Scorpio

I have used both and can say the Zebco 33 has a great drag.

Where are all of the Pixy guys?

I haven't had a whole lotta luck night fishing for smallies. I have caught some on the midnight special which is a black spinnerbait.

Will the Susquehanna River in PA ever return to the world class fishery it once was? Smallmouth anglers on the Susquehanna have seen significantly reduced numbers of fish caught. So far, data show that each year since 1999, the numbers of Young of the Year bass have declined over most of the Susquehanna River system. In years past, it was common-place to catch 30 fish per day, with several of those fish being in the 17-19" range. These larger fish are typically over 7 years old. The causes of the population decline continue to be a mystery, although some fish have exhibited sores around the gills and on other parts of the body. Examinations of afflicted fish revealed that an infectious bacterium was responsible for the skin condition and for the mortalities. The bacterium, Flavobacterium columnare (columnaris), is a common soil and water bacterium. While harmless to humans, columnaris can infect all species of freshwater fish. Columnaris disease is a secondary infection brought on by environmental or nutritional factors that stress fish. The exact stress factors supporting Columnaris which is causing the kills is currently unknown. Only time will tell if the fish kills continue. Research is ongoing. If any of you all are planning to come fishing on the Suesquehanna, I suggest you contact the PA Fish and Boat Commission because there are sections of the River system that have not been impacted as much, and still provide some good fishing.

High, brown water on the Susquehanna also. A few guys are having luck with the pink bubble gum flukes fished in along the weed beds.

No but the set-up may not be balanced. Balance is more important than weight in my opinion.

I do alot of wade fishing for smallies. I have found that having a combo that can make long casts increases my chances of success. I only use a 7-ft rod and light line (8-lb test or lighter) when I wade so I can get distance on the cast.

Have had very good luck with the Wave Worm Tikki Stik (the big fat ones) in green pumpkin, rigged wacky with a jig head.

I use the 8s and 10s. I have had days where I caught several 16-19" fish with the x-rap. This year has been kind of tough. Last year we kiled them with the x-rap. The only complaint I have is that the hooks break pretty easily. Good luck.

I would recommend a Sahara. It is good for a good price. I have had line twist problems with my Pflueger President and Supreme. I know numerous people that have no such problems (and they will say I am crazy). I close the bail by hand, etc., and still have issues. I now fish both my Pfluegers with braid and a 2.5-ft mono shock leader. This has basically solved the problem.

I have had real good luck with the 4-inch clear Kalin grubs in clear water.

If you live in NE Ohio, by all means go to Lake Erie. Great Smallmouth water.

The x-raps are excellent lures for smallmouths. I crank it down to depth required, followed by 2-3 jerks with pauses in between. The fish will let you know the best length of pause (I have had luck from 1-10 second pauses). As Rapala says, the x-Rap is a slash bait, so it is not designed for swimming, per se. The best time to use the x-rap is in the Fall when the bait fish are larger and the Smallies are gorging for the winter. Where I fish, the best color is the gold one with the orange belly. It is a sure killer.

If it works well, I would donate it to a good cause.

I finally had some luck (very modest though) using the 5-inch berkley saltwater swimbait with a one-half-0unce bullet head glued to the plastic. This is how Doug Stange from In-Fisherman presents the lure. I caught three in a two-hour span, the biggest being 15 inches and the smallest about 8 inchs (hardly bigger than the bait). I realize that time of year may also be a factor in using these big baits. Thanks for all of the replies.

Black Cripple-Killers are great top water lures.

Good suggestion on the swim senko. I tried these this weekend on the advice of someone else and did catch a few on it, even when the other "fish-looking" swim baits did not work. Thanks

Thanks for the help guys. I have tried numerous paddle tail swim baits, without luck. The flukes work great, I agree. Thanks again.

Have any of you guys had much luck using swim baits to catch river smallies? I just can't seem to have any luck with them. If so, what kind of retrieve do you use? What size and type of swim baits? Does anyone use the large (5-inch or larger) type?

All I can say is SHAM-WOW!

Thanks to all. Great responses!

I bought an E7 when it first came out and think it is outsatnding (although I like the Chronarch 100B better--I don't mind the size and weight). I was wondering how the E5 would perform given the graphite sideplate. I think TackleTours may have addressed that, but any thoughts on that?

IF you are not a weight weenie, I think the best value out there is the discontinued Chronarch 100B.

I know nothing about the Daiwa Baitcasters. There seems to be numerous models in the $200-$250 range, such as the Fuego, Sol, Zillion, etc. Out of these reels, which reel would you guys recommend as the best all-around reel and why? Also, how do the Daiwa magnetic brake controls compare to the Abu STX? Thanks.

Both the Curado E and the Chronarch B are excellent reels; however, I don't think the Curado E comes close to the overall performance of the Chronarch B.