NoBassPro

Go real old school and get some of those prerigged worms

I have found it feels easier for me to throw hard digging cranks on heavier duty med fast to fast action rods than on lighter rods or slower action. IMO, its not the weight of the rod or the bait so much as the resistance when retrieving the bait.

100# flouro leaders are the most popular option for leaders any more. I've heard of guys loosing fish not because the fish bit through the steel, but it gets a small kink and snaps on the hit. Granted, that is with short line speed trolling where there is little shock absorption, so may not apply here.

There is nothing in that list a beginner can't throw. Might take a time or two to get used to a spook, and there's just as many different ways to retrieve an original rap as a suspender.

They use them ice fishing for smelt here. Now combine that with a perch spreader and you've got something Effective or not, you've got to draw the line somewhere imo.

Next thing you know, guys will be rigging up 6 worms on a drop shot to see what happens. To me catching two fish on one bait is an entirely different game than casting multiple baits with the intention of catching multiple fish.

I think what he's saying is he doesn't understand why tournament fishermen would put different restrictions on themselves than those the general public are subject to. I.e. one rod, no trolling or live bait... He really needs to visit a musky or fly fishing board to get some perspective imo.

I will admit, I hope they outlaw this rig in tournaments. To me it seems more like something to be used for meat hunting than sport fishing.

I agree 100% with this. I happen to enjoy my work, so not sure I would. Competitive fishing sounds fun, but the stress of not having any sort of steady check and the time away from home would take its toll. I also think there's also a big difference between a good and great fisherman. I guess KVD used to compete in local tournaments in my area, and people I consider good fishermen just say he was a beast. Just saying, until you see how good the competition is on a consistent basis, it would be really hard to say how you would end up stacking up.

I'm about 20 miles north of South Bend. Have 5 lakes with 5 minutes of me, and plenty of other good ones within a short drive as well. Feel free to let me know if you want to head up this way, my boat won't get put up for a few weeks.

I know you have a biased opinion, but why would you say bullet shaped heads do not work thru weeds very well?

I do quite well on the original Rapala still. I start using them as soon as season opens around here at the end of April, but don't use them quite so much through the summer. Unless I head north and do some smallmouth river fishing.

I would say, no, it isn't necessary to have a ton of tackle unless you are fishing for a living. But buying new fishing gear is one of life's greatest pleasures

I mainly fish weedy natural lakes. For me, about the only time I use jigs is if I'm fishing around docks or pads but would like to try out some other presentations. So, what jigs have you guys used that come through weeds the best? There are a bunch out there for that purpose that all look the same to me.

As far as I know the DNR harvests eggs and milt when the fish are ready, so basically any DNR stocked fish would be a similar age and size as those you see from natural reproduction. I don't know of any storage of fish eggs for use at a later time or artificial means of forcing egg development in fish.

Is the original post about this rig in particular or just a feeling the fishing industry markets a lot of snake oil in general?

Honestly, there were no other boats on the lake at the time and this lake has no navigational hazards, so I'd have had to go out of my way to damage anything other than the boats in question. I guess you could slingshot a towed boat into a dock or something and cause damage, but that would almost require effort. Think I'll just ask if they happen to be lawyer or lawmaker before I offer assistance in the future though.

Its more about fishing and less about internet drama than any other site I have looked at.

I think she should get you a rowboat for Christmas

This sounds like it would make maneuvering much easier. Not quite sure how to lash a 18' boat to 28' boat tho unless the other boats outboard would work as enough of a rudder. The biggest problem we encountered was the towed boat kept wanting to drift in a straight line while we were trying to get it turned around, and it would start dragging my boat with it when it got to the end of its leash. We were able to use my boat to get his onto a waiting trailer, so it ended well.

Well, technically volume of sales at a given price would be more indicative of how people perceive the value of the item, not at what price the manufacturer/retailer set the price. And, as with anything, there's a certain status symbol type element that goes along with high dollar purchases that is not always related to performance. Or more appropriately, the assumption that in a free market people always make logical choices is false.

search for bathymetric maps for whatever state or water body you are wanting to know oops.. I misread the question, i thought you were trying to use google maps to find lake depths

Or, if all you're looking for is something to put your hand on to steady yourself, adding a planer board mast might work. Plus give you some different presentation options depending on what and where you fish.

I'd take it to a small welding/fabrication company and ask them to weld brackets to the legs.. I think a piece of sheet metal with holes drilled thru it should work for a bracket. Don't see why it should be an issue with your boat.

If there's sufficient cover, prey, and oxygen I'm not convinced they ever do on some lakes. At least I've pulled some nice ones out on tip ups over weedbeds in 6-8 fow.