dulouz

The past few weekends I have been fishing a river for smallmouth. I motor up stream and anchor near a slack water area and cast to the bank, hitting as many spots as possible and cast paralell as well. Last weekend I had really good luck with a Bandit 100 in Chart/Rootbeer. I didn't catch a lot, but enough and they weren't big but they did fight good. Today I was out and all I caught were tiny, tiny fish. The ones you don't know how they got their mouths around the hook. I tired other lures: spinnerbaits, tubes, buzzbaits. All with no luck. Yet everytime I went back to the crankbait I caught the little guys. I would think if the little ones are biting the big ones woule be too. If this helps, we haven't had much rain in several weeks and the river has been consistently dropping for a month or so. Any insights?

I backlash less with braid than mono, and when I do braid is easier to pick out and it does kink like mono does. As for what size, I use 15#PP on one and 20#PP on the others and haven't had a problem with cutting.

I was thinking I should have some extra shear pins for my 50lb thrust Prowler trolling motor, but I don't live near a BPS. I saw some Minn Kota shear pins at my local farm store that were cheaper, and more accessable, than the BPS brand. Could I use those?

Are carp any good to eat? if so how do you cook them?

I have caught cats on cranks, in-line spinners, twisters, and buzz baits. Last year I caught more cats fishing for bass than I did fishing for cats. I figure the lure landed right infront of them and they reacted.

You are not alone. Here in eastern Iowa it has been pretty slow. We have had a stretch of cooler weather, and it hasn't rained in quite a while so water levels are low. I think fishing pressure is taking it's toll as well. I remember the past two years have been slow at this time of the year. I am just happy to be out on the water with a rod in my hands.

Has anyone ever seen that Bill Dance blooper where the he forgot to unstrap the boat AND the hitch pin came out so that the boat and trailer were launched? Did they set that up??? It sure seems suspicious.

There is a lot of info on the web on how to set up a baitcaster. It will take time to figure out the right set up of line type/weight, lure type/weight, and rod action. I have been experimenting with these variables for a year to figure out what works best. Then practice, practice, practice. Good luck.

Cool. That is exactly how he described it. Anyone ever used one?

Someone was telling me that there is a fish finder that has the transducer on an arm that hangs over the side of the boat, sort of an all in one unit. Does such a thing exist?

Thanks for the input, it is good to hear from someone who has actually used both.

I have a 12' boat with a 6hp motor, and i was thinking of putting in seats but I want to keep the weight as low as possible. I looked at the BPS molded plastic and also thought about trying the removeable canvas canoe seats (that resemble those portable stadium seats). Any thoughts?

Yeah, the drunks are still sleeping off the night before when I hit the ramp at 5:30am. That's when I go fishing. However the wife and kids like to play on the sandbars, so we go on saturday and sunday afternoons right when all the idiots are out.

Today I was returning to the ramp after a day out on the river, and as I got closer to the I noticed a boat sitting on the ramp with water pouring out of what I assumed was the drain. As I beached my boat next the ramp one of the guys with the boat started bailing water out as well. I said "Take on some water did ya?". One of the guys says, "This isn't our boat. We found this guy by the ramp and he had sunk his boat. He was so drunk, he didn't know what was going on and kept trying to drive it up the ramp." At this time the boat owner was passed out somewhere. Wow...

Most people on this forum have said that the small diameter will cut in too much. I use 20lb PP on two of my baitcasters and 15lb on another and they do just fine. I don't catch a lot of of lunkers, but I did catch a 30" northern that bent both trebles on my crankbait and it didn't cause any cutting.

I altered them a bit and then screwed them on to the wood benches. They work great for pop and water bottles, and even work well for stink bait.

Her story is nothing new. It happens to unknown musicians as well the famous ones. Edit: Man, those videos are COOL! I have never listened to her until tonight, but I really like what she does (did) when she was sober. I hear a lot of Billie Holiday in her.

I manufactured a device that attatches to one of my tie down spots in the bed of my truck that has a bungee chord to keep them from blowing out.

I would look at what else is for sale in your area. Craigslist, want ads, bulleten boards, etc.

There are so many techniques out there and I am slowly learning as many as I can. I haven't got to the jig yet, and I still manage to catch fish. You don't necessarily need a boat IF you have good shore access. I am fortunate enough to have acess to a farm pond that doesn't have much pressure, and a lot of good river bank spots to fish. I did recently pick up a small boat which does open up more opportunities to fish, but sometimes it is nice to just grab a rod and hit the bank.

I am faced with a similar problem and was thinking of buying some bulk rubber mats that my local farm store sells in big rolls. I hadn't thought of the black and how hot it would be. Thanks.

I bought a 4 pack of those cup holders that hook to the window of a car for only $2. I had no idea they still made those things. Thanks for the idea.

I want to add a couple of cup holders to my little boat but don't want to pay $12 like they have in BPS. Is there some way to make one, or adapt something that is pre made and cheap.

I recently picked up a 12' v-bottom and I just cover it and it sits on it's trailer in my back yard, usually. I was lazy the last time I used it and just stuck it in the garage where my truck goes. That next morning we had a storm with 110mph straight line winds. I am glad it was in the garage and that amazingly my truck that was sitting outside didn't get a scratch. I wish I could say the same about my house.

1. My first custom rod paired with a good reel. 2. Switching to Braid. 3. My recently purchased boat.