Scott F

You’ve hit on the solution that tackle companies don’t want you to figure out. From what I’ve seen, too many anglers think that the secret to catching fish is having the exact bait and color that a fish can’t resist. So they buy everything so that they will always have that magic bait.

Fishing creeks with crankbaits can be tricky. The correct speed is critical. If you cast downstream and retrieve upstream, the speed of the current alone is often just right. When you crank against the current, it’s now running too fast and the bait will roll over or not run right. Retrieve downstream, and you have to crank very fast as the current is pushing the bait already. It’s not like lake fishing crankbaits at all.

I could not disagree more. I’ve been using nothing but Quantum spinning reels for 30 years and have never had an issue relating in any way to their quality control. I’ve currently got 7 of them that I would use today and some of those are 15 years old. The reason I keep buying the new models is because I’ve had such good luck with zero issues. BTW, I’m not vouching for any of the $30 reels, I’ve been using the higher end stuff all along

Because of its sinking characteristics, I consider a Senko different bait. I’d also include on the list the Rapala Husky Jerk. Again, it is very much like the Original floating minnow, but it’s ability to suspend sets it apart. Another plastic I’d include would be the Mister Twister grub.

I've got some small streams around me that kick out 18-20" fish from time to time. My neighbor got a 19 incher he caught from a roadside ditch. The ditches drain the farm fields into a river. The fish swim up there in the spring, and get caught when the river levals drop. Several years ago, a local forest preserve district released several brood fish from the ponds they raised fish in for stocking. These were big fish that were past their prime and were no longer spawning, close to the end of their lives. They put them in a small, suburban river that gave a lot of people their personal best smallmouth. Nobody who caught one was disappointed that the fish wasn't raised in that section of the river.

Preaching to the choir for me. I’ve been heavily involved in a conservation/ fishing organization for over 20 years. River cleanups, habitat restoration, lending our support in fighting factory farms that pollute our river, fighting for removal of dams and other projects aimed at improving river systems has been our mission since the club was founded in 1994.

This video shows pike don't seem to care about visible line at all!

Not what I thought this thread was about. ?

All braid all the time for me. Baitcaster or spinning. I just can’t stand having stretchy lines.

Yep. It’s worth the time to file a point on them.

Transducers only work in the water.

When I was just starting out after I got my boat, and was fishing new water, I’d observe other anglers, watching what they were doing, and where they were doing it. That was one way how I learned. I NEVER fished near the boats I saw at the time, but I would go back to those spots when no one was fishing there and look at my depth finder to see what kind of structure was present. Many of the spots, especially walleye spots were community spots. Bass guys were usually cruising the shorelines but I’d notice which shorelines got the most traffic. I see a lot of anglers here who struggle to catch fish. My advice to them is to pay attention to everything around them, other fishermen in particular. As long as you respect their space while they are fishing, I see nothing wrong with fishing their spots after they leave. I used to fish with a guy who would put his rod down, even if he had a fish on, if another boat was anywhere near him so they wouldn’t learn one of his spots.

I use the Zman ’shroomz with the double wire weed guard and rarely lose fish. Some days, we just don’t make good hook sets or the fish just aren’t as aggressive and don’t take the baits all the way. Maybe the hooks weren’t as sharp or got dull. Maybe the weed guards were the problem. Hard to say for certain.

If you are just looking to save line and time, just use a snap alone without the swivel. In most cases, the swivel serves no real purpose and just costs more.

I once caught the same tiny pike 3 times on consecutive casts. I was on a fly-in trip and was walking the bank between two lakes when I made a cast into a pool. Got this tiny pike and released him. He stayed right next to the bank and I could see him near my feet in the clear water. I made another cast and as the lure got close, I saw the fish dart out and grab the lure again. After he hit it a third time, I left the crazy little pike alone.

One of the issues with small lures (and even big ones)and big fish is that they can easily take an entire crank bait into their mouth sideways. It can be tough getting the lure back even with pliers and a jaw spreader. Most dedicated musky guys just cut the hooks instead of spending time trying to get the hooks out. As was said earlier, in the warmer water, it doesn’t take much more than just the fight to wear the fish out to exhaustion and death. The more time you spend removing lures and taking photos the bigger the chance of killing the fish. Another thing about muskies (and why guys are fanatics about them) is that they are just crazy. You could get one that doesn’t fight at all until you get him in the net. Then they go ballistic. A net that won’t even hold the entire fish could be a problem. They won’t lay quietly in the net while you work on them and can also go nuts while you try and hold them up for a picture. The point is, you need to be prepared. Inexperienced musky anglers often get hurt or hurt the fish they caught. One more thing, be sure you have a first aid kit!

Muskies are not common. Needlessly killing one can be avoided by having the proper gear. If you don’t want to get what is needed to insure both you and the fish stay healthy, either go with someone who has the right stuff or don’t fish for them. I understand wanting to experience what catching is like, but honestly, it’s not worth killing the fish just so you can say you caught one.

If your goal is to just catch a musky, not necessarily a trophy size, DON’T buy any big musky lures. You can increase your odds of getting one by using smaller baits. Smaller lures will get more bites and you won’t need heavy gear. Spinners, floating Rapalas, and most bass baits will get them. You don’t need 80lb test, but sharp hooks and wire leaders are required. As was already said, jaw spreaders, and big pliers along with wire cutters that are big enough to cut the hooks you use will reduce the length of time you need to release the fish giving him a better chance to survive. If you have no experience handling pike or muskies, get a net. If you happen to get one, holding it by the jaw is the usual way, just be sure you don’t put your fingers too far into the gills. The gill rakers are like razors and will shred your finger tips.

I should have said I cast with one hand with a spinning rod. I open the bail with one hand, cast with the other.

I’ve been involved in a smallmouth bass club that is 95% guys who river fish, (seldom out of a motor boat)for over 20 years. By far, the vast majority of all the hundreds of guys I’ve met and fished with use spinning gear or fly gear. In recent years, you’ll see more guys with baitcasters, but they are still in the minority. The main reason is that most of the baits used are on the lighter side. I’ll go to a baitcaster for heavier baits like Whopper Ploppers or bigger spinner baits, but the most common baits used are soft plastics on light jigs or fished unweighted. It really doesn’t matter which you choose as long as you can present your bait of choice with it. I only use one hand for most of my spinning rods and will use two hands on a baitcaster much more often

I’m a fix it myself kind of guy. I did restaurant equipment repair for almost 40 years. Lots of plumbing and electrical work. Now that I’m older, I know I can’t physically do some things. I just moved into a house that has an above ground swimming pool that wasn’t in great shape. A guy wanted $1,800 to take it down and haul it away. I took it down myself and the only expense was a $40 metal cutter to cut up the side walls which I gave to a guy who handles scrap metal. I cut up the liner and the rest of the frame work in small enough pieces so the garbage men took it all away. Now I have a 30’ hole in the backyard that needs to be filled in and sodded over. In the old days, I’d have done that too but my back can’t handle that type of work anymore. I’m having a hard time finding someone to do that work in a timely fashion. Everyone is so busy and are short handed.

I’m not one of the Americans who knows where the bottleneck is. Where exactly is it?

My PB pike and musky both came on a Super Shad Rap. Come to think of it, my personal best snapping turtle came on that bait too. Never caught a bass on one, but I don’t use it for bass fishing.

So it COULD have gotten a lot worse…

Spinner baits are very effective for river smallies especially if they are using mid-river structure. Some days, when they are holding tight to cover, they aren’t going to work, but I’ve had some of my best days on the river when the bass were using rock strewn flats. Just as with every bait in your tackle box, you need to use it during the right conditions.