Northern Strain

It doesn't help that the rain keeps coming and that it is 10 degrees colder this weekend. I was hoping to get on the white river today, but that wasn't gonna happen. Tomorrow I am definintaly trying a friends pond, rain or shine. The weather is looking good this upcoming week also and with no rain coming till next sunday, saturday on the river could be very productive... hopfully.

The one that looks like the Energy pt sounds like a good deal. It is the top of the line reel, that Gander Mountain has dubbed the "X-Factor" while the other reels, the ones that look like the code are under the GSX label aka guide series extreme. I would consider the X-Factor, because it is like the energy, and it is performance tuned (pt). I am a quantum guy, and have never had a problem with the higher end reels ($99+) and am wanting to get a X-Factor rod and reel.

Yes I agree there thats what I use now, just curious about the spinning reels.

What makes an aluminium reel so much better than a graphite reel? I would really like to know the big differences, pros and cons, and what really sets them a part. Then it would be nice to get input on a new smally reel (one I can use for finess lures).

The current in my river is fast and tubes work fine.

I am going to give some new swimbaits a shot once it gets warm, i feel I will catch mostly largemouths instead.

wow that thing is huge

wish it was that warm in indiana

nice healthy fish.

Well which is better BPS Rick Clunn or Daiwa Procaster Tournament?

Was at gander mountain 2 weeks ago, saw one, and said wow... i can't believe that costs $100. Looks like a bunch of tiny metal rods help together with 2 cheap metal plates.

Any one ever used an Okuma Reflexions baitcasting rod, It looks cool and is only $60, but is there a better option out there for the same price or cheaper? Here is some specs: * Okuma® Reflexions baitcasting rod * IM-6 graphite blank construction * Low-profile stainless steel guide frames * Hard zirconium inserts compatible with braided line * Split butt reduces weight and improves balance * Premium cork fore and rear grips * Stainless steel hooded reel seat * Thru-blank reel seat with exposed blank * Limited lifetime manufacturer's warranty

quantum

Yeah I can't think of anything else either, but i fish crankbaits on my baitcasters.

nice fish, are bass native to Italy or were they stocked there like they are in japan?

I dont really think it matters... I just love catching fish, big or small, I am not going to complain about catching 5# fish (Thats rare in the middle of Indianapolis), i wont complain about any fish I catch. I just love fishing, i love catching big smallies, and i enjoy catching a few bluegill some other day. If you don't want to catch those farm grown trout then go some where else, but dont b@!$& about it. It is more rewarding to catch one 5# smallie than it is to catch 10 little ones!

I really like the sound of the tube, any special colors this time of year, I was thinking black.

My dad has a 6'6 fiberglass falcon spinning rod with a quantum energy spinning reel. It is from the early 2000's but that is beside the point. Any way he used to use it rarely when fishing for stripers on fishing trips. But now he really doesn't go on any big trips, unless it is with me to the local river, or his friends pond. he lets me use the rod, but I have no idea what to use it for, i used to throw cranks on it a few years ago before i could use a BC rig, now all I use is a BC, but I would like to use this rod and reel. since it is a fiberglass spinning rod I have no idea what lures are best to use with it.

I take 1 or 2. almost always one all purpose BC, but some times I take a light 5'6 spinning rod.

Mike Iaconelli, He is fun to watch, and probably more fun to fish with, and I think everyone could learn from his never give up style of fishing.

I live in Indiana and want to fish alot right now, however it's 34 degrees and is even getting into the 20's. I fish from the bank of the white river, primarily for samllies, but the occasional LMB will bite. I know where the deep holes are, but i really have no idea what the water temp is right now. The river moves fast enough that there is generally no ice even into the late winter. I have fished there for 10 years but never tried durring the winter, usually i am stuck at home dreaming about spring once november is over. I have no idea if it is possible to catch bass in this cold. I would really like to get ideas on how to approach the situation. If it was possible to catch bass in this cold of weather I was thinking about slowly dragging tubes or even using a shakey head. It would really help to get some ideas.

Today I got a 4 pund bass on a silver rattle trap, that was my best bait this year, and spinner baits / crankbaits work really well too. Some guys over there swear by anything that resembles a crawdad but I have more luck with minnow patterns.

I caught 2 sauger this year on shallow diving crawdad pattern crankbaits, fishing for smallies.

last year I decided i wanted to catch a catfish, with no luck at all. This year I didn't have that urge cuz I got skunked, Well I was throwing a strike king sexy shad crank bait and caugh a 4 pound bull head. Then about 3 weeks later, I was throwing a jig, and bouncing it off the bottom, I felt a tap set the hook, and i never felt a fish from that river pull so hard, I managed to get the fish up to the surface and then it pulled out even more drag, finally I get it to the shore and I realized I snagged a 30 inch 8lb chanel cat my pb fish out of that river. Also I caught 2 sauger this year, My year was full of surprises.

1 or 2 more times this year (saturday-sunday) ... lets hope its good, but i am in central IN.