Josh Smith

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

That reel retrieves 21ipt to 23ipt when full. I use one of mine for crankbaits. Josh

Hello from Wabash, Indiana. Josh

Hi Folks, I've been looking at the extended forecast and it's holding with what they were saying earlier. It simply doesn't look like we'll get many days below freezing this year in Indiana, which is a nice change from the past two winters (blizzards and sub-zero temps as the norm!) Yesterday I went fishing at the river but didn't have any luck, so I went to the lake. It's not frozen, so I tossed a few lures out -- jigs, lipless crankbaits, a square bill crank bait, and mostly, a jerkbait. Still nothing, but I'd like to try this more. Water temps are in the high 30s to low 40s, and I was fishing the north end, mostly, in the shallows after the sun has come up. If I recall, the deepest point in that lake is 15 to 20 feet or so, but the water is down a few feet due to lack of precipitation etc and those soundings are from about 20 years back as well. I'd say the average is more about 15 feet. Would this be a good time to break out the deep cranks, too? I have several I never use because the opportunity rarely presents itself. Also currently, no boat. I'm hoping to have it fixed and back out next summer, but I've also said that the past two years. I simply don't have much time to work on it. So, no depth sounder/fish finder/graph/whatever at this point. I do keep a deep crank in my tackle box (Cordell, I think it is; huge lip). I use this mostly to check the bottom of wherever I'm fishing using pre-sonar methods. The bottom of this lake, when using this diver and a split shot weight, shows to be mud/clay/muck, same as parts of the shore. How would you approach this lake during cold water? Regards, Josh P.S. Still planning on concentrating on river smallies for the winter, but I want to work on cold water lakes, too, as it's a weak point due to lack of exercise. J.S.

I seem to recall some old-style glass rods would take a set. I had one I kept in my room that did. This was the mid to late 80's and mounted my Zebco 33. I've not seen this on graphite to near the same extent. Josh

32fps/s on Earth. Josh

Sort of, I guess. Josh

Yes, I do all the time. I come from a family of engineers, scientists and educators. There is no hope that I won't think about this. Josh

I just ordered some Abu Garcia lube. Might have to go back and order some Penn stuff now. There is some stuff I used years ago that I really liked. It was translucent, light blue, and really sticky. Any idea what this is? Regards, Josh

Aguila Super Subsonic. Generally doesn't stabilize in standard twist barrels. Regards, Josh

Thank you. We have a NAPA, so I'll check there! Regards, Josh

Hello, No Ace Hardware around here. I'll need to check at True Value, though. I was looking for my previous standby before I got to experimenting, which is Abu Garcia with PTFE. The one place that has it locally was out... darnit. Regards, Josh

Guys, I found some Ardent Reel Butter locally. Yellow grease stuff. Any experience with this? Regards, Josh

Penn was another I was looking at online. When researching it, I could only find references to saltwater anglers packing their reels with it, so I skipped it. Regards, Josh

The stuff I'm using now is not a grease, per se. It's engine assembly lube, which is excellent in most applications I've put it, especially firearms slide rails. In fact, it seems excellent in the reel itself for certain applications; I really like it on carbon drags, for example. It does not do well inside bearings or on gears. This has mostly been an experiment with newer lubes. Prior to this, I just used old tubes of Abu Garcia grease I had laying around. They've since dried out, though. I'll try the Hot Sauce as I have it ordered, apply it sparingly, and see what happens. I'll be placing an order for Shimano grease soon, too, to apply to another reel. Whichever works best for me will go in all the reels when I'm done 'playing'. Thank you, DVT. Your input is always valued. Regards, Josh