iceintheveins

I would go with 30 - 40 pound power pro line, a medium heavy or heavy action casting rod, and a good quality baitcaster. Bass pro shops new nitro series big bass set ups look great.

Double uni knot.

Mono is always the best with poppers. If your not around heavy cover, you can use 6 - 10 pound test. If there is heavy cover, I would go with 14 pound or even heavier. Original Stren is probably the best mono out there.

The best info for Colorado bass fishing is on westernslopeanglers.com. That's the straight beef, plus we have the Colorado bass association on board with us.

When ice fishing for other species I am a big believer in using smelly jelly from pro guide. However when bass fishing I have not noticed a huge difference between scented and unscented lures. The action seems to be what matters more. However this year I'm going to try to use some crawdaddy smelly jelly when crawdads are the main forage, and baitfish when bluegills or perch are the main forage.

I like the pepper hawg. It's built here in my hometown of Grand Junction, Colorado. Very durable skirts and extra shiny blades, built with a premium gamakatsu hook.

No popper works like the skitter pop. It walks the dog better than any other popper, and does a subtle blip or a nice "bloop" better than any other popper. Strike King's Spittin' King is also good, as is the gobo popper from Cultiva. But really, the best popper is a skitter pop. Don't need to buy any others. I just wish they had better color selection.

Lure Jehnsen Hot Lips are great, as are the deeper diving bomber fat a's. Bass Pro Shops Deep Nitro Crank is also worth a look.

Rattlin Raps do not have the wobble and wiggle the Rat L Trap does. Rat L Traps are great lures, I never replaced any of the rattlin raps I lost, I just switched to all Rat L Traps. However, there are two lipless cranks that blow a Rat L Trap out of the water. That would be a Cordell Super Spot, and the best one of all, the Bass Pro Shops XPS Rattlin' Shad.

Colorado is HORRENDOUS for closing lakes. We have many lakes that supply water to communities being closed to boating or ice fishing because of contamination, liability, or aquatic hitchhiker fears. We even have about 20 lakes totally closed to all public access for those same bogus fears. The fact is most municipal supply lakes, EVEN IN COLORADO, allow fishing, ice fishing, and at least non motorized boating. Those lakes do not have any greater amount of problems than restricted ones. No evidence exists to support them. In fact, mussels don't hurt water quality, they just stick onto filtration equipment.

Fight like hell and don't take defeat as meaning you can never win. Consider them getting their way (if it happens) as a temporary victory. FIGHT LIKE HELL AND NEVER EVER STOP!

I am sick and tired of lakes being closed, or closed to boating, over the fears of aquatic hitchhiking species. Waterfowl also bring in invasive species such as mussels. These lakes ARE PUBLIC PROPERTY and belong to the people, not the officials. What should be done instead is to have boats inspected and certified mussel free. The solution is to raise relentless hell. Any official voting for it or supporting it shouldn't get your vote. Mass petitions and mass protests, as well as public education campaigns showing how wrong the water utility goons are work well. If all else fails, start gathering signatures to place a measure on the ballot that would allow boating again. Only citizens of the cities that "own" the reservoirs are valid signers, but if it gets on the ballot and passes, it is law, no matter what the water jerks say.

I was thinking casting and retrieving big, deep cranks would be easier and less strenuous with casting gear. Is that true?

I have usually used spinning gear with light line for cranks to get better casting distance and deeper running lures. I prefer spinning gear. However with big, deep cranks I was thinking baitcasting gear might be better. What do you guys prefer? What line do you spool on your casting reel for medium - deep cranks?

Early morning is best but evening can be good too. I have caught lots of trout at night, but especially through the ice.

I second that. All arbogast lures have crummy hooks.

Does anyone know a QUALITY 4 or 5 horse motor I could get for around $1000, even if I have to buy used?

Cutbait such as anchovies and suckers are some of the best all around catfish chow around, but often fresh chicken livers are even better.

Generally drifting half a night crawler with a couple split shot will outfish anything. As far as lures go, you can't beat panther martin spinners in size 4, 6, and 9. Lucky we don't have any flyfishing only rivers around here. I can see a few smaller, hard fished rivers being flies and lures only but never flies only. That's bull.

A number 10 perch X Rap. However any number 11 or 13 jointed rapala is a close second.

I know the xrap has a wilder, more erratic, cutting action than the more subtle husky jerk. So which of these suspenders produces better for bass in the spring in your opinion?

Has anyone tried these lipless cranks? If they are as good as a rat l trap I am buying a bunch because they have a 2" crank that weighs 1/4 ounce, so that will help me cast a smaller profile bait farther. I have heard from some people they have actions even better than traps.

Natural crawfish

Rapala skitterpop in bullfrog, followed closely by a 1/4 ounce buzzbait with a black skirt.

Darn right they are good, for not only bass but pike too. The frog color has been my most consistant producer. Black is good anytime too but the only way to go at night. A good trick in rivers for smallies is to crawl it against the current, then open your bail and let it float back downstream. Then bring it back through the same area, again and again. Big smallies will CRUSH it.