Topwater98

Today I caught this 2.5 lb bass on a 1 1/2 inch 3/32 oz Rebel Crickhopper. It broke one of the hook points off the back treble hook on the lure. The hooks are size 14 treble hooks. I should have taken a photo of the fish while it still had the lure in it's mouth. Anyone else have any big fish on small lures? Maybe a few small fish on large lures?

I haven't fished chatterbaits at all yet. I would like to try them one one of my next trips to to the lake. How do you work them? Would you put a trailer on them? I only have one. It is a small 1/4 oz black/blue Z-Man chatterbait. Thanks for any help.

I was just reading this post on jig fishing that is in the fishing tackle form. I have done a little jig fishing lately but this will definitely help me. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/12403-jig-fishing-questions/

Go Brewers!!! They are playing the Mets. Don't you want the Mets to lose? They are in the same division as the Braves.

Yesterday was my first time fishing with soft plastic frogs. I had fished with hollow-bodied frogs a little and caught 3 fish on them. I caught 4 bass the biggest was about 2 lbs. three of the four fish were 15 inches and one was 12 inches. When I bought my frogs they cam with a weighted hook. Yesterday I didn't use the weighted Without any weight on the hooks the frogs sink slowly. One of the fish I caught was caught while the frog was sinking. I was wondering why you should use the weighted hooks? I was fishing it some in open water, some in lily pads and some in reeds or near docks. This fish was really fat. It was 15 inches and 2 lbs. Also while fishing yesterday I caught a 16 inch bass on a jig and craw. I tried to cast it near a dock but it landed on the dock. I rolled it off the dock and into the water and right away the bass came swimming out really fast and grabbed it. He must have heard something above him and was ready when it fell into the water. This fish was really thin. It was 16 inches and 1 3/4 lbs.

By the way this was my first time bed fishing.

Yesterday I was fishing for a bedding bass. I had been fishing for it for a while. Suddenly the bass grabbed at the lure hard but missed. I set the hook and hooked it near it's mouth but not in it. I am keeping track of how many fish I catch this year and was wondering if you would count this fish? I am sure that if I hadn't snagged it I would have caught it soon.

I was wondering what depth you think the fish would be at right now?

About how deep of water do you think the pike bass and bluegill are going to be in?

I live in northern WI and I was wondering when some species of fish spawn. The weather up here has been pretty nice lately but we had a really cold winter. I mostly want to know when the Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and Bluegill spawn. Thanks for any help.

The 4.8 lb smallmouth I caught was in the Lake Superior.

Thanks for the help!

I haven't used braided line before. Do you need to use backing? Does it matter what lb test the backing is? Do you use a leader?

What type of rod/reel and line would you use for fishing wacky rigged worms? I often fish them near boat docks.

I am trying to decide what strength and type of line to get. Last year was the first year that I did a lot of fishing. This year I want to try to use the right line. In the past I have used the cheapest somewhat strong line. I have a baitcasting rod that I am planning on using for fishing mostly jerkbaits and topwater lures. How strong of line should I get? I am planning on using mono. What brand should I use? Thanks for any help.

Anyone know of a good and fairly cheep hook sharpener? I don't have anything for sharpening hooks right now.

Thanks for the replies. Hopefully I can at least get over 3 lbs next year.

In length the largest bass I caught was 20.5 inches for smallmouth and 17 inches for largemouth.

I was wondering what a you would consider a big bass for northern Wisconsin. My personal best for a largemouth is 2.31 for a smallmouth 4.8.

I haven't tried to use crayfish imitating baits. I don't think crankbaits will work because of the weeds. I haven't tried soft plastics so maybe next year I will try soft plastic crayfish.

In a weedy lake with soft bottom I have caught several bass with crayfish in their mouth. Where are they finding them? Do the crayfish live in the weeds? Thanks for any help.

As far as I know the only baitfish forage is panfish.

Thanks for the help. I would like to figure out where they spawn. I will try to next spring.

So far my top baits have been topwaters, rapala minnowbaits and wacky worms under docks.

Do the pike affect where the bass go?