J. M. Richardson

Don't even think about having bass gear tied on your rods. The DNR will stop your boat and fine you. Bass season isn't open until first Saturday in May (I'm sick of waiting for it)

I'm from Wisconsin too and hate the fact that we have a "season" to catch fish in. Don't break the law though, if you get caught it's a huge fine and you lose your license for a few years (I think). If you still want to fish, get some panfish gear. This is open all year and still a good time (plus it tastes better in the frying pan).

I heard that last year in Wisconsin during early season this color worked pretty well. Personally, I have had better success with shades of green/brown/ and black flaked stuff. Like I said, I heard they worked, never tried one myself

Update, Just got back from the new pond I was fishing. Had one bite and it came unbuttoned. Water temps here still too cold for good shore fishing

I"m going to be heading out for the first time this season this afternoon. Finally have a day where it is about 50 out and sunny. Found a local park that offers fishing in a couple of ponds and along the Skunk River here in Iowa. Wish me luck

I'm a sucker for falling for that crap. I've heard of fish stories where you stretch the size of the fish...not ones where you completely imagine the catch

Just started with a mid quality baitcaster a couple weeks ago (Abu Garcia Ambassador reel). I figured out how to cast it more or less in two hours reading some online guides. I'd say keep your spinning rods too. They work great for throwing plastics.

Thanks for the tips, and I've got plenty of plastics to go around. I was hoping to try out my new Rapala Husky Jerk and some jigs too, since I am new to Jerkbaits and want to figure them out before I fish a tournament at the end of the month

I fish with spoons quite often, but never catch many bass on them. However, they are one of the go to baits for Northern Pike in Wisconsin, especially the DareDevil shaped ones in original red/white. Also, for some reason, the northerns here seem to like the 1/2 ounce chatterbaits more than the bass.

I was curious to know what everyone uses for river fishing here. I've never fished rivers before (there are plenty of lakes and ponds in Wisconsin to fish). This weekend, though, I'm going to be heading out to the Skunk River in central Iowa (Ames, Ares). It's still been on and off cold here (today is 50 - yesterday was 30). Water temps probably in the high 40s/low 50s What would you throw from the bank? Thanks, Justin

That's the issue I usually have too

Cool article. I fish a lot of docks but mostly use a plastic worm or 1/8 ounce spinnerbait. I'll have to give a swimming jig a try like the article says and work on my accurate casting.

Any sort of T-rigged plastic (yum dingers, senkos, lizards, ribbontails, powerworm etc.)

any dark colored bait ( I like a black/blue flake worm). buzzbaits - black or other topwaters can be productive for me at times

Also, most universities make it easy now to start a club about anything. I know where I go to school all you need is five friends and an adviser's signature and BINGO you have your club

I often fish a 14 acre "lake" about 15 minutes from me. Never thought there was carp in it until I saw two dead, 2 foot long carp floating in it one time.

I've gone a couple time on a "chance of rain" forecast. It was the middle of June and it turned out to be a nice supercell line of thunderstorms that blew right over the lake we were on. Let me tell you, it's not fun being in the middle of the lake in an aluminum boat with lightning strikes within a half a mile! I have had good look on days where it showered on and off though. something about that kind of rain brought the fish in a little shallower and made them more aggressive

Slow down your presentation with some finesse worms and shallow drop shotting or shaking head techniques. Stack that bait in front of there noses and keep it there, eventually they will get sick of it being in their spawning bed and attack it just to try and scare it off. I would think that should help do the trick. Force them to have no choice but to bite

Hey all, Got another question for you. I have trouble finding trailer hooks to purchase in the store. What kind do you guys use as trailers, how do you rig them and where do you buy them?

I also agree with Redhead I am currently attending Iowa State University and have found much disdain for some of my hobbies/habits. Example: I usually carry a pocket knife (no big deal - never know when you might have a use for one). One day I'm at work and have to cut some zip ties. I couldn't find a scissors and I mentioned to the girl I was working with (art major and vegetarian) that I forgot my pocket knife at home. She looked at me like I was a crazy madman and asked me why I carried a knife. I said you never know when a situation like this might arise where I had a use for one. It's amazing the attitudes that many college age students have. Many of them seem not to care about the outdoors/outdoorsman.

Haven't had too much anti-fishing flak besides the occasional people who will come out and stare at you as you fish around "their water". Do remember a time a couple years ago while I was still in high school though. Teacher asked who would be gone friday before opening of deer season (big day in Wisconsin). I was the only kid in class that raised his hand. Teacher asked if it was for deer hunting, and one girl turned around and blurted out "I hate you." I just smiled I said I'm still going hunting this weekend. Another interesting fishing story, not anti-fishing, but actually some respectful people: I was fishing a lake called Pine Lake and found this nice property that had a wood retaining wall and next to it a boat garage (prime fishing spot). My uncle and I were just floating along fishing it, about the same time I hooked up on a good size bass and was fighting it out of the shallows, the boaters who parked their boat in the garage showed up. They were really nice about us fishing there and patiently waited till I landed the fish. They were even impressed by the size of the bass I caught. Just goes to show you have all kinds of people out there, it just seems to go better when everyone is respectful of each other

In response to RW on page one. I live in Wisconsin and it is actually state law that if you are transporting a deer back home it must be visible. I don't agree with this rule and don't understand it. But it does let you see how well the season went with other hunters even if i am not hauling home a monster buck

My favorites are, The 5" yum dinger either texas or wacky style in Watermelon Red or Black/Blue flake Zoom Horny Toad Plastic Frogs Scum Frogs (not really a soft plastic, but plastic none the less)

It sounds dumb, but first time out in spring last year caught a bunch of 1.5lb largemouths on Storm 2" bluegill swimmers. After that day haven't caught a single thing on them.

Be careful with the $1 spinnerbaits. They catch fish, but after one bass on them the wire bends and the hooks go dull. I'd rather buy a $5 spinner that catches many fish than a bunch of $1 spinners that break after one fish