A-Jay

That was quite a memorable trip to Lake Erie, especially when a new PB is recorded. While waiting (and hoping) for friendly conditions, I stayed a bit longer than we had initially planned. Thanks for putting up with me for an extra week . . . . . . . . . . As Dwight mentioned, the conditions really challenged us to get on anything consistent. But Dwight is a gamer and he fishes hard. It was all I could do to keep up. The man is a Jerkbaitin' Machine. In the end we did all we could do and were rewarded with some Fat Bronze. A-Jay

This post is Gold - very nice Paul. To the OP - Applying Mr Roberts concepts should get you bit. I will add that the conditions you've described sound tailor made for a stick bait (Senko) fished Painfully SLOW. A-Jay

Remember to work the bait with a bit of slack in the line and since you're sitting, a shorter rod might help. A-Jay

Congratulations ~ ! That's one Gorgeous Smallmouth and one heck of an achievement right there. A-Jay

Yes. A-Jay

Here's my first entry - 6lb 6 oz smb, Tuesday, April 23, Lake Erie - in PA waters. 6 lbs 6 ounces for a total of 102 ounces. PA state record SMB: 8lb 8oz or 136 oz. 102 / 136 = .75 x 100 = 75.00 for 75% And a PB ~ Even though I don't look like it in this photo ~ I'm Pretty Happy ! ! ! I'm gonna say I was just really focused . . . . . .

I have and use the older and the newer versions of both rods. I completely disagree with the Quantum nae-sayers. Both rods are excellent for what they are designed to do. I do prefer the older version (not the red). Spent a week throwing spinnerbaits in Mexico this past March - that particular rod handled this fish just fine. A-Jay

Heading to PA in the morning. Will be spending a week bouncing around Lake Erie chasing the Pre-spawn Bronze Bass with the man, the myth, the legend - Dwight Hottle. Did the same trip last spring (and this past fall). It was pretty wild. Several Big Fish & 2 PBs. Those trips went so well we hooked up with BR 00 mod (Jeff) and the three of us spent a week on Lake Baccarac in Mexico this past March. That was Epic with about 5 PBs. We're already planning the next one. A-Jay

Nice Boat - that's a decent trade off - If I was to let it got - that would be the direction I'd go. But I'd need a more Big Water friendly version. A-Jay

LOL ! Time has a wonderful way to show us what really matters. A-Jay

Very Cool ~ Thanks for sharing. A-Jay

NIce Bass J. Way to start this thing off . . . . A-Jay

WTG WW ~ ! Growing up outside of Boston, spring fishing on the Q was standard operations for several years. It was quite a fishery back then and by the looks of it, still going strong today. Making it happen in those conditions is a testament to your commitment & experience. Congrats. A-Jay

Yup ~ but we knew that before this thread started. A-Jay

Interesting view point. I do wonder though, despite not being the "Prototypical" spokes person for the product - I would be interested to see the Logo you choose. Do you think putting treble hooks on it would boost sales at all ? A-Jay

"Also as Triton Man also suggested you can add extra weight to the bait. I would suggest doing this using a rubber-core sinker with the rubber removed and crimping it to the hook shaft." I do this using a short section of solder. Thin for less weight and a bit heavier gage for more weight. A small roll will last quite a while and you can easily customize the weight on any bait simply by varying the length used. A-Jay

THIS ~ ^^^^^^^^^^^ I had purposely stayed off this thread. My view of this topic may vary quite a bit from many mariners. But, here it is . . . . . Just like everything in our lives - when you combine the right tool for the job with a person who is experienced with that job or tool, you are much better equipped to have a successful out come. Despite the claims of any company that advertises to the contray, any boat with a very low freeboard and a planing hull, is just not designed to safely transit what most boaters will call "Rough water". Can it be done, yes. Is it safe? Depends quite a bit on the conditions and the experience and abilities of the individual at the wheel and throttle. A vessel with a low freeboard and planing hull, is much less forgiving in conditions that come close to or exceed the abilities or experience of the driver. This means there is very little margin for error which makes this combination less than the ideal "Learning tool". I would compare it to taking a stock car out onto a wet, muddy and hilly 4-wheel drive trail. An experienced driver in this situation would be challenged to keep from getting stuck. A first timer is much more apt to get stuck a few times. However, give the less experienced driver a vehicle that is made to handle the environment, and the rate of success, even in the beginning, goes way up. So when the conditions are right for the stock car, it's full throttle all the way, once the mud is encountered, the speed goes way down and full care is directed to throttle control and vehicle direction. ALL of this applies to navigating a vessel in "Rough" weather. Clearly, spinning your wheels in the mud and sinking a truck to the frame on a two-track is not the same as capsizing your boat several miles from the boat ramp - unless the mud puddle is 36 feet deep . . . . . A good way for a boater, especially a first timer, to evaluate his or her own boat's abilities and suitability for waves is to look at & understand what the freeboard at the bow of the boat is. For our discussion here, freeboard is the distance between the surface of the water and the upper edge of the side of a boat. Freeboard is what determines how well your boat will ride in any size waves. As mentioned in previous posts, using the trim of your engine may bring your bow up so that you do not "spear" into waves. Please remember that when you do this, you are also forcing the stern on your boat down. This can be as much of a problem as the rough water itself. And since it's behind you, you will not know you have sunk the back of your boat with the big heavy engine on it, until it's too late. Trimming way up is not the secret to handling rough water. It's a tool that must be used judiciously. I would Always Advise boaters to watch the weather both before you go and while you're out on the water. If the forecast is questionable, wait it out. While on the water, wind and waves can and do come on very quickly. Keep an eye out and head home BEFORE that "Bad Looking Sky" gets over you, this can often times make a Big Difference on the "Pucker Factor" - and anyone that's gotten caught out in something that they don't belong in, knows Exactly what that is. You can hammer in a nail with a wrench, several times being successful; but sooner or later you'll smash your thumb. Stay Safe A-Jay

That's Easy ~ American Airlines - Aeromexico and Luck-E-Strike Oh, and I almost forgot - Lucky Craft as well - since we're dreaming and all . . . . . A-Jay

Cool ~ Now You're talk'in . . . . . . . A-Jay

Thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families involved in the horrendous act that took place in Boston on Patriot's Day & the Boston Marathon. A-Jay

State - Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie Water Depth- 25 ft Lure/Technique- Lucky Craft 128 ~ American Shad Structure/Cover- N/A Weight and/or Length- 6lbs 4 oz State- Sinaloa Mexico Water Depth-25ft Lure/Technique- A-Jay Custom Spinnerbait - 1 ounce Baccarac Special Structure/Cover- Slow rolling up Rock Ledge Weight and/or Length- 10lbs 11oz / 25.25'' x 21.25" A-Jay

I'll second that ~ A-Jay

Talk about Flat Calm ~ Makes for a seriously captivating Photo. Of course that Gorgeous "Line Stretcher" helps quite a bit. Thanks for sharing. A-Jay

Way To Go ~ ! Congrats - and from a paddle boat no less. A-Jay

Teaching me how to fish that LC 128 - didn't help you out. Thank you for that. A-Jay