J Francho

Click your handle name at the top, and choose "My Content" form the list.

Dogs are property. Touch my property, and you got a problem. Not saying that you can let them run free, just saying.

That lake probably won't spawn until the end of May.

I wonder if anyone ever wonders about removing scent from their lures? I do, sometimes.

Yep, looks like a reel that will throw light baits and heavy baits equally as well.

Please see: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/index.?app=forums&module=extras&section=boardrules

A little too Shimano-esque, eh Raul? I like the idea....

Most cheap digitals are terrible. Get a Chatillon: http://www.chatillon.com/Our%20Products/Chatillon%20Weighing%20Scales/fish%26game_product/IN_fishscale.html

LMAO :lol::lol::lol::lol:

Any ribbontail worm will do nicely. Rattle inserts don't hurt either.

That picture has been around for decades. Truly big pike subsist on smaller pike, in some populations. In fact, they are what keep the smaller pike in check. That is the problem with bad catch and release tactics or harvesting of large pike. By removing the larger pike in the system, you create a dink factory, because the population depends on larger pike eating the smaller pike. Cool, huh?

Brakes will make ZERO difference when setting the spool tension. Set spool tension (cast control) for the weight of the lure, and brakes for casting conditions and ablility.

http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/pdf_maps/Inland_Lake_Maps/SAINT_JOSEPH/FISHERS_LAKE.PDF Lots of fishy looking spots here. Looks a great place to fish. I'd be looking for fish on the western bluffs.

Name: John Franchot Age: 39 City/State: Rochester, NY Occupation: IT Consultant Education: High School Diploma Yrs Fishing: As far back as I can remember Preferred Style (describe a typical, quality day): I don't really have a preferred style, though some of my most memorable days have been on opposite ends of the spectrum. I can remember one day in May, with the weather being real snotty, and catching fish after fish on a spinnerbait. I think I had 4 or 5 fish over 5 lbs. that day. Another time would be in a tournament, on a particularly tough day. It was team format, and my boater had a limit, though only about 8 lbs. total. I didn't catch a fish until almost noon, but I ended catching four fish on a dinky little wacky jig and 4" worm, shaking the thing on top of the submerged weeds. All four fish were upgrades, and we went from last to 2nd place that day. Either way, power fishing or finesse - it's work. Personal Fav food: Hamburgers Fav movie: No all time favorites, but I've been watching Dogtown and the Z-boys repeatedly lately. Fav quote: "We're all in this together, and no one is getting out alive, so try and get along." - Mom Fishing Fav bait: Toss-up Jig or Swimbait Fav set up (rod/reel): Spinning: Avid 6'3" ML/XF, Shimano CI4 2500, 6 Lb. Invisx Baitcaster: Legend Tournament Bass 7' M/F Teaser, Daiwa Zillion, 12 lb. CXX Fav lake: Lake Erie Fav river: Genny or Salmon 10 Questions from Members input 1. How do you find the time to work, spend time with your family, go fishing, and still be logged onto the website and patrol all the posts? It's not the huge burden some make it to be. I'm usually on in short stints of 20 minutes or so. Do that several times a day, and the time adds up. 2. What is your fishing background/experience? I grew up spending summers on Port Bay, off of Lake Ontario. By the time I was 12, I had a rowboat to explore the bay. By 16 I used the 16' "Woody" to chase smallies in the big lake. At 20, I used deep-V walleye boat to continue my chase. I took a break when my oldest son was born, but that only lasted a few years, and got back into it pretty seriously, fishing in opens/partners tournaments, and eventually joining a club. I also fished for myself in a kayak. This led to an opportunity to teach and guide people interested in kayak fishing. I continue to teach this to both kayakers interested in learning to fish, and anglers wanting to learn how to fish from a kayak. I recently purchased a proper tournament bass boat, and will be competing as a boater this year. I've owned boats before, but it's more complicated now, with all the electronics, modern livewells, ethanol treatments, oil injection etc. I'm slowly figuring it all out. 3. What have been your best experiences when fishing? When someone you're fishing with suddenly "gets it." 4. Give us a play by play of a typical, lets say, Tuesday for you? What time do you get up? Work? Fishing? Family? How do you relax at the end of a long day at work? In summer, I'll get up around 6 AM, in work by 8:30 AM. My oldest is 12, so he may need a ride to some various baseball/bowling/kayak/day camp that he does all summer long. For lunch break, I'll hit "noontime pond" for about 45 minutes or so, unless fishing is really good, and then I'm working "remotely." Tuesdays happen to be one "my nights," since my wife works overnights, and I'm often at home with the kids while she works. So, I'll be on the water, or teaching a class, or at a club meeting. At night, I'll be in the man cave, working on my gear, watching a Yankees game. Now do the same for a Saturday? Saturday is either prefishing day, or fishing an open tournament. I'm up around 4 AM, and headed to the lake. Most of the day is spent fishing, and after the weigh in, I stop off for a bite, and usually get home around 5 PM. The evening is spent with my sons, and we might build a fire, or work in the yard, or (God forbid) clean up the house so it's nice when my wife gets home early Sunday morning. 5. What experience do you have fishing elsewhere other than home areas? My club fishes 10 different lakes each year. A new lake is added to our schedule every year. Some of the lakes are a great distance away, like Black Lake, or Champlain, and I only really get to fish them during those 3-day club events. I travel to new waters out of state at least once a year. I love seeing new places, and meeting new people. 6. Is it still as much fun for you as it was in the beginning of your tenors? Even better now. 7. Do you guys get free stuff? Lures, line, rods, reels, etc...? Not through this website, though I have saved a ton scouring the Flea Market over the years. 8. What part of being a Mod here do each of you enjoy most and least? Most: I guess for it's a part of my teaching. the more ways you express yourself, the better you get at explaining how to do it. Least: Spam. Drama. The impersonal nature of "The Web." 9. What is your favorite besides bass? Steelhead. 10. Do you guys rotate as to who needs to be on line at any given time? Or does everyone just look in whenever they get time. It's kind a loose thing. I'm on the east coast, so I wouldn't expect Glenn to be on at 7 AM EST (though he has been, LOL). With guys spread out, and a genuine interest in what has been posted, scheduling is unnecessary. Fav hobbies other than fishing: Vintage and modern Slot Cars. Vintage Lego. Gardening. Musician. Not finishing Projects, LOL. 10 People you respect and/or admire: Dad Mom Papa Uncle Jeff My Wife Through 10. would be other guys and gals you'll never know, but made me who I am. Turn ons: Float down, tap, thump, tick, tug, feels like mush and anything else that says, "FISH ON!" Turn offs: Traffic. Aspirations: Share fishing with as many people as I can, and raise two fine men. Essay: What are some of the major factors that have affected your life. A brief history to help us understand the road you traveled to become the person you are today. Please include influences. I guess one of the major influences in my life would be my grandfather, Papa. He was the son of German immigrants. He worked hard for very little for most of his life. From pushing a hot dog cart at the beach, to owning/running a chain of restaurants, his life is a success story - the American Dream. I always pay attention to the things he says, even the jokes, which very dry, cutting, and fast paced. "Do it right, or don't bother doing it at all!" was very common to hear from his mouth. "All I want to see are elbows and *******!" was another. He always wanted to be the best, and do everything right. Not in a perfectionist kind of way, though. If he or you made a mistake, that just fine, so long as you learned from it. Now you knew something that guys that never tried didn't. He worked hard, but after the Friday night dinner rush was over, he'd come to the cottage, on Port Bay. When I was very young, all I knew was that he worked constantly. I asked him once, "Are you going back to work on Saturday?" He said no. He went on to say that that was the problem with some guys. They never took a break, never relaxed as well as they should, and that made them miserable. He used laugh at our neighbors on the bay. He'd say, "Look at them, they take the day off to work!" But, come Monday morning he would be at the restaurant at 6 AM, getting ready for a week that wouldn't end until late Friday night. Papa is 81 years old, and still works the grill, 5 days a week. The other two days are spent with his racehorses, watching SU basketball or Yankees games. "I'm still the best," he claims. I'll never be as good as him, but I'll die trying.

Awesome fish man! For IGFA, I'd be looking VERY hard at some fluorocarbon to set a line class record. Just sayin'

The moral of the story.....don't lay you bass on the ground.

Bass will try to spawn in spite of less than normal situations. Same concept of bass in mud or clay bottom lakes. Just because they can't find suitable hard bottom, they still spawn. I will say that temperature can play a part in northern lakes, as anyone up here will attest. Cold springs = late spawn. Last year, it went from winter to summer in a blink of an eye. Spawn was concentrated to a single week, 3rd week of May, unlike the year before (ideal steady temperature increase) where it was a steady, drawn out process that lasted from early May through July. There is always a smaller secondary, and sometimes tertiary push, but the May/June push is the biggest. I don't think you can use just one environmental aspect to predict it. One thing's fo-sho: if there are gills on beds, the main push is over.

She really is, UL. She's turning out to be "daddy's little girl."

Pitcher should have just picked up the ball, and called time. Yeah, that play drove me NUTZ!!!! Train your boys to CONTROL the situation, not react, and you'll have success.

Winning. ;D

The cute factor is wearing off, and its down to raising a good dog. Its been a long time since I dealt with a female dog (no that wasn't the filter, LOL) and they are a little different. This dog has been in the discussion for 8 years now, and to be able to actually follow through and raise one is pretty cool. One thing is for sure,Edgar (already a great dog) is showing a side I never would have seen - an older brother kind of thing. He even lets her win their "battles" LMAO.

Unless you are spending more than $150 for the rod, expect to pay more for the reel. Yes, the rod is more important in the grand scheme of things, but let's be realistic....you can find a great rod for $100. You can only find a good reel for $100.

And very cool of you to put in the effort. Hard to find coaches at that level.

Yep, get the ball to the infielders, and have the kids call time out. It doesn't seem very sporting, but its the rules, stated above, and does teach base runners to pay attention, and communicate. It also stresses good, sharp throws by the defense. Tell your kids not to panic, just make a sharp throw to the proper base. Celebrate little successes. Big success will come later, like the DP. It seems like a free for all at that level, but I assure you it settles don in the next level.

Same could be said of other sports...... :-? Fishing steroids??? LOL, something like that.