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

Congrat on the TOAD ! A-Jay

I hear Ya, but I think that day I was heaving a jig with a R/T craw pinned to the back of it. So it was actually a very realistic account of the catch. Also Big-O, Excessive Heat - is something that I don't often have to account for in that instance, so I guess you'll have to sick with the stiff arm shot. But I will be looking to call up some of that wicked heat you get there come about Thanksgiving. A-Jay

"Sorry about the photos... hard to get'em by yourself" You guys just need to get a little creative - Middle seat in the Old Town doubles as the "Fisherman's De-Liar Board" Of course, Big-O and Dwight you guys will require the Xtra large model. A-Jay

Nice Pike J, That's a Long Slanky-looking dude ! Tis the season, the Big Boys are sneaking inside to dine. That first run must have have been fun. A-Jay

I've only been a resident up here for 4 season. During that time I have Never been approached or even seen a single DNR officer on the water. I believe there are just very few officers to cover a fairly large area. Despite the sparse coverage, I always have the proper documents at the ready. If I am ever actually checked by the man, I will be certain to get a photo/or video of the experience. The rarity of it makes it like a "Sasquatch Sighting" A-Jay

That's allot of canine companionship in a yak ! I'd enjoy seeing a photo of you and your buddies making it happen. A-Jay