Marty

I use 6'6" medium power spinning rods and they do very well as general purpose rods. Size 4000 reel is too big for my tastes, I've used 2500 size Daiwas for 10# mono and 15# braid. Unless you expect to tie into really monster pike, you don't need the capacity of a large reel like a 4000. I've foul-hooked carp up to 30# and even with the runs they make the 50-60 yards of good line I had on above the backing was adequate.

Welcome. I don't know about specific waters, but try a few lakes and ponds, fish with $25 crankbaits, and you'll find your pike!

Great news Bill. This disease is highly treatable when detected early enough. Everyone should be getting checked regularly. My favorite cousin would be dead if he hadn't stayed on top of things.

There's plenty of information on the Internet about cameras. You might also want to visit a camera store, taking with you a memory card. A good store should let you take some pictures with one of the demo models so you can get a feel for the equipment and when you get home you can upload the card contents and carefully check the results.

I've been told by people who should know that tears in membrane will fuse back together. As to pain, the biologists have told us that fish do not have a nervous system that would allow them to feel pain in the way that we think of pain. Years ago I attended a lecture by a bass pro who was trying to make the point that fish fight because of pressure, not pain. He said when you've got your fish near the boat, put slack in the line and the fish will quiet down. I don't know if that really proves anything, but it seems to make a certain amount of sense. All we could say there is that the fish knows--for whatever reason--that the jig is not something it wants in its mouth.

My answer would be the same for soft plastics or any other type of lure. USE THEM! Seriously, years ago I'd bring out my no-confidence lures when the usual stuff wasn't working. That's the worst thing to do since I'd already established that the fishing was tough that day. When you start fishing go to spots where you have a high degree of confidence in bass being present there and use the soft plastics first to maximize the chances of catching something. It only takes a few fish to develop confidence in a lure.

I certainly agree with your hesitancy about buying from an unresponsive cpmpany.

Maybe you're right Kevin, but I wouldn't have recognized it as a rocky. Just doesn't look right to me.

Absolutely!!!

I use a 5'6" ultralight rod and 4# line. Any UL rod with light line should provide lots of fun with these scrappy fish.

If you do a search for antique fishing tackle I suspect you'd find some sites devoted to the subject where you could get information.

I agree with Glenn. You didn't fail your partner, you got sick.

I'm sure I'm not the only one whose mother cautioned never to bite off more than I can chew. The fish haven't received the message.

That change in temperature was probably the result of a cold front. A cold front is the leading edge of an advancing air mass that is colder than the air it will replace.

The previous poster probably has the right idea by recommending weedless topwater. No matter how weedless your lure is rigged, you can always pick up vegetation at the line tie, so the only way to avoid it is to stay out of the weeds.

From looking at the data Bass Pro provides about reels, it was very evident that many baitcasting reels with higher ratios bring in less line than some spinning reels with lower ratios.

I would imagine you were able to get out at the south end of Hemlock today, but in some dry years the south end dries up and you can't launch.

Fascinating.

I've been pleased with medium power rods with fast action as good, general-purpose rods. I use 6-1/2', but 7' should be good as well. I've used various brands. If you're near a Gander Mountain they have their own brand for $60. I heartily agree. Factors that are important to me, such as handle length, supersede brand consideration.

It's always good to target visible cover and/or structure. But I also cover as much water as possible because there are lots of good spots where there is no apparent reason for it being good.

Rapala Mini Fat Rap. Before that it was the smallest size Kastmasters.

Not well.

Do they call the ladies "selectwomen"? (That's a serious question even if it may not sound like one).

Good luck with the new boat. My friend kept his john boat when he got his bass boat and now has the best of both worlds. He uses the john boat when he wants to get out on ponds that don't allow gas motors.

Your plan sounds reasonable to me. Here in New York largemouth can be caught shallow in the summer and maybe that holds even truer in Maine where, in theory, water temperatures should be a little cooler because of its more northerly location. Of course, I know nothing about that lake; I never heard of it until your post. Good luck.