wnybassman

I've got a set of Cabela's "Denny Brauer Signature Series" I bought in 2001. This series was one step below the Guide Wear at the time. Still use them today, even though they really are showing their age, but still do the job relatively well. I also wear the bibs 100% of the time while I am ice fishing, so they have seen tons of use. I also got the uninsulated version big enough to layer underneath, although they don't seem as big as they did 12 years ago. lol Based on my experience with Cabela's gear, I would get them again.

The next month can be the best time of the year.

I have not had any luck with the matte black yet. Maybe I should give it another go. A fluid bed makes life a little easier as well. I made my own with Cadman's instruction.

The ones that don't fight were obviously raised by walleye parents.

Many times that's how it goes in the fall. The window of opportunity tends to get smaller and smaller as the water cools. They will go on a feed for a period of time, then it's as if there is no life in the lake at all for long periods of time. Some days they might bite all day, but those are usually slow and steady days with a burst of fast and furious now and then.

I use XD50 as well. Up until now I have been buying it bulk (bring my own gallon jugs) from a drum at the local marina and even that has gone up to $35+ a gallon. A couple months ago I learned about the Domo site and I will be buying a 6 pack first thing in the spring. I'd buy it now, but not sure I want all those gallons sitting over the winter. The shipping rate for a 6 pack is $35. I can save about $7 a gallon, and I use about 7-8 gallons a year.

Round

Ah, that makes me feel a little better about you. lol That neutrally buoyant thing is important. Very easy to get too much air out and have them sink like rocks. I've had a smallie or two lay on the bottom of the well because of this.

Poor Boys has a nice line-up.

What do you do, poke them in the ass? lol

I would drop back to the #1 hooks if the size of the bait allows. The couple time I increased to a 1/0 I didn't like it. I have caught a bunch of big fish on #2's and 4's as well, but the #1 is my all purpose smallie hook. As for fish launching, Once I sense the fish rising quickly to the surface, I try to pull fairly hard to the side with the rod tip low to try to get them to turn and start digging again. Once in the air, anything can (and usually does) happen. I also prefer a ML rod for extra shock absorption. I don't lean into anything when hook setting, I still cross their eyes, but I also use straight flouro.

I've been known to carry a couple extra baitcaster spools in my tackle bag. I think the last time was when I fished the Eastern Divisionals as a non-boater on Champlain. Needed to save as much room as possible, but wanted to have extra spooled up line just in case.

I'm still trying to come up with a plan at 42.

At 3:43pm today, I missed this post.

I have carried a couple loaded spare spools in the boat for a dozen years, and I don't ever recall using one.

A place I order supplies from says this............ "SIZE 8 WILL BE OBSOLETE WHEN WHAT IS IN STOCK IS GONE." ........and stock there is gone.

That

I have 5 LTB's, 4 Avids, 1 mojo, 10 or 12 Premiers and a mediocrely built SCIV custom. To tell you the truth, I don't notice a hell of a lot of difference between any of them. I can interchange between any of the models and not really feel like I am missing anything.

I bought a pound of flat black from Harbor Freight and it does not perform anywhere near as good as the Pro-Tek powders. In fact, I can't even get a single weight to look good at all (I powder paint all my dropshot weights). Seems clumpy and stringy when trying to "swoosh". But yeah, a 2 ounce jar of Pro-Tek will last a casual jighead painter two or three years.

A good friend of the family was in the piano restoration business for many years. I have helped him move many Steinway baby grands over the years (don't ever become friends with a piano restoration guy lol) I even delivered two to Tennessee for him on two separate occasions. Unfortunately his father (partner in business) passed away about ten years ago and about 5 or 6 years after that he gave up the business. He had about 100 piano's in storage, probably a dozen or more Steinway baby grands, in un-restored condition, but he sold everything off a couple years ago. NY to CA would be kind of a haul anyway

I drain out most of the "magic gravy". They don't need to be swimming around in that much liquid in my opinion. I just keep enough in there to cover the baits, less sloshing around that way. I also found a spinnerbait box that will hold two pints, one on top of the other, perfectly. I think it is a Flambeau box, but not positive.

Just do whatever you usually do, after a few long casts it is what it is anyway.

On the Niagara I like to drop straight down until it hits bottom, I use a 1/2 ounce weight nearly all the time. Tighten the line and let the weight "chatter" across the bottom while drifting along, lightly lifting and dropping to maintain bait and bottom contact. It is essentially a vertical drag. Wind complicates things. In an open tournament there last week the wind was kinda stiff blowing us faster than the current. All that means is more drops, once the rig gets too far behind the boat it is more susceptible to snagging. Wind blowing against the current is even tougher. Many times you will be fishing on the other side of the boat, dragging it in front of you. Weird concept, but it works. Watching the graph while drifting along is kinda cool. You will see boulders go by, and a big arch or two on the back side of it. When you see this, you really can anticipate a bite.

Perfect timing. Coincidentally, today I caught my personal best freshwater (or saltwater for that matter) fish of all time. 38 inches 35 pounds on the nose 10 pound Vanish

I have a small collection of "High Rollers". Most of them are when Smithwick had them, but a couple other companies have also marketed the bait. The coolest ones I have are a pair of signed baits by the original designer.