Nice_Bass

That's a busy lake! It seems like on Clinton lake here by me, which would be my primary lake, they patrol for the correct reasons, and I have yet to be pulled over there luckily. Pulled over 3 times on other area lakes for nothing other than them checking for everything which is frustrating to me. On a side note- due to Clinton busy waters lately, I have been fishing Friday and sunday nights and the smaller crowds have been amazing. Not sure I will fish there on a Saturday or sunday with the pleasure boat and increased fishing pressure.

never have fished there- results?

I will agree with most everything here as well but a couple items of note- attaching the dui stigma to the DL worries me here in IL- it seems we already get pulled over for anything now and add this incentive and they may go overboard. Also, I do think that the flags actually do help a bit on the lakes I fish- Missouri it is required, and has spread to the popular party lakes I fish mostly here in IL and MO. Just last night, two ski boats coming straight at me on a narrowing channel, one boat had a flag, the other did not. I assumed the one without did not have any skiers/tubers and cut closer to them then the boat with the flags. I could not see whether either had anyone towed at the time. Turns out they both did. All in all, the suction cup flags work, and best yet puts the responsibility on the ski crowd. On a better note- top water bite has be on fire here. Had not picked up a frog for two years and now I don't want to put it down. Average fish size around 18 the last couple of days. Edit- I see the boater has to be in an accident first to be under the new legislation. I guess this is a bit better- but completely pointless as most boating accidents are fatal already and this, for lack of a better phrase, "legislates from the rear"

PM me if you want more details, but how big are your shad? I am thinking they should still be pretty small and if so will be pretty difficult to keep alive for very long. In cases like this I find a jigging spoon casted and then have a live bait rod dropped over the side suspended at a specific depth. In your case, it sounds like you should drop one over side, and let one float further back and higher in the water column with a float. Use as small of a circle hook and weight as you can get away with.

I don't like either all that much, and I could be wrong here but... The older generation did not like Elvis and thought he was terrible, now the next says that about Kanye... maybe they would actually be close friends laughing all the way to the bank???...

Honestly- for something that small you should look into the panfish section. A better bet would be to cut down the gulp mantis shrimp or regular shrimp or use gulp cricket. Really, the back half of the gulp mantis shrimp may be what you want to use in rootbeer gold.

Well after reading through this I need to stop fishing for just stripers and start targeting lmb again.

Time...and an undetstanding wife.

We in Illinois have to be #1 at something! Coming soon apparently though I think we have heard that for a while now...

Thanks all...still fishing today, but will be out a couple weeks everything else. Turning 30 this month- and I have screwed up my shoulder now three times in the past two years. It may be my time to officially retire from soccer. Smaller baits, lighter hooks, and easier hooksets with left arm and swinging all fish in with a heavier rod with really long butt.

Delong flying witch to me has been and still is an under-utilized musky bait. Great for pulling fish out from docks...big bass included. Not a real heavy bait, but long- works well.

Not sure where you guys are fishing...but the lakes I have been fishing have dropped around 10 degrees however I am still catching them off of spoons, 10 inch worms, jigs- any typical summer big bait. I have seen no noticeable change other than the water is a bit higher so they are spread out more than last year.

Dislocated my right shoulder last night and I am right handed. I can cast and do everything on my left so that should not be a problem, but I am thinking long hooksets could be an issue as I set overhead or up and to the right. Other than switching to a heavy action rod and braid, of which neither I want to do, any one been in this situation and find a good way to fish pretty much one handed. One issue I know I will have, I have been fishing mostly for stripers lately (big spoons, swimbaits, etc), and may have to back down to lmb until this feels a bit better. Stripers fight too hard, always requires two hands on the rod just to hold on! thanks, Mark

I think model preference is the best thought process after reading through this. I own all different reels and rods. When it comes to soft plastics though I don't throw anything other than Berkley however. That being said, only the powerbait series as I have full trust in the scent and taste. I have no need for the havoc series as there are hundreds of similar baits already and they don't have power bait formula and the gulp series has its uses, but I don't use much. This removes me from needing to use megastrike or anything else really on these and helps to simplify thinking and just fish.

seeing the edit I would join in the party... Somehow I am going to need to remember to take pictures of fish on the bump board now however which will be tricky.

Life of the party!!

7inch powerbait worm in pumpkinseed, 3/8th weight and 4/0 hook. 100 count bags save lives!

That video really does give me the chills. Thanks for posting.

angle of the sun more important, and you are getting more, for longer up there still than we are further south. Had the same weather here last week as well in Illinois. Water Temps dropped 10-12 degrees and the fish did not change at all. Points, humps, ledges, etc. Keep doing what you were before and it will be fine.

Headphones could be a death wish on the lakes I fish. if you don't catch a 30-50ft boat plowing water past you in the distance and are not ready for the big rollers you may be in the water head first. Music at a good level to hear but hear other things around you as well best bet where I fish.

I eat fish several times a week- sometimes fresh caught...sometimes from the freezer of fresh caught.

Yes to music on boat. The lakes I fish are party lakes and honestly the fish don't care. I am also not a shallow water fisherman though.

Somewhat ironic that "backboated" is seemingly an accepted practice Casting over in that situation is not an accepted practice. In my opinion a person that is back boating another would be the "un-sportsman" like behavior. Reason #243 that I have no urge to ever be fishing on the back of a pros boat unless it was a friend. I also never have, never would backboat someone. I find that the line down the middle works for all parties, and I always personally enjoy seeing the angler on the back of the boat catching fish as well even if not a team trail...

Sounds like not running on all cylinders...coil pack out or something similar. Take it to a tech to hook up, could be a cheap quick fix.

I could see that on a sick fish/fishery...but that would be an extreme outlier just as a 19.5 at 5.5#'s would be though and really should be removed from analysis.