Scott F

I don't have the very latest Live Scope or 360 imaging, but high quality, high def maps have been a huge time saver for me. I fish a lake with several off shore rock bars and reefs that used to take me quite a while to locate just using the depth finder. Now, I have the "spot on the spot" way pointed on the built in high def maps that came pre-installed on my Garmin, and I can pull right up to the spot. My friends are often amazed how often I can pull up on a spot in the middle of open water, drop the trolling motor, and catch a smallie on the first cast. Guys who fish with me a lot many times will have a fish on before I even get the TM down.

Here in Chicago, Svengoolie started back in 1970. Now he is on nationally on ME TV. We also had Ray Rayner who did a morning show that was supposed to be for kids, but the parents liked it a lot too. Ray was also on Bozo's Circus as Oliver O Oliver which originated in Chicago.

First, are the hooks sharp? Second, what kind of line are you using?

The longer bass may have had an empty stomach, and the shorter one may have been full from a meal, full of eggs ready to spawn, or even had weights inserted to boost its weight. Back in the day, guides were sometimes known for putting lead in fish to increase the weight and give a boost to their reputation to help their guiding business. We will never know for sure.

I use 10lb 832 on my spinning reels and 20lb on my bait casters. I've tried probably every braided line and now use 832 exclusively. Strong, handles well, I really like it.

I don't know anyway I could have pushed this one at the camera to make it look any bigger.

Right now, the smallies are probably spawning or in post spawn. A difficult time to catch them.

My motto is, “If it ain’t broke....don’t fix it. I don’t monkey with them until after I’ve used them for a while.

I fished around that same bridge just few weeks ago!

Inline spinners DO NOT twist line if they are running correctly. Only the blade is supposed to spin, not the entire lure. If your spinner twists your line, replace the lure. Suffix 832 braid in 10lb test will easily throw small spinners or any other lure you’d want to throw.

As of now, I only glue my Z-Man Elaztech plastics to the jig head. I almost always lose the jig long before the Elaztech plastic is worn out.

In a couple of weeks, it will be 54 years since I caught my first smallmouth.

I make my own single strand steel leaders and have used them for years. I’ve never found that the action has been ruined even on walk the dog topwaters as long as you keep the rod tip up.

Rooster Tails have a habit where the blade doesn’t spin without a tug when you start reeling. I found the Rooster Tail Vibric to be a better more reliable lure. Theses days, I only use #4 Mepps, without the squirrel tails, for bass at least.

As long as there is forage, it will survive. There is a smallish lake near Pekin IL that doesn’t get much more than 3 feet deep that has hundreds of muskies in it. The DNR nets them and takes the eggs to use for stocking other lakes. Most of those don’t get very big. I’m sure the fish you saw will be just fine.

I've never found a Senko in a color that didn't catch bass.

You may have respect for the old Marine, but I doubt he'd have much respect for you if you intentionally did not do your best. Just fish. If he wants to compete with you, he'll have to step up his game. Out of respect, don't announce how many you've caught if you out fish him next time. If he can't deal with being out fished he won't ask you back.

As long as the reel functions, the price of the reel has no effect on how many fish you'll catch. A very cheap rod can keep you from feeling bites on some lures. There is a point of diminishing returns where more money spent has a smaller and smaller effect.

Everyone has their own way. For me and my style of fishing, there are no pros for using a leader, only cons.

You could be sneaky about it and photograph each fish. Your phone will mark the location where each photo was taken.

Cold, wind, and rain makes for a miserable morning of fishing. Today, the largemouth are starting to move onto shallow wood even though the water temps are still below 50 on my lake. We are getting a few smallmouth too, like this 19 inch fish.

I’m sure St Croix will replace the rod. I had an Avid break and I’m sure it was my fault. I set the rod down while unloading gear from my truck. When I picked up the rod, it had broken a foot from the top. I took the rod back to the St Croix store in Park Falls WI set it on the counter and they brought me out a new one. They never even asked me how it broke. For you, at worst, you may have to pay $20 for shipping back to St Croix. Maybe the store you bought it from Will exchange it for you on the spot.

Big Smallmouth in lakes in August is doable with a good guide in northern Minnesota, Michigan or Wisconsin but they will be deep. I do a smallmouth trip for big fish in August but I’ll only fish rivers that time of year. The fish will be shallow but unless you have a jet boat, canoe or kayak the rocks will tear up your lower unit.

The abnormally cold water for this time of year, smallmouth fishing has been tough but I did get this one today. Very clear water, 10lb braid, no leader, #8 X-Rap in clown color. 19.5 inches, didn't weigh.

I'm on a vacation in Northern Wisconsin this week with a friend of mine . We drove up on Saturday and were met with constant rain that lasted until very early in the morning today (Monday). Sunday, the temperature remained constant at 39 degrees all day long. Combine that with the constant rain and we did not even launch the boat. The major cold front the that followed, didn't totally shut the fishing down this morning. We had about 25 largemouth and 5 smallmouth, The bass were caught on Ned Rigs, jerkbaits and a rattle trap, The highlight of the morning was a 28.5 inch, fat, walleye that I caught on a Lucky Craft jerkbait. Water temps after the cold front dropped into the mid 40's on the big, deep lake I'm on.