MarkH024

I work on the edge of Naperville/Warrenville. Nice fish there! I don't really take the opportunity to fish around work as I should but I also barely ever take lunches..

Flat Tail for jigging . Paddle tail for swimming. Easy enough.

Welcome. You've got all winter to read up. I suggest looking through all the pinned forums in the tackle, rod/reel sections. Learn your knots, as this is a good time to practice tying. Undoubtedly you will get great answers here. Welcome to the addiction.

Redline, you got Yamazaki 50 year by chance? On a serious note, anyone dabbled with Japanese scotch? @00 mod Jeff?

I have a bottle of 10 year Laphroaig and it's pretty good. I really like Double Black a lot too. As far all the other flavored stuff discussed I'm not big on any of that stuff.

I doubt theres anything new about it.

Welcome. Sugar Grove here

What are you doing eating Taco Bell? Didn't you buy a gizmo from NASA to make your homemade pork Al Pastor tacos? If anything we should all be coming to your pad for some food n drinks! You probably have your bar guarded by a 200 lb Rot, or a 12 guage.

I'm not a big whine-o myself but I prefer Cabs or Pinot Noir. If I want to go to sleep quick a couple glasses of Merlot does the trick. I had a REALLY good PN at a wedding recently and can't for the life of me remember what it was. I'm not as in tune with wines as I am scotch/whisky so I'm here for the recommendations. I don't drink white wines, only cook with them.

My boss was just raving to me this morning about Whistle Pig, although he kept referring it to Pig Whistle... Anyway, I'll have to try that out coming from him and now you. Truthfully I'm more of a Scotch guy but the scotch list they had last night was just about everything I've tried so I went for the Pappy.

Last night was my 1 year anniversary for my wedding and I finally got to try Pappy Van Winkle 10 year at a restaurant I took the wife too. It was really good, I enjoyed it so I can only imagine the older bottles are amazing. I paid $16 for one. The 23 year was $85 a glass..lol. In the recent months I've also got to try Eagle Rare which was great so thanks for recommending that Snakehead (from a while back). If any of you are in the Chicagoland area, go to a restaurant called The White Chocolate Grill. Believe there is one in Schaumburg and Naperville (by me). Their food is exceptional and a big whisky list to choose from. I had a chicken and ribs combo and it was amazing. The wife had a filet mignon chopped salad that was excellent. 5 stars from us.

Poe's Top Raider has been around much longer than the Whopper Plopper and I'm sure there are others before my time. I even recall a show segment with LD dropping Poe's name. There isn't really anything "new" hitting the markets anymore. It's a modification or tweak to something that has already been done. That's why I don't understand when people get their panties in a wad over a newly released lure that are strikingly similar to another. It's been happening for decades, it will continue to happen for ever. Now let's see this "new" invention...

Beardown The bite has slowed down for me as well in the recent weeks. I usually only manage one or two fish when i get out. The water is cooling at an extremely fast rate and because of that i've seen a lot of the emergent and submergent vegetation wilt and disappear quickly. I've had to rely on finding any weed patches out further in the water and fish in and around them to get a bite. Just keep at it, they're going to feed up for fall before ice comes. I wouldn't expend a lot of time on top water except at peak times. Give it 30-60 min and go back to something more traditional. The other factor is we've had winds coming from all directions every other day. Some days its SW, some days its East. We deal with some crazy weather conditions in this area and it can either turn the light switch on or completely kill the bite. Unfortunately, the OFF switch seems to last longer than the ON switch. We have a warming trend starting today through Monday so get out if you can. This is the best fish I've caught in the past 3 weeks, just over 3lbs. You can see her belly is flat and not really eating but she wacked a 7.5" Strong shad, so they're going to eat. Keep at it.

I have the 300 for one of my swimbait rigs. Amazing reel. If i could afford more I certainly would add another couple.

Ajay is also a master in photoshop

Phil Jarog does some awesome work!

Great day there Mr. Cadman. Congrats!

Got out for a bit finally and broke in my smaller Stong Shad. Ripping it through grass patches.Dobyns Fury 795Conquest 30065# braid

Nice gator AJay

I am putting myself in contention here.

Skunk.

Awesome Ajay! What did you get her on?

Welcome

Bass candy mail day. Babywake action

You're giving fish way too much credit. The rear prop baits have been around a lot longer than when the Whopper Plopper debuted. Same would be said for a senko, a jig, spinner bait, a frog, a craw....all have been used for decades and more.