lavbasser

Here is another one from a few years ago....

Caught this snapper on a Norman Thin N last Fall.

I have the 580 green mirror and find them a bit too dark for low light situations. They still cut glare but I am buying the copper (no mirror) for those situations. I called Costa a few weeks back. They told me that Sunrise and Vermillion were being discontinued. I think they said that amber was being discontinued as well but I am not sure. This may help: [ftp]http://www.costadelmar.com/SeeOutThere/Technology/PureLensPerfection/ [/ftp] Mouse over the small photos for more info.

I fish at ice-out as well or as soon as there is some open water. If the lake is still partially frozen I don't leave the bank. However, the wind can push ice into the open water areas making it unfishable just a few hours later. This was one of my first fish from last year (3-14-10). The lake was frozen the night before.

Thank you for posting about the sale. I prefer their flat discount sales they do a few times a year. I only use 1 one of the items that is included in the current sale. I love TW but BTD's 20 percent off sale was far more attractive for me.

I'll add a vote for the Norman Thin N, even snapping turtles can't resist. The Lucky Craft Mini SKT DR, Moonsault 100 and 001 are others. The Mini SKT DR is great for clear water. No rattle, small profile and LC ghost colors are tough to beat with gin clear water. The Moonsault 100 is a great niche crankbait. Cold water, shallow flats, areas you might use a Flashminnow 95 or 110. It does not come through grass well but I use when the grass has died back. Moonsault 001 is a solid wake-bait.

I've had Tru Tungsten weights back-ordered at TW since their Black Friday sale. They probably won't come in. I need to re-stock. Does anyone like any of their (tungsten weight) competitors?

my mistake. They said they are phasing out vermillion and sunrise. Lou

I only buy my hiking boots at Cabelas as I can't get them elsewhere. I visited the Hamburg store a few weeks back. It is about a 2.5 hour ride. I carefully walked through every aisle in the fishing dept. They only had a few items on sale. Also, the store was very busy and understaffed. I had to wait 20-30 minutes just to try on a pair of sunglasses. I wrote a letter to Cabelas expressing my disappointment and did not get a response, not even a form letter.

Smoke, I spoke with Costa last week. They are not phasing our vermillion and sunrise.

I've used the Boga Grips for several years. They are excellent.

I boil them as well. Then I store them carefully in one of my utility boxes.

Has anyone had a look at one of these? I have been looking for a replacement for the discontinued Junior D's. The lip is huge. http://www.luckycraft.com/luckycrafthome/Products/images/FlatMiniD8.jpg

If the jig still rolls without any trailer then you know it is not the grub. Also, just a few torn skirt strands can cause this as well.

I mostly fish out of my canoe. In a heavy rain I will often be standing in an or two of water (I stand in my canoe). My gore boots are Meindl Perfekt Hikers from Cabelas. I like to use rubber bottom boots for heavier rain. My gore pants cover the leather uppers on most of my boots. I never heard of Sno-Seal. I will give it a try. Thank you all for your comments.

I am looking for some suggestions on footwear for heavy rain conditions. The past few years I went through several pairs of LL Bean Boots. I had a problem with the boots leaking through the stitching between the rubber bottoms and leather tops. Also, I prefer boots I can lace up, not slip-ons. Rubber bottoms are fine. Thanks in advance. Lou

Thanks for your help.

Does anyone use the RC 1.5 deep divers? I would like to know how deep they run and how quickly they dive. The specs say 4-8'. For ex, on an average cast with 8-10 lb Yozuri Hybrid how deep will they dive. Any other like/dislike comments are appreciated. Thanks. Lou

I have 2 local Dicks and the sales vary greatly by store. I went to one on Sunday and they did not have much tackle on sale. Maybe you were thinking of the Joe Thomas colors for Lucky Craft? ...Also, if you use participate in their survey after making a purchase you get a 10 dollar coupon off a 50 dollar (or more) purchase. There is no restriction on using the coupon with other sales. So you can buy 10 bags of senkos at the sales price and get an additional 20 percent off. I did this a few times this year.

I like white topwater lures best on dark, overcast days or clear days with stained water. White can also work well in clear water, sunny days.

Here is a nice ika bass from a few years back.

I have fished all the ikas a fair amount. The tiny and regular ika work well on small darter or ball head jigs. The plasitc on the tiny ika is very durable and will last a long time. A 1/16 ounce Owner darter head fits it very well. I fish these ikas early and late in the year as an alternative to fishing a tube w/ an insert head. The big and fat ikas do well weightless. I like to drag them like a tube. Early in the year I find they don't get mired down into the early bloom algae as much as a weighted t-rig plastic. The fat ika is pretty heavy. It can be fished deeper and sometimes I like to use it around chunk rock. It won't hang as much because it is so wide. I generally fish the ika series early and later in the year. I have not fished them as much the past year or 2 but I still carry a few bags with me.

What are some of your favorite weighted hooks? Does anyone make them small enough for small plastics like a baby brush hog?

I wish TW carried more colors. I ordered some when they had their Memorial Day sale. The colors I wanted were out of stock. They never came in and are now discontinued. Where is everyone buying them?

I find many of them like that as well. I straighten them out in hot water, like you would with a soft swimbaits. This worked but I am not a fluke aficionado. Maybe one of the local experts here can chime in. Also, I put all my true running flukes in a different bag so I don't have to waste time sorting through them on the water.