A-Jay

Thanks J. OK - I hear you on the "cradle". As only a few ever make it to the grease, I should and will utilize that technique in the future. Speaking of a cradle, I sure would like to find a way to use one when fishing alone to harness the larger fish. Not allot of room in the Old Town for a massive net. A cradle would store much easier. Both the fish and I would appreciate a more secure method of holding and subduing these guys even if it is only temporarily. A-Jay

Sounds like one heck of a trip. You certainly earned that nice fat bass ! A-Jay

I'll admit it - that's The First Jet ski I didn't curse directly at. Cool rig ! A-Jay

Started a little late but since the wind & weather had laid up, we headed out to my wifes "Lucky Lake". The water was flat calm, the air was dead quite and we were surrounded by a Colorful North Woods Autumn. It was nice. I would be her guide for the afternoon, so I was feeling the pressure to produce. We slipped into a familiar cove to find it just chock full of bait. They were dimpling the surface all over; and every few minutes the serenity was rudely interrupted by hungry smb blasting the surface eager to get there fill. It was looking pretty good for the guide. Took a few on top by "walking the dog" with a spook - that was fun. When that died down, a tube started to do a bit more damage. My girl was making it happen and the guide couldn't be happier. On one particular hook set, the drag on her spinner was being worked quite a bit more than usual. Then it actually screamed a bit, followed by a very spirited canoe dragging and spinning evolution and had both the angler and her guide very excited. Having not seen the creature at this point we were both thinking "Really Big Smallie". The conditions were certainly right for it - but then we got a look - at a very hearty Pike. Certainly a good photo op either way, but I knew the angler would be utilizing her guide to hold this one. I gladly obliged. We hadn't been out in a while - hope we can get out again soon. (thanks Lund Explorer for the push) A-Jay

Yup - I'm going to throw them a bit more this fall. If I got on a few that were even close to those Sows you get on, I'd be a very happy Camper. A-Jay

I can see where that is a losing battle, but you guys certainly made a good time of it. How long before someone opens the first Snakehead Pro Shops ? A-Jay

The Weather can be brutal and you really have to pick your spots but if you like the Brown ones (and you have a few swimbaits)then I'd say you stand a pretty good shot at taking some of the nicest fish of the season. My best 5 smb came at noon on a sunny mid-November day. Water and air temps were in the low 40's. Here's a few to wet your appetite. Good Luck A-Jay

Aye Aye Captain ! A-Jay

You and I would get along just fine. A-Jay

Thank you and you're welcome and You are a Funny Guy ! btw - he's obviously hasn't been poked with that dorsal fin yet ~ A-Jay

^^^^^^ This - X 2 The more I use this hook, the more of a fan I become. I'm not a huge crankbait guy, but the few I throw ALL have these hooks. A-Jay

It's kind of funny you mentioned old Marble eyes - although not mentioned, they've been a consisted by-catch all week. NO real toads but eaters for sure. The trollers are out in force as usual until the shooting gallery starts (deer season) in October. Those guys are constantly jockeying for position in the "trolling parade". This is nice as it leaves the small structure spots to me. I have not heard about that tourney as I haven't really followed it; but those numbers do not surprise me. 4 lb fish seem to be a little more routine right now. I'm not complaining mind you but if I could just get on a school of those "Dwight sized" brownies I'd be styling. It's gonna blow hard today so I'm on the honey-do list this morning. A-Jay

I've been hitting a couple of different places this week depending on the wind direction. Todays fish came from ~ 44-57'30.01"N 84-41'30.39"W Better known as Way Point #465 A-Jay

And thankfully it has continued . . . . I am loving me some crankbait bite'n Smallies A-Jay

This little guy regurgitated his last meal boat side. Looks like Yellow perch was on special ~ (photo lost during recent upgrade) A-Jay

Who ya got ? I'm taking Jones but it should be a good one. A-Jay

Congrats on the good trip ~ Nice Job ! "Sorry for the pics being crotch oriented" That may very well be The Most Classic line of the Season. A-Jay

It's been a typical Fall pattern for both the weather and the fish this week. On and off cold rain and wind with intermittent (all too brief) periods of warm sunshine. Late morning through mid afternoon has been best. Fish have been surprisingly shallow and they have been very cooperative as well. It's been a spinnerbait / crankbait bite all week. Alternating between the 2, I planned on tossing a jig when the bites slows, but it really hasn't. So there's definitely a cold bite in the air above the surface and hot bite on the bass below it . . . . A-Jay

Just ONE of those would be all the compensation I'd ever need ! A-Jay

Keeping a complete change of clothes in the truck is a good precaution as well. I ensure they are modified to match the season as well. And yes I've used them at least once. A-Jay

I like the thinner trebles as well. Love throwing spook type baits for smb. I've tried a few different makes and models for topwater and have settled on Mustad Triple grips. They are thin wire and have a decent length to the shank which gets those fish that swipe / slash at the bait. They hold well especially when paired with mono and a softer action rod. I tried the shorter shanked KVD hooks for topwater baits but the Triple Grips had a much higher hook-up ratio. btw a little over-sized here is a good idea as long as it doesn't hinder the baits action. A-Jay http://www.basspro.com/Mustad®-Ultra-Point™-Triple-Grip®-Hooks/product/21646/113661

^^^^^^^ THIS ! A-Jay

You've got that Right ! And Zona just cracks me up - he writes like he speaks - I can just hear him now. A-Jay

I know - It's all good A-Jay

WOW ! Gorgeous fish. So perfect it looks like a replica. A-Jay