A-Jay

I am also a fan. A-Jay

All I fish is clear water. Green pumpkin, watermelon and most any shade or combination of the two is effective. However, this "shadow" colored bait has been giving them both a real good run for their money, two years running. It's a little hard to find, so when I do, I buy in Bulk. (thanks Brent !) A-Jay

x2 ~ ;D ;D btw - I am really excited about feeding your hair jigs to a few smb. A-Jay

It sure is bad ~ who would do something like that ? A-Jay [

Oh Yes - My wife just has to fish and I mean has to, a 1/4 Green Pumpkin swim jig that MUST have Red Eyes. Now here's the kicker, after having a toothy critter bite one eye off the bait and that bait catching several fish, she insists that I rip off one eye (doesn't matter which one) prior to using a new swim jig because a one eyed jig is better ! A-Jay

Is there one or two things that Mr Brauer ALWAYS did during a tournament when he first started out that he NEVER does now ? And if so, what are they and what prompted him to change his ways ? And I just thought of another one . . . . Does Mr Brauer believe that in the near or even distant future, both men and women will be competing in the same Pro Bass Tournaments ? Thanks A-Jay

Has reaching 40 years of age changed your abilities or approach to tournament fishing as compared to say 15 or 20 years ago? and if so - how ? A-Jay

Keep your eye out for this dude, He'll help you guys dig out after it's all over . . . or you could just wait for it to melt. A-Jay

I am planning on fishing a spinnerbait DEEPER this year. Up to now, I rarely throw a blade bait in anything more than 4-5 feet. This season I'm going to try slow rolling a heavy spinnerbait in some of the same places I would normally throw a deep running crankbait and perhaps even deeper. I've been reading up on it this off season (which is waaay tooo long) and I think it might be a technique that the fish up here don't see much. Also, if I can muster up the commitment, I going to make a few trips with nothing but Buzzbaits in the boat. We'll see. . . . . . . A-Jay

DW, You and I sir, have a very different "should I weight it" standard ~ I do however, like your standard much better than mine. The few times I thought a smb was 6+, I woke up in a cold sweat ! A-Jay

1704 + 46 = 1750 A-Jay

A-Jay

Right - Flipping was the first thing that started me thinking about this. I think I'll pick up a few spools and give this a shot. Thanks A-Jay

As some spinning reels come with an extra spool to accommodate changing line test or type, I'm wondering does anyone do the same thing with casting reels? I'm considering picking up a few extra spools for certain casting reels so I could use the same set-ups for different applications; when wanting to switch from say mono or fluorocarbon to braid etc. Now a days the side plates just slide open and the spools pop right out. I think it would help diversify my modest rod/reel arsenal without adding more rigs (which I don't have the the room for in the Old Town). A-Jay

x2 ~ It starts with boat position, hard to get the right angle with the wrong boat position. After covering a point or drop off, I love getting right up in the skinny water and throwing out over the edge and dragging a bait up the ridge. Sometimes this is the difference in getting a few more bites out of a spot. Other times it's the only way to get bit. A-Jay

North Central Lower Michigan Table fare includes but may not be limited to crayfish, brown & rainbow trout, yellow perch, assorted pan fish and plenty of juvenile lmb, smb and walleye. As late spring/early summer comes on, I break out the flyrod to get in on a significant mayfly hatch. Some very decent smb come to the top at sunset to gorge themselves. A flyrod is the only way I've been able to get them - but that's not all bad. A-Jay

Nice ! I like the hair and skirt combo. Why didn't I think of that ? I agree that smallies might like those. I think I might try to make up a few of those myself ~ I got time. A-Jay

Perhaps not a True topwater, The Rapala Subwalk has been a steady contributor to my SMB photo album. Smallies hammer the Mossback Shiner color size XRSB09. I haven't tried the smaller one or the new larger one yet. http://www.rapala.com/products/lures/x-rap_subwalk/ A-Jay

I think you have it about right as well. I'd love to get into something other than clear water, but without a fairly heavy rain it's rare. I have 3 kinds of water in my immediate area -'clear', to like 10 feet, then 'wicked clear', to like 15 feet, then there is the 'you gotta be kidding me' clear to like 20+. The good thing is that if you're around fish, you can be fairly sure that at the very least they are seeing your bait; whether they take it or not is another story. A-Jay

x2 in the canoe. A-Jay

I do use Gulp Minnow and have had success with them on a jighead and with a dropshot. The down side to them is that they will "Dry up" on the hook while moving from spot to spot or if you switch to a different rod/rig. But there is no doubt the bass where I fish will eat them quite readily. A-Jay

Good For you ! (On quitting, not having a hard week) My younger brother is going through the challenges of quitting smoking also. I quit half a life time ago. I think I chewed up 10 boxes of tooth picks the first month. It's a B@#ch ! It has been the single BIGGEST lifestyle change I've ever made. You can do it ! A-Jay

United States Coast Guard (Retired) A-Jay

That would be my guess. . . . A-Jay

Keep'em. I use mend it. I'm pretty sure it's been talked up on BS before. From my limited experience, it's some fairly amazing stuff. It is especially effective when a used bait is still mostly intact but the initial hook insertion point and/or the exit area is ripped open and no longer will support the hook correctly. I save those baits and repair them at home for another trip. I usually allow the mend it to set up overnight before the next use. During storage, I try not to mix different brand/type baits - unless you're looking to get some wild new shades and color variations. A-Jay http://www.menditglue.com/