J Francho

When you start using gear of a certain caliber, the looks of each stand on their own, and matching isn't nearly as important. Putting a Snoopy reel on a SpongeBob rod is a serious faux pas!

Depends on the actual hook. Owners for the most part. I also like VMC trebles, when I can't find Stingers. The Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot hooks in #1 are the best I've found for this. So are their Wide Gap Finess in 1/0 for Senkos.

I guess I'm referring more to the 1st ledge past the weedlines that is prevalent in our northern, natural lakes. But yes, if bank beating, then you have to work from shallow to deep. Though I generally prefer to parallel the bank, at a slight angle, than cast perpendicular to it.

Yes.

here's a map Its a little over 13,000 acres. Most associate the lake with musky and largemouth. Its featured this in In-Fisherman destinations page, though for perch. There are big smallies in there, LOL.

Oh yeah. Dirty little secret about that lake.

Great point Bigbill. A big fishing error I see from guys new to boating is to fish EXACTLY like they fish from shore, but at a right angle to their shore spots from water. Many of my better fish have come from working deep to shallow, just out of reach of where a shore fisherman can work the prime structure.

Ouch. Makes me want to go buy a bag of gummy worms. Swedish fish. Think drop shot. ;D

Look up tandem fluke rigs....same idea. I usaed to use 3-way swivels, but after breaking off, I rig the second bait to a swivel that slides up the line. This allows better movement of the bait, and with two fish on, the stronger one can get line, instead of pulling agains the other fish.

They suck.

Rage Craws and footballs are like peanut butter and jelly in the rocks.

Just be changing the trailer, you can totally alter the action and fall rate. Some trailers:

Some more... Big profiles Compact profiles:

You can't just look at weight, you need to consider profile as well. These two jigs are both the same weight, but the jig on the right has a bigger profile, and a slower fall rate. Also consider head shape. The jig on the right works well on gravel, worked along the bottom. The jig on the left punches through weeds better.

Bull. You've proven time and time again that you don't really know what you're talking about. I have cast round bait casters that will out cast anything you have. It doesn't have anything to do with low pro or round that makes a better casting reel.

I have casted round baitcasters that will out cast anything you have. It doesn't have anything to do with low pro or round that makes a better casting reel.

Sorry for the late report, its been a crazy couple weeks. Chautauqua has been tough on the club in years past, and this year was no exception. Despite the favorable weather, we arrived Friday morning to discover that the weadeater has been running overtime in the south end. Weeds were starting to recover in the north. Friday's practice told me that anyone on a good smallie pattern might win this thing. The results from day one confirmed this, with Nguyen bringing in a nice bag off smallmouth, including a 5-2 chunk smallie. Day two is where the rubber hits the pavement, and many guys' patterns dissolved in the rain. Two teams in contention scrambled to catch fish in the last few minutes, Nguyen edging out Web by a pound. One of the dinks in Nguyen's bag looked to be about a pound, LOL. In the end, Perry and George cranked up two consistent days working outside weed edges to win. Terry and Felix came in with a relatively huge 15 lb.+ bag, crawling out of the depths from day one, and into the money for second. Rumor has it Terry threw spinnerbaits in 80 feet of water. Nguyen's smallie pattern did not hold up, although he he managed to catch three fish in the last 20 minutes. FCS had its first DQ since its *** more than 20 years ago. President Jim "Brutus" Donley (Some of you Suffolk guys know him) thought he'd roll in a half hour late to the weigh in, LOL. He was actually pretty much on time, but being the good guy he is, he and Perry decided to set an example with the DQ. Too bad, since they decent bags both days. Team Brutus was really working hard for the plug award this trip, rumor has it, they were seen by the bell tower, chasing runaway cull tag for about an hour, LMAO. Apparently, one of the rats flew the coop! My weekend was not so good. I found decent smallmouth at the edge of sheer ledges, in 12-18 FOW. Despite this, we spent most of first day and second days in shallow, skipping docks, and working skittish bedding bass in the weed flats. About the only excitement in our boat was a 30" musky attached to Dan's jig. Here are some highlights: Apparently, the fish on the far right is the one that tried to steal Brutus' cull tag! Nguyen, with the 5-2 SMB that took Lunker George and Perry "The TD that Could Not Smile" with some nice LMB. Terry with two of the fish from his incredible comeback. Lunker and 3rd, Nguyen 2nd place, Terry George and Perry, the Win. This was George's 1st tournament ever. I think he had fun. Not sure about the math there, LOL. Next up, ONEIDA! I'm licking my chops.

Yes, wrap it around the weight and close the shot over the loop. This is fine, if you use soft lead shot. Up here, where lead is banned, tin shot or other materials will cut the line, so don't wrap the weight.

Little John cranks do have a lip. Get a plug knocker. Mine cost $10, and has paid me back in the hundreds. Do fish your baits where they'll get hung up, you'll get bit there. As far as lipless and wood goes, the Spro Aruku Shad has a very broad head, and deflects off timber very nicely.

You don't, its a convenience. Nice for jig/worm rods, and really nice for burning traps. I remember when 5:1 (24 IPT) was called "high speed."

What he said. It cast better that way, I have a revo inshore and the levelwind does not engaged on free spool. It isn't that it casts better, its that the spool is so narrow, it isn't necessary. Take a Calcutta 300 and cast that, and you'll see that the levelwind moving back forth with line peeling off the spool actually adds distance, and reduces backlashes. I recently worked on a classic Abu 2500c, and I can tell you with confidence, it casts better with the levelwind moving.

Aw dude, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sort of going through a similar time myself. Just keep plugging, and keep the good times fresh in your memory.

I clean over 300 reels a season, and have yet to see a plastic shielded bearing, nor have I had any issues with acetone as a cleaning agent. Some bearings have a rubber seal, Boca Orange Seals come to mind, but you'd remove the seals to clean bearings anyway. Most OE reel bearings metal shielded or unshielded. For oil, Shimano Bantam Oil, Reel Mechanic's Reel Oil, Rocket Fuel Yellow Label, are a few that work well. For Grease, Shimano Permalub, Reel Mechanic Gold Lithium Grease, Penn Reel Grease all work well. Do not use Goo Gone or WD-40 in a reel. The Birchwood Casey Reel Scrubber is a great product, but be sure to use in a well ventilated area. Dawn, Simple Green, or other biodegradable cleaners work well, but require some elbow grease.

Thanks for the support, and I'm glad you enjoyed the story and pictures. brushhoggin, the standard Freedomhawk 12 runs about $1000, the 12 Ultralight is $1100, and the 14 is $1300. They come with a basic seat, two rod holders, and leaning bar. Big O, I'm waiting to get pics of the afternoon from Maico, but I took them to school on a t-rigged Rage Craw. Maico was real impressed with the bait. I'll pass the condolences along to Roger's family. Dude could fish:

Nope, levelwind is not engaged when in freespool. Your reel works fine.