J Francho

Water clarity, bottom color, weed color, light penetration, depth, diet, and water color all influence color.

I worry more about the punctured eye becoming infected, and potentially killing the fish. Hard to know, since I've caught many "crooked eye" bass that are apparently healthy.

You don't need a thermometer to find the thermocline. Just turn up the sensitivity on your graph. It will appear as band between the surface and bottom.

I probably have 30 different hooks in my term. boxes. Many are Owners, some are Gammys, and there are also a few oddballs, like Matzuo Sickles and Lindy weedles octopus. Some are EWG,. other round bend, even others are mosquitos and octopuses. Almost none are red, LOL. Getting the picture? No one hook is the best. Tell us the application, and we can offer our experience and opinions on what is best. For instance, if you are fishing 7" Berkley Power Worms on a classic t-rig, I like Owner Cutting Point Round Bend Offset hooks in 3/0. There at least five other EXCELLENT hook choices out there that would work just as well.

No one TW catches all the TW biters. The Spittin' Image is a MUST HAVE in your TW dog selections, along with the usual Spooks, Sammys, Bananas, etc.

Topwater + rock quarries = hellafun. Seriously, if you think that those minnows are the primary forage, then something similar should work. that would include topwater, flukes, slashbaits, and even spinnerbaits. it might also be a good spot to try the infamous inline spinner. Here's a little 2# rock quarry smallie I caught on a Sammy 115.

And then there guys that use "agitation" baits to turn on inactive fish.

Heavier line may change the action, but certainly doesn't stop them from catching fish. I have X-Raps, as well as several other brands of similar, suspending slashbaits and at times, they all produce. The fact that the bills on the X-Rap sometimes (read as eventually) break doesn't keep me from buying and using them. This doesn't happen with some other higher price point baits. I generally use 10-12# P-Line CXX for these baits. Lighter line will help them get a bit deeper.

DS, wacky, flick-shake, skaky head, ball head jigs, c-rig, t-rig, twister rig..... Whenever the fish respond positively to smaller baits, and big baits aren't working.

If you're going to fish mats and pads at night with frogs, I recommend a Scumfrog Bigfoot. The bait can be fished over the top of veg like a regular frog, and it can motored through clear water patches with its buzzing paddle feet. Snagproof is coming out with a similar bait soon as well, I've seen it in person and it looks great.

I think that LC squeezes you for an extra $2 or $3 per lure, but that doesn't stop me from buying Pointers and Sammys. They complement, rather than outfish, my collection of similar baits. I like to have a selection of Spooks, Bananna Boats, Super Spooks, Sammys, Jimmys, etc. Most of the time it doesn't matter to the fish, sometimes it does. Some walk better in chop, other better on glass, and yet others over weeds. Same goes for Rogues, Thundersticks, Long As, Pointers, and X-Raps. Speaking of overpriced, I feel that Rapalas are overpriced by the same amount. Since that $2 is a much greater premium on a less expensive bait, I actually resent them more. X-Raps are far too flimsy for the price they are getting. But they do catch fish, so I keep buying them - and trying to return the ones with the broken lips, LOL. I would recommend getting a Pointer 78 and a Sammy 115 to start out. Get a color you like to throw.

Anyone serious about fishing for bass should read Buck's books. Period.

Thanks for that link.

Yes, and they are on significant pieces of structure. I'm mainly fishing in Wayne County - haven't been out in the lake by Braddock's. I also find fish near bait balls, but its difficult to follow them in my rig. I'm targeting fish that are eating crayfish or gobies on the bottom. There are troughs created by wave action in depth intervals, like 14-18 feet and then again at 20-25 feet, and so on, with a gradual flat in between. I've found fish by switch the sonar to narrow angle beam (200mHz) and looking for small isolated weed beds or rockpiles. Once I move over them, I mark a waypoint, and then determine the best angle to drift through, creating a another waypoint for the start of the drift. I'm fishing from a big kayak, so a drift sock is required equipment. I would think the same is true for a larger boat as well. All that said, last Saturday, I ran drifts (this time in a friends boat) for a few hours, but came up with nothing. Feast or famine! That day, the wind was out of the south though, and I've had trouble catching in those conditions. If its a fairly calm day, I'll anchor up and drop shot or use jigging spoons vertically, but in general drifting tubes is the most relaxing for me. Good luck - I hope that helps.

OK, I have four of the monster Scotty holders now, but I picked up a smaller universal unit. That is probably what you are using. The smaller ones work much better for me. I was just wondering if you were using another brand that I missed. Sweet rig, btw

In~Fisherman recently (in the past year) reported a study conducted on hook mortality in trout. Not sure what issue.

That is what wellnuts are for. click the link I provided.

Use well nuts or what Eddie describes.

Eddie, what brand/model rod holders do you have in the triple RAM mount up front?

Generally I only peg near pads to avoid having the line draped over the pad, with the weight and bait on opposite ends. otherwise, I leave it loose. I find that a few shakes of the tip cleans the weeds off the rig. Pegging alters the action, as well, so keep that in mind on a slow day. Adding or removing a peg might be the difference.

Yes, it is pretty easy to get at on this model. Its literally sight behind me, and even in rough Lake Ontario chop, I can get to it without getting up. The old milk crate is the ticket. Here is pic that shows where everything is in relation to me: There is also a big hatch just in front of the seat, where I keep my cooler, emergency and 1st aid kit, binoculars, a dry bag with my DLSR camera and lenses, and whatever little creatures have taken up residence in there. Well, I might be kidding for the last one. There is even a molded aerated recirculating livewell that can be fitted to the center hatch! I think its about a $200 kit.

Sorry, I can't help myself anymore.... 7. Its not the pastor I'm worried about hearing me swear and act immature, ITS MY MOM THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT. Yes, I am grown man with kids, and I'm still afraid of mom.

LOL, yeah, not your typical fishing yak. Here are some close ups: And a jigging "money shot" for you:

I know a Murphy, and he stinks at fishing, LOL. I was trying to be silly. I didn't realize it was a serious thread. My funny bone must be broken. Sorry about that. Oh, and the toast thing, yeah. Just skip the toast and eat steak and eggs. Cheers, and good luck .

The Berkley 7" Power Worm pretty much ended my use of those baits.