basser89

For moving baits, spinnerbaits, cranks, jerks, topwater 'n such, I like the Bass Pro rods. I have two flippin sticks and another rod I use for plastics that are going to be switched out for either a St Croix (Premire or Avid) or a Quantum Energy series.

My two favorites are Mizmo Big Boy tubes and BPS Magnum Flippin tubes. I've had some luck with Venom 4" tubes as well.

And I am wrecking fish on that exact bait in the same waters you fish? Lets see junk ; Gulp, Berkley vanish, most senko knock offs, Storm baits. I am sure some others will come to mind but these are what I think of right now? Now I did catch 1 bass in two years fishing Gulp but I also catch several water snakes, turtles and countless sunfish. Allen That's all I can say about that! LOL! ;D

My best time (on my home computer-too hard to play with a trackball mouse with my laptop! LOL) on the beginner mode is 10 seconds, intermediate mode is 48 seconds and expert mode is somewhere in the 140-150 range.

After I picked up my Rapala, my Dad picked up one of Berkley's to use for musky too. He had a small (30") musky all but rip it out of his hand. The Rapala has a ball bearing handle so if a musky would try a death roll once you have them, you're not loosing the grip or getting injured. Maybe Berkley has improved their design since then. For other smaller species, I'd think that you'd be ok.

I have a Rapala scale (the 60lb model). I picked it up for musky fishing. Only drawback on the scale side is the readings are in 1/2lb measurements. It is an accurate scale though (you're just guessin within that half pound range). While I haven't sent mine in, the Rapala's can be sent in to be IGFA certified.

Welcome to the boards! As Brian mentioned, the Potomac for smallies around Hagerstown is pretty good. If you have a smaller boat, I'd stay away from Dam 4 just because of all the big cruiser boats there! Most of them have no respect for the smaller vessels. For largemouths, there are 3 small lakes that I fish from time to time. Greenbrier, Big Pool and Blairs Valley. Hope this helps!

C'mon...That's silly. : I swear to baked beans there RW! Funny thing is, it wasn't even one of the smaller models! It was a 100 series. I tried different rods, different retrieves, nothing I did worked! No clue why???? I'm just wierd like that I guess!

Here's an eye popper for you all! A LC Sammy! I can't walk them to save my life! Spittin Image, Spooks, BPS Slim Dog and even Excaliber's (can't remember the name) I have no problems walking. I thought I might have picked up a defective one so I had one of my friends try it and it's now part of his arsenal.

Disadvantages? Hmmm, well, you might get hung up once in a while or maybe get some grass caught up in the hook but the benefits (IMO) out weigh the disadvantages by a landslide! It is EXTREMELY rare that I fish a spinnerbait without a trailer hook. For me, I prefer a 7' MH baitcasting rod and I prefer to fish with flurocarbon (17#) since it has less stretch than mono. I'm not familiar with your two choices of rods so my advice to you is go with the one the you have the most confindence in!

Allen, that one is no secret at all! It's the backwash area behind the boat ramp. tux, surprisingly the grass isn't real bad yet. I'm actually waiting for the grass to come up higher so I can fish a technique or two that I like fishing there. Even the grass at the stick ups hasn't choked out shore line fishing yet.

I have a feeling this is going to come back to haunt me with MskSlyr! LOL! MskSlyr and I both use mono, although for some reason, I seem to land the muskies a little quicker than Slyr. Even the 45 incher in my signature was landed rather quickly. My take on playing a fish, whether its a musky or a bass, is to get them in as quickly as you can so the lactic acid doesn't build up and potentially harm them. I know its rougher on muskies (especially in warmer water). I did pay the price a few years ago on the first 45 incher I caught that I landed rather quick. When I tried to remove the hook (and I wasn't properly equipped), the musky kicked its head around and threw two of the hooks into two of my fingers on my right hand. That wasn't a pleasant experience at all! It's a VERY fine line, but fight them just long enough so they're not completely "green" when you land them, then take your time CPR'ing them.

Thanks Slyr Hmmm, rumor eh? I won't go into detail, but I know it to be more than a rumor and I'd be the second to know that!

Check this out! http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1213857815 That should answer your questions about the waters you have listed! While I grew up in PA, I never fished up in that area of the state. Good luck!

I'll let you fish that spot as long as you only catch that little one I released and let the big girl for me! Hee hee hee!

Bummer! I haven't been able to get out on a few spots I'd like to hit nearly as much as I'd like either so I feel your pain!

Windy on MG? Never seen that before! LOL! A little chop on the water, well you know what I'd be throwing! Stay positive and you'll gettem! Have you been out there since the last tourney to probe those "new" spots you had found?

Don't sound so excited SPEED! LOL! You'll gettem this time! 9 chances out of 10, I'm gonna miss this one too. No excuses on the next one!!!!

Sounds like a great day! Congrats! A roughed up thumb is a small price to pay and one I'd be willing to pay over and over and over!

The only Quantum Alliance rod I have right now is a musky rod (7' 6" H action) that I use for throwing BIG baits (mostly topwater). From my limited use so far, I really like this rod! Wish I could be more help on the bass side but I have had the opportunity to handle one yet.

I'll see what I can do firefightin15 but I can't promise you much! A couple years back, I focused really hard on the toothy critters and faired fairly well but my bass game really suffered (IMO). That's why I call musky fishing my "hobby" fishing now. I'll do it on occasion but I'm not as focused on it as I used to be. If I get 2-3 more this year, I'll consider it to be a good year on the musky side. What shocked me was the power this little one had on the small time I fought it! That's why I like fishing for them in the rivers! Better battle IMO! Although, I would like another shot at the bigger one I had seen! I'll post a pic of that one if I get lucky enough to hook into her!

Hey, a 24 inch pike is a respectable pike and bigger than mine! I've never caught a pike. :-[

I actually read my post and realized I never said how big it was! LOL! This one was 30 inches. A far cry from the other one I had seen last week. It's a start though and alot sooner than last year! It took me until late November til I caught one last year. Now to just figure out what that bigger one wants! ;D

Thanks for the input fluke!

Thanks tux! I was wondering where you've been! Here's a pic of the 4lbr I caught on the Spro Bronze Eye frog. Sorry for the quality of the pic! Only had my cell and it was starting to get a little dark.