Scott F

Rock Run is a smallish creek that runs along the West side of the City of Joliet. I’ve fished the Hennepin Canal several times putting in at the Hennepin Visitor Center near the intersection of I-80 and IL-40 which is about 90 miles west of Joliet.

I’m retired. I get up when my body tells me too and I go to sleep when I’m tired. If it’s still dark out and I don’t want to get up, I don’t. Doesn’t matter to me what time the clock says it is.

You’re retired. What do you care what time the clock says! Lol!

Plano has this 3600 size utility box that has an open side that fits spinner baits just fine if you are only going to carry a few at a time.

The Indiana portion of the Kankakee River is a channelized ditch they dug out to drain the Grand Kankakee Marsh. It’s not your typical river anymore. Hasn’t been for over 100 years. I used to duck hunt the area many years ago. Instead of fishing the channel, stick to the downed wood along the banks. Also pay attention to the spots where the other drainage ditches enter the river. You’ll have much better luck. Don’t be too concerned about exact brands of tube jigs. The pike in the river are going to bite off most of what you are going to throw.

4-5 mph is flying! Bass can’t hold in current moving that fast. What river are you talking about? You’d need VERY heavy jigs in current like that. Are you fishing anchored in a boat? Wading? Drifting?

When I saw the first post, I thought I don't have the most advanced electronics available, but I can still catch some fish. Then I realized that the stuff I have is so much more advanced than older stuff, that I do catch more because of the high quality maps built into my sonar units.

How about bringing back Rapala crankbaits that cost less than $5

The plastic on my Plano boxes has never rusted in the 30 years I've been using them. I've had a lure or two leave some rust behind over the years, but it always cleaned right up.

That certainly is NOT a new tool. The one in my tackle box is over 30 years old which replaced the same model that my father used and had rusted out. It was at least another 30 years old. I use it for getting deep hooks on pike and muskies.

I’ve never subscribed to one of those places that sends me tackle I’ll never use. If I buy it, I’ll tie it on, sooner or later. You can’t use it while it’s still in the package.

I never leave them in the original packaging. I take them out and put them in the appropriate Plano utility boxes where all my baits are kept until I load up a tackle box with only the baits I’m going to use for the day.

As good as the advice of our members can be, you really should contact the Canadian government to be sure you are in compliance with all of their laws. I’m not 100% sure, but I think you must also have documentation from your sons mother that you are not taking a minor across the border without her consent. Unaccompanied Minors All minors crossing the border without two parents must travel with additional documentation. Children traveling without a parent or traveling with a single parent who does not have sole custody must be accompanied by a signed and notarized letter stating the absent parent's approval of the visit. The letter should also provide the current telephone number and address of the absent parent. In the event that a parent or guardian has sole legal custody of a child, paperwork stating such should also be presented to avoid delays.

Myth; Moon phases have an effect on spawning, freshwater, fish. Guys fish during a full moon, see bass spawning and come to the conclusion that the moon had something to do with it. There have been scientific studies that show that bass spawning is not effected by the full moon or any moon phase. Zero studies that show the full moon will trigger the spawn.

If you order them from a shop in the US, you can get them for at least $10 cheaper each.

The question nobody has asked, how much will the Lego reel cost?

The evolution of fishing took a huge leap once the internet got going. Back in the day, you learned to fish from your father or grandfather, and only knew what they knew, and a lot of that probably wasn’t very good information. Maybe, you had a subscription to Field and Stream. Eventually, there were more and more magazines like Fishing Facts, In-Fisherman and BASS. Later, if you had cable TV, there were a lot of fishing shows on Saturday you could watch all day. Now, the internet has put EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about fishing right in your lap, mostly for free. It’s also wiping out the magazine business, made outdoor shows obsolete, and closed up most tackle shops. Lures like the Whopper Plopper would have taken decades instead of months to become such a huge seller without the help of the internet. Back in the day, it took years for lures to become so well known that your local tackle store might start stocking them. It took a long time before Senkos were sold everywhere. Now, if someone comes out with the next “magic” bait, a few clicks on your iPad, and you can have it in your tackle box tomorrow. It made the population of bait monkeys explode. I lived through most of the evolution of the fishing industry. I can see why so many new guys are overwhelmed by the amount of information available.

One reason I never buy 150yd spools is because of the waste. With a 600yd spool, you still get waste but it's only once instead of 4 times you'd have gotten using smaller spools.

I’ve seen used props for sale at the shops where props are rebuilt. I wouldn’t hesitate in buying a used one at my prop shop.

Depends on what depth finder you have now, and what trolling motor you have.

Wind is the big variable. There is a little bit of a learning curve on using it. You need to point the boat into the wind. Then the boat has to be nearly stopped or drifting backward when you hit the spot lock. If you are still moving forward when you hit the spot lock. It will work hard to turn to get you back on the spot while the wind is pushing you around as well. The AutoPilot is one of my favorite features. Point it in the direction you want and the speed, and it will hold your course without having to pay a lot of attention. Minor course correction once in a while is all you have to do.

I’ve had my Terrova for several years and it’s worked perfectly. Unlike cable steer motors, the foot pedal is very flat. I love that I can use it with my foot on the floor and just use my toe to steer or turn it on. Newer ones than mine have improved the spot lock for closer tolerance. Unlike the Motor Guide, the remote has a screen to show you the motor status and it stores 5 spot lock points instead of 1. The new ones also require less effort to lift and stow. I don’t connect it to a depth finder but I’d seldom if ever use the follow the contour feature which is about the only real advantage to mating to a depth finder. I’d buy it again.

Under $2k, about the only option I’m aware of is the Minn Kota Terrova, which comes in all 3 voltages.

Not a whole lot you can do. I run a very similar set up on my personal pontoon. What I do is carry a couple spare connectors and a wire stripper/ crimper to do any repairs needed. It has only happened to me once and that was when I was done fishing for the day and packing up to go home. To reduce the chances of it breaking be sure to only grab the connector and not the wire every time you take it apart. You might also be sure there isn’t any stress on the connection where you keep the battery while fishing.

I don’t think that any one particular brand or exact lure will out fish every other in all conditions. Learn how to “walk the dog” and pick up a Zara Spook. Get a Rebel Pop-R popper, and a Whopper Plopper in whatever color suits you. Ive also never found any one color that always did better than another.