pitchin fool

Straight shanks for flippin heavy cover in the 3/0 size. An ewg will be fine also if you have limited set-ups and want to switch texas rigs often. I would switch to something with a more realistic crawfish look if you wanted to replicate them. There are many out there to choose from, but my favorite is the Gander Mountain beavers...cheap, durable and flat out catch fish!!!

If we put all your fish heads to tails, that you have posted over the years, they would easily stretch around the earth. Simply amazing smallies!!!!

Wanting to put 20lb flouro on one of my jig/plastics rods. I use braid a lot of the time, but sometimes the day calls for some flouro. I have used 15lb flouro before and the only problem was the stretch of the line (seaguar). Also just feel more comfortable with a heavier line with some of the questionable places I throw into. Which flouro has the least amount of stretch at the 20lb level?

I have children and I find it my responsibility to teach my own kids what is right and wrong. Everyone has temper tantrums. They just don't show KVD sitting in his truck punching the steering wheel and yelling after a poor performance.

Fishing is an individual sport, which makes failure that much worse. You don't have the team mate there to talk you down or help you out. When you lose, it's your loss, it's your fault, and sometimes that is hard to swallow. He chooses to get it out of his system on his own, on his own boat, with his own gear. When he is back at the landing, he greets his competitors and says good job. I am to bet my bank account if he was fishing with you and your kids, he would show all the outright respect you deserve. This is competition and losing sucks so curse, throw, and spit to get it out of the way and start thinking about the next tourney!!!

Try hitting it when the sun is at your back. They like the shade, so maybe when the sun is behind you they won't be facing that way to see you. I don't know for sure, but it's worth a shot. I have also walked with the current to some spots before and have had good luck. I know people say not to because you kick up dirt and stuff and it floats into the fish, but a lot of the times they didn't seem to mind. If anything it gives them reason to search for food thinking something got stirred up.

I have had days like this before also. I think it's mainly the fact that they know you are there. I have fished spots like you describe, where it is hard to approach them, and have struggled to get a bite. Later will leave the area and head up-stream and will start hammering them in another more accessable area. That makes me believe that if they see you....it's done!!! Even if they don't leave the area, it's over. Sometimes they just get used to seeing us and know that we aren't there just to look and admire.

Always try a jig and craw, also. I know you won't get as many fish, but them big girls love the jig and craw!!!

I love wade fishing for that very reason..NO OTHER FISHERMAN!! Looks like you got perfect water conditions also. Gotta love that gin clear water!!

I fish small rivers for smallies a lot, and I like 2 set-ups. For higher water levels where I need bigger weights and plastics, I like my TDS MH 7' rod and a Daiwa Advantage baitcaster. When the river is low and gin clear, I love my 7'3" Daiwa V.I.P M Smallmouth rod with a Advantage spinning reel in the 2000 series. The rod is longer and has a nice moderate acion to keep the pressure on the fish while it's runnin' all over in the current trying to beat me up!! I don't like this set-up in the higher water days cause with the whippy-ness of it, it's hard to work a jig or heavier t-rig on the bottom.

Why keep bass, sunfish and crappies are better!! Sometimes you have to if you gill em or if all you catch is 1 pound or less dinks. Those look a little nice for me to eat. Of course I am up in the sticks of Minnesota where those fish would be grand elders.

Start by using a shallow crankbait and throw it all day. Record where and when it caught fish to get an idea of what type of situation to throw them in. Do this with all your baits and you will learn valuable information.

Try sizeing down and fishing those same areas. You may have to use a heavier weight to get the lure pass the smaller largies on the way down, cause they love them smaller baits also. This could work and if not, hey, your still catching bass so enjoy!!

If you look up north american fisherman, they do a series on knots called knot wars. This years winner was called the Homer Circle knot invented by Uncle Homer in that one Bass magazine...lol. It beat out the palomar, fishin fool, and the berkley braid to become the newest, strongest knot out there. It averaged 20 pound breaking strength on fifteen pound line. I have been using it this year and once you get the hang of it you'll love it!!!

Craw fatty has caught a ton of bass for me this year. I like the longer body style to get them bigger hooks into it and the craws have good action also. I will keep buying them.

Look at the gut on that thing. She's ready to burst!!!

Brush beavers and kvd xd5....BOOM!!!!

Must have ventured over to some Wisconsin waters or some "shared" waters, huh? I've been trippin' down to Iowa since late March, 'cause I just can't wait for Minnesota to open up!! Been hammerin' them too, but now will try a swim jig to see if I get that same quality!!!!

Everyone has pretty much nailed it and I hope that there is some smallie action for you in there. When you do locate them and you want the big one, remember that the big ones love a jig and pig. I fish many rivers for smallies and 90% of my big girls have came on a jig. You may not catch as many, but you'll catch the bigguns!!!

I started using beavers religiously last year and found a few things I like when looking. I like the beavers with more of a claw shape to them compared to the "scissor cut" look. (ex. reaction innov. sweet beaver look) The claws for me gives me confidence in that it still looks like more of a crayfish. I also look for bumps applied to the craws to give them a little extra flutter on their decent. Many companies make them this way, even Gander mountain has their own which I like a lot and you can't beat the price. Also I like a meatier body on the top section. Hope this helps!!

You catch the nicest smallies I have ever seen!!! I also saw your picture and name in the lates issue of In-Fisherman. Your gonna have people knocking on your door at all hours wanting to go out to catch some fatties with ya

I have the advantage in the 2000 series for fighting river smallies her in minnesota, and I love it!! I got it paired on a 7-3 Daiwa Smallmouth Specialty rod, and it is a beautiful thing to fight a fish on that combo. You'll be very pleased, and if you win another, send it my way

My buddies friend had this problem a lot. Turned out he wasn't letting the rod load up enough on the casts. Soon as he started casting more fluently, problem was resolved. It will happen every once in a while though, when your catching them big ol' sows!!!

Check out sea eagles. I got one this last christmas. Haven't used it yet...ice, but feels really nice and I can stand up with plenty of room.

I just bought the new SK KVD 1.5 and xd5 cranks from wally world. I never find anything there, so this was a nice surprise. I'll check for the Owner hooks next time...I love the twist lock and their version of the trokar with the sharpened points.