Scott F

As someone who has never even considered getting a piercing or a tattoo, what is the attraction that makes someone want to have one?

Last weekend some of my fellow smallmouth club members and I were doing a river cleanup in a popular state park. One of the most common items we picked up were un-opened cans and bottles of beer. There was an almost full case of beer in one spot. We figured that because the park bans alcohol, the full cans must have been tossed when the park police showed up

Old Bay is a seasoning, a blend of herbs and spices.

Dark Side Of The Moon. But if it was the only thing I could listen to, I get pretty sick of it or any album.

I plan one of my trips a year in advance. I do a 2 week trip the same weeks every year and I book the cabin I'll stay in next year, while I'm still in it this year.

I'm not sure about the current generation of on demand water heaters, but be sure you get one that accounts for the change in the temperature of the incoming water in winter when It has to raise the water temperature in the neighborhood of 60 degrees vs the summer, when it only has to heat the water about 30 degrees.

X-Rap

I'll never, ever go back to any lines that have the stretch of mono and fluoro.

A Google search turned up these 2, Lake Chillisquaque and Lake Galena

At the bottom of any page on their website on the lefthand side, under "Customer Service" is a heading that says "Legendary Guarantee"

That's too bad. I returned a 5 year old pair of waders a couple of years ago and got full price that I paid back. On their website, the guarantee is posted. Waders were part of the clothing/footwear category. Our Guarantee to You Since 1961, it has been our ongoing mission to provide outdoor enthusiasts like you with the finest quality gear and the highest level of customer service in the industry. The way we look at it, we have no business asking for your next order unless you are satisfied with your last order. To make sure we meet your expectations, we back every purchase with Cabela's Legendary Guarantee. You can buy with confidence, knowing that if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, we will provide a refund or exchange the item within 90 days* of purchase. In addition, Cabela's brand clothing and footwear is guaranteed for the lifetime of the product under normal wear and tear and defects in workmanship. All other Cabela's brand merchandise is guaranteed for one full year. We've always believed the true measure of our company is how we treat our customers. So, with every order, we make this promise to you - the best quality, the best value, the best selection, the best service all from the World’s Legendary Outfitter®. Guaranteed. Dick Cabela Jim Cabela

Springtime, Northern Wisconsin, water temp 50 degrees plus. For the next two or three weeks, the smallies will be in prespawn feeding mode. That's my favorite fishing situation. I take a 2 week vacation and fish 10 to 12 hours a day getting hundreds and hundreds of bass. It's got me spoiled so I don't get as excited about fishing the rest of the year because nothing else I can do will compare.

As I have said in the past, there are only 2 kinds of waders. Those that leak, and those that are going to leak. Knowing that, I'd choose from either Simms, if price is not a concern because of their quality and service, or Cabela's house brand. Cabela's brand clothing is warranted for life and waders fall under that category. Assuming you don't rip the waders to shreds, they will replace or refund waders that leak for life. They will prorate the refund if they show a lot of wear. I'm also not a fan of neoprene or boot foot waders. MUCH more ankle support and comfort in stocking foot and boots. If you are going to wade in winter, please use extreme caution. One slip and hypothermia or even death are possible.

I once shot an elephant in my pajamas.....how he got in my pajamas I'll never know!

I've been using Norelco's for 40 years. Then again, I have had a full beard for 30 plus years so I only use it for my neck and trimming.

Titanium leaders in my opinion are the worst. I've done a lot of pike and musky fishing and the only metal leaders that have ever failed me were titanium. They do return to shape if you bend them but if you kink one, unlike a steel leader, they can break. Musky guys never use titanium anymore. Small pike will do more damage to your leaders and lures that big pike do because they'll just go crazy twisting and turning. Take a titanium leader and put a sharp bend in it. It will snap. Whatever leaders you use, make sure they have quality welded ring, ball bearing swivels and good, strong snaps.

I was fishing a few weeks ago when 3 cold fronts came through in a week. Low temps got down to the 20's and the water temp went down to 50. The bass did not care at all. With clear skies and cold temps the bass fishing never slowed down. They were hitting lipless crankbaits the were retrieved just as fast as I could reel over the tops of weeds in 4 to 6 feet of water. Slowing down with a jig or worm was not the way to go, they ignored everything but the red eye shads.

How big a "region" are you talking about? Are you looking to shore fish within a short distance? Are you bringing a boat? Kayak? Do you wade? Do you want to book a charter on Lake Michigan? An hour or so west of Rogers Park is the Fox River that has smallmouth and a few pike and fewer muskie. Lots of river there. Just to the East, is Lake Michigan. They are snagging dying salmon in the harbors right now. Aside from lake trout in the big lake, there are no trout streams in Illinois. What kind of fishing are you expecting to do and how far are you willing to travel?

I was standing on the shore of the Menominee River in Northern Wisconsin with a friend when a sturgeon came flying out of the water right next to my friend. It was easily as long as he was tall, around 6 feet. My friend wasn't facing the water when it jumped, and didn't see it, but he did get soaked from the splash it made. We often see the sturgeon jump, I don't know why they do it, but I'd never been so close to one before.

My fishing partner and I found a nearly new X-Rap hanging from a tree branch. It was the Hot Steel color. He caught a bunch of smallies on it right off a small un-named island that we now call Hot Steel Island.

For me, accuracy is very important. Getting that bait close to the dock post without landing on the dock is the difference in getting the fish or spooking everything under the dock while you go get unsnagged. Being able to skip under the dock and between the pilings to get where the bass are means everything. Being able to cast under and between overhanging branches without sticking your bait in the branches is very important. I was river fishing with a friend. I was having one of those days when I could not land my bait close to where I needed to be. I got nearly skunked while my friend was on fire because he was getting his baits so much closer to the places where the bass were holding. Accuracy can be VERY important.

Just like with a Senko, that slow fall on the pause can be just the trigger to get fish to hit. Countdown Rapalas do well for me

I live near the Great Lakes and have many opportunities to fish for smallmouth on them but turn them all down. Getting seasick on big water is about as bad as it gets. Try and talk the other 5 guys on the boat who are paying for the charter to turn around and go back to the dock because you are throwing up every 5 minutes. They'd rather just throw you overboard and keep fishing! Better for me to stick to smaller lakes. Keep that in mind if you get the chance to go fish Lake Erie and haven't been on the ocean to know how you'll handle the constant rocking of the boat.

Do you just want to catch the tiny stream brookies or would rather get some bigger ones? The Gods River in Manitoba has maybe the best brook trout fishery in North America. When I was there, the smallest one we got was maybe 14 inches and the biggest went 21.

An 1/8 oz ball head jig with a 4 inch twister tail was my main bait for smallmouth for years.