If you can figure out a way to get a hook in 'em (you obviously have), you're in for a heck of a ride! I get gar fairly regular on jerkbaits. They jump like billfish, it’s wild haha. One of my buddies guides for Muskie, they get some monsters. I had a buddy catch a big one with a crappie jig the other day 1 Quote
Way north bass guy Posted January 4, 2022 Posted January 4, 2022 It’s not truly a “new” tactic for me, but I did just buy a new fly rod and some new line with some gift cards I got for Christmas. I used to fly fish a lot when I was younger, mainly for bass but also a bit for pike, and a bit of stream trout as well. Haven’t really touched a fly rod in over 10 years, and the one I had was a cheap beginner outfit. I’m kind of excited to get out again this year with a much better outfit, especially now that I own property on a nice river full of largemouth and smallmouth. 1 Quote
Super User Further North Posted January 4, 2022 Author Super User Posted January 4, 2022 4 hours ago, Way north bass guy said: It’s not truly a “new” tactic for me, but I did just buy a new fly rod and some new line with some gift cards I got for Christmas. I used to fly fish a lot when I was younger, mainly for bass but also a bit for pike, and a bit of stream trout as well. Haven’t really touched a fly rod in over 10 years, and the one I had was a cheap beginner outfit. I’m kind of excited to get out again this year with a much better outfit, especially now that I own property on a nice river full of largemouth and smallmouth. You're going to have a blast with that. I chuck flies at a little of everything with muskies, pike and smallies being the primary targets. 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted January 4, 2022 Global Moderator Posted January 4, 2022 I got some heavy duty rod holders and backing plates mounted on my kayak to chase big catfish from it this year. 1 Quote
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