joetomlee

Good luck trying to find someone! I have the same problem. You might also want to try to post this in the local fishing section for more success.

I have sampled different tag lengths and not ever found that it made any difference how long it was. For example, Just last weekend I went out and didn't have cutters handy to cut the tag end off, it was about 2" or so but I cast with it anyway and still got a couple decent fish on that lure.

All winter I have been reading posts on this website and waiting for an opportunity to get out on the water and put it all to good use. I've always had a solid base of knowledge when it came to fishing as I've been doing it a long time. However, reading posts throughout these forums has really solidified my ability to catch bigger, better fish! Last weekend was my third time out (first two times got skunked, but weather was horrible so I kept my hopes high). Spent about 2 hours on the lake cumulatively and caught a 2.5 and 5.5 lb LMB as well as a 3-3.5 lb SMB (didn't have scale for this fish). Very exciting stuff! Like I said, I've always had the book smarts for fishing and a genuine appreciation for it, however never quite the confidence to get out there and try the variety of techniques that I was able to do last weekend. Very appreciative for all of you who post here - THANKS AGAIN! you guys make people like me better fishermen. Here's a pic of the smallest fish I caught this weekend, it was (regretfully) the only fish I had my phone available to take a picture of. Fish probably looks slightly bigger than it was simply because I had to take the picture myself and my arms are only so long. http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/jalm8487/media/IMG_0472_zps1667422e.png.html

Thanks for the advice!

Last weekend I went out for the first time this year on a really temperamental lake. The winds were blowing approx. 20-25 mph so it was blowing pretty hard. The winds seemed to be blowing westward (weird?) and on the west side of the lake I could see enormous schools of bait fish. Although it was windy, I decided to fish this area thinking the bass would likely want to feed. I tried a lot of subtle approaches such as dropshot, texas rigged worms and very slow presentation jigs. I fished that side of the lake for about 3 hours with no luck, not even a bite. If it were you, what side of the lake would you have fished? I understand there are more variables (structure, depth, etc. etc.) I am just considering a general overview of the wind patterns and the time of year. I am in NYS and the weather has only recently started warming up, but weather fluctuates back and forth basically on a day to day basis. Just trying to figure out where I might have went wrong (if at all). Thanks for your help, in advance!

Yeah they are! It was almost all of the way inside! I've pulled them from animals before but never had one on myself until today.

If so, were you worried? I just went out fishing for the day and when I came back found a tick in my neck next to my adams apple. I got it out, but didn't save the tick to be tested. Not really worried because it has been in there less than a full day but don't know much about ticks either. I'm pretty sure it was a deer tick (based on google image searches).

That video made me sick. What the hell LOL

Sunday definitely looks like your best bet. I typically wait 36-48 hours after a cold front hits before fishing again.

#13 Oneida Lake is a 10 minute drive!

I'm in! sounds fun.

X2

I'm with you. I always hear people telling me morning and night time hours are best but I've personally had most success in the early afternoon. Strange thing that happens a lot to me is I seem to get bit a lot more when I am daydreaming. Totally not thinking about what I am doing at all. When I sit and concentrate on my presentation is when I get skunked.

I was trying to tie a knot that didn't quite seem to cinch tight when somehow the lure pulled lose from my hand and jammed 2/3 of one of the treble hooks into my hand. One in the index finger and another in my thumb. My fingers were literally glued together by this treble hook. I managed to get it out of my index finger but I think it dug the hook further into my thumb as a result; that required a very expensive trip to the ER. Hook was buried deep into tissue and although they had me numbed up pretty good I can still think back and remember the feeling of flesh moving about when the nurse twisted it out!! Thank GOD that was the only time I had ever stuck myself past the barb. I am extremely careful now to make sure that never happens again.

Thanks for the help! I guess that's something I've always been doing, just never knew it was considered yoyo.

Hear people talking about "yoyo'ing" certain lures as a presentation. What does that mean exactly?

Thanks, I'll try this as well!

Check the reel seating before buying! Place your reel on and make sure it fits. There was a large recall on those rods because the reel seating did not extend far enough forward to grip the reel and hold into place. I was stuck with one of these recalls and ended up returning it and got my cash back. I lost faith in the rods after that point. I also decided that I did not like the way it felt in my hands.

X2 on this. Maribou jigs as well as very small tubes work well. I've heard crickets work nice but never tried that yet. As for the float, I go as small as possible. As Blade said, it's just a matter of depth and finding that 1 fish to bite. Once you've got a fish on mark that position in your mind and keep casting to that same spot because they group together and they are competitive feeders so you should be able to load up on them.

Thanks for the heads up on this. I am so used to completely ignoring ads that I never even noticed it before. Just placed an order!

Nice, totally unanimous hahah. I will be picking up KVD L&L, thank you!!

I recently got a few poles spooled at BPS and 1 in particular is very unevenly and loosely spooled which I failed to notice until I got it home. I pulled some line out by hand and re-spooled on my own by putting tension on the line while reeling it back in, and I feel it is much better now but feels like I am going to get backlash as soon as I cast out. I think they did a really terrible job spooling this reel and I spent $25 on the line which I don't want to go to waste so I am thinking about putting some sort of spray on the line to condition it and resist backlash. I know some people have things they like to do to their lines before putting them into use for the first time, any suggestions on what I might be able to do so that I don't waste this money needlessly?

I agree Rooster. I think fowlskies has a really valid point that should be considered but I've had most success on spinnerbaits with high ratio gear reels. In my experience, speed has been a key factor to spinnerbait fishing. What does everyone else do??

I knew that lower gear ratios had more torque but didn't think about it in that way before - good point.

I just bought the 2500 a few days ago and it felt really good. Haven't had a chance to use it yet but from the reviews I've read it seems like most people opt for the 2500. But honestly if drop shotting is your primary concern I'd think the 1000 is a better choice. You're going to want more natural falls and lighter line which I think the 1000 would handle better than the 2500.