rmcguirk

This. Good at $3.49; better at 2.99. Needless to say, I've stocked up.

Thanks all. My yak is not going to allow me to sit up any higher. Also, the thought of all 6'3" of me squatting in my yak is pretty funny. With 45 degree water and 48 year old knees, it would be a recipe for disaster. I tried the 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock method. Worked, but I didn't feel like I was getting crisp jerks. Probably just a practice thing.

I was out in my kayak on Honeoye Friday, Saturday, and again today. Bass have certainly woken up and are prowling the shallows. Best baits Friday were soft plastics worked slowly on the bottom. By today, it was a lipless crank bait. Caught 20 today, 15 of them on lipless crank baits.

Thanks. The lake I was on was literally two or three days from ice out, and the two bass I caught were pretty lethargic bites. I'm not surprised the jerk bait bite is not quite on yet. I was working the bait (a LC78) with short side jerks and swipes, but it just felt uncomfortable.

How do you do it? I was out today for the first time of the season. Given the temperature, I tried a little jerk bait fishing. Nothing. How do you work it in a sitting position. From my boat, I use the typical downward twitch. From my sit inside kayak, I can't do that type of pull. So, how to work it? Thanks. Rick

My older-style BPS Extreme was my first bc reel. It d**n near caused my to give it up and just stick with spinning. I'd say, on average, I had a problem at least every third cast. But, the stubborn person that I am, I bought a BPS PQ, realized life could work with bc reels, and now I have a nice selection of bc reels and use them more than my spinning gear. I went back to the BPS Extreme several times last summer, and though I've gotten pretty good with bc reels, I still have issues with that one. Stick with it.

I have the 6'10" M/F. I like it a lot. But, of the three M/F rods I own, it is by far the softest. The other two are a BPS 6'6" Extreme and a 7' Avid M/F. In comparison to those two, the Fenwick has always felt underpowered. I use it a lot for lighter presentations and also as a back up rod for square bills and lighter cranks. Though it feels lighter than my other M/F rods, I've never had any issues setting the hook, even in cover (though, to be honest, it's not my first choice for cover applications). And, for whatever reason, it's the rod on which I've caught more pike the last two years than the rest of my rods combined, and I've never had a problem turning and landing them.

I regularly fish the four western Finger Lakes from my kayak (Honeoye, Conesus, Canadice and Hemlock). If you want more information on those bodies of water, shoot me a pm. I know for a fact that Mark's Leisure Time Marina on Conesus has rentals -- both smaller boats and pontoon boats.

From my experience, I catch more numbers on a rage craw t-rigged, on bare jig head, or rage rigged than I do with a true jig and craw combo. But, on average, size is bigger with the true jig and craw combo.

4.89

You pretty much answered my question. I've got a St Croix Premier MH cranker and I'm looking for a compliment. The M Avid would be the one?

Very, very sick. Not too much snow, comparatively, but cold. No warm stretches at all. The ice has to be incredibly thick right now. Yet some winters, it's clearing by now. I fear I won't get the boat launched until after April 10 or so. Just saying it makes me feel sick to my stomach.

I have one and I like it a lot. I can't compare it to the E, as I've never held one. I know many people love the E, and lament the changes to the G. But, tor $100, I think its a great buy.

I have the best of both worlds. While my wife doesn't really enjoy fishing, she does enjoy being outdoors. Most weekends, she'll let me get up and go early and fish for 4-5 hours and then meet me at the lake--usually with lunch. She'll then come along for the ride while I fish for a few more hours while she reads, suns herself and naps. When she does fish, though, she's a killer. She prefers live bait, but I'll usually set her up with a spinning rod with a wacky rig. She is amazing. Throws it out, reads her book/listens to music and just flat out catches fish. Not quite a dead stick technique, but close. Reminds me of how you need to slow down your presentation some times.

This. I use whatever old stuff I have. Right now it's cheap 20 lb mono. As noted, it should never see the light of day.

Thanks for the tip. I bought a couple (at least that's what I'll admit to). Bait and Gear Monkey is starting to climb all over me. I just want to buy everything on the flea market. Doesn't help that the BPS spring sale catalogue arrived today and it got up to 48 degrees here today.

At least at my local store, they'll even sell you a reel for $5 that you can then use as your trade in. If you're buying something higher end, it makes economic sense to do so.

I have a spinning PQ. It's a fine reel, but IMHO it doesn't punch as far above its weight as does the baitcasting PQ. If you get it for about $50, it's well worth it.

In my local DSG, the Curado is already selling for $129.

I've used it and been successful with it both ways -- it is one of my favorite swim jig trailers. Visually, however, I like it vertically. It just looks better to me.

I've gotten away from spinnerbaits in the last couple of years, though I think I'm going to get back to them this spring. It just seems that, more than any other bait I throw, using a spinnerbaits is ringing the dinner bell for pike.

Beer. Oh, you meant fishing stuff. What do you already use?

I like this. I think it's going to be how I operate this year.

Agreed. Not a stiff enough tip for hard jerk baits.

I have the 6'10" M/F. I like it well enough. It is light and pretty sensitive. A fairly all-purpose rod for lighter presentations. IMO, though you could use it in a pinch, and it does have a nice short handle, it does not have enough tip for hard jerk baits. In fact, I do like it as a back-up cranking rod for just that reason. You're in my neighborhood. If you'd like the chance to try the rod out, I'd be happy to meet you and let you try it out. PM me if interested.