BLUESKY

I was worming one time on the home lake when I felt a tap, I set the hook and landed the bass. When I went to unhook the fish, I noticed that it had broken off of someone elses line and the point of my worm hook had gone throught the eye of the other hook and had never penatrated the fishes mouth. Another time on the same lake, I was fighting a LMB around 4 lbs on a rapala and as I got it near the boat I could see an almost identical fish looking like it was trying to steal the bait from the one that I was bringing in. The one on my line looked more like it was trying not to give up the meal to the other fish than getting away from the boat, so instead of quickly landing the fish I played with it awhile, and sure enough the other one tried to steal the bait and I landed both fish.

I've noticed something similar on one of the local lakes that I used to wade in. Many times I would be surrounded by Bluegills and as it was getting towards dusk they would really thin out. Sometimes when I would be leaving, walking the shore back to the car, I would see a Bass come in and ****** an unlucky Gill that failed to dissappear with the rest of the school.

Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnasota, Misouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Florida.

I use a method very simolar to what was shown on the InFisherman page, insted of going through the gill with my fingers I use a long nose plyers. grip the shank of the hook just before the bend, have the point lined up with the shank, and the eye so it can go out the gill, twist the plyers so that the point rotates on an arc back out the way it went in. The eye and shank will go between the gill plates and the point will easely come out without tearing up the fishes gutt. Once the point is free, release the shank, remove the plyers from the gill and go through the mouth to remove the free hook.

I'm not real fond of fishing in the rain but, it seems that the majority of tournaments this year have so far been in the rain. Lite easy rain no or little wind, I daon't much change what I'm using. As the weather changes I adjust to Baits that I can stay in touch with, it is important to know what is happening at the other end of the line no matter what the weather. Good rain gear is essential if you dont want to be wet and misserable, Frog Toggs are really good in my opinoin, especially since they have been available at about half price lately. If you get them a bit larger than you need you can ad a sweatshirt or jacket underneath it and use it in the spring and fall when the weather tends to be chilly.

I also prefer to drive on, but there are some lakes where it is posted that power loading is not allowed. At theese lakes I still see boats being driven on to the trailers. One time I asked a boater why he didn't just drive on and he told me that it was his first time at a lake that allowed and that it was not allowed on the lake he usualy fished and that he didn't feel confident enough to try it. BlueSky, that's interesting. I've been on many lakes that only allow trolling motors, but I still crank my outboard to trailer/de-trailer my boat. Once I'm off the trailer I shut it down and use my trolling motor. I assumed that this was OK. Are you talking about lakes that explicitly prohibit power loading? I've never seen this. sorry it took awhile to respond, computer has been acting up. Yes there are some lakes which explicitly prohibit power loading, launch areas are not too deep and the ramp doesn.t extend very far into the water. power loading tends to wash out holes at the back of these ramps.

I also prefer to drive on, but there are some lakes where it is posted that power loading is not allowed. At theese lakes I still see boats being driven on to the trailers. One time I asked a boater why he didn't just drive on and he told me that it was his first time at a lake that allowed and that it was not allowed on the lake he usualy fished and that he didn't feel confident enough to try it.

Shore fishing available at the state parks, the people you are staying with should be able to direct you there. Boat rental is also available on the chain. Iwould advize against a float tube or similar type home made innertube device on the chain because, a user fee sticker must be on all watercraft there and the DNR are very strict in enforcing. Not very far from where you are are some other lakes with good shoreline fishing, Lilly lake on rte 120 3or so miles west of rte 12 has some very nice Bass, catch and release only. Also in the Round lake area there is a catch and release lake behind the Walmart and the train station in the vicinity of Rollins road and rte. 83. Moraine(spelling) Hills state park has a number of lakes with shoreline access also on lake Defiance the bait shop rents boats.

My 2 cents worth. Remember it's called fishing not catching, enjoy it, be passionate about the whole experience. Remember that a 1/2 hour fishing show on the TV takes many hours to put together, do not measure your success against what you see there, but rather by what you bring to and get back from your time on the water.

I would definately fish the area, but also on the way I would be trying the coontail choked area, have caught many nice bass out of areas like that using weedless surface lures like the moss boss and scum frogs. Some times a fish will blow up on the lure knocking it up in the air, when that happens I quickly retrieve it and cast past the spot, and coming through the same spot, giving the fish another chance. I have had the bait knocked airborne 2 or 3 time before the fish broke through and got the lure, have caught some very impressive fish this way.

Anybody try a transom jack on an aluminum boat, would be interested in any info good or bad.