Madhouse27

I don't normally get too hung up on soft plastic durability issues. Like Roadwarrior I tend to lean heavier on the action and fish catching ability of the bait when making my purchases. I'm planning on going through a bunch of whatever I'm fishing if the bass are hammering them. That said, I'll also agree with Senko77. My experience with Kinami baits is that they are the wimpiest, least durable soft plastic I've ever run across. If I felt they were superior to their peers in the fish catching department I'd fish them anyway and just deal with the fact that simply putting them on the hook is the beginning of the end for them. Unfortunately for Kinami that is not the case and I've crossed them off my list of brands that I buy and even ended up giving the seven or so bags that I had to a fishing buddy that was just starting out and needed some lures. I'm pretty much sold on Yamamoto and Zoom baits. Speaking of which, it's about time to restock on the Yamamoto single tail Hula grub...that thing is so deadly on Maine smallmouth that is should be illegal.

I've been getting the same "late chase" senario. I usually bounce a grub or tube and it seems that I am getting chased after I am done working the cast and I'm just burning the lure in for the next presentation.What I think is going on is that I am initially working them a little too slow. The water temp is low 70s and I think the fish's metabolism is all cranked up and here I am crawling soft plastics along the bottom. I tried speeding up my retrieve and swimming my soft plastics with some success. I also try to have a rod rigged with a crankbait or spinnerbait to throw at chasing fish. I also think that my usual slow deep presentation is giving the fish a little too much time to inspect the lure up here in the clear water. I'm learning some new approaches on here that I'm hoping are going to give me a more complete arsenal.

Put me down for the 6:00 am to about 2:30 pm shift on the weekends. After work I usually get there at 6:00 and go until dark. To be honest there's something I really like about the after work fishing. Usually something good happens as the light starts to fade.

Don't assist the bass in passing the plastic.... Does that rule also go for the cat and the Christmas tree tinsel?

As I meantioned in another post I've only had one experience with braid and it wasn't good. That said, I do want to be able to use it effectively and have it be part of my arsenal. Do you guys fish the braid in clear water? I tried the greenish spider wire and and I didn't feel as though I was being very stealthy.

When I'm exploring a new smallmouth lake I always key in on points. I hit the major ones first starting way out in about 35 or 40 feet of water and then slowly working my way in. Most of my best summer fish this year have been taken in around 20 feet of water. I know some guys like to get in tight to shore on the points and fish their way out but I feel that I'm more effective the other way around. I tend to just play connect the dots with the major points on the lake, hitting anything that juts out in between. As I'm putting along between them I try to keep my boat in about 16 feet of water and kind of fan cast out ahead. There's nothing like your first time on a new body of water. The challenge of trying to unlock its secrets is certainly half the fun. If you can get your hands on a map of the lake before you go that would definately give you a headstart in putting together your game plan.

I used to subscribe to In-Fisherman and it was always a top notch publication. Has the mag gone downhill at all since the Lindner split? I might have to start getting that one again. I get Bassmaster and think it is just ok. I think I've learned more from this website than any magazine thats for sure.

http://www.oldmercs.com/ This website is the end all for parts and info on old Mercury outboards. I have a 1968 Merc 500. It's a tough old beast that still gets up and goes every time out on the water. I might be able to help you out in figuring out the year and model etc. My email is living_the_dream66@yahoo.com

I am currently running a 1968 Mercury 500 (50hp). The thing is almost as old as I am and still goes like hell. It's got a great old school look about it with the silver Kiekhaefer face plate and certainly has that Mercury growl. I did have to have the starter rebuilt this season, 36 years of turning the merc over had finally done it in. I know ownership and some things have changed at Mercury over the years but if what they are turning out now is half as tough as my old beast I'll be running a Merc on my new rig.

I have a pair of cheap Renegade wrap arounds that must be part of their World Wrestling Federation line. I got them at WalMart when I was in a pinch and they've actually made it through this season in pretty good shape. The best ones I've ever owned were a pair of amber lensed Costa Del Mar shades that just seemed to light up the bottom. They were great but really pricey. There's gotta be a happy medium out there in the fifty dollar range.

Hey I think I figured out the picture thing.

I'm from Bar Harbor (Bah Hahba) Maine. I've been reading the posts for quite awhile and have picked up some great info. I finally got around to registering and am looking forward to adding to the boards. Now if I can figure out how to get a pic posted. Anyway, great to be here.