NateFollmer

Nice fish! Did you catch her in some weeds or sandy bottom? She's pretty lightly colored...

Why does Photobucket hate you? haha They seem to keep deleting your photos... I'd like to see these fish!

Awesome, Mike is one of my favorite anglers. Maybe it's because I tend to freak out like he does when I catch fish Anyway, I had no idea there was a video section here, there is some really awesome stuff in there! Thanks!

Personally, I don't use a fishfinder to find fish, I use it get an idea of the bottom. I've caught fish where the fish finder said there wasn't any. To answer your question, Yes, fish those quick drops, especially if there is cover around them. Docks are always a great producer as long as there isn't a ton of activity around them. Just look for cover and structure, and you'll find fish In the deeper areas, look for humps or creek channels, creek channels = bass highways.

You can get jerks and cranks down that far, just need to buy the ones that go that far down. You'll also need to cast well behind that hump so you're lure has time to get that deep while you're crankin'. Unless it's a sinking model, then just let it sit (you'll have to know it's sinking speed and time it or just wait until you smack the bottom). Figure out what they want, work you're way up or down the water column until you find them. Running a crankbait about 3 ft above the bottom is a good place to start if you want to use that type of bait. Fish the deep humps just like you do the shallows though. Don't let them scare you, the only difference is the amount of line you have out

Small Black Buzzbaits right after the sun goes down work GREAT for smallies on the Juniata, maybe they will produce for you also. They do seem to like the poppers better though, but I usually throw everything in my top water arsenal in 1 evening haha. Nothing beats a black or clear tiny torpedo!

I usually only carry 4 to 5 colors in my tackle box (for soft plastics anyway): White Blue (sometimes blue and black depending on the style) Moss Green Light Brown Chartreuse I don't like to over complicate colors. I have found that deep purples work decently too, but I only used them because they came in a pack of multi-colored worms

I have never used Power Pro but the people I know that do use it, love it. Personally I use Spiderwire braid (Invisi-Braid or Camo Braid). I really like the smoothness of it, but it still has a little bite. Anyway, like Shad_Master said, usually the first strike is more of a 'stun' technique. If you don't feel that fish pull, don't set the hook. I usually let it sit after the first strike and they will more than likely come back for a second 'eating' strike . I know its hard, but you have to learn to wait until you feel that fish pulling.

Man other state's must be very strict or I'm getting lucky. I have NEVER seen the PA Fish commission while I was fishing. I do know of friends that have fished and forgot their license at home and they were let off with a warning. If it were me, I would have gotten the stamp. It somewhat feels like they are forcing you to buy something you don't need, but I'd get it just to support the fisheries! HA

Tiny Torpedos have to be my #1 top water lure for smallies. The Black and the clear ones work best on the Juniata in my area. The worst, is the silver one with a blue head. I could throw that into a pool of smallies and they won't even look at it

Horrible It's rained just about every week so far, then it would get hot and the water temps are ALL over the place. Finally had a stretch of decent weather last week, so I thought Saturday would be awesome. NO SIR! The wind was a constant 40mph on the lake so the boat wouldn't move. Only caught 1 LMB. I've been doing a lot of fly fishing because the bass are on lockdown. The weather hasn't been effecting the trout as much, but I digress...

It's a good thing you caught a smallie AFTER you caught a largemouth. Smallies have been my main fish since I began and they make a fight with a largemouth seem like your fightin' a wet towel I love them both equally, but smallies will always be my favorite haha

smashingsmallies - Go into your album with the pictures in it, just hold your mouse over the image and a little menu should pop up. Look for the option that says Direct Link: and copy that URL. Then click the Insert Image button on this forum (third one in on the top) while your posting a comment or reply. Anyway, nice fish! I love catching fish on small bodies of water because everyone thinks big fish 'don't exist' in these types of water.

I'm ONLY ambidextrous with my fishing rods. I can't do anything else with both hands. It's funny how I taught myself to do this- I went to Bass Pro Shops to get a new Baitcasting set up (its a good hour drive for me). I was like a little kid in a candy store, grabbed the rod that was on sale and left. Once I got home I realized it was Left handed. I was too excited to fish with it so I just kept it and I could fish either way ever since. I think its good to be able to use either hand, that way, you can cast with your other hand if your dominant hand's angle can't offer you a good cast.

I'm gonna take a different approach here... Besides the cover (like everyone else has stated), I throw the T-rig a lot more after cold fronts or colder water conditions when the fish want a smaller profile. Yes you can get small jigs, but I just feel like the T-rig seems to catch more lockjawed fish

+3 For the Jig and Grub A good old fashioned nightcrawler and bobber too!

Draggin' tubes, T-rigging tubes, burning soft swimbaits, jigs and soft plastic wormin'. I rarely touch the hard baits anymore...

I like watermelon, black, black and blue, browns and deep reds for smallies (actually most of these work for them at ANY time). T-rigging a craw trailer may work too, I am using that in the river right now and they seem to be nailing it.

Coming from fishing the Juniata and Susquehanna region, I actually fished for smallies most of my life and about 2 years ago really started to target Largemouth. A lot of the same things work for smallies and largemouth, but with smallies, it's better to downsize your baits. I normally use 4 inch luck e strike blue curl tail worms, Rapala Slashbaits (the next to smallest size, i forget the number), and of course, 3 1/2 inch tubes are magnets for smallies (natural colors work best). Another thing to remember is smallies HATE mud. If they can get away from it, they will so target the cleaner part of the water first (I'm not sayin they WONT be in the mud though).

Geez, I need to get up to Lake Erie! I keep saying every year I'm coming up, but I never do. Those are some awesome fish! The smallies here in the Juniata aren't even close to that size

Do-it Molds sells rattles in their catalogs. I don't know if they make those themselves, but it's worth looking into. On a side note, CADMAN! I know you from somewhere else.... Although you may know me as nfollmer at that other place hehe

kodak, PM sent Everyone else, I'll share my designs when I get 10 posts

I've been getting molds cut for my hand pouring actually I model my lure design in 3DS Max and then cut the molds on a CNC machine. Let me know if you have any ideas in mind and I will try and model them for you! I can even show you some of my designs if you wish, just let me know.

Bears Baits sells a motor oil colorant for plastics. Maybe it's close to what you want to reproduce. I can't post the link because I don't have 10 posts yet, just google bearsbaits, he is the first one that comes up.

Thanks! I've been reading for some time. I figured it was time to join haha.