Daniel My Brother

Great fish! We used to catch a lot of drum on the Mississippi, but I never got one that big. I've heard they get huge in lakes, and the big ones will hit bass lures, what did he fall for?

Very well said!

There's a good article on espn.com about Bob Rich, the billionaire fisherman. The author went smallie fishing with Mr. Rich on Lake Erie. So what sort of reel do you think a billionaire uses? Sure looks like a $60 Pflueger President to me. Here's a link to the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/news/story?id=2996401

I own one pinnacle reel (extant HS metal baitcaster) I've fished it hard for close to 3 years. I got it cheap and have never serviced it. I keep saying I'll replace it when it breaks down but the darn thing refuses to die!!! I think the new ones are beautiful looking reels, and they are priced cheap. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another one down the road.

Hey Illini, Is it a Kingfisher 44? I may have the same reel! I used to love the thing, now the thought of actually using it makes my hair stand on end.... click.click.click.click.click....no thanks. Here's a picture

If it's not the reel you want, call the store, explain your situation and see if they'll take it back. I've had good luck returning items without a receipt. I even got a reel repaired without any proof of purchase. It won't cost you anything to ask.

I'm hoping to see some bigguns on tape! But either way, have a great trip!

Hey FB, I've got a 6000 and the feature you're describing is the bait clicker. It has nothing to do with anti-reverse. Anti-Reverse keeps the handle from turning in reverse and is pretty much standard on every baitcaster. A bait clicker simply makes a noise to let you know that a fish is running with your bait. That reel is a tank. It will outlive us both. Dan

I didn't have a lot of girlfriends in high school. It wasn't that they didn't like me, it's that they didn't even know I existed. Then I bought a motorcycle. It was just a 2 cylinder, air cooled, 450 Honda Nighthawk, but all of a sudden girls I barely knew were coming up to me and asking for rides. It was awesome! that first summer on the bike was my best ever. Of course I quickly traded that motorcycle in for a much faster Honda Interceptor, which I promptly traded in for an even faster still Kawasaki Eliminator, then a Yamaha FZR, etc Pretty soon it was all about the bikes, and I wasn't meeting any girls! What a moron. :-/ With fishing I've made a decision that it's always going to be about the fish. I won't spend more than $100 on a rod or a reel because I'm not convinced it will help me catch more fish or have more fun. I'm happy for the guys who get the nicer stuff, and I hope it makes their time on the water more enjoyableit's just not me.

It's on Versus, which used to be the Outdoor channel. I think Versus used to be the Outdoor Life Network (OLN). The Outdoor Channel is still called The Outdoor Channel (it's the home of Monday Night Fishing). We're lucky enough to get both on basic cable.

Your posts are always entertaining and you flat out catch fish. I hope you stick around a long time! Keep fishing and keep sharing... Dan

My brother in law has a surefire way to catch snappers. He takes a long narrow stick and attaches a small hook to the end of it. After the first frost he finds a bend in the creek where the roots of a tree are exposed in the sandy bank. Then he pokes around in the sand until he taps the shell of a turtle, then he simply hooks the turtle under the shell and pulls it out of the sand. They're so dazed that they don't struggle a bit. He and my sister will catch all the turtle they can eat in a winter in under 2 hours. He swears they are in every creek in Iowa. Here's a pic of Tom with his catch...and if you look close you can make out his turtling stick!

Chris, I totally understand your enthusiasm over a new species. I've gotten into wading for smallies in a local stream and my boat hasn't touched the water in a month...and these are little fish! But it's different, and it's way FUN! In October I'm taking my first ever Muskie trip. We may get skunked, but I can hardly wait to try. Congrats! Dan PS Did you get her number?

Is it true that cherry Chapstick will make your line invisible to bass? Does it come in garlic or shad flavor? What about generic lip balms, do they work as well as original Chapstick? And where I can buy Chapstick in bulk? I need help here, people!

Excellent story. I've only been fishing streams for smallmouth for a couple of months, but they've been hot months. I am surprised at how many fish we catch in shallow water when it's 95+ degrees out. Now if only one of them went 3 pounds I'd be a happy camper.

I'm not very good at math, but I'll guess that I catch 5 or 6 dinks (under a pound) for every good fish over 2 pounds.

I'm pretty sure there should be two L's in All Star...and no P's!!! That's still a great bag, I just hope you like Pflueger. ;D

I agree. In fact you should go ahead and send me your Jitterbugs so that I can dispose of them properly.

I'd sneak up to that deck from shore and cast at it from every possible angle, especially try skipping baits underneath it if possible. After I exhausted that option, I would fish from the deck.

Hey Brooks, you'll want to ditch those Aberdeen hooks. Aberdeen hooks are made for baitfishing and they're made to bend, that means your hook could straighten out on you when you get a biggun. Try 1/0 or larger offset shank or extra wide gap hook made for soft plastics (I prefer 3/0 offset for 7" worms). Eagle Claw hooks are good, Gamakatsu are better, Owner hooks are the best.

Great attitude stratos284, better to join in on the joke than to get upset and be the butt of it. I'm happy to hear that Humminbird is working with you on the transducer, that says a lot about the company.

Nice job guys! I can't think of a better way to spend a hot day than wading for smallies.

My Dad never cared for fishing, but when I was too young to drive he would take me every Saturday morning and drop me at the lake or river, then he'd go to work at his office. Around noon he'd close up shop and pick me up. Sometimes we'd stay and fish together, other times we'd go to the tavern and get a sandwich and a soda. I loved sitting at the bar with my Dad. I felt like big stuff. Now Dad is 77 and loves to golf every chance he gets. I don't care to golf much these days, but when I make it home I always bring my clubs. I love that man.

Brooks, I'm glad to see you posting some pictures. Those are definitely some healthy looking bass, whatever you're doing is working. Dan

Bass Pro Shops has a hunting section? Learn something new everyday.