Tokyo Tony

I'm assuming "every other record in their book" does not include the trophy for the most humble angler :

If that was directed at me, let me say that I made it clear that I have only used it once, and that my opinion might change. I have also used brand-new Power Pro many many times without some of the problems I experienced yesterday. Regardless, only time will tell for sure, and I hope the Sufix breaks in nicely. Any of you Sufix users find that you need to break the line in for a while before it becomes softer/quieter?

There wasn't anything sharp or metal on the spool. It was just an intentional indentation in the spool design that made the line catch on it everytime it passed that indentation. Just a poor design on the spool. Obviously the indentation won't affect spooling a baitcaster, but for spinning gear it's a pain.

I just tried Sufix Hi-Vis yellow braid yesterday afternoon for the very first time. I was excited to try it out because of all the rave reviews on this site. Up to this point, I've used Power Pro exclusively and had no reason to try any other braid. I was disappointed by Sufix. It was noticeably stiffer than PP, and at least as loud (it actually seemed louder to me). Another turnoff was the powdered dye that kept coming off the line and lining my guides and bail. I'm sure the dye issue will resolve itself as I use the line for a couple more outings, and hopefully the line will also soften up a bit and become a little quieter with use. One thing that really p'd me off about Sufix was the spool design. It has an indentation on the top side of the spool that makes spooling it onto a spinning reel an absolute nightmare. I had to clip the sharp ends off then sand it down before I continued spooling my reel up. Terrible design. That said, the line fished pretty well, but again, at this point, I much prefer Power Pro. And again, my opinion may change on this when I break the line in. Hopefully it will.

Have any of you guys seen the Rapala commercial where they show a huge school of shad swimming in unison, and amonst the shad they show a Rapala Shad Rap (I think)? I love how they play opera music and as the commercial progresses it becomes easier to make out the lure, then they show the bass, he focuses on the lure and attacks it instead of any of the real shad. Love it! I think it's the best fishing commercial I've ever seen. I couldn't help myself and just started laughing after it was over ;D

The most productive areas in the river I fished all winter are deep slower-moving pools below (anywhere from right below to 200 yds+ below) faster, shallower rapids. The fish's metabolism is lower than usual in the cold water so they don't want to expend too much energy, but they still want to be somewhere where food is brought to them buffet-style. You can start with a jerkbait, cast anywhere from directly upstream to directly across the current, and twitch it all the way in. As was said, keep varying your retrieve until you get a strike, then you'll know the basic retrieve style to use. Then you can hone it further. You can also cast directly across stream and let the current take your bait so that it's swept across the river until it's directly downstream from you. If you're lucky, it will sweep right in front of a trout/smallie's face and he'll take it. If jerkbaits aren't producing, the fish may be deeper, so you can try a grub or a 2" or 3" minnow-type bait (I love Berkley power minnows) on a 1/16 to 1/4 oz jighead and bump it along the rocks on the bottom, casting in the same way you were casting the jerkbait. This was my basic MO all winter and it worked great. Good luck!

Central and Eastern Connecticut 100% good-to-go. Not sure about NW CT, but I'm pretty sure that is all open too.

Awesome, I'm definitely in. I think early May would be tremendous. Just post the date in a new thread. My brother and I will join.

YES ;D Nice job Brokejaw, we all knew it was a matter of time. Congrats. I remember when I caught my first DD, I'll never forget how....actually, yeah. I haven't come close to a DD. But I'll be happy with a bass half that weight - that would be my new PB ;D

Hawg Caller - great story, great fish, and awesome picture! Congrats ;D

Rattletrap-type baits. Just don't have much confidence with them, but plan on using them more this year. C-Rig. The few times I've used the method I've caught a couple fish, but in my eyes for the type of fishing I'm used to, there are usually better options (dropshot or jig). Plus when I feel like spending the time to rig one up, I probably set the hook when I shouldn't, and don't set it when I should :

I'd love to do that, but I won't be able to go the 19th. My buddy's getting married (what an idiot!). Keep us posted.

Any Scrubs fans? It took me a couple episodes to get into it, but now no show makes me laugh out loud more than Scrubs. Lately I've been watching a lot of Frasier reruns too. Great show. Oh, and Futurama is hilarious too

Too bad about the conditions man, I know what that's like. Spring is finally on the way, and there's no ice, but the temperature is around freezing every night and hasn't really gotten above low-mid 40's during the day. It's like we're in a standstill, and it's been very windy. I just want the weather to hit that magic 60 degree mark so I don't feel so cold! At least you got to try out your gear and find some promising spots for the upcoming season.

Thanks for the info guys, very helpful Went out Saturday for my first time pontooning, and although the conditions were terrible, it was a lot of fun. I have a 36 lb thrust Minn Kota that I use on my canoe, so I mounted it on the back (along with the huge battery I have for it), and I'll tell you what - that 'toon flies with the motor ;D Felt like I was up on plane. It was really windy and there was some chop - add to that 45-46 degree water (don't worry - I was wearing my PFD) and it's not a lot of fun. On the ride back I got soaked from the waves (didn't wear waders, like an idiot, and didn't dress warm enough), and I had a headache because of the cold. Regardless, it was a good time trying out my 'toon, and I did manage to catch three bass and three pickerel in about 2 hours, all on clown-colored X-Rap size 8. I absolutely can't wait to use this thing when the water warms a bit, or when it's not so windy. I had to ride into the wind, then make 3-5 minute drifts over holding areas because, once again, like an idiot, I didn't bring an anchor. At least I learned from my mistakes and won't be making them again 8-)

A couple things - I don't think you have to go to braid necessarily, but just a line that hass less memory than the line you're using. I think your problem is that the line has too much memory, and that's why it's acting funny. Regardless of memory, however, if you're actually reeling while there's slack in the line, that's probably gonna cause a problem. Using a limper line will just minimize it. Try casting out and just reeling your lure straight in. If the problem still happens, there may be something wrong with your reel and you'll have to get it fixed or get a new one. You don't need a baitcaster to throw topwaters - I much prefer spinning gear for walk-the-dog baits just because that's how I learned how to do it and it feels a bit awkward with baitcasters for me. I use almost 100% braid with my spinning gear, so I'd recommend it, but you don't NEED braid. And if you have trouble with braid wrapping around your hooks, use a short leader. That will solve the problem.

So you're saying that you like the Carrot Stix more than the GLX? I'm just curious because I'm considering the Carrot...

There is a third option: learn how to cast. Just kidding ;D

I also hate losing lures, but it comes with the territory. I currently have three "outstanding" jerkbaits that I lost but I know exactly where they are. 1. Last week made a foul cast, lost a LC Pointer 78 in a tree, but I know exactly where it is and plan on getting it when I fish the pond in my pontoon (by the way it took a lot of strength to snap that freakin' Yo-Zuri Ultrasoft line, 12 lb test - that stuff is strong). 2. Last fall lost my favorite LC Pointer on a laydown while shorefishing. I had caught 100+ fish on the lure, and it was the very first LC bait I ever bought - size 78, Chartreuse Shad, bought at Dick's before they stopped carrying the brand. I'd changed the hooks on it at least three times. I know exactly where that laydown is in NH, and will fetch it next time I'm up that way. It is probably destroyed because of the long winter, but at least I'll get it back for memory's sake, or maybe it will adorn my keychain in the future. 3. Same pond in NH, lost a white X-Rap on a different laydown, but I will get that one as well next time I'm up that way. Last spring I lost a chatterbait on that same pond on yet a different laydown, and several months later I retrieved it from the tree, even though it was covered in algae. It's still in my tacklebox ;D

Marketing hype, IMO. That's not to say that red crankbaits/rattletraps don't produce very well at times, but the vast majority of the hype we hear is just that.

I go overboard 60% of the time, every time. Johnnydel - I shorefish almost every day after work. You don't need a whole tacklebox for your outings. What I've done for the last year is take a backpack along with me and two boxes, either Falcon or a standart 3700 box. The night before, just go through your tackle box and pick out a bunch of the lures you'll probably need and put them into the two boxes, into the backpack. You can keep some assorted plastics in there too, along with pliers, camera, scale, etc. I have two empty Falcon boxes that I use specifically for shorefishing, or if I'm going in someone's boat. Taking a 50lb tacklebag around with you just isn't worth the effort 8-)

I'd say #20..... if you're fishing below a nuclear powerplant that's dumping toxic waste. I agree, none of them looks like a baby bass. If you're looking to imitate a baby bass, I'd look elsewhere. There are tons of crankbait and jerkbait patterns with different manufacturers that are actually called "Baby Bass". That's where I'd look.

I disagree. Now, regarding LC jerkbaits... I throw LC's 75% of the time, but there are times when bass prefer an X-Rap or a husky jerk, and I seriously doubt there's any time a LC will catch twice as many fish as an X-Rap, for example. There may be times when a LC will catch a few more fish, or times when a LC will catch a big finnicky fish that won't strike an X-Rap, but there's not that big of a difference between the two jerkbaits. The LC jerkbaits are a little more subtle than an X-Rap, and they have a nice rolling motion on pauses. Personally, I fish two lakes where I have more success with X-Raps than LC's. That said, the quality of LC baits is top-notch, and IMO, worth the price. You have to tune them very infrequently and they're pretty durable. I have a couple other LC baits, some cranks, rattlers, and topwaters (love the Sammies), and all of them are top-notch. Also, there are other companies that manufacture similarly high-end jerkbaits and other baits that I haven't tried. Imakatsu, Mega Bass, and others. These are even more expensive than LC's, and at least as high-quality.

WRONG! Lol, just kidding. That reminds me of stupid infomercials where the salesman will ask himself a question ending with 'right?', then immediately exclaim "WRONG!" Anyway, good to see you're nabbin' them on topwaters (and chatterbaits )

Thanks What part of CT are you from? I live in Newington, just outside of Hartford. I usually won't travel more than an hour or so to get to a fishing spot (unless I go up to NH), but I fish pretty much everywhere within an hour's drive radius from my house.