Dwight Hottle

Welcome home Mike.

Nice cold fish

Always have a plan. Know the rules and regulations for your state. But most importantly you have to catch that one special fish.

I have tried probably six different manufactures of rods but have mostly two favorites. Once you find a rod manufacture that you really like and if they have an extensive lineup I would stick with one. That way once you find what you like you can get the same rod in a better blank as you progress. I'm talking about rod manufactures that have an extensive lineup from $100 to $400 or $500.

Crestliner if you get bibs and a top jacket you can buy different sizes for each to be most flexible. Like a medium top but a large bottom. I have Cabelas guide wear gortex insulated and they do great. Ice wear or snowmobile suits would work too if you can get the right size to fit. Another choice is a mustang coast guard suit.

She is sneaking up on your PB. Congrats

I agree with you that that your trailer should not be rusting this soon. Put the pressure on the dealer to fix it or take legal action against the trailer manufacture. The beauty of a galvanized trailer is it is supposed to look as ugly new as it does when you get rid of it. Yours not so much.

Nice waldo and good eating. If you catch them a little bigger they fight more like a dry sock.

Makes you really feel great when you finally figure it out. And your right Wayne P really is a great resource within The Resource.

Here is your answer. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/163727-anybody-else-fishing-rats/

If you truly think that a product at half the price of a Boga is equal you are mistaken. When it comes to spring scales bogas are the cream of the crop with no equal. If you don't believe that statement verify it with IGFA who are the governing body who certify scales for world records.

She definitely missed that one. I think tomustang hit the nail on the head with his comment about a blockage.

Love that 2nd picture with the mist off the water & fall color. You should get that one framed.

I have caught some big teen channel cats on Erie using jerkbaits.

$59.15 at today's rate.

As long as you leave your outboard submerged in the water you will be fine. Just remember to completely lower it to drain after you pull the boat.

Get a reproduction mount if you can. The advantages other than releasing the fish to get bigger and maybe caught again by you or someone else are longer lasting as in more durable & easier to clean/dust. There is no bleeding of oily discharge as the years go by like typical skin mounts do. The challenge is to find a taxidermist with great painting skills to make it look really lifelike.

X2

Spinner baits, spoons & plugs. Jointed rapalas, husky jerks & most jerkbaits/crankbaits will work. Pike like to follow a lure for a while before striking so a change in direction & a change in speed helps trigger them. You can even troll topwaters baits for them.

That is correct 3 hooks maximum. You need to take the conventional 6 hook sabiki rig & cut it in half making two 3 hooks rigs by adding an extra swivel.

Welcome to BR.

The simple solution to the problem is spelled S------.

Caught on the New River in Virginia. That was not the big fish for the tournament. It was not weighed because the guy did not have a scale. The tournament used length measurements rather than weight.

This is one fat smallie!