D4u2s0t

I started fishing pieces of bread and corn for carp when I was about 4, that's boring fishing to me, not going back to it lol. This year, i'll mostly be using a bluegill swimbait, money minnow, stick baits, and assorted rage tail baits. These baits cover all the bases, speed, depth, varied amounts of noise and vibration, and I don't think i'll need anything else. I never saw the need to use 200 million baits in a day, if you can't catch fish with what you're using try making your presentation better to match what the fish are looking for. That's my philosophy, and that's what i'm going to work on this year. Bettering my presentations.

One of my friends went to I think singapore, or vietnam, and it was even worse than that. To think that they don't hit people all day, every day, is amazing. He was told to just walk at a steady pace, don't slow or speed up, and don't look at traffic lol. He was fine, but said it was scary as hell.

when it's nice out, i'm on the lake 3-4 times a weed on average. I often use the same baits, so I just keep them on the hook until they'll no longer stay on. I find taking them off the hook, then putting them back on lessens they're life. I'll normally take off and put on new hardbaits on a separate pole, and many times my soft plastics will just stay on the same pole until they're no good anymore.

Well, to each his/her own I suppose. In my mind, hand-lining a fish on a rope through a hole in the ice isn't exactly what I call fishing. But what do I know! Been ice fishing a few times. The only enjoyment (for me) comes from cooking (and eating) great food, drinking a lot of spirits and swapping a bunch of lies with some equally inebriated, jolly good guys . ;D depends how you look at it. I go ice fishing with nothing but an auger and tip ups. Much more skill involved imo. Not only do you have to know the lake well, and know the best spots to put your tip up, you also don't have the luxuries of a bass boat, expensive equipment, electronics, and everything else that makes fishing easy. Plus, it's a ton more work. If you have time to get drunk, either the lake is not good, or you picked the wrong spot. Our tipups go up 3-4 at a time.

I got my PB pickerel last week, and my first catfish! This is my first year ice fishing, and let me tell you anyone that is just sitting home waiting for the water to thaw is really missing out. To anyone planning ice fishing with a bunch of tipups, MAKE SURE you bring something to drink, and make sure you drink it! If you're on a good bite, it's very easy to not drink anything all day, and with all the running around it could be dangerous. My first time out, I literally passed out later in the day from dehydration, and it's not fun. Smacked my head on the wall of my friend's house, turned grey, and was nautious and clammy. They thought I drank too much (wasn't drinking because I was driving) and once the girls found out It wasn't the booze, they freaked out!) You don't get the same warning signs as you do when it's hot out, I felt fine until I passed out. Drink that water!!

who says it's not good while there's ice? The fishing can be great this time of year, and spring is great too. If you learn your lakes, the fishing will be good all year. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1263613376

many of the rage baits have a unique design, not much to compare them to. For the ones that do have similar comparisons, I find the rage baits absolutely catch more fish. You can't compare the action of rage tail baits to the action of other similar baits, that's like comparing your chevy to your lambo imo. Take for example the rage hog... try to find a similar hog bait with the same movement. here's a hint... don't waste your time! Obviously this doesn't mean that other baits won't be effective, and it doesn't mean that only the rage baits will catch fish. there's a bajillion different kind of crankbaits out there, but everyone has their favorite for whatever reason. Just like spinnerbaits, soft plastics, etc. So, like all baits/poles/reels/etc, much of it comes down to preference.

time on water try something new break the rules

I love the roosters, amazing bait. I'll probably have one of them tied on one of the poles majority of the time.

I got a few of the smokin roosters lol. That's about it. Bait monkey never bothered me. My philosophy is if you need to spend hundreds or thousands on baits, you're doing something wrong. (unless you just like to collect baits)

hoping to get some more on friday!!

Very nice chains D4! Sure reminds me of ice-fishing on Budd Lake and Cranberry Lake. Roger thanks, was a good time!! The bigger one on top didn't fight much at all, came right out. One of the smaller ones fought like crazy, I though for sure it would be a monster.

if things weren't as popular in the past, it's probably because people couldn't look at new things online, watch the pro's endorse them as easily, and read reviews about them. If we had the internet in the 70's, people would still be a sucker and buy things.

I didn't know there was any secrets to catching panfish, they're hands down the easiest to catch. That's why you take little kids fishing for them. If they're around, they can be caught pretty much every cast.

are you using those huge poles for crappie? If so, get a nice ultra light, that will be fun!

I use whatever line came on the $6 tipups, not sure what it is but it's almost like a very thin shoelace kind of material... it seems like fabric more than fishing line. We tie our snell hooks right to the line. Caught plenty of pickerel, and haven't had any bite through.

another big deterrent is that even though it runs on propane, there's still electricity involved...meaning it won't work during a power outage unless you have a generator. Doesn't seem like a big deal until you don't have power, and can't take a shower.

how old are the plugs? and are they gapped properly?

I love getting out there with my dad! Great time, regardless of what we catch (or don't) lol I almost never fish alone though, so it doesn't seem like it has much to do with noise.

does he live on the top of a mountain, where he doesn't get much sun?? Anyways, my statement was simply saying that when I'm fishing with those wearing sunscreen, we catch less fish. I didn't decide to stop wearing it to catch more fish, because I don't use it anyways. (applies to fishing) If i'm going to be sitting on the beach, different story. I thought it was cool to finally have some kind of explanation regarding why I don't catch fish with my father or brother in law. If I go out before or after they come, I kill it. They come, minimal fish. Every time. In my eye, that seems to make sense.

Here's a few I got friday. There's plenty in the lakes by me. Spinnerbaits work great, and that's what I've caught most of them on when the water isn't frozen.

yah...melanoma...kewl 8-) Lots better ways of learning how to catch more fish than avoiding sunscreen. : I have never had a sunburn in my life. I don't use sunscreen because I don't need to. You know what they say when you assume... maybe you should do a little more research on melanoma, it's causes, and who's at risk. I have a better chance of dying from the common flue than developing melanoma. But thanks for your concern 8-)

I've done some research, and basically the benefit is to not take up space. But they cost a ton to run when they're working. If you have the space, I would just look into a regular water heater. Plus if you plan on running more than say just one sink, or one shower, now you're looking into much more expensive units.

what it comes down to, is bass will eat anything that fits in their mouth. I've caught perch on big crankbaits, reeled them in thinking to myself this fish can't even begin to attempt to swallow this bait, why did it try? Bass don't just strike to eat, they will strike at anything that comes through their territory. Remember that "feeding" is just one of the types of strikes.

dwight, that beauty must have yanked your arm off!!! Great fish!!