Gavin

Usually rig the kids up with a trout magnet or 1/32oz tube under a small weighted float. If you fly fish small popping bugs, madame X's, and wooly worms, all with rubber legs.

I use a shorter rod for fishing walking baits while seated in a canoe. I experimented with 4 rods in the 5'-6' 6" range for the purpose, and chose the 5'6" baitcaster with a 4" straight grip. You can walk with the tip up or to the side with a longer rod but the short ones will walk tip down, and they seem to be better suited to the short accurate casts that are required on the river. Easy to keep your rod tips in the boat too.

Its been in flood stage twice during the past two weeks....Doubt that many folks ventured out.

I dont do much lake fishing, but we have smallmouth and largemouth in most of the rivers around here...You usually find the smallies and green bass in different locations in the Summer time. You might catch several of each out of a decent riffle pool complex...but the smallies are usually in current at the heads & tails of a pool. The greenies seem to like slower water. The same lures work for both. .

The Coleman/Pelican canoes are heavy barges made of cheap Ram-X plastic. Its almost impossible to repair one if you hole it. You'd be better off with an Old Town Predator made of Polylink, or even an old Grumman Aluminum. Grumman aluminums are easy to find on Craigslist.

Its not hard to walk any of them with a bit of practice..The bass can be picky about size so have a selection...If your getting misses, go smaller...If its lights out with lots of small fish in the mix, go bigger to select fo larger flsh. Use a casting rod for the 1/2oz and up models...the smaller baits like the Zip n' Ziggy and Zara Puppy are better suited to spin tackle.

The Spook Jr. works well...but I usually fish a Sammy 100, Sexy Dawg Jr, LC Gunfish 95, or a Cultiva Zip n' Ziggy. Topwater works all day long when the rivers are low and clear...Fish fast, no pauses. Color...as long as its got a white belly...it works.. Full sized spooks work too. Good luck.

Dont grease up the hair...but you can add scent if you want...Wrap a pipe cleaner around the hook and add scent to that if your not using a trailer.

A tube on a stupid rig, Chomper Hula on a football head with a wire V weedguard, or a beaver bait on a weighted swim bait hook.

I've never fished the lake, but I like to float the Black River above the lake..Air clear water, good scenery, and decent smallmouth fishing when its not packed with hundreds of drunks in rental canoes. Ask around over at Ozark Anglers...there are some folks from that area. Good luck.

Small hair jigs, tubes, senko's, jerkbaits, and deep cranks are cold water staples..Fish slow, then slow down some more.... Start breaking out some warmer water baits when the water temp climbs towards the 55-60 degree mark. Some warm water staples top to bottom. Buzzbaits, Walkers, Poppers Flukes, Spinnerbaits, Shallow Cranks, Swim Jigs, Jerkbaits Jig n Chunk, Tubes, Deep Cranks, Assorted plastics Good luck

I use a Regal for bass, saltwater flies, and jigs..You can probably find a used one for $100 on the auction sites.

Long cast with a walking bait...work it fast to draw a reaction strike...or small stuff on light line..Google Ned Kehde Finesse Fishing... .

Toss em in the water with some dead naturals and compare...Think the darker one will be a better match judging by the color of the worms that come to commit suicide in my inground swimming pool.

Copper...or yellow for low light

Favorites...geez..To many favorite jerkbaits..I like the most of LC lineup, Mega's, Ima's, Evergreens,, McSticks, Xcaliburs, Rogues, Husky Jerks...Cant think of a jerkbait I dont like. Sometimes plain old Rogue or Husky Jerk will take fish when the $$$ lures wont. You really need a selection of different sizes, colors, and some baits that cover different depths. You also need to spend some time watching and tuning your baits. Pay attention to depth, cadence and to what your bait is doing at rest (slow sink, slow rise, or suspend). Nose down or flat attitude at rest can make a difference too. A spool of lead wire, dots, and a selection of rings & hooks can make all the difference.Good luck.

The Flit 120 is a good bait...suspends a bit deeper than a Mega 110 or a Pointer 100. That Soul Shad reminds me of the LC Bevy Shad...good bait, but not talked about much.

If someone gives you a 1099 you better declare the income. Most Tournament winnings will be hobby income. Report the income and offset it with your hobby expenses up to the amount of your hobby income(You cant use a hobby loss to offset other income as if it were a legitimate trade or business). Talk to your CPA and consult the IRS's Hobby Loss Rules for guidance.

Depends on what you want to do. Lake fishing or salt water....I'd go with the SOT...River Fishing..You can go with either, but I prefer a solo canoe on the river...Does anything a kayak can do, weighs less, holds more stuff. Stability is not a big issue for me, and I dont need to stand. Had an OT Pack/Guide 119 as my first solo many years ago. Its a fairly decent boat, but the bigger solo's paddle a heck of alot better. I would not want a solo canoe under 14' long. Good luck.

Fish em on a stupid rig...3-4" tubes in the summer, 2.5"-3" in the cold months.

Translucent shades in super clear water....opaque colors in stained...Match your local baitfish.

Old guitar strings would be ideal...Ya know any guitar players?

If you look at it in terms of cost per fish...Plastics become expensive.

I have a couple Zip n' Ziggy's (second down in your first picture) and some Tango Dancers...Great Walking baits...but the tinned stock hooks on the Ziggy are junk..too small and they bend easilly...I replaced mine with #6 KVD Short Shanks. The hooks on the Tango Dancers are fine.

Should work fine for a small lake or a calm river....Wind will be your enemy in that toon, dont get blown across the lake.