Topwater98

I have only made a few lures and they have all been for bass. I am thinking about making one for pike and am wondering what kind of wood I should use? Thanks for any help.

I am just getting started making lures. and was thinking about painting my first wooden lure today. I was wondering if you can put a Rust-Oleum crystal clear enamel coating over acrylic paints? Thanks for any help

Most of the time when I am fishing I am fishing either from shore or from a canoe. I was wondering how much stuff I should bring out with me when I am fishing. How many poles? I currently have a 7 ft medium heavy baitcaster with 12 lb test line, a 6 foot 6 medium light action spinning rod with 12 lb test line and a 5 foot 6 light action spinning rod. to me the medium light action spinning rod feels fairly stiff. I was wondering if I should bring all of my lures or just take the ones that I might use. Also does anyone bring a camera with? There are times I wish I could get pictures of the fish I catch without having to go back to shore. I am usually fishing with someone else who could take a picture. Would you get a waterproof camera? Thanks for any help.

Thanks for the help! Like I said all I ever catch them on are wacky rigged worms.

I was wondering what the best baits are for small lakes. I sometimes fish a lake nearby that is about 30 acres. What lures would you use. So far we have mostly caught them on wacky worms. I have tried other baits but haven't caught anything. My brother has caught a small bass on a rebel crickhopper. I have tried hollow bodied frogs a little but most of the lily pads there are tiny. I have also tried a rapala f13 minnow and a red spinnerbait. I think the main forage is bluegill and perch.

How important is it in fall to match natural forage. The lakes that I usually fish have bluegill as the main forage. Do I want to use lures that have bluegill colors? The water is fairly clear. Will a bass in a lake that dosn't have any shad still hit a bait that is supposed to look like a shad? Will bright colors be good? The lakes have hardly any cover other than weeds which there are lots of. Thanks for any help!

I was wondering how to tell if the lakes that I fish in have shad in them? Do almost all lakes have shad or how do you tell? Thanks for any information.

Thanks for the help!

I recently bought my first baitcasting reel off ebay. I was wondering what rod I should get to put it on. The reel has a 6.2:1 gear ratio. I had thought of getting a 7 ft medium heavy rod for fishing with a hollow bodied frog in lily pads. Would this rod work for fishing other lures or is it to big or heavy? Could I fish a frog in lily pads with a different rod like a 6 1/2 foot medium power rod? Thanks for any information.