J Francho

Just loosen your grip when fishing contact or drop baits - jigs, plastics. Watch your line, not the tip. Trust your senses - hooksets are free.

That thread is so 2010 ;D I have a few different reels, they all work well. I'd say the most trouble free reels is the TD-X103HSDL on my heavy cover rod. That thing takes a world of hurt and abuse, but keeps on ticking.

Red flags go off in my mind when someone says that a rod is more sensitive because is has a softer tip. These are guys that tip watch. I see it all the time in my kayak fishing classes. They get a bite, and instead of setting the hook, they look at the tip to see if its "alive." By the time they get around to setting the hook, half the time the fish is gone.

I think agitation is often overlooked, and hardly ever tried. I realize that by definition an inactive fish is not feeding, but I do believe that the angler can flip a switch, so to speak. yes, I'm opening a Pandora's Box here, and going against 50 years of conventional wisdom, but I simply cannot accept that a fish bit after the 50th cast because it was hungry and feeding. Call me crazy

Duane, you should contact the DEC, and get a catch diary to log your smallie catches in the lake.

Oh man, I love that. I keep moving in the snow, but I have a 4x4 pickup - much different than a heavy SUV. All the 4wd in an SUV does is get you up your driveway. Ford Exploders are the worst offenders, too, LOL. I'd rather have the SUV actually, pickups are too light in the rear to get good traction. I feel like I shouldn't have to put the car in 4x4 just to back down the driveway without spinning the wheels because of a little snow or ice, and in my mom's Explorer I don't. Can't say the same for either of my dad's pickups ('98 f-150 and 2011 Silverado). That said, I'll take my AWD Subaru in the snow over any of them. Just keep a ton of snow in the back to weigh it down. Helps me out. I don't have those issues with my Sierra. Maybe its the tires? More weight = greater stopping distance.

Houses of the Holy, the entire album.

Depends on the date, but I'd try to be there.

Owner hooks are crimped shut, no issues there.

Sounds like its time for some professional intervention.

Oh man, I love that. I keep moving in the snow, but I have a 4x4 pickup - much different than a heavy SUV. All the 4wd in an SUV does is get you up your driveway. Ford Exploders are the worst offenders, too, LOL.

Or just buy the Rod Glove in the first place, LOL.

That's if they are eating. What about the fish you catch that aren't eating?

Congrats, now go get Mike his latte!!!!!! ;D

My take on what's happened. And this doesn't discount any of the issues already mentioned. Before the gobies were so widespread, the smallies hunted in packs, using troughs made by wave action as hunting trails. These toughs were basically shelves, at 10-13, 13-17, 17-24, etc. The fish were after alewives, crayfish, smelt, perch, and other small fish. Once the gobies took over, there was abundant food everywhere. In other words, no reason to hunt, or travel. Now fish sit on definite structure. I'm not talking in terms of an underwater point, though that is a place to start. You'll need to find something smaller, more precise, that will hold fish there. It could be a little 18" ridge, a small rock pile, or even a transition from rubble to flat boulders. Basically, the fish aren't spread out in little groups like they were, moving along paths where you could literally "run into" 50 bites in a day. Lake Ontario simply doesn't have the structure, or fertility of Lake Erie, though if you start looking and thinking differently, they are there.

I feel a Yankees/Red Sox match brewing. Wake up you Finger Lake smallies from their winter nap and I will bean them in the toe... I didn't play last year, though I had a smallie that went 4-4 for 51.5%. The year before was the Dwight and John show, LOL. I had 59% with a largie, and 61% with a smallie. The smallie was only good for 2nd. I think Dwight's fish was a tank, like 70%, LOL. And I'm not bringing a FL bass to the show, 8-)

I don't use any copyright display anymore, unless its customer proofs. back then, I worked them into the photos, though I've since lost interest in defending my property. Not worth the energy.

Right..... What you said! Never did any of that stuff! http://www.thelightsright.com/SplitYourChannelsForImprovedBW A HDRI of Buttermilk Falls:

If your vehicle cannot do at least 40 mph, stay off the road.

You know I'm in......

Its cute that in light of impending doom, you can reminisce.

Even if I had the money I doubt I would spend it on it. Would rather sink money into rods, baits, line, and electronics first. I suppose, but if you got all that already.... Personally, I'd go a different direction, and not as pricey. Like the few Alphas I have.

Fishing below 32 degrees just sucks. It doesn't matter what line you are using. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Ronnie Beats doing nothing.... http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1296403687/0#0

If you have to ask, then you can't afford it.

Just curious....why?