EJVH3

If you think you are fishing too shallow...you probably are not fishing shollow enough. That is the best advice I can give you about Mosquito Lake.

Here in NE Ohio we have 2-3 months of ice on the lakes. Anywhere from late Dec to early Jan. we will freeze until mid March. So we take a break from ice on to ice off. I more than likely fished my last time this past weekend because of commitments the next couple of weekends.

I too use the AVC70MF so the AVC66MF is the rod for you.

I think you could get a new St. Croix Avid for about $190 or easily find a lightly used one online for $130-$140. I use the Avid 7' M/H Moderate and the 7' Med Moderate for my cranking duties. I also have two G Loomis cranking sticks that are extremely nice but more in the $240 new and $180 used range. Both have lifetime warranties so you get that security for paying a little more. The St. Croix warranty transfers on used rods, not sure about G. loomis anymore.

I too fish nothing but St Croix and G Loomis and my wife got me a Savvy 733c for my birthday this past spring and I like it a lot, I use it for my jigs and soft swimbaits. I would buy another if I had the chance.

I think big fish like big meals regardless of the area or strain. Although we do not get many 7-10 pound bass here in NE Ohio, there is a good strong population of 4-5 pound bass and some 6+. We throw Mop Jigs with 5' Power Hogs as trailers, 10" worms, 5-6" soft swimbaits. 4-5 pound bass can fit a lot in their mouth. A cold front moves in and you are catching the 4-5 pounders on 4" finesse worms and 3" craws.

Here are some of the bluegill patterns I have painted over the years. They are more atristic than realistic I think.

I only use Dev-con 2 ton epoxy myself.

That is a very nice job!

Very nice work!

Some craw patterns.

These are a little more recent. I'd say about 2-3 years ago. remember I stopped painting creatively and for business about 2 1/2 years ago.

Here are a couple more older lures. These I bet I painted at least 6-7 years ago. No way I can paint like this anymore without lots of practice.

I will always paint for myself when I need that special color for a tournament. With a two year old and another due in March 2012, it doesn't leave me time to just sit down and be creative. Maybe this winter, who knows.

Central Basin Bassmasters is up that way.