ToadTorcher

Oh man... it's gonna be hard saving for hunting cloths with Labor Day sale among us!

Frogs, frogs, frogs, and frogs! Their are several areas that I'll pitch a creature bait or cast a senko where the vegetation thins out a little but though. Find the weeds and find the fish! The O2 levels in the water get low when it warms up, so find the weeds and you'll find the fish.

Depending one the size of the lake, I'd just start tossing a frog around the pads! They're bound to hold some fish for sure. Make sure you pay attention to where the fish hit the frog... what kinda of area was it? Point, cove, or pocket in the pads and so on. Make sure you fish anything different that's in those pad fields too. If the pads themselves don't produce head out a little and toss a worm around the edges.

Thanks guys! Appreciate the tips TJ... safety harness is definitely high on the list of things to get after cloths! I think I really scored good for my first bow, good quality bow and the price was as good as it comes!

Zoom and powerbait is what most people throw around here. The Zoom Mag II worm (7 or 7.5" dont remember) is one my favorite worms. Culprit and Yum make a fine worms also! If you really want to beef up your worms, trying a rage tail Anaconda. They're 10: but have allot more beef and a bigger profile than your average 10" worm like say a Zoon Ol' Monster.

Tooth paste! Colgate baking soda and peroxide works quite nicely. Add a quarter size amount to your palms and rub it around then wash/rinse it off. Usually takes the smell of every time!

Bout a week ago I went to set stands with my fishin buddy and that was enough spark to start a fire! I've been wanting to hunt since I was a little kid and am finally gonna do it this year! With the help of some good friends I'm well onto my way of being set up. I went down to a friends house the other night to check out a bow I was gonna buy from him if I liked it and when I got there he said it's your now before I even gave him any money! Just plum gave it to me. He said he was just happy to help someone get started into hunting and get me going! Hope one day I can pay it forward just like did! Gotta wait till my first real pay check from milking cows to get out fitted with clothing and stuff. Right now I just got the bow, a mid layer upper, and a couple arrows I bought today. Broad heads, boots, cloths, and sent protection is gonna run my wallet dry in no time, but it'll be well worth it! I was hoping some more experienced hunters could offer some tips and advice too!

Find the weeds and find the fish! Dosnt sound like the lakes are very clear so deep wouldn't be a very good bet -- the lack of vegetation down there wouldn't provide much oxygen for the fish. Check back coves and shallower flats. Once you find the weeds I'd try picking them apart with a plastic creature bait or throwing a frog over top.

I use allota pecca craws and chunks. They're cheap and got some action! Pork is my go to in the colder months as well!

Indeed I have! I stuck a rattle in the tail end so they went back even further. The little "legs" on the sides really wiggle when they fall, but other than that they have no action that I tell. Nothing like a senko or something like that. Very light bait with a 2/0 light wire hook, so it's a little tricky to toss (used 10lb PP) Threw it for about 15 minutes and caught one. It's definitely a bait that'll work better in clear water looking forward to throwing it more this year!

In one way yes, in another no. It's fun catching them and I don't like not catching them. But I still enjoy it because It helps me improve my fishing for next time. If I get skunked I'm always asking myself "why" and "what?" Why didn't they bite, and what do I have to next time to get them to bite. Through research and experience I'm usually able to come up with a good answer to both questions. This helps me figure it out what I have to do next time I'm faced with a similar scenario. Their's no such thing as an unsuccessful day on the water!

lmao I noticed that too! He really don't care at all, it sorta bugs me because I get ticked if my reel gets a little wet and he's just flyin fine with it underwater.

Love the looks of this reel! Definitely let us know how you like her... And don't tell me you didn't get a rod to go with it either!!

Seems to work well in my lakes. Depending on where you go the water can go for crystal clear to dirty almost muddy color and everywhere in between. PBJ seems to catch em in either condition.

Fluoro if you like it! Mono is generally to stretchy and not sensitive enough for my tastes. Because it's less dense than Fluoro (which sinks) it floats it also doesn't transmit bites as well as Fluoro. I personally have yet to use a Fluorocarbon that I've really liked. All of them I've used seem to have to low of sock strength for me. Plus whenever and little kink in the line developed it would also snap on me. I've learned to love Copolymer on the other hand. Copolymer is essentially a mix of different lines. I really like Yo-Zuri and P-line because they're fluorocarbon coated. This makes them more dense, sensitive, and abrasion resistant than straight mono.