J Francho

Bigger is a little easier to walk, but more importantly is cadence - small = fast, while big = slow. Not that you can't walk a small bait slow or a big bait fast, just that they are more suited that.

Show Girls, Grandmas, Bushmaster spinnerbaits, X-Rap X-14, Big Ratt'l Traps and any diving crank bait meant for bass that you value greatly, all work well for northerns. Invest in some titanium leaders, and some Cortland Toothy Critter tieable. Right now, there will be overlap with bass and pike. Summer pattern pike are usually on deeper weed edges. Fall, look for creek mouths again.

Narrower spools don't need to stay engaged, while wide spools do.

A jig, spinnerbait, frog, toad, t-rigged plastic (weighted or unweighted), and even some crankbaits all work well around timber.

Based on what I'm seeing up here, I'd say you saw two males being territorial about spawning sites.

Like this, only on a much larger scale, and using accurate GPS and measuring equipment: http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/mapping-a-lake.html

Crappie + Bass + Ponds <> trophy bass, usually. Get rid of the crappie, and you'll probably see better bass. Of course, any result might take years.

State record or better, it's going on ice.

They probably just need oil, or it isn't even the bearings causing the whine. Follow the recommendations on p. 1 of this help sheet.

Al that and depth contours: http://mapper.angling-technologies.com/atom/pmap.php

Depends.... I caught three fish today on lunch break, two over 4 and one close to 6. Each took at least 20 casts, and two bait changes. The two smaller fish were males just starting nests, the larger a roaming female. Depending on what the fish are doing, you might need some sticktoitiveness to catch the bigger fish.

Isn't this still under warranty?

Wow! Just Wow! Congrats!

Yep, it was about the only way to keep heavy flouro form uncoiling on a little baitcaster spool.

What DOES work is putting the filler spool in warm water before filling the reel. KVD L&L is always a good idea.

In my kayak, I'll drop just one anchor, an 4x the length as depth. In a soft breeze, you pendulum over the point, or whatever structure you're on, back and forth. I don't live bait fish, but this is great with jigs and other drop baits.

I'm most comfortable fishing in at least 6' or more water.

Chris, I think if you line up your usual shallow spots on a map, you'll see that there is good deep water structure fairly close by. There should be "better" fish there. I use quotes liberally there, better is relative, LOL. It would be tough for many to imagine bettering you past results.

You're on your own there, man. For some reason, 3mm sticks in my head for ID on Daiwa knob bearings. You better measure to be sure.

Or you can leave the tag 1/2" long, and weeds slide off.

LMB 7-2 10" Powerworm SMB 5-12 dropshot

Coffee can filled with cement, and a few links of chain to tie to embedded in the cement.

Just stretch it out on a good fish

I'm seeing accusations flying, name calling, and general dissent. All of these end the same. Keep it civil on the boards, please.

Crappie are a good sign....bass aren't far behind!