CDobber

Congrats....I echo your sentiments almost exactly.....started 2 summers ago, most of my knowledge came from the forums, spending time this year trying to figure out t-rig, etc.....way to go!

Bass Wisdom x3.....its my first experience with Uncle Homer. Would love to find more on Doug Hannon as well, have read some bits and pieces of his thoughts Think Like A Fish (Tom Mann)...not so much for learning technique but a very interesting read on his life and how it relates to bass fishing, starting Mann's Bait Company, etc. In Fisherman Smallmouth as well as Largemouth

While the buzzbait has been my most successful lure all season, I am awaiting cooler temps bringing the bass in closer at my quarry. I am hopeful of finally getting some action out of my zaras and my pop-r.

I went the chest waders route as a buddy of mine is trying to get me into trout fishing streams. I have thought about taking them down to the quarry I bank fish from frequently but the dropoff from 1'-4' and deeper is pretty quick in most areas, and there's a lot of algae on the bottom and rocks/wood. I am hopeful of finding some streams nearby that I can get into some smallies and trout in a similar stretch of creek, but haven't found that yet. Did get my first trout a couple nights ago.

Yep. Many frown upon it, some despise it but it most certainly works.....live crawlers, minnows, leeches, etc. I didn't use it much if at all last year and had a 6 week skunk through August. This year I've had crawlers on an ice pack under my plastics and pull them out if the bite is slow or non-existent on lures. And, like you, I'm mainly from the bank in 1-2 hr bursts.

I'm going to take this a different direction and say my grandfather, who has been gone for 20 years. I don't think he was a great fisherman but definitely enjoyed being on or near the water. I would enjoy the company far more than the lessons that could be learned.

Admittedly, I know nothing about drag. I've always set it to lock down, and am seeing on this thread that it is a mistake. What, exactly, is the negative effect on this....potential damage to the reel? I've never had any issue with hooks straightening out or felt I was losing fish because of it, but obviously want to learn the error in my ways. I have 2 Shimano Stradic 2500 FJ's that are used for bass.

+2 Love Uncle Homer

Thanks, the setup is similar to the one you have, though from what I've read, the improvements on the RLS+ are great. I was thinking 8'6" or 9', probably the prior, and also the 5W.

Fellow Sconnie welcome

Only time I've tried them were as trailers on buzzbaits, Pit Boss and The Jerk, both in black with purple fleck. Done very well with them.

That was my trailer on my 3/8" yesterday that got me my new PB. Black with purple fleck on black Terminator buzz.

I hadn't, until yesterday. Hit it hard!

Welcome from a fellow Sconnie.

Anyone ever use or know a fly fisher that has? It gets great reviews on Cabela's site and they knocked off another $20 from what I've seen it listed for in the last month. I am thinking about getting into fly fishing for trout and possibly smallies, if I can find a location or creek that contains both, and currently use my ultralight rod/reel. I know I'd need two different setups to handle both fish, which is a bit of a turn off, but didn't get any hits when I did the search.

Hope to check out Rock Lake at some point....my parents just moved to Johnson Creek...we scoped out the launches for bringing my pontoon down, but wasn't terribly impressed. I think M/D found a better one since. Dad and I fished from shore for about an hour but found absolutely no good structure (shallow, barren for weeds/structure, rocks) and didn't like the other choices we found any better. Happened to be a few hours before they found that kid's body in the pond somewhere on the other side of Bartel's Beach, and I thought about throwing a frog over there but never did. The channel of the Yahara from Monona to Waubesa should be a good place for you to check out via kayak, especially mid week. Can't imagine there's a lot of boat traffic and would think there's a ton of bass in there, under boats/piers, etc.

x2 on Rapala floating minnow

Here is another option....I bought 2 packs over the winter and have used them sparingly, have not had a strike on one yet but something to ponder http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Soft-Baits/Stick-Wacky-Baits%7C/pc/104793480/c/104772780/sc/104604480/Cabelas-Fisherman-Series8482-Go-To-Stick-Bait/1316464.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FN%3D1100342%26WTz_l%3DSBC%253BBRprd1316464&WTz_l=SBC%3BBRprd1316464%3Bcat104604480

Yep....high noon today in an area there probably was no business being a smallie in bright sunlight, little protection and in 3-5 FOW of a large lake. I was alternating between smallies a bit deeper and lmb shallow and near docks. My new PB.

Congrats!

Yes, my first (and biggest) smallie came on a small version of the perch, w/o spinner, on my first solo launch of our pontoon. Wasn't expecting to have time to fish that day, didn't come prepared with many tools, and didn't even have the FF that day. Luck triumphed skill to be sure. Have since ordered them in different colors and have some spinner arms as well but have not had many takers since, boat or shore.

In my 3 summers of bass fishing this area (though I've not been to your lake), I've not come across too many instances of bass jumping...they are mainly carp.

My PB (avatar) came on a frog. Love the concept, love the topwater excitement, but definitely a learning curve and a practice in patience. I've used frogs on and off all season under the right circumstances and have had many hits to the lure (or nearby) but hadn't had a single strike where hookset even was a possibility. It wasn't big, it didn't fight all that hard, but it WAS the first froggin' fish of the season this morning.....

Have you had any luck? I am not one that takes physical notes on my fishing trips, but commit the basics to memory. I recall last year at this time I had a 6 week skunk, all of August and some on either end. This year hasn't been much different, though I've resorted to using more live bait (crawlers) to prevent as many skunks....but even that hasn't helped for bass lately. Did get my first bullhead out of the Quarry last night (in 3 yrs) and a nice gill today...both on drop shot from shore/pier. Friend's son caught a LMB from same pier this morning, only 10.5" but his first bass ever and was excited. I taught him the jaw hold and got one picture snapped for him.