NBR

Clayton, I was thinking of Ontario the province not the lake. Thanks for your post since I was not very clear. One of the reasons I like Grand Traverse Bay in MI is that there are several good spots in case the wind really blows and you can't safely get out on the big water. Nothing worse to me than sitting in a cabin or motel room watching huge waves roll on to shore.

Taking out your time of the year I'd take Erie, Grand Traverse Bay in MI, Chequagon Bay(sp) at Ashland WI, Green Bay near Sturgeon Bay, WI, St. Clair or Champlain but and a great big but. Those large bodies take a lot longer to warm up so if I was going in April I'd either go to Dale Hollow or Pickwick. I have never been able to fish Champlain or Erie but I've fished all the others mentioned by me and the others and in most years I wouldn't think about a north trip until May. Some states don't open the bass season until late June and in southern Ontario not until the fourth Saturday in June. I now live in NH and our ice is rarely out before the first week in April, usually later. Excluding an April trip date my first choice would be the east arm of Grand Traverse Bay in MI. If the wind blows you can fish Torch Lake, Torch River or Skemog (sp)

Glenn, I'm having trouble opening up any forum. It is not consistant but from time to time I'm told that Bass Resource is not available. This is just a FYI.

I'd go to a local tackle shop that handles fresh water gear ask a lot of questions and spend a very little money.

Like Way2slow I wouldn't worry about it now. I'd refill with lower unit oil make sure the gaskets on the drain and fill bolts are in place and put a pan under the motor so if it leaks you will know in time to get it fixed before you want to start fishing in the spring. It takes some pretty low temperatures to freeze hard enough to crack the lower unit casting. My guess is that you have escapede major damage.

I've used "Vanish" for years with no trouble at all. I am in NH so as I'm sure you know the lakes are rocky so I do watch for abrasion carefully.

Stinkybass, Most are here to learn and answer questions when we have knowledge. Ask your questions and almost always when one of us has an answer you will get a reply. If you ask a specific question or something about a specific lake or area there might not be anyone with an answer for a few days but almost always you will get an answer in a reasonable amount of time.. If you describe the lake, impoundment or stream someone might be able to give you a general answer for that type of water body. In my view your suspicions are incorrect. Questions are answered here when someone with the information reads the post. I live in the NE so I rarely if ever look at the SE site. I'll read your post and see if I can contribute but since I have never fished in VA or very close (closest I have fished would be GA and AL) any answer I would give is at best a generality.

Doug, Regardless of the baitcaster you buy unless you practice you will backlash or have the reel snugged up so tight that you get very little distance. There are several items of information that will help you get started (the top heading on this forum is one) but nothing beats practice and I think learning on the water is very frustrating since you are wasting fishing time clearing backlashes. I've used baitcasters for over 60 years and still manage a backlash from time to time. Look at a reel in the $100+/- range, fill it with 12 to 14# soft mono, add a 3/8 ounce practice plug, set the reel up according to the manufacturers instructions possibly modified by instructions on this forum and practice in the yard, driveway, parking lot or any where but the water. Start looking for accuracy and not distance. As your skill increases back off your cast control and your distance will improve. Recognize that you will backlash and some will be so extreme you'll need to cut the line off the reel, so don't spool up with expensive braid or fluoro. Put a target out and work on accuracy and gradually increase your distance. Start now and you'll be skilled by spring.

I've had a guide use 2 on Lake Okeechobee. He lashed them to the side of the boat as we traveled. When we stopped to fish he pushed them into the bottom and fastened them to cleats on the side of the boat. I can't speak as to how they would work on hard bottom or if was windy. The guide were made from PVC plumbing tubing and my guess would be about 3" O.D.

You are only about 60 miles west of Clewiston and Roland Martin's resort. Google that one and Bass fishing guides near Clewiston FL and I would gues you will have many options. To find a closer area you might see if you can find a local tackle shop that at least stocks a supply of fresh water tackle a sales person there might be able to point you in the right direction.

Flat vs V can have a lot to do with lake shape/size. If the 2000a+ has a lot of open water then I'd look at a V but if it has lots of bays, points, creek arms and more shelter then I'd consider the flat bottom. In my experience V's handle rougher water much better but flat bottoms are a more stable fishing platform. Flat bottoms can beat you to death running into the wind.

Prep your boat away from the ramp. While you are getting ready to launch others can put their boat in to the water. While I fish and launch and recover my boat alone often it is much easier with two. I always prep the boat away from the ramp. When I have a buddy along we also prep the boat away from the ramp. Get the transom saver off, undo the tie downs, get our rods( with reels attached secured,tip the motor all the way up, prime the fuel line bulb and make sure the bilge plug is in and secure. Have all electronics and the Tmotor connected. If my buddy can back the boat into position I just climb into the boat and let him take me from the prep area to the ramp. If he can't I position the tow vehicule and boat on the ramp so he only has to go straight back, the I climb into the boat. I have him back in using hand signals until I can put the motor part way down and start it up. Be sure the prop is not going to hit the ramp. Once the motor is running he unhooks the trailer from the boat and backs on down when the boat floats up I back off in reverse and he parks the rig. If there is a dock I pick him up there. Wihtout a dock you'll have to pick him up off the shore. The reason I make sure the motor is running before I unhook the bow line is if the boat for some reason won't start you are not floating around in he lake with no power. If you have a bass type boat they are more than a bit hard to paddle and if there is wind you can be a long ways out quickly. As stated earlier practice backing the boat and trailer so you have a decent degree of skill and if you have a boat/trailer experienced bud get him to come along and help the first few times. In time it gets to be old hat.

There are so many good to great smallmouth waters in NH my favorite is where I happen to be fishing.

I have used sev eral of the knock-offs and don't see any difference in durability catch rate but when the bite gets tough I still go back to the Yamamoto original.

Call D&R Sports in Kalamazoo. They will most likely have a name or a phone number.

I've had Rapala and other knives but for speed and accuracy nothing compares with a power knife. Mine is not the battery powered job and works very. I don't use it very often probably a dozen time a year but if ir craps out I'll buy another. I think mine is an American Angler.

Go to www.nesportsman.com. Click on boards, allforums, then bass tournaments. More info than you will ever need.

Some are just better fishermen than others. Better concept of where the fish lie in terms of cover, more accurate casters. I have a dear friend that I whip on a regular basis. He just doesn't put the lure where it's needed. Years ago we were fishing in Canada and I even got feeling bad since I was pulling fish in right and left. I took a break, had a coffee and back then probably smoked a cigerette of two. In that time he caught zero. I got tired on inaction and started to fish again and immediately caught fish. Now it might have been there were no fish in the area covered during my break but I doubt it. When I'm on the front deck I make it a point no to hit every spot I think looks productive.

I agree that thet eat what ever they can get in their mouths. Years ago I was at a lodge on I think the Chippawa Flowage in WI. They had a fish tank in the bar that held about a 10" bass, a shiner about 5" and a smaller catfish. We were there for a few days and on the second day the shiner disappeared. It was easily found since it stuck out of the basses mouth from in from of the shiners vent. The owner said the bass would digest the shiner and then in a few days start to go after the little cat fish. Many of us have seen pictures of northern pike swallowed by a bigger one. IMHO fish eat what they capture soometimes to their detriment. How many times have you caught a dink on a large crankbait.

In my opinion the biggest mistake is not going back with more casts or different baits. When I think it's a dink or pan fish I might move on but not always. I can recall a few places where I have caught several fish from the same rock pile that is maybe only 50 feet os so long. I think I screw up the most by moving on too quickly.

My experience is that flouro reacts poorly to back lashes.

I like to palm the reel so I'd have to switch regardless. Some times I cast with the reel palmed in my left hand but not for long casts.Often I'll make the switch while the lures in the air.

As we use longer and longer rods the center of gravity moves from the reel seat towards the tip. Reel weight is also is factor. There are ways to counter balance. A simple one is a crutch tip or chair leg floor protector and some washers. Only balance with the reel you intend to use on a specific rod and have the reel spooled with the intended line material.

I have reels with mag brakes, inertia brakes and combo's and frankly I like them all. I still haven't found a reel I can't backlash. I depend on my big fat thumb!

Where I fish there is little wood, few lillies and fewer weeds but rocks galore. I use a bullet shape but put it on backwards so it is less apt to wedge between two rocks. Depending on the wind and depth I choose to fish I'll use any thing from 3/8 to 1 ounce.