bigbill

I just found these today. At tackle warehouse. Since lizards are hot prespawn and spawn why not these lures? River2sea nestrobbers mud dogs, mud puppies what ever you call them. These aren't well known this far north but I guess there here. What do you think? There are live one's being offered as bait too.

Ok I talked with my buddy who caught a big mud puppy here when ice fishing. I did my homework and found the best prespawn, spawn lure besides a egg robbing eating lizard. Tackle warehouse has the river2sea nest robber I'm ready to try anything new.

I found a new one for half price it's probably an older discontinued model. I just upgraded to all LEWS SPEED STICKS and some LEWS tournament rods. Most were close to $100 with 50% off. I purchased some quantum KVD tournament bait caster, a few other ones you guys mentioned. I'm all set for this year but that new all star popped up. I hate to pass up a deal.

From shore I use both sometimes. I have one bait caster setup for using jigs. My other shore fishing setups are spinning outfits. My setups for fishing from a boat are equally spinning & bait casting in numbers. I've used bait casters in the past but I need to use them more. If you watch some of the tournaments on tv some pros have the spinning setups on deck only.

Are all Star rods any good? Which one is a better quality All Star or LEWS?

I would suggest buying a combo it's a matched setup and cheaper than just a reel. My best spinning reels so far are the okuma eixpitor, fin-nor, even the Wal-Mart quantum which have survived for years. I just gave every family member a shimano spinning reel for Christmas. I had a chance to play with one before I wrapped it. I was impressed with it. I got them all reels with bass rods.

Wear darker clothes, if you can see the fish can see you. Brighter clothes alarm the fish your there.

Ok first you need to know the bottom layout. How deep? Where the holes are? Where the fish are hiding at what time of day. A hummingbird portable cast out fish finder will tell you this. At 5pm? Till 8pm? Ok your in the range of my strike zone. When I was fishing the evenings from 5pm till dark. The bite and activity will light up between shallow running cranks and topwater poppers and mister twister top props as the light conditions change to darker shades of gray. The action should pick up as the bugs appear on top of the water. Before this happens I'd throw a spinnerbaits or inline spinner parallel to the Lilly pads just about 6' from them not in them yet. Make a very soft cast so you don't spook anything. I try to cast past the area I want to fish and quietly bring my lures through the area. Fishing parallel to the vegetation or shore can make draw them out and make them commit to a strike. I do the same with the topwater poppers. Now with the mister twister top prop since its weedless you can throw it closer to the pads like right on the edge and I like to make three short pops or rips then pause. Or just stop it and a long pause. This lure will almost stand straight up in the water letting the 4" split double tail grub trailer dance on its own teasing the bass to grab it. I vary my presentations with it too even a very slow steady reel just enough for the prop to turn works too. Don't forget the trailer hook it comes with. I like the smaller spinnerbaits like the 1/8, 3/16, & 1/4ounce sizes in the smaller bodies of water. Mainly because these places the fish are more aware to sound. Cast very softly. I like to also cast a smaller rapala too and present it like an erratic baitfish. Make it go in all directions. Don't forget a scent. Bill

I fished a puddle that was left on the trail after the heavy rains when the river went back to its normal level. While walking around it my worm hit the puddle and I had a hit. I caught a small baby catfish which I returned to the river. The catfish hit the lotto of life when he bit my line. The puddle was 3' long x 2' wide and 3" deep if that. There wasn't anymore fish in it. This little catfish wasn't enough for bite of a hush puppy.

Forty years ago on April 27th how weird is that? We were on our honeymoon. We went to Niagra falls on the Canadian side. We had three days of pouring rain it was boring during the daytime. I asked my new bride if she has ever been camping. She said no I said let's go home and go camping. She had a blast. We rented a row boat and went bass and trout fishing. We forgot a spatula for flipping the pancakes and turning the eggs. I was throwing them up in the air with the pan and catching them. It was a great time. More fun than the falls was and cheaper too. Here we are 40 years later still flipping pancakes. I realize the other day there is no perfect marriage, we just tolerate and put up with each other a little better than most married people. Even after 40 years it's still a work in progress. We're still in love. Btw, Good luck on your journey your about to commit too. It's great to go on this journey through life with a partner. You will have ups and downs during this journey I hope it's more ups than downs. Sometimes it's a test of our character to see what we're made of. My advice is if you ever argue never, never stop talking to each other. God bless you on your journey through life together, enjoy. Don't forget to look at the fishing stuff at the Kittery Trading Post in Kittery,Maine. They have some awesome Dragon flies in there fly shop too. Plus good prices too on some clearance stuff. There best prices are in September. They have a special week of sales. It's an excuse to go back there. Don't pass up the local fresh seafood too.

Ok my first big 30"+ pickerel here's my story. First we don't target pickerel they target us when fishing for bass. When this site was still in its new stage Glenn here was nice enough to help me out with spinnerbaits. He taught me how to tune and set them up. I added my own touch by going one size larger in the Colorado blade. I added a mister twister split double tail grub as a trailer with a trailer hook. I did not write down my first spinnerbait setup. I was finally catching bass on a spinnerbaits. I was having a great morning. My success had me saying one more fish, just one more cash. I was about to take the spinnerbait out of the water when a big pickerel came parallel the shoreline on the exposed rocks and took my spinnerbait while shaking his head he ripped it off my line. My morning of success turned into a bummer for the rest of the day trying to figure out which blade I used to get more thump out of my spinnerbait. I nailed the perfect tweeked spinnerbaits for my area. I finally figured it out. The mepps Anglia is still the lure of choice. But that spinnerbaits is hot too.

It's so bad with regulations here(ct) with predators on the endangered list with the population so large we have lost last years generation of fawns due to all the predators. The state has no clue what to do. Open the season and give me the tags I'll give everyone a special lead kiss behind there ears.

Joe's fly in blackgnat. Trout size. Why some sort of black bug falls out of the trees near the water. I cut the tryouts stomach open to see what they were eating. These bugs look like nymphs of some sort. Worsens silver blade white body and bucktail. Small. I just cast it out on an angle across the river. Make sure your get two of these.

Nice, the best eating fish too. Save the bass eat crappies.

Ok it was around spring at Easter time the ice was off, the day was 60/65degrees and sunny. We rode our bicycles to get there. A small pond at a dairy. I purchased one of those comic lure deals where we get 20 or 25 lures for just $5.95. It was mainly hooks but they sent me heddon in yellow sonic with the black lightening bolt on the sides. I casted it out and a 3/4# bass nailed it. This was around 53 years ago. Fishing in those times were awesome.

I've seen a small snake swimming over the surface weeds getting attacked constantly but never taken. As far as eels go at night while fishing I shined my flash lite at the waters edge and noticed the eels right at the edge within inches from the shore feeding. I'm sure this is why the black rubber worm works so well. I still have the packages of the "snakebait" curly snakes to this day. Of course the packages are loaded with dust too.

Fishing from shore at the smaller places can vary between lures and presentations. What was a hot lure last year won't be hot this year. I firmly believe in fishing the smaller places the fish learn our lures. I also think they learn my scent that I'm using too. I go through my ritual of lures but then start throwing some different colors inbetween too. One slow day I changed from a shad scent to a garlic scent and the bite was on when I thought things were dead. Suttle changes can make your day. To me even the different sounds of the rattle can make a difference. The bomber cranks have that little low toned multiple ball rattle were another lure may have that one large ball knocker. Either one can make a difference. So I say, Change crankbait lure colors, sizes and rattle. Go topwater, shallow, mid, and deep try them all. Spinnerbaits, go smaller 1/8oz, 3/16oz, 1/4oz, white or chartruese Colorado blade a plus, two Colorado blades a given in stained/muddy water, go heavier in muddy water. Don't forget the plastics. Shore fishermen don't give up hammer it. The tougher it is the more I kick it up a notch. Watch all the videos here if your a beginner or just want to refresh after a long winters nap. We do forget. Do not keep casting out what isn't working. You will be more tired sooner. I go into a practice mode when it's slow. I take each lure and practice different presentations with it. Different speeds can be the key to success. A short pause, a long pause, no pause a slow continuous movement. It can change at anytime. The fish are there it's up to us to catch them. If your an average shore fisherman go out there and have fun. Increase your knowledge and develop your skills. The better your skills develop the more fish you will catch. Nothing feels better than our success as it increases. If it doesn't we must figure out why it's not. Are we casting too hard slamming the water? Make softer gentle casts. Our lure is like a high diver in a pool we want a very small foot print and splash as our lure enters the water. The quieter we are the better no talking, no music. Bill

First this is all roadwarriors fault, not. I spent a lot more that $1,200 when I been upgrading my rod setups all fall and winter. My s/s check went for fishing tackle every month. I found new LEWS Speed Stick spinning and bait casting rods at eBay, fish and save and some other brands at tackle warehouse. I retired my 1970's rods and got the new LEWS rods averaging 50% off. The feel of the better quality rods is awesome and these are the $100 ones on sale/clearance. Some are last years models and that's ok. I purchased all new reels too. I'm going to pour it n soon looking to put my name in the record books for a new state record LMB. Everything is dialed in this year. I have the better quality rods with the correct action and line test. Road warrior was right I needed to step up a little. I'm working on my mistake back as we speak. I hope to hit the shores running. I'm ready. My 4yo grandson has to open up my tackle boxes and look at all my lures every time he comes over. I guess being hooked on fishing is in the blood.

My complaint is everyone stocks up there shelves for the spring them they sit all summer bare? Don't we ever need stuff during the summer or lose stuff? I make sure my stash is full of everything even the newer hot lures before I start fishing. I don't have the time to shop when I start fishing. I fish, eat and sleep.

This was the first NASCAR to break 200mph. This car was out lawed by NASCAR for being too fast. Looks like someone spent hours in a wind tunnel. This car reminds me of a Suzuki GSXR they even look fast when there parked. Mopar power I watch Counts Custom Cars he's a spinoff show from pawn stars. The Count does alot of restorations on mopars. The 440 wedge seems to be better than the hemi in street racing in the 70's.

I think I been to Hanover once. Does that have that handicap walkout for fishing? Had 24 Turkey's in the field today. There gobbles woke me up at noon. Another new spinning reel arrived today. I think I'll be trout fishing more this year. Bass fishing seems a long way off yet.

Who's my favorite pro? The guys here who fish tournaments who are willing to share there knowledge to help us further improve our fishing skills. No body has helped me more than the Glenn and the guys here. There the real pros of this sport.

My only thought is that the higher test line is stiffer and can influence the action of the lure. Make sure your line is soft and very flexible so it's not too stiff. I use 8# to 10# test plus a snap swivel so I gain more side to side action of my crankbaits. To me the more action the more rattle and noise it makes.

I watch Bill Dances fishing shows. I watch what he does while listening to what he says. We can learn from him both ways. Watch closely how he works the rod and reel with different lures and presentations. My hats off to Jerry Mckinnis, Bill Dance, Hank Parker, the fishermen boys, Jimmy Houston and mainly Glenn here on the forum, from the beginning of this forum Glenn has helped me out with great advice. For all these guys without them I wouldn't be the fisherman I am today. Glenn has passed on his wisdom to me and I passed it on to my family and friends. We now have a large growing family of fishermen. Even my daughter in laws fish for bass too. When I purchase new lures for my son's to try I can't forget the gals too. Even the fishing industry gains by the pro's giving us advice. It's a win/win situation for everyone. Take a kid fishing, take him often, make the time to take him. They will remember you forever what you did for them. Even as adults today the neighborhood kids still thank me that I took the time to pile them all in my car to take them fishing. It makes me wish I done more for them. Maybe a camp out and fishing trip. You guys and gals probably won't remember gad-about-gaddis the real flying fisherman with his float plane. He would fly into bodies of water where there were no roads and fish off the float on the plane. Watching him as a kid we were glued to the tv set in awe. Soon after Jerry McKinnis was on tv too. This was a time when there was no such thing as a bass boat. Jerry made his new plywood boat every year. He is the true godfather of bass fishing. Jerry did invent the bass masters too. No one since has drawn so much attention to the sport of bass fishing as Jerry has. Jerry is still the man.

Colors per region? The light and water conditions dictate for me what color to use. I buy just about every color each lure comes in. Do to the different and changing light and water conditions we need all these colors. I preach this many times when the bite slows down change your lure size and or color. If the light conditions get darker go brighter in lure color. (At dusk & twilight) If the bite slows down and the light is the same go larger in lure size.(The bigger fish come closer to see what the smaller fish are feeding on. They want a meal not a snack) Your in control of the game. Play to win.