5dollarsplash

If your fishing the same body of water most of the time, might as well try it right? Maybe you'll find a pattern that others miss or show them something they haven't seen. On the topic of the UL, I use a light action spinning rod and thats as close as I'll get. The UL doesn't give me any real advantage and they tend to run short(under 6'). Remember the power of the rod is moreso for the technique and the cover your fishing than the size of the fish. UL in stained weedy water, you may find yourself wishing for that little bit more backbone a L would give you.

I tend to ride my thumb on the line a bit more with the round baitcasters, right in the middle. Are you getting backlash? Is it a conventional reel by chance? If you list the model we might be able to give more specifics.

Mark nailed it. I feel that going to a 12" to scare off the smaller guys might just scare off everyone(except maybe pike) I'd rather have action from a few 15" fish rather than a day of casting for nothing<- (Why I only fish muskie for a month or so a year) If your the very patient type though, I don't doubt the big monster swimbaits could pay dividens with our upper midwest bass.

I started with a heavier(12-14lb) mono, but I think 30lb braid is the easiest to learn with. You can pick out a backlash without compromising the line as much. Remember to use a mono backing to conserve your main line as you learn, and spool up tight as it helps prevent digging.

If your still getting out in your neck of the woods, good on you! I think I'm about done for the year here in WI since the snow is on the ground and sticking. Downsizing is a good idea, especially in cold temps. Line watching is a must, and keeping a finger on the line is great too. Oftentimes thats the only way I'll notice my jig being picked up. Go as slow as you can, and then try to be slower. Its tough, especially for those who enjoy moving baits like a crankbait or spinning bait. Muck bottoms are tough, and like Mark said, most lakes around the Northern Midwest have it. Going heavier will let you feel the bottom but, you'll be pulling through that muck and getting hung up a lot. As you develop a feel for where the fish are at you can become more picky about where you throw that jig. Take a look online to see if you can find lake maps with marked bottoms. Over the winter is a great time to do this, find lakes with streches of rock, gravel, sand, all of which are much more enjoyable to fish a jig on than mucky weedy mess.

Your Smallmouth is pretty darn nice. If you keep at it, my big largemouth was 22" but skinny, so you can probably beat his weight at 5.3lbs.

You can win largest fish with a 4lb fish in quite a few tournaments up here. Big fish are tough up here, your hooking into a fish thats been around awhile and seen a lot. The good news is most nw Wisco folk are after walleye or pike/muskie, so more bass catching for us!

Check your local gander mountain if you can. I was in mine the other day and got a new Citica 200e for <$70. I would recommend this reel anyway, but at that price I bought a back up. The lexa's are very nice reels as well, and I wouldn't hesitate to use one of those.

Never.

It really depends depends on the lake on whether the pike affect them or not. Rice Lake itself, where I'm from it sure does. They tend to hang much tighter to cover due to the large northern and muskey. Lakes without the larger predators they tend to spread out from cover more in my experience. I try to use weed resistant baits on lakes like you mention. Jigs do ok, texas rigs, I love frogs for the weedless-ness. Try to avoid real heavy jigs/weights as they'll just sink in muck and get hung up bad. Also try using flukes rigged weedless instead of cranks if your looking for a baitfish profile. Hope some of this helps.

Most guys I know are tip up users including myself. Now (watch it happen now after saying this) I've never noticed an issue, but I do cut and retie after every fish when ice fishing. I think the water freezing rapidly helps eliminate sharp edges.

Another upper midwester to share the hard water season with! Lol Welcome aboard!

Great catch!

I wish somewhere around here carried them. Its hard to explain a package full of 20+ jigs, 1-2 are less conspicous.

Its not something I get into too much. But when I do, I make sure I have off work the following day

At least you got on the water. Woke this morning to a white substance on the ground, contacted the local authorities and it turns out it wasn't anthrax. S N O W. Tip up and beer season is coming.

When it comes to braid I pretty much throw the line rating out the window, within reason. Don't throw 80lb test powerpro on a ultra light lol. Most seem to prefer 30lb super line and that will work from ML-XH rods. Guides have gotten sooooo much better than what they were. I haven't experienced any fraying for some time. I did change out a tip on a daiwa rod I got as a gift, it was all aluminium and making too much noise for my tastes.

Mike makes a heck of a jig. They've taken over 1/2 of my tackle bag and changed the game for me, for the better

MichiganFishing1997 said it nicely. My ML LTB is a workhorse and one of my favorite rods. I actually switched to a true L for dropshot as I like my ML for so many other things.

As a fan it's frustrating to see him injured, but its directed at Ted Thompson. Having a viable backup qb is hard, but the pack really messed it up this off-season with Harrell and Young, then bringing in Wallace at the start of the season. I'm waiting to hear if they try to pick Flynn back up.

The black Berkley leaders with a cross-lok snap have served me well for years in pike infested waters. If I'm specifically targeting muskie or pike I'll use some of the heaver test from a place like muskyshop.

A-Jay, I feel your pain on the muck bottoms. So many local lakes have muck or mud bottoms here, it really makes it a struggle. What I did, and winters a great time for it, is pour through a lake map book or dnr site. I've got a hit list of bodies of water around me all ready for next year that have sand or rock bottoms. I'm sure you've already done this yourself, but to save others the trouble/struggle I figured I'd mention it here.

Congrats! Thats a great looking fish. Part of me tenses up whenever I do figure 8's. Luckly I've only seen it happen to others, but I've been out with people who's rods gave out when a big muskie takes and charges under the boat. I'm sure the fish appreciated the quick capture.

30#, you can go heavier, but I don't see a need. Personally, with spinning gear I lean towards the lightest I can use without worrying about it. On my own MH spinning outfit for t-rigs I use 20#, but I don't frog with it. Brand is up to you, Power Pro or Suffix are what I use.

Usable length is nice, Shane J did a great job explaining why. I picked up a St Croix Rage 7'6" MH Moderate while at their shop last spring. It does a heck of a job getting the bait out there so it can stay at target depth for a long time. I know people tend to overlook them due to them being assembled in Mexico, but your getting the same blank as the Avid and if you prefer the synthetic grip, its a great value. They come in right at your 150 price point, but deals can be found.