Eternal Angler

Wow, never caught one of those before. What an amazing looking fish!

Second that, you ever try using knot glue?

Thanks, great to see another Michigander on here. My Dad and I have been trying to conjure up some date to go ice fishing, but I'm not sure if it's going to happen. We have to pick up an ice shanty, I really don't think it's worth it since we only get a good month or so to ice fish nowadays. The weather is always up and down in southeastern Michigan. I feel like a kid again waiting for spring to come around for fishing.

So what fishing line is everybody using nowadays. Last 6 or so years I've been using Berkley Trilene XT(8 pound), pretty happy with it other than the strength. I'm sick of losing big Pike and other types of fish, it doesn't happen much, been when it does I'm extremely ticked. I tried Fireline once when I was younger, but did not like it, I think the fish spotted it most the time. Then there's fluorocarbon, I heard a lot of people are using it as a leader nowadays and using some other braided line. I'm really not much for that idea. I guess when it comes down to it I'll have to try fluorocarbon myself. I regularly fish for bass, but I don't mind catching other fish at times. I really never gun for one species. I'm overall looking for a stronger line.

Just checking in and saying hi. Been fishing since I was a kid, took a break for the last few years, so busy with work and such. But, now I'm back and fishing every week. Just this past year I bought a Pelican Bass Raider Boat, two new reels and some lures. Now that I'm fishing more, so is my Dad and brother. It's so amazing how one single family member can get other people back into the sport. I'm pretty excited for 2010, my Dad plans on buying a bigger boat so we can take it out on larger lakes. For now though, just chilling in Purgatory(aka Winter). For 2010 I'm thinking about picking up a fish finder and maybe some other type of fishing line.

Well it's not necessarily bass fishing in particular, but fishing in general. It was my Dad, he first took me out on the lake teaching me how to fly fish with poppers. Afterwards I was just hooked! Been fishing more than 10 years, still learning new things each year, it's a big learning process.

I've been there before, sucks, lol.

I noticed that Xbox 360 has a game out with a reel controller, thinking about buying it, but I'm probably just going to wait it out. I just don't think fishing video games are no where near as close as the real thing.

Nice, largemouth or smallmouth?

That's one way to look at it, I'm already sick of it. I'm not much for ice fishing over here in Michigan, just not the same. I have all the stuff, except for a shanty. Just don't feel like doing it. Might go out once with my Dad, but after that probably going to wait for spring so I can get out on my boat and do some Walleye and Smallmouth bass fishing. I miss it so much!

Poor ZO6

I was looking for a nice sharpener, I might have to buy this one. I need something for my Rapala fillet knife.

It doesn't really matter I think if you do a little chuming in the water. Once the catfish get that scent in the water a lot of them will come into your spot.

Wow, very beautiful, just love the colors.

Big bass are always fun, especially if they are smallmouth. I really did much trout fishing so I don't really know what you're talking about. But, I'm sure fish that are stocked probably fight different than those that are naturally grown.

Like them french fried taters! Awesome, definitely bookmarking this post. Never had one that leaked, but have heard this from other fisherman. If it happens to me I'll know what to do, thanks.

This past year I bought a lot of stuff, this is some of the stuff I remember. Buzzbait White Body Beetle Spins Mepps Spinners Gitzits Bunch of Gulp Crap Berkley Fishing Line Few hooks

Caught a few Walleyes and Pike on them, not really good on bass in my experience. But each lake is different.

Simple just get heavier jig heads. And buy some deep diving Bomber crankbaits. I actually live next to lake st.clair, great place to fish. Just wish I had a bigger boat, waves get a little big sometimes and I'm afraid of taking out my boat.

You guys make me jealous that have ponds. I really want to have my own eventually, but I'd have to buy some property. I kind of always thought you have to have a deep pond for smallies to live in? I totally agree with you on the largemouth topic, it's hard to keep the smallies around if largemouth end up taking over the pond which they usually do. I live near this large lake that have both smallies and largemouth. At one point the population was 70% smallmouth and 30% largemouth. Now that has drastically changed, now I think it's like 80% largemouth and 20% smallmouth. It seems the largemouth bass have just taken over the entire lake. It makes me kind of mad because smallmouth bass are my favorite to catch.

Of course they will, I suggest using Norman or Bomber crankbaits. Bomber are by far my favorite to use on smallies.

To messy in my opinion and once they are dipped in water the scent falls off. I would just buy the soft bait that is already dipped in scent, I prefer Berkley Powerbait. I tried Berkley's new stuff Gulp, so far haven't caught much on it. Powerbait still leads in my book as the best scented lure.

Nice size smallies

Good see you are hooked, just keep at it. More experience you get from fishing better you will get at it.

A new year will bring you better luck!