MassBass

The thing about crankbaits is that they are all unique. Two lures may be identical (brand, model, color), but they may run totally different. Because of this, part of fishing and experimenting with crankbaits is trying to find that lucky crankbait, or better yet that magic crankbait. Some cranks are special, be it their individual wobble or the way they are tuned, and they are just a fish magnet. I like rapala, specifically the rapala fat rap. Rapala's line up could cover alot of cranking situations.

I believe smallmouth bass are GOOD TO EAT

Yeah guy get some soft plastic lizard imitations and get at it!

Dude i live in haverhill theres bass pros' in foxboro and hookset, do u do any ice fishin?? thats the fishin this land has to offer during these months.

Black & Blue boy!

Carp: chair Bass: stand and walk, like a river rat.

black colorado spinnerbait!

I have had nothing but success with the Zman original chatterbait brand. The strike king rage blade no fish. LoL! I don't know what it is with that lure, I just can't get bit. I have tinkered with buying blades and making my own lures, with some success.

carlm, your inflatable looks alot more rigid and sturdy than my yak. I can't inflate it too rigid or my feet will not fit in it. I don't know how long I will be messing around with my inflatable. Im on my second boat under warantee. Im saving up for a hard kayak.

Yellow perch are always there when ice fishing, some days they prevent the skunk.

How do you mount and secure that fixture?

Could you elaborate? why?

Common carp. 12lb average fish. They have the brain of a philosopher, and the river run carp that I catch fight like a commuter train.

Tode lbers

Sounds like that river has a good striper run. But the striper is not a nuisance fish nor an invasive specie. I think the striper run should be cherished. Im alittle more east than you near the Merrimack. I have never fished the Connecticut River but I have gazed upon it and thought of the smallmouth that must be in there when I was at Umass Amherst briefly. In the Merrimack we have a world renowned striper run and the freshwater fish maintain themselves; and the Northern pike are actually growing and getting more prolific. I would say grab some slug-gos and get in the river during the striper run, its the best sportfishing anywhere on the planet.

Thats an interesting thought. The fish don't have anchors. Maybe to be a river master one must paddle where the fish run, drift where the fish cruise, and rest where the fish ambush.

Yeah a big pike could easily rip a smallmouth spinner.

Any of you pike and musky anglers use this product? Thinking of investing in a bunch of them, but they would have to be backordered at the moment. Comes with either a power swivel or a ball bearing swivel. I would use a ball bearing version for spinners, power (cheaper) for lures that don't twist. Does the fluoro get bent up in a tackle binder? I would use the 80lb targeting pike and 50lb for smallies.

Tode. Surprised he was able to grab the tale like that.

I would have a sharp knife on hand to cut the rope quick if there is an emergency. I don't want to die out there.

I awoke in the middle of the night with an epiphany; that I need to anchor in the river to truly fish it thoroughly and effectively. Towards the end of the summer I took my current vessel (an inflatable sevylor yak) in the river several times- no anchor. The battle with the current is pretty constant, even during the summer low water. In 2012 i fished half the season in the river with my jonboat and anchor. The anchor was fantastic under a 12ft jonboat with oars. My jonboat had since been stolen. I am asking is it feasible to use a light anchor on an inflatable yak? The yak is stable. I would run the rope thru the little plastic eyelets on the side an then thru the handle square on the bow. This way the anchor rope will not be pulling on the side. My kayak is the sevylor K5.

What was the lucky lure? I guess TUBE!

I have a Revo Inshore and a Daiwa Coastal. The Revo Inshore is probably the most reliable reel I have ever owned. I have used it casting striper lures in the surf, and casting smallmouth lures in the river. I have hauled in some hefty stripers with it. The Daiwa coastal I intend to use consistently next year, not as easy to cast as the revo. I would say inshore reels are great, even if they never see a lick of salt.

I don't know about that. Fishing spinners for smallies, I have found color matters very little as long as its shiny. You will have to work harder with a colored blade to get bites, even on overcast days. I could pick up any silver or gold spinner and get bit. Size is more important than color. As for the trout I think if you have the right size spinner, be it silver or gold, you will probably catch browns in the deep pools and rainbows in the main current.

I originally bought a spool of 50lb mono for juvenile bull sharks. I have found 50lb mono is incredibly versatile. I use it as a leader on my ice fishing traps with success. The 50lb mono is very abrasion resistant; while also being minimally visible. 50lb+ braid seems like common practice for largemouthed fish, why should 50lb mono be so far fetched?