.ghoti.

We're leaving one week from today for a week of R&R at Crane Lake. We were there three years ago. We found a caught a lot of smallies, a few nice pike, and a bunch of wallies that were the wrong size for dinner. They had, at that time, a slot limit on 'eyes, and every one we caught was either under or over the limit. Anybody have a report for this year? We have a cabin and boat rented for the week. With gas prices what they are, I don't really want to fish the other three lakes, unless I have to. We fished all of them on the last trip, and did the best in Crane Lake. Kabetogama was good to us, Namakan was OK, and Sand Point was poor. Crane was by far the best for that trip. Thanks for the assist. Cheers, GK

Now that's funny, right there.

But, what bait was he using? Do you think he was working an established pattern?

Glad to see ya, my friend. You know my number. Gary

I bought an Airrus Tradition spinning rod early last year. It's the only spinning rod I now use. I gave my Avid spinning rods to my wife. Cheers, GK

I also have the 6'9" ML rod. It's my super fluke rod. It's also the rod I pick up for situations where most people would pick up a spinning rod. I also use it as my backup crankbait rod. The rod loads well enough to cast very light weight offerings, but still has respectable backbone. I've caught a couple of five pounders on it, and had no touble with them. I wouldn't use this rod to pitch jigs into heavy cover. It's meant for light line techniques, and is very good for that. At it's regular $100 price point, I regard this rod as one of the best bang for the buck values to be found. At 70 bucks, it's an excellent bargain. Cheers, GK

Brian, you're the one who got me started with hula grubs, so it's your fault that I now have a box full of jigheads, and a whole bag full of hula grubs. Thanks. The 5" GYCB hula grub is one of my go-to baits. The Evolution Shake2 head is my head of choice. For bottom contact fishing, the keel on these jigs helps keep the bait standing up, and allows you to rock it in place with very gentle twitches of the rod. The keel also adds a nice subtle action when swimming the bait. It acts somewhat like a crankbait bill when in motion. An additional, very handy feature is the option to rig the baits two ways. There are barbs on the hook shankwhich allows a open hook rigging. There is also a barbed post to insert in the head of the bait for weedless rigging. I rig them weedless, using the post, for bottom contact, and open hook, using the shank barbs, for swimming applications. The grubs will work texas rigged, but I've caught a lot more fish using the Evo head. I've also tried them weightless, with limited success. The Evo jigs are not the cheapest jigs around, buit they're not the most expensive either. They are well worth the cost. Cheers, GK

Somebody can correct me if I'm confused, but I think you don't want to use a cotton cloth with KVD line conditioner. I'm pretty sure I remember reading that nylon material was OK, and cotton was not. Something about one of the components was attracted to cotton, and would not get properly distributed on the line.

You need to take cover into account when making this selection. I use a medium power fast action 7' Setyr rod most of the time for T-rigging. It loads better than a MH with the light weights ( 1/16, 1/8, 3/16 ) I use. I also don't normally fish really heavy cover. Sparse weeds and small brush for the most part. A five pounder is a rare beast in my neck of the woods. A heavy power rod is a serious case of overkill for most of my fishing. If I fished in heavy weeds and thick wood a lot, with a real shot at fish over ten pounds, like some of you Texas guys, I'd have my 6'10" heavy, mod-fast Setyr rod in my hand most of the time. So it depends. Match your gear to your conditions. If you're only able to take one rod, make sure it will handle what you're going to encounter. One of my favorite rods is a BPS Pro Finesse; 6'9" medium-light power, fast action. It's great for small tubes, flukes, etc. But, I wouldn't dare take it to Lake Fork or Stick Marsh. Cheers, GK

Congrats, Keith. my best wishes to you and Mrs Flechero. When I saw the new avatar, I said to myself, "self, that chart plot looks like a sonogram" Cheers, GK

I watched a ferry boat driver in St Thomas fishing. We were on a cruise ship making a stop, and were waiting for the ferry to fill up. The driver had about 50 feet of what looked to be 100lb test mono tied to his chair leg, with a 1/0 straight shank hook on the other end. He was using cut bait, and would drop it over the side, let it down most of the 50 feet, and jig it with his fingers. He set the hook with a upward yank, and start wraping the line around both hands. He never missed one, and never lost one while I was watching. I'm telling ya, he "cranked" in a bunch of yellowtail while we were watching and tossed them in a cooler half full of ice. When the ferry docked, a little kid came on board with a fresh cooler, and hauled off the full one. Not exactly high tech gear, but the guy was a heck of a fisherman.

I use these. The double sided ones. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_37109_100011010_100000000_100011000_100-11-10 I've had six of these for several years, stuffed so full that I have to lay them on their side and squash them down to get the zippers closed, and never had a problem with any of them. And, I do not treat them easy. They get tossed in the boat and car, set on, dropped, walked on ( not on purpose), and they hold up very well.

BPS MicroLite rods are always going on sale. I have two, and they are perfect for panfishing. Slap a Symetre on one, and your set for around 100 bucks. A 3wt fly rod is also a great option. Temple Fork Outfitters has a very nice 3wt for around 100 bucks. Add a cheap reel and a good line and you're in the 200 buck range. Cheers, GK

I change out line on my reels fairly often, and for several reasons. If I've backlashed it badly, I think the kinks weaken the line line, so it gets changed. I fill all my reels up to the bevel on the spool lip. Whne it gets down about 1/16", it gets replaced. Some of my reels see less use than some others. I change the line on these when I think spool memory has become to much. If I'm taking a "special" trip; one that is costing me some money, I'll put on new line. When feathering the spool, you can feel the knot joining the line to the backing well before it comes off the spool. When I can feel the knot, I re-spool. Fishing is a multi-variable equation to solve and most of the variables are out of our control. The condition of your gear is one variable you can control. So, I change line often, clean and relube my reels often, and try my best to keep my tackle well organized. When it's time to change line, try this. Tie on the longest casting bait you normally use on that particular rod/reel. Make a long cast. Pull out enough line to let the bait hit the bottom. Pull off a few more yards and tie a knot in the line. Crank it all back on the reel. Now when you change line you just strip it off down to the knot, cut it off, thread the new line through the guides, tie it on the old line with a back to back uni knot, and fill the reel up. You only have to do this the first time. I've saved a lot of money over the years doing this. I'm guessing I put on about 60 yards of new line on most of my reels with each re-spool. My cranking reels get a little more than that. I make a lot longer casts with cranks then I do with plastics or jigs. Cheers, GK

I'm diesel fitter. What's that, you say? It's like this. I stand at the end of the line at a panty hose factory, and try to get my head into one leg of each pair of panty hose. If I can just get my head to fit, I toss them in the crate and say, " dese'll fit 'er.

I'm just glad you put the word local in the header

Thanks for the tip B Rob. I don't have any slow reels, but I do know how to crank the handle slow. I'll give it a shot. Cheers, GK

think male dog and fire hydrant

Sounds like you caught some good smallmouth bait.

I've bought about $200 worth of these baits, and the weighted hooks, and have yet to catch a fish on one. I traded most of them off for Swim Senkos, but kept a few. We're leaving this afternoon for a trip to Trophy Country in central Missouri. Three days of bass fishing at the best bass fishing hot spot I've ever seen. If these baits don't produce at this place, I'm done with them.

Don't know. What year is it?

Thanks for posting up the reports. You always seem to have a good one. I can't wait to get back down there and fish with you again. Gary

I'm in, as soon as I can find a picture of a dink. Hey Lee, what the heck happened to your hair, man?

i be steppin up to this year plait to nomnait me gud budy LONG MYK for fer speechifyin the mostest corectedest gramer and spelin.