Spankey

Exactly what the state and feds said they were working on. Hope everything works out. Commercialized fishing they are trying to step up to make a big drop in total precentage of them. I had a post the other week about how I've pulled myself away from the river which I've fished my whole life due to rains, floods, bad spawn years, invasives and on and on. Bummed me out to see this decline. Bottom line switched over to a lake and I'm fishing with a lot less stress and a new breath of fresh air. Anyway, one of the guys who responded to my post went on to say that Rivers in the country are in a decline as a whole. I guess so. Something to his reply had a bit to my posting of this article. After reading the article sensed there are alot of river guys feeling some type of impact to their rivers on the decline. It sucks! Bottom line. I believe here in PA they want those Flat Heads destroyed. In my case in giving them away. I'm satisfying two groups. I really don't fish for catfish. I'm good for a few while bass fishing. Gets the heart pumping until you realize what you have on.

I've caught a few Flat Heads while Smallie fishing. There are a few Rapala patterns they seem to hit. As crazy as that sounds. I'll release a Channel Cat. The Flat Heads were killed. Mexicans fishing down toward the boat ramp take them. No dis towards Mexicans intended, was told they were better to eat than channel cats. Could be, I'll never know. Giving them the Flats is the least I can do for humanity.

I hope this is the correct area to post this, but if not sorry. I just read an article in BASS about these invasive Asian Silver Carp that are reeking havoc in the mid-west and Tennessee watershed. It appears they have an expensive but doable plan that is in place at present time and an upcoming plan that is suppose to kick off for the destruction of these invasives. State and Federal are at least recognizing it. Hope it works out. Out east here there are Flat Head Catfish and Snake Heads that are causing issues. River issues. Being an angler who feel this has impacted their area. Thought it might be an interesting read for you. Just a thought.

I feel for ya. I'm eastern Penna. and it been terrible. I have not had a real season to speak of on the river. I'm a River Rat and never took to the lake that much. I really found a new home on the lake. It's been fun and a bit educational at the same time. My river days may be few and far between these days. Be safe and go out. I'm working so I can't go out. But I'll be thinking about it.

Crankbaits but not squarebills.

Nail polish works great. It can be had in all colors. I have a couple variations of chartreuse and yellows for belly painting and adding chartreuse shad stripes or just making the existing bolder. The Spike it pens work great also.

I use the black VMCs from Tackle Warehouse. You can make yourself up a nice kit pliers and rings pretty cheap. Look to see some of your various sizes and order them up. But you can just go to WAlly World and get some Eagle Claws and be ok. I just prefer the VMC stuff, hooks and treble hooks.

Not sure if this helps but I keep my Z Man TRD's in the original package and stow all my Ned rig stuff in a RubberMaid Container. Lids seal tighter than a drum and I have everything at my finger tips in one spot. I keep the various jig heads with them. Not rigged just divided by weight. I'm a big RoboWorm fan but have not tried them yet. A few colors i do like. And as someone said the z mans hold up extremely well to getting bit. i have not fished the large TRDs yet. I find the RubberMaid storage system works great. More of a kit form. I use my system for Neko, Shaky Head, Spider Jigs etc. just keros everything in one spot. I dont have baits deteriorate on me.

Great response! I like that. Don't over look a Power Worm.

I'm a pretty anal guy. Been told that by family and acquaintances more than once. But i try to handle them with kid gloves. Accidents do happen and some people don't know any better. The pros are more ignorant to letting fish flop around, they do know better.

Hope you guys make out alright down there. We've gotten our share of rain up here in Penna. but on a devistation level not like that where I live. Be safe.

Sorry I missed your post earlier. Great fish! Congrats.

Thanks. Appreciate the education.

I'm not a biologist and gonna take your word for it. But, the river smallies I catch early in the season can tend to be on the paler bronze side. Certainly not bleached though. Lacking some of the side baring. Healthy gold bronze color. On a typical 2 1/2 mile float/troll of a river stretch, now or heart of the season I can catch smallies from one end of the spectrum to the other. Smaller one tending to be lighter. Lighter and darker ones. Certainly not identical. I've mostly attributed it to the cover they are in. In that stretch I have rip rap, heavy grass, stone, rocks, pea gravel and fallen wood. I think Aggression level of the fish dictates some color also. In all seriousness I've never seen a bass that pale. And would have associate a health problem with it. Thanks for the insite.

Thank for the response. I take it they get a lot of sunlight?

I can see making a couple cuts on it and fish it like a TRD. the color has a river smallies name all over it.

Nice fish. He'll be ok. Having a rough life though. The overall washed out color of that fish is because he is dead. No????? That fish is alive???? Catch many like that?

I was all butt hurt earlier in the season about the situation. Being a laker this season did me a world of good actually. I'm throwing a lot more soft plastics which has always been my favorite way to fish. It has me back to fishing much slower. If you want to call it finesse fishing. Buzz bait fished more this year than the last 5 put together. Much less Crankbait fishing this season. The lake I'm fishing holds up good to all the rain we've been getting. This hurricane will be a good test.

Turk all this rain in Penna. has killed my smallmouth fishing this season for the most part. I had to suppress my short bout of major depression so I made a lake my new home. I had to. Have caught some nice Greenies. I can only believe the man upstairs will make something good come of all this rain. I'm not the worlds most religious guy but I have to believe something. I'm hoping after this hurricane things will settle out up till November. A few nice smallies before winter sets in will cure me. I'm not fishing those Greenies really any different than River Smallies, just less the current. Good luck. Good stuff.

I think to each his own. What ones is a favorite will differ to another guy. For finesse fishing I like my Avid Spinning M/ML 6'8", 6'10", 7' rods. For Crankbait fishing I like the St. Croix Premier Series Crankbait Rods in medium. But I would not want you to run out and buy any of them because of my post or preference. You have to aquire your own feel and most times at the tackle shop doesn't me jack. It will feel different on the water. Just have to go with gut feeling when you have them in your hand. Put a reel on it. Makes a difference. Just my two cents.

I've been there and broke two St. Croix spinning rods over the years. Avid and a Premier. Most likely my fault and the high sticking once. St. Croix will take care of you. The other time it was plain stupidity and not thinking about what I was doing by choking up on the rod while quickly horsing a fish over the side of the boat. They will take care of you. They put out a good product. I have my share of St. Croix rods. Can't go wrong.

If you don't want to break the bank the Shimano Nasci is a nice reel. This took the place of the Symetre. I have many of the Symetres, i think it is better for the most part. Shimano factory guy told me they stopped the Symetre because the lost the rights to use that name. Something like that. I do fish with a higher end Daiwa and Abu Garcia (they are good stuff) but they are not necessary. To me drop shotting, split shot, Ned and Neko fishing with 6'10"-7' M ML rods means more than anything. But it I understand a $15.00 reel is not going to last.

I could write a book on some of the things I've seen in nature while fishing. Some unreal. I fish suburban areas for the most part. We all have experienced these odd things. I've had birds, various types fly onto my back casting deck and seat on several occasions. Go along for a drift. Maybe its not that unusual, but a wood duck, I'll never forget that morning.

God bless you, hang tough.

I fish alone for the most part. Family says I'm a bit anal. But over the years people (men and women) have approached me about my bass fishing and wanted to know what it was about (I think they just wanted to see what my obsession was about), most have been green as grass to fishing let alone bass fishing, I've taken them out and act as a personal guide, made it all about them to catch smallies. All they have to do is show up and don't have to bring a thing. I had these people catching bass on lures only. No need for live bait to their surprise. These people have never lipped a bass before. They loved the time on the water, I feel like a better man just extending myself to them.