Dwight Hottle

The lucky craft staysee was made expressly for bedding bass.

Best time I have found for pike fishing is in the spring shortly after ice out. Pike spawn under the ice or right at ice out time. So you would be fishing post spawn during or after their recovery from spawn. You can find them shallow at that time best around emerging weedbeds. Best baits are inline spinners like blue fox vibrax in firetiger color #5 or #6. Inline spinners work better than bass style spinnerbaits from my experience. Spoons, jerkbaits , plastic swimbaits, glide baits & jigs will all work very well. Your baits mentioned will all work but topwater may be slow during cold water periods. Bass tackle is fine. Just use a light weight steel or titanium leader or heavy floro leader. You can get tieable leader spools & make your own with a swivel, leader material & coastlockor crosslock snap. If you wait once the water gets warm over 60-65 the bigger pike will go deep seeking colder water. The small pike will still be shallow. Hope that helps you. Don't forget long nose pliers & a jaw spreader to make unhooking easier or use a boga.

I have never caught a spot do I can't say but you know my guess.

Hey Mike sorry to hear about your bad luck. Hope you heal quick. Take care of yourself.

WTG on the new PB. Congrats

Gary is a great resource but he does not discount Megabass rods.

Try a floating jerkbait.

You can give Captain Shane Procell a call. He is a member here. http://www.floridaevergladesbassfishingadventures.com/Meet_the_Captain.php

That's two PA winners out of three!

One lost fish does not indicate you have a problem. If the hooks need upgraded that could be the problem . If you upgrade without changing the hook weight it wouldn't be a problem. You might just need a better grade hook within the same size. What bait were you using?

A- Jay is right you might be better off to target smallies with a different top water bait than a frog.

The knipex cutters are compound cutters making it easier to cut thru a hook with less force.

I use 10-15 & 20 lb braid for spinning tackle. The 30 will work but if you have casting tackle I would save it for that. You got the 30lb at a really good price. Maybe you could trade someone local for a lower test.

You like experiencing four actual seasons.

I have the crankbait model E6X 845CBR in route. I will respond after using it.

We need that camera for some lake erie smallies.

Sears does have them at a good price.

X2 Yes I have used them to separate a hooked angler & a big smallie. This is the best hook cutter you can buy based on what the musky guys tout the most. I have used them for a long time. They will save your day & the fishes too.

Check out the Duo Realis pencil 110. Really great bait & easy to work.

Let your engine get up to operating temp before WOT for me that's about 120 degrees. The advice about cool down for a minute was directed to guys who run at WOT to their spot, kill the motor & immediately trim it up out of the water to proceed with their electric trolling motor. The lack of water circulation can lead to premature failure of a hot engine. I have a 2008 250 pro xs still running strong with about 520 hours.

Yea but he is holding it straight out arms stretched.

Yes they work.

Great start to a successful new season.

Metanium 13 pop up or hinge up. They do not slide over. They are stiff the first time use try to deploy them. You can use a stiff toothpick or wooden dowel if you can't get them to work with a finger tip.

My favorite rod for lakers has been a MHF 7' rated for 3/8 to 1oz. Pair that up with a 200 or 300 baitcasting reel. Use either 20lb mono or 40-50lb braid with a 3' floro leader.