indianabasshunter

Has anybody had experience fishing for smallmouth on or near Manitoulan Island, Ontario? I spent the day trying to catch smallmouth on a lake called Bass Lake and Lake Huron with absolutely 0 success. I have never fished for smallmouth before so it very well could have been my tactics at fault. If you know of a good lake to fish nearby or have any advice please chime in. Thanks.

I mounted my HB on the large RAM mount by the console in a manner that allows me to turn it towards the bow. I can view it while I'm on the front deck and while driving. It's not ideal for vertical presentations but it is an option.

I used to power fish 100% of the time and its a feast or famine deal. Took years and years of slow days to learn that finesse fishing can be just as fun and save the day more often than not. I almost enjoy finesse as much as power fishing now. Still hard to beat the feeling of a solid jig bite followed by a rock hard hook set or to watch a bass explode on a topwater bait and have the nerves/patience to wait long enough before setting the hook.

Thanks for the reply. Their website doesn't differentiate much between the two reels, besides price and color, which is why i asked.

First and foremost, pre fish the lake you are going to have the tournament on. With some well spent time on the water beforehand you can set a loose plan of attack for the "big day." Be nice and cordial to everybody and don't be cocky. Ask questions pertaining to the tournament rules but don't ask questions pertaining to what lures to use and where to fish.Don't believe much of what you hear before the tournament starts regarding techniques that are catching fish or the size of fish being caught. Some of the best anglers I fish against are notorious for spreading false information and playing head games before, during, and after tournaments. Set realistic goals and don't plan on getting rich solely from tournaments. Keep a positive attitude throughout the day. Even if you haven't caught your limit, or any fish, and theres only 10 minutes left in the tourney all it takes is a couple minutes and you can fill your livewell quickly. Withing the last 10 minutes of two different club tournaments this year I boated my biggest fish and those fish are the ones that propelled us to a divisional championship. As the lunatic Ike says, "NEVER GIVE UP!"

Can you expand on "much better than the Tournament Pro"? I haven't used a Team Gold but own a couple Tournament Pros. Never had a problem with the TP's but aren't against using a better reel either. Thanks.

You are on a better schedule than myself. I always have TP on the boat and use it regularly.

There are some situations where I don't want any give and will lock down the drag while using 50# braid. In these specific situations if you give the fish an inch you aren't getting her to the boat. If the OP is fishing a lake or area that demands the fish to be removed from the cover or structure immediately before she buries then using a more stout jig may be the correct answer.

Try the Berkley Twitchtail Minnow. It will catch anything that swims. I've caught 50" muskee and 3 inch perch on it as well as numerous bass. Another good soft plastic to try is the Zoom Z Drop. These are very durable and cheap. As mentioned just about any plastic will get bit sooner or later. The bite is usually light and happens often while the rig is falling to the bottom. Keep a close eye on your line with this technique.

^^^^^ I had the same experience.

In my experience the Smoke doesn't stand up to heavy use such as burning big spinnerbaits or hauling fish out of the slop. The magnetic braking leaves a lot to be desired also. There isn't much adjustment for it and I can't find the sweet spot on that reel. I do use it for Trigs and thats about the only technique that I have found it to be ok for. I don't own the Chronarch or the Abu STX but i do own other Abu Garcia and Shimano reels. They both make good reels in general but I have fallen in love with the Lews Tournament Pro. I purchased the Tourney Pro after owning Quantum, Shimano, and Abu Garcia reels. The Lews TP is by far the best reel I've owned and I have purchased 2 Lews reels since. Doubt I will ever purchase another manufacture's reel. The last TP i purchased was bought new for under $140.

Thanks for your reply.

Follow 99% of everybody's advice and get rid of that line. It's the worst line I've ever used.

Out of curiousity, are you fishing the Pad Crasher in open water or in heavy concentrations of pads or...? I haven't tried the Pad Crasher yet as I catch nearly every fish that gets a Bronzeye Jr in its mouth but in a good day of frogging (20-30 bass), in extremely heavy pads, i can completely trash a Bronzeye Jr. Trashed to the point that the weight is ripped out and the frog is torn in multiple areas. As a matter of fact I have rendered two Bronzeye Jr's completely useless in one 8 hour tournament. Thanks.

Try swimming a jig in the same general color pattern as the dominant forage. Swim it erratically by pumping the rod during the retrieve. Sometimes the bass will eat the jig near the surface or sometimes you will need to keep it barely above the grass. Small swimbaits make good trailers as well as the Zoom swimming chunk.

Thanks for the reply.

How well does the Brush Dredge come through timber snag free?

You can use a product called a rubber T stop. Thats what I use whenever it's necessary to peg a weight. They are cheap and simple to use.

TP for sure.

Sounds like it could be a fuel supply issue. If it will rev fine while not in gear (not under a load) but bogs and refuses to rev while in gear (under a load) it makes me think that your engine isn't getting enough fuel. When under a load the fuel demands are greater than while not under a load, hence the difference when out of gear and while in gear. I would start by checking your fuel line from the tank to the engine. I have read, not experienced, that the ethenal in fuel will deteriorate the inside of fuel lines and cause an issue similiar to what you have described. Just a guess...

The way Mike described it is exactly how I interpret it. It can get ugly if your partner doesn't understand this.

Always keep soft plastics in their original packaging. They will deform even without being in direct sunlight.

Stay away from Spiderwire braid. I broke off more than a few fish using it. I switched to Power Pro and haven't lost a fish due to broken line since and I target the thickest/nastiest cover you can find with jigs and frogs. I only fish one lake that demands the use of braid and when i have a tournament there i will rig up multiple reels with it. After the tournament I can take the braid back off and put it on the original spool. Been doing this for two years without an issue. You can't however do this with mono, at least I haven't found a way to do it. Big Game mono has a pretty good reputation and is cheaper than most others.

My name is Chris and I'm from the Southwest part of Indiana. I've been fishing for the last 25 years and specifically targeting largemouth for the last 15 years. I was introduced to tournament fishing 3 years ago and now fish local club tournaments. Thanks for the great site.