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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.

The water temp here in Akron, OH (Portage Lakes) is down to the low 50's and falling. Cold enough that I had to break out the Vibe-E/Sonar baits along with some very slow suspending jerk baits like the Lucky Craft pointer 78 and 100's. Once they get on that bite the catch rate starts to improve again untill the lake freezes.

I had two of these reels for the longest time. These where one of the longest lasting and smoothest reels I have owned regardless of price. I just traded them because I could only use them in the summer here in NE Ohio. The metal reel would get way too cold in the spring and fall and freeze my hands. Other than that, awesome awesome reels. Edgar

Ok, Sorry! That is really big. Thought I sized it down a lot more than that. Wont be that big next time. Edgar

I have played with painting crankbaits in the past. For years I did it for tournament and pro anglers and even had my lures in a few local stores. I gave it up after getting married and having kids. Just don't have the time or will to paint like that anymore. Now I paint for myself maybe 2-3 times a season. Here is an example of my past work. Not sure I can paint like this anymore though.

Yep. i tried left handed reels so i didn't have to. It just didn't feel right nor was a very good at it. So I stayed with right handed reels and stayed with the switching hands.

Awesome! Let's talk about some Bass Fishing!

Well, I am new here, so I can't say what makes this site better, but I can say what I hope will make this site better. I hope that there is seriously no tolerence for politics and religion discussion. Also, I hope there is no tolerence for personal attacks. It has become very out of control elsewhere. Again mostly because of the lack of control on the political and religous theads. People can get pretty offensive when it comes to that stuff. I love talking about bass fishing and I also like to buy and swap gear. Insterested in that forum a lot.

Has anyone that lives in or around Akron OH and the Portage Lakes seen that they drained the Cat Swamp Area off Portage Lakes Dr. It is so amazing to see the bottom of a lake empty for the first time. Stumps, rocks, creek channels. I even heard they found a car in there. Here is a video link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY61GCd0eL0&feature=related

Thank you! I'm sure I will. Edgar

Edgar from Akron, OH. I live in Portage Lakes (Coventry Twp.) and fish the Bad Bass Champs tournament trail. My favorite lakes are Portage Lakes, Mosquito Lake and the Black River/Lake Erie. I fish out of a 2004 Triton 196LE w/ a Mercury 200 EFI. I mostly focus on active fish with Crankbaits. I would love to work on my jig skills for those not so active days.