RoLo

Pink is nothing more than Pale Red (one part red <> several parts white). Pink is a very popular hue among anglers fishing for smallmouth bass, walleyes and crappies (esp. the latter). Over the years, I've found that bass hit Zoom flukes in every color, regardless of lighting conditions. I finally wised up and decided to choose a color that benefits angler visibility and to heck with the bass. From that day forth, I use nothing but "bubblegum" super flukes Paul, I may have been the first member to purchase a PINK FISHING HAT. Oh...I don't wear the hat though, because I bought it for my wife Lately, she's been outfishing me on a regular basis, and flatly refuses to part with that hat : ;D Roger

That's simply a demonstration of the inherent strength of braided polyethylene, which any brand of braid can perform. Don't get me wrong, I was in love with PowerPro for about 3 years, until I got a bad batch. From what I've read, quality control problems are most common among the bulk spools, which is all I buy. Sure enough, a net search revealed that PowerPro themselves admitted to having QA issues, I fired PowerPro on the spot,and choose Berkley whose track record is virtually immaculate. Sufix is another reputable brand but I found their braid to be the most "wiry" of the bunch, and I'm a spinning enthusiast. Thus far I don't have a single complaint; and probably because I use 30-lb braid, there are no wind-knots & no burrowing. Roger

If you told me this a year ago, I'd have taken it with a grain of salt. But yes indeed, my wife and I have both experienced SEVERAL unprovoked breakoffs using PowerPro braid. I have since given two bulk spools the Deep-Six (I don't want their free replacement). We're now using Berkley Fireline Tracer Braid, and so far, so good. (BTW: I love Big Rideau Lake) Roger

Say Goodnight, Gracie

I told you once, I'll tell you one last time: "EYE POPPER" Cost about 2 bucks, you'd be a fool to play with a hook-point. Roger

It's really simple, if you're left-handed you're good to go. If you're right-handed, ALWAYS order a "left-hand" casting reel. If any company doesn't offer a left-hand reel, they lost my business. Roger

I use 30-lb braid for everything, bar none. I found Sufix too wiry, used PowerPro for a couple years, but strongly recommend Berkley Fireline Tracer Braid. Roger

They sell what is called an "Eye Popper".

In spite of wearing a heavy application of sunscreen on my face, arms and hands, a bluefish chomped my fingers down to the bone, causing a bloodbath Does that count? Roger

Actually, white perch is closer to a delicacy than to garbage. They're a highly sought brackish water fish, that can tolerate both fresh and salt water. Every winter they aggregate in Collins Bay, Mullica River, where anglers from far-and-wide come to fish for white perch through the ice (driving their vehicles right on the brackish ice). White bass is another super delicious fish. In fact, smallmouth bass and white bass we caught in Lake Erie were among the best, if not the best tasting fish we've ever eaten. Maybe it's was due to the waterbody, because you'd be hard pressed to tell one from the other. Roger

I'm not sure that it's possible to answer this question, because every lake is a unique ecosystem, and no aquatic plant is best in every lake. The consensus is "lily pads", which seems a bit contradictory to me. "Bank-beating" has taken a drubbing in this forum, yet lily pads are an emergent plant rarely found deeper than 4 feet. I know of a couple lakes in central Florida that have both waterlily pads and spatterdock pads. Oddly, the waterlilies rarely give up many bass, where both plants appear (the difference I believe is their maximum depth). Two key plants that do not appear on the list are Hydrilla and Spatterdock. If I could put weeds in a given lake, I'd probably start with hydrilla, a submergent plant that grows to 18 ft deep. Then I'd like to find pondweed (cabbage), eelgrass (tapegrass), spatterdock (cow lily), maidencane (Kissimmee grass) and bulrushes (buggy whips). Roger

Before entering the marketplace, you need to know exactly what you want, and accept no substitute. One of the main considerations is blank latitude (lure-weight range <> line-weight range). Aesthetics can be a smokescreen that cause us to overlook important features like 'handle length'. A friend of mine put an expensive rod in my hand and asked me my opinion. I handed it right back to him, and said the handle is too short. The butt didn't even reach my forearm muscle, in a word the rod was "useless". Roger

Marine Head

It would depend on the distance between the two fish : There isn't any fish you can name, that a bass wouldn't eat. Roger

I've explained this phenomenon several times before, so rather than rehash it again, I'm just going to re-publish one of my old posts regarding "rod-length": A common misconception, even among so-called "professionals" is that a longer rod gives the angler more leverage. Indeed, greater length is always associated with greater leverage, but exactly who benefits from that leverage depends on where the FULCRUM is located. The fulcrum of a fishing rod is the anglers hand, now imagine that you're prying a boulder using a lever whose fulcrum is next to your hand. When the length of the fishing rod is increased, it's the FISH and not the fisherman who benefits from greater leverage. Would you rather lift a suitcase with a 10-ft pole or would you rather lift it by the handle? When all other things are equal, rod length will affect the following: SHORTER ROD 1) Greater Power (the shorter the rod, the more leverage is taken away from the fish) 2) Greater Casting Accuracy 3) Greater Sensitivity (provided all else is equal) 4) Better Maneuverability (in tight cover, under docks, when lip-landing, et al) 5) Shorter and slower lure travel as per wrist & arm movement (beneficial for finesse fishing and in cold water) 6) Easier Transport & Storage (in the car, in the boat and in the house) 7) One-Piece Blank (no dead spots) 8) Lighter Overall Weight LONGER ROD 1) Greater Casting Distance 2) Greater Rod Stroke & greater Line Speed (beneficial during the hook-set when using mono line, but less important with braided line) 3) More line clearance between rod-tip and bottom of boat (important on party boat to reduce hull abrasion) 4) Greater reach for retrieving a hat that's blown into the lake 8-) When living in New Jersey, I did more than my share of so-called standup fishing during the 1970s. Very short rods called Strokers are used to go toe-to-toe with powerful game fish like yellowfin tuna and mako sharks without the aid of a fighting chair. Fish weighing several hundred pounds were routinely whooped using rods with an average length of 5½ feet. If you hooked up with a 500-lb tuna on a 10-ft long rod, you'd be in Trouble City! Without a fighting chair you'd be on the ocean halfway through the night, and probably still lose in the end. As a function of physics, we're always dealing with a seesaw exchange between Speed and Power. The Stroker rod sacrifices speed for power. With each pump of the short stroker the fish isn't moved very far, but the greater number of pumps is translated into greater power. It's the same principal as "low gear" in your car transmission, where more turns equals more power, nuff said. Roger

A Rage Toad is different than a Spro Frog. Even still, your nuts if you think that's a good setup. Jeez...the man's handle is "Mrlitetackle", that should provide your first clue. Fishing rules are made to broken, and I for one respect any angler who favors light tackle. For many years, I fished with nothing heavier than stretchy 8-lb Trilene XL, before polyethylene braid made the scene. As distinguished from a "meat fisherman", the light-tackle enthusiast is an angler who places pleasure above all else. Best of all, light-tackle has a tendency to enhance rather than suppress your production of lunker fish. Roger

I know that's true, but for those of us that haven't had the privilege of fishing in the region, it's just hard to imagine catching that many smallmouth in one outing. I will fish the Tennesse River from October through March and will not come close to 100 brown fish, total! Mcburcon's info is Spot-On, so I swallowed "100" with a grain of salt. I'm with you RW, the next time I alone boat 100 bronzebacks in one day, will be my first time. It is possible though, because there are many offshore reefs at the mouth of the St Lawrence (Lake Ontario) and in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron that are literally paved with smallmouth bass. BUT...at that concentration their average length is usually 8 to 11 inches, so I'm long gone before I hit 50 ;D Roger

What he said (Mcburcon, that's a fine pair of smallies, or should I say biggies Clayton or Cape Vincent?)

Rhino, when I read the subject line, my heart fell to the ground! I know the workmanship that went into your canoe, THANK GOD she weathered the storm Roger

;D Will Do

When I was younger, I was fiercely independent, highly protective and closed-mouthed. As I grew older though, I realized that I went to a lot of trouble for nothing. Most people ask questions out of courtesy, and a lot of them aren't even listening to the answer, and the rest of them will forget the conversation in the next 60 seconds ;D Roger

I didn't mention wrist problems because I personally don't know any anglers with wrist issues (casters or spinners). However, a high percentage of the elderly anglers I know in Florida, cannot stand and cast for more than a couple hours without lower back pain. Three gents in particular, blame their years of casting on their back problems, are all three predominantly use baitcasting tackle. On the other hand, I cast exclusively with spinning tackle, and though I'm closing in on 70, I will cast for 12 hours if need be without sitting down. I believe the difference has a lot to do with the difference in the tackle we've been using for the past 50 years. Although I've used a truckload of revolving-drum tackle in saltwater and live-bait fishing for bass, I used it for everything "except" casting. That is, drift-fishing, bait-fishing, wire-lining, fishing at anchor, trolling, et al. Of course, I may well be wrong, but that's why I merely offered this as "Food for thought" (draw your own conclusion). While spinning is more a flip of the wrist, casting is more of an explosive chopping action (times 1,850,000). There's another fine Floridian gentleman whose handle is "Avid", and if he get's to read this perhaps he'll chime in. Don has undergone one or probably two elbow surgeries, and has since switched from casting to spinning. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture by now. Roger

Frankly, unless the surface is very choppy, I never choose a spinnerbait in clear water. Roger

I neither T-rig nor use a belly-weighted hook. For soft swimbaits like the Berkley Hollow Belly, I use an Owner Sled Head Jig which incorporates a coil-screw retainer. But rather than rigging in the conventional manner, I thread the hook through the side of the body rather than vertically, so the bait swims horizontally through the water, which also provides a generous hook bite and easier hook-ups. Roger

Topwater bassing is as exciting as it gets, but it's not as productive as it gets. Except under optimal conditions, game fish may be reluctant to rise to the surface much of the year. I'd suggest giving topwater fishing your grandest effort throughout the post-spawn period. Suddenly you'll become a topwater guru, as buck bass eagerly rise during the post-spawn, all day and under most conditions. Roger