SirSnookalot

nice looking fish

I've been near to that part of the world several times, I backpacked and fished the Algoma region ( Hawk Junction, Lake Anjigami) a few times, no bass. Plenty of northerns walleyes and trout, interesting the lakes up there are pretty much 1 species lakes.

I'm not so sure if I have ever seen a trailer on a bass jig either, I googled it and saw trailer hooks on bass jig, I guess it has been done. I wouldn't use it either, however if swimming a jig there would be less chance of getting snagged. Fishing for species other than bass trailer hooks on bucktail jigs are extremely common, I use them almost every time I'm offshore. Either casting or jigging them plain, but mostly used with baits like a frozen sardines or ballyhoo.

All you really have to do is buy trailer hooks, the eye is not completely closed, slip them on and close them up with a pliers. You can buy the easier to install ones with shrink wrap 4 for 3 or 4 bucks or get 100 Mustads like I do for about $15. I take the same ones I use for kingfish and put them on a spinnerbait for bass, 4/0 or 5/0.

Given the choices between blind casting, casting to a specific area I think that may hold fish and sight casting where I'm seeing some kind actively, fish, bait, birds. Sight casting wins every time, as I know there is something there, whether I'm getting a strike is up to the fish, but the presentation is there.

I fish for fun and not overly brand loyal, my catch rate doesn't seem to vary between company A or company B's lures within a specific group. For me it's all about the strike and the fight, never the size, that takes care of itself. In open water I fish mainly jerkbaits and topwater lures, in weedy areas and when I'm working a shoreline it's a weedless fluke about 99% of time. IMO success and failure has more to do with the body of water and time of year, than what the actual bait is. This is bass time in South Florida, not that I keep a tally but most days I'm catching quite a few fish without a lot of work, not too challenging, conversely 2 months ago fishing the same waters I was lucky to get 1 in an hour, very challenging.

Would I use scent for bass fishing, not a chance in the world, for me that's an act of blasphemy. Do I believe scents help, you bet I do. Fish are fish, they all use smell to detect bait, when fishing for certain species I use cut bait, it's nothing but smell with no resemblance to anything alive, yet it far outproduces artificial lures. I believe with out any doubt that scented baits will catch more bass.

I change as needed, in saltwater that's often for me and I mainly use braid. There are times when I do use mono offshore, spinning reels get changed more often due to line twist, I can troll them out just so often. Mono on conventional reels lasts much longer, in a pinch when I haven't bought a new spool I've used mono that has been in my Florida garage for several years, absolutely fine.

Welcome Home !!!!

Yes a very sad day !!!!! I don't think any one has doubt Lanza's psychological profile or any of the perps committing terrible mass shootings in the last couple of years. Whether it's elementary, university, malls, theaters, and a even military base, it can't be stopped. My wife says lock down the schools, imo only a deterrent but where there is a will someone will always find a way. Can't knock the news media, it's the age we live in of 24/7 instant coverage, but years ago with less coverage these horrific attacks were much less frequent.

I've been fishing that way for years, couple of lures in pocket and pack of flukes with 1 rod, that's pretty much it. However there is nothing wrong in carrying a lot of gear to experiment and have fun.

Very true and so do other types of lines, we keep reading Yozuri breaks at a higher number than what's on the label too. IMO if a label says 10# and the line breaks at 20#, you're really using 20# test, but very thin...........a good thing. If seeking a line class record, one man's opinion is Ande tournament http://fishinggearguru.com/andetournament.html

No reason you can't use that name if you are in another state. If no other company in your state has filed an assumed name (in Michigan), other states refer to it as a "fictitious" name, check with your county. I would avoid using a name or logo from a major corp, even if registered in a different state, that can get sticky. Ford Motor wanted to take issue with me as my company logo was similar to theirs but not exact, they would have won. I really did't take the post serious, but if you were, why not use the name if you like it.

I said conventional reels that are used offshore in saltwater, 1 of which is an Avet mxj which isn't too much bigger than a bass reel. Salt air, saltwater, and the size and strength of offshore fish are hard on a reel, additionally sand from the beach can cause havoc as well, no level wind so one less thing that can go wrong.

Keep doing what I'm doing. For me, nothing beats snook, tarpon and jack crevelles, I apologize to any species I omitted by accident (Permit).

This video (Jose RIP) will show you exactly how to set up a spinning outfit for bonefish using shrimp or crabs, I know you will be using floro and not braid but you'll get the idea.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTH9gmeG7DM&feature=related As a rule bonefishing is done by sight casting, they spook very easy and are a challenging fish to hook. Fishing for redfish, snook or tarpon, I personally would use a bit heavier set up as those fish can run much bigger than a bonefish, not to mention if run into a permit. I have caught everyone of those fish on plastics, flukes and paddletails on 1/4-3/8 oz jig head, bucktail jigs, hard jerkbaits, spoons, and topwater lures, you don't need anything else. Bonefish and permit are better caught using live shrimp and crabs. I would be using a med spin 8/17 for bonefish with a 4000 reel, I prefer 15# braid, those fish can run a lot, for the larger fish a 10/20 mh rod with a 4 or 5000 reel and 20# braid would be my choice.

The bass have been getting more and more active with each passing day, it's that time of year. I strictly fish from shore for freshwater, no question a boat is more advantageous to cover a lot more water, but walking canals casting parallel to the shoreline a lot of fish can be found. I tend to stay away from " major " canals and fish the secondary ones. I would suggest to always wear socks, some areas are loaded with fire ants, I've got the scars to prove it.

I'm pretty much a PP user and have tried a number of different braids, I seem to always come back to PP. I tried a different one a few days ago on a reel that I get excessive wind knots with, that being Fins Windtamer. 2 days of use in winds up to and exceeding 18 knots using a light fluke not a single wind knot, line was quiet and knots held perfectly. Just a review after limited use and not a recommendation, I really liked it, going to spool up another reel with it.

Oiling after 6 or 7 times is probably a bit excessive. I've got saltwater conventional reels that endure some hard briny conditions, not that the reels are used a lot, about once a week, so somewhere around 50 times a year. They should require some attention once a year, I haven't done it in at least 2 years just haven't seen the need, they operate like new, that said it's probably a good time take them in for a professional service, which reminds me I'm going to do it in the next few days. Luckily turnaround time is usually 3-4 days.

My company slogan that was on my business cards and stationary......"Lets' rap about your scrap"

Many do but not me. Pros don't fish where I do and I don't fish where they do, I've learned what works for me in the environments I fish. I don't seek out magic bullets or use specific rods, reels, lines etc. As Salenity said 90% of his fish are caught on 10% of his tackle, pretty much the same here. I fish techniques and lures that are fun, anything else is just for a bit of variety, that would be hard jerkbaits and topwater poppers for open water and flukes rigged weedless for weedy areas.

Only 5 a week?

IMO this is the start of the best time of the year for bass in South Florida. In addition to bass there is always a possibility of snook and tarpon there too. This isn't the time of year for ocean inshore fishing (you aren't too far away), but the offshore bite is on fire, kingfish, sailfish, blackfin and dolphin.

Take a trip and go south, plenty of fish.

Not a slogan but..........years ago in Oak Park, Mich. there was a foot Dr. his name being Dr. Smellsey, can't say if he is still around as he was in practice in the 60's.