Bluebasser86

It's pretty still and does have quite a bit of memory if you get regular Vicious fluoro, the Elite is much nicer line to fish with. Both of them are extremely strong and abrasion resistant though. It's probably one of the best cheap fluoros you can get.

Another guy on here has a avatar picture that is proof it doesn't take a big fish to eat a big bait. I believe it north GA Hillbilly that has a picture of a bass with an 8" Hudd wedged in it's mouth, not even sure if it was hooked. I've had lots of 12 inchers completely engulf a 5" decoy swimbait, to the point that I couldn't even see it anymore. If they're hungry enough they'll hit it. Deep you are on a roll man!

It's actually the same lake but it goes by two different names. Everytime I've been there I do well either on squarebills or flipping the waterwillow and docks. There's also a couple deep water spots that I've done well on but I could try to tell you all day where they are and probably wouldn't find it any faster. Hi Salenity-I know there are some big flatheads in there. My buddy had one probably around 30lbs hooked while he was trolling a deep taildancer for saugeye but it busted him off at the boat.

I've heard that too but I pulled a couple 4+lb fish out from under docks and across the metal support bars with the 8lb and had no problems. No visible fraying so I didn't even retie and it seemed fine.

I don't like fishing them but hard to argue their effectiveness. I do like giving them to people just learning how to fish though since they pretty much do all the work for you, just cast out and reel in the fish.

This would be a good aerator for the cooler you get. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Livewells-Bilge-Pumps-Hatches/Livewells-Aerators|/pc/104794380/c/104743980/sc/104434380/Super-Fish-Saver-Kit/699706.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fboating-livewells-bilge-pumps-hatches-livewells-aerators%2F_%2FN-1100640%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104434380%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104794380%253Bcat104743980&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104794380%3Bcat104743980%3Bcat104434380 Then just get a cheap bilge pump or a bucket I guess if the cooler is big enough so you can change the water out once in awhile so the fish have fresh water.

Rapala Longcast minnow. I've still got a couple of them myself. Not much action but they do cast a long way for a balsa bait. http://www.google.com/imgres?q=rapala+long+cast+minnow&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=881&tbm=isch&tbnid=mTeSNAtzIUsgOM:&imgrefurl=http://www.fishingmaster.com/index.php/tackle/lures/R/Rapala/Long_Cast_Minnow_%28Freshwater%29&docid=499sQNabe44jiM&imgurl=http://www.fishingmaster.com/images/2008011622584637.jpg&w=421&h=151&ei=FcCtT6v4Fsv0ggfB3pSJCQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=390&sig=101934780201673751060&page=2&tbnh=75&tbnw=209&start=20&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:20,i:153&tx=75&ty=41

I don't know what colors match unless my wife is there to tell me they match I do have one combo that is a shimano symemtre on a shimano crucial. Other than that it's pretty much all shimano or pfluegar reels on st. croix rods from Premiers to LTB rods. So I guess it's semi matching, minus one rogue Revo S that's in the mix.

Not a huge fan of the Triumphs myself but should be just fine for moving baits like what you're using it for. Still a good rod but if you step up to the Avids or LTB rods it will be hard to get yourself to go back

Yep, sounds like you have something going on with your rod or reel that is cutting the line. I have a rod spooled with 8 and one with 12 and once you get a good knot tied you can't hardly break the stuff. It casts a mile and fishes much nicer than braid imo.

Next time drive a few more miles south on 169 to Miola Lake or Paola City Lake. Not going to catch many big fish but it does have way more bass in it than Hillsdale, along with some pretty decent saugeye fishing if you can find them.

I'm partial to twintail grubs, brand doesn't matter much. Swimbaits work well also, I like the Havoc Grass Pig trimmed down to fit the jig.

Jelly Worms! I have some old spots also that are long and not very tall top to bottom. Can't remember what they are called but they still catch fish. Also have some orginal Thinfins and Wiggle Warts that I don't know what I'll do when I lose them.

I've caught a DD largemouth but still hunting for a smallie over 6, Erie without even having to think about it.

Get a big cooler and a battery operated pump to keep the water moving. Easiest and cheapest livewell you're going to find for a small boat. Shop around and find one that fits in your boat well and get a good pump for it. The nice thing is they're insulated so you can add ice to the water during the hot months and keep the water cool to help keep the fish alive. I'd also suggest getting a bilge pump so you can use it to fill the cooler and switch the water out once and awhile throughotu the day.

My best advice for fishing Hillsdale is to go somewhere else

Hmm says it's about a 5 and a half hour drive from here. Might have to try to talk the wife into letting me make a trip up there for a few months. The silvers and bigheads are bad down here in the missouri and the Kansas. It's to the point that it's getting pretty dangerous to try to run the river. I took a 20 pounder to the ribs and thought they might be broken for awhile.

Bluffs at Lake of the Ozarks Dusk on the White River in Arkansas. Baddest brushpile I've ever seen at Critzer Lake, Kansas. Smallmouth and the sunset on Milford Lake, Kansas. Storm clouds on Wyandotte County Lake, Ks. Mountain Lion track in Herington, Ks My camera sucks but this is the best I could fix up this picture with the lowlight conditions. A piebald doe in Shawnee, Ks.

I've thrown them with the old greenie 200B Curado and also on a 400B Calcutta. Both reels did just fine. I was tossing mine on a 7' H Mojo rod and it worked very well. A longer rod might get more distance but there is so much wind resistance with that rig a longer rod may not make much of a difference.

NIce fish! I too am a fishing addict. I don't believe I could ever get enough of it and am always looking forward to my next chance to go!

Great job locating the fish again! It's amazing that you're fish the same Missouri river that has nothing but catfish and rough fish in it here and doesn't have anything you could even being to consider clear water. How far north would a person have to drive to catch smallies and such from the mighty mo? I enjoy fishing rivers and that just sounds like a good time!

Looks like one of the jigs they use to catch Humbolt squid with.

Probably would be easier for them to see at least. Which one is better would vary day to day though I'm guessing.

I've also seen that done with a small grub under the popper. You're probably right that the feeding noises of the bluegill draw the bass in to the bigger popper.

Beautiful fish man! All that patience and hard work paid off for you big time!