Josh Smith

Hello, I lose lots of jerkbaits, generally because of where I run them. Heavy cover gets good results, I find. For this reason, though, I tend to buy jerkbaits used on eBay so that I don't lose big money when they do snag. I find that they don't produce less as long as they're in decent shape. I was cruising around on that website a few days ago and stumbled across a "Vanndalizer" brand. Never heard of them before. I bid less than a buck apiece and got several hard and soft lures for a few cents plus shipping. Here are the hard baits: Also bought a few plastics, a NIB Lewis Rattletrap, and a jig for cheap from the same guy. Looking around the internet, it doesn't appear that this guy is confined to eBay, the owner a few article write-ups about his company, and a few other places sell the Vanndalizer brand. Additionally, it looks like they're a minor sponsor for pro or two. They look good, and if they fish well, I'll likely purchase more. Does anyone else here have experience with this brand? I've never heard of them before, but do like their designs. Regards, Josh

In rivers, I'm having luck with late fall patterns. I haven't concentrated on the lake, so haven't worked it out. It does sort of look it's post-tunover with no fish turning on top, but I was only there once since turnover, too. Josh

Like the bass themselves, I am slowing down but not entirely stopping this winter. (The last couple of winters I had no choice due to blizzards and below zero temps). I work, read (currently In-Fisherman Smallmouth, In-Fisherman Walleye, and a western, Saddle Tramp) and spend time with the family besides fishing. Now is also a time for reel maintenance and working with the kids on their casting, archery, and firearms. Josh

In part, I do agree. I'd like my reels to come loaded with bushings. Because I tear them down and rebuild them when new anyway, it would be simple to replace the bushings with bearings where I want them. For example, a 5500c3 Ambassadeur runs about half of a 5600c5. Yet, it's a simple matter to replace the bushings in the c3 when supertuning the rest of it. I'd actually prefer it if I could buy an all-bushing reel and upgrade it with bearings as I see fit. This would lower initial and overall cost as I'd not be paying for Abec-3 bearings in a place I'd just swap in Abec-5 or -7 anyway. Guess I'm not the typical type they cater to, though. Regards, Josh

FloridaFishinFool: Do you have any idea how many bushings I've replaced with ball bearings? The reels include Abu Garcia and Quantum. Bushings are preferred in some applications. For example, I have an Ambassadeur 5500 with bushings. I kept the spool bushings but switched the driveshaft and levelwind to bearings. Likewise, one I converted might be getting switched back on the spool. Bearings are largely market driven. Customers think more bearings are better, so they pay more for reels with more bearings which may not necessarily be better. Bearings need to go in the levelwind if the levelwind doesn't disengage on the cast, on the crankshaft, and either bearings or nylon bushings need to go into the reel handle. Grease the nylon bushings and they work well. In older Quantum reels, the driveshaft needs bearings replacing the bushing, but that's mostly it unless you're throwing light lures as a habit. Smooth gears, plastic only where needed, and carbon drags go a longer way to making a better reel than loading up with bearings. Josh

Hello, I have a fishing boat I'm repairing. Don't need another. I come from a family of campers. We usually progress from no tent to tent to popup camper to travel trailer as we age. I am thinking a houseboat would be cool. Just a small one. Rig it up with electronics, and I'd wake up and get right to fishing with my first cup of coffee while still in my PJs. Not sure how doable this is financially. Just thining. Anyone here do this? Josh

I have a 301 in the shop that I need to rebuild. Not sure what I'll use it for, though. I have't backreeled in forever, not since carbon drag clutch plates. Josh

This reminds me that I need to fix my front shifter on my old Schwinn. It's a Shimano shifter and the cable finally broke... 25 years after I got the bike! Josh

No shame ever if I want something to eat, but I can't stand live bait fishing any longer unless it's as a trailer to a jig etc. The exception is when I throw out a baited line to catch food while I'm also throwing lures. Josh

My boy was with his grandparents felling a Christmas tree. Had he been with me, I'd likely have given him a pink jig for his light spinning setup and maybe gotten a couple more, enough to make a family meal. Most of what I had was too big for walleye, and though I had others hitting some lures, they wouldn't or couldn't commit to that big hook. One thing I should have tried, now that I think about it, are some pink Yum Dingers I have. I had mixed a red bag with a white bag and they all came out pink! Kept 'em for walleyes. Josh

The Ambassadeur guys just hang out on these threads and watch...

I will sometimes say, "Hmmm. A perciform," in the same tone in which I would say, "Hmmm. A wise guy, aye?" That's about it, though. Josh

Hello, Today I busted a Live Target squarebill Baitball while fishing in the river. The bill cracked off on the rocks. This is the first time I've seen a premium bait do this. I fished it twice, and it worked when nothing else did. I mean, it seems like it's a good concept. However, when I went to replace it this evening, I found reviews. Almost all mentioned the bill breaking off. Has anyone else had trouble with Kopper's crankbaits? I don't generally use crankbaits, and when I do, I expect them to hold together. Thank you, Josh

I have Grandpa's fly rod and do use it when conditions call for it. However, it's really more of a means to an end, and I'll likely retire Grandpa's rod for something more modern and with no sentimental value. I love chunking weighted lures, love building reels, and just generally prefer the bass setups I have. The fly rod comes out when the ultralight's lures are too heavy. Josh

The weather was nice today so went out to see if I couldn't get a river smallie or two to bite my lure. Didn't happen. I cast jigs in and around a submerged tree from the flooding this past summer. I kept feeling "ticks" but nothing committed. After trying jerkbaits (both hard and soft), jigs, and a couple others, I went to a square bill crankbait. This Live Target Baitball has produced here for me before, so I threw it. I tried reeling and stopping, and though I got another "tick", I didn't get a commitment. When I began to reel steadily but only fast enough to keep it in contact with the rocks, bursting speed only when I felt a stronger pull of a possible hangup, I got bit. One of those "hangups" was this guy: Using the rod as a reference, this walleye measured 19.5 inches or so. I put him on a stringer and was going to keep him if I caught two more. This would have made a decent fish meal for my family. However, shortly after, the bill on this Baitball broke on a rock or some danged thing, and I didn't have another. I tried some other square bills, but none produced. This was the only gold color I had. This was my first walleye of the year. I do have a walleye kit put together but didn't have it with me. The unseasonably warm weather sees me still bass fishing. I might have to start taking the walleye kit with me as walleye, smallmouth, and drum all co-mingle in this area of the river. Prime habitat for all species! Regards, Josh P.S. I also really need to start taking a better camera with me instead of relying on my phone. J.S.

Dude's probably too embarrassed now. Can we lock this thread?

No Sir, all c3, c4, etc Ambassadeurs are made in Sweden. The only Ambassadeurs made in China are the ones with "S" following the Ambassadeur name, like Ambassadeur S, SX, STX. I do not keep up with the low-profile reels and they may all be made in Japan, though I thought a couple of the high-end low-pros were made elsewhere, but I could be mistaken. I'm only speaking of the C series reels, Morrum, Record, and the like. All the round ones above the S series are still made in Sweden. Off to research the higher-end low-pros now! Regards, Josh

Please Sir, when speaking of Abu Garcia and China, except the reels still made in Sweden. Those Swedish reels are excellent! I think if I ever go low-profile, I'll go with Shimano, but loving round reels, my go-to are the MADE IN SWEDEN Ambassadeurs. Abu Garcia is, in my opinion, confusing folks and doing themselves a disservice by allowing the Ambassaseur name (as in the Ambassadeur S) to be used on some Chinese reels. Regards, Josh

My setup for this is a MH/F 6' hybrid rod with 50lb braid and heavy reel with 26ipt retrieve. I let the weight slide. I tend to think this makes it look like the worm (or whatever) is chasing it and triggers a strike due to bass' competitive natures. Josh

For me, it's a feel thing. An example are my newer Ambassadeurs. They feel a lot like the Ambassadeur I grew up with, minus the knob on the left side. This goes beyond the fact that they're all round. I can't place it. Likewise, Chinese reels all feel pretty much the same regardless of the company tag that's on 'em. I have yet to buy a Shimano. The ones I've tried all feel solid and remind me of the Ambassadeurs. Josh

I generally throw 1/2oz or heavier, and my preference are decked out 5500c3 reels. I have large hands and they are comfortable to palm. Lighter lures get thrown on a 4600c3, likewise modified, and with faster gears for a 31ipt retrieve. I consider this my jerkbait setup. Slower gears would get reinstalled for spinners etc, but will likely build a separate setup for light moving lures. Josh

Of course they communicate. They are far advanced, and communicate over vast distances. If, in the future, they become extinct, we will be in deep when their home world sends the probe to figure out why they lost contact. Unless we are able to grab a few from the past to repopulate the species (most likely via a slingshot around the sun), chances are the bass probe's communications will destroy the Earth. Just my opinion. Josh

I bought a book for smallies. Not sure I'll wade as I prefer bluejeans old shoes; no insulated waders. Then again, I might pick some up. I'm not sure which part of the White River you're talking about. I've fished it a few times and it's always run a bit fast for wading. It was after that large fish kill, though, and the area was around the White River Park. Up here, the Wabash is still small enough that I can almost cast across it. Still, I like to wade so I can cast upstream. There are gravel and sand bars I can used to do this in the winter, I suppose. Will have to look at self-inflating PFDs as the only ones I have are foam and bulky. The lakes have turned over up here, too, but should be aerated again due to wind action. Turnover was early October. Regards, Josh

Here's what I'm looking at this year: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/mild-week-record-challenging-warmth-northeast-southeast/54046902 The long term forecast has very mild weather. The Earth's tilt should warm things up again around March-April like always. We will see. Regards, Josh

Thank you, gents. I'm watching and taking notes! Regards, Josh