Josh Smith

The "S" is Chinese junk made mostly (I think) for Walmart. Josh

Hi Folks, Yesterday I fished for four or five hours. It was slow. One bass hit a topwater frog I was fishing on heavy mat. I lost that one, but did hook up again and land it when I threw a wacky worm right after the miss. Today was worse. I was fishing frogs on scum and isolated mat. One bass blew up the frog. It surprised me and I'm sure I yanked the frog away from the bass before it could commit as I set the hook as a reaction. I hooked up again in the same area with a different frog. I waited for a moment to set the hook this time, but the bass managed to spit the frog. After that area stopped activity, I moved to heavier mat on the other side of the lake. The first frog toss onto this mat resulted in a missed strike. The second bass from this area took it under water into very thick weeds and managed to get off. So... I lost four nice bass (one felt like it could have been a personal best) and landed a big fat zero for four hours of fishing! Two of those I know I set the hook early. This is the first year I've used a frog, and I'm having to adjust. I've landed one bass on the frog this year, but six or seven have hit the frog. I've lost a total of three or four due to my haste in setting the hook, but the others I can't explain. The bass in this lake love the frogs, but I'm not hooking up. I'm thinking soft mouth. I've been using a 7' MH/F Daiwa rod. Thinking about this, I've lost all of them on this rod. Too stiff, maybe? The one I landed with a frog was caught on a MH/F 6' Cherrywood HD, which is a blended glass and graphite rod. Though it's marked as a "fast" action, it's certainly much softer than the Daiwa. I prefer it for most of my fishing. Do you have thoughts on this? I wasn't wanting to go to a medium rod because of the heavy cover I fish. I was thinking about a long rod with a soft tip like an Ugly Stick, but wanted to bounce this off you good folks first. Regards, Josh

I generally tie direct anymore. The places I usually fish are filled with weeds and the line blends in. If I find clear water, I tie a fluoro leader. Josh

Hi folks, A couple friends of mine like to catfish. When I would go with them, I used my Ambassadeur 5000 on a pistol grip Daiwa graphite rod. (In truth, given the '90s vintage and price of the rod, I'd say it's not a huge percentage of graphite, though it's stiff.) Now, we're talking about going fishing together again. I am wondering how modern bass equipment handle catfish. The specific combo I'm considering for this occassional role is my Daiwa 7' MH IM8 fast action with a 5500c3 on it. I have no doubt the 5500c3 will hold up, but I do wonder about the rod. I don't really want to invest in a catfish rod because I'd not use it enough. Thoughts? Thank you, Josh

Way too much matte under and around the limbs to use anything like buzz or spinnerbaits. There are branches coming UP out of the water, too. I'll try to remember pics next time I go. Josh

Nessy?

Wabash, Indiana went up from $2.59 early yesterday to $2.99 late yesterday. I filled up early. It does this because people will pay for it. Remember when it was around $4 a gallon? Of course, if I drive to Peru, Indiana, I'm sure I'll find it for 50¢ cheaper... Josh

I was trying that with slow falling jigs last night. Next time I need to bring the ultralight for weightless worms. I usually do but last night I had frogs I wanted to try. Today's gear allows me to do more than when I was a teenager when we only had monofilament. I'd have never cast into half the stuff I'm able to today! But there's a new learning curve that goes with it. Josh

I've broken limbs and line off doing this, using 50lb braid. Josh

First, imagine a downed pine tree devoid of needles. Now, imagine a bass that thinks it's a woodpecker. That'll give you some idea. Regards, Josh

I have fished for about 35 years now, since I was two or three. I bought a relatively expensive rod a while back, and it promptly broke. While it was being returned and replaced, I bought a Cherrywood HD to use with the reel that was on it, sort of an experiment. That $20 Cherrywood is now my go-to rod. It is used first, though I take much higher-end rods along. It would be perfect with upgraded eyelets. It's all in what you're looking for, I think. This is perfect for heavy cover. Looks sort of funny with a supertuned and upgraded 5500c3 on it, but it's the most useful setup I have. Josh

I tried. Don't think I made it a month. Couldn't stand the itch. As is, with my own business where I do not interact with folks face-to-face, I shave two to three times per week. While I've never thought keeping the top layer of skin scraped off was a good idea, too much beard makes my skin flake and itch due to irritation. Josh

Hi All, I went fishing for 1/2, 45mins tonight until sundown. I located the bass just fine. Problem was, there was no good way to throw the bait to 'em. The way I generally fish this lake is to find heavy cover and throw jigs. In the case of a downed tree, I roll those jigs right up and over the limbs. However, where the bass were tonight, I just couldn't get to. We just had a cold front come through, and they're laying tight to the trunk of a downed pine tree. The needles of said tree are gone, but most of the primary and secondary branches are still there. A bass attacked the shadow of a jig through as I rolled it up over a limb! I just couldn't get the bait in that pocket where they were holed up! I'm a decent caster, but there just wasn't a clear enough line of fire to the pocket. Where I was at on the bank was the best approach angle. A boat would have given other approach angles, but I'm not sure even a canoe could get back where I was at. Thoughts? Josh

I took those out for about half an hour this evening. Though I caught nothing in that short time, I got to see how they perform. I like 'em! I think they'll be what I buy from now on. Thank you! Josh

And... these are excellent! I'm quite impressed by the quality. Now, if they don't waterlog or anything, I might have a new favorite! They look as detailed as Live Target, and cost a bit less.

Oh, I gotcha'. We are still at many feet above flood stage due to rain. It's unprecedented. The Salamonie emergency spillway was used for the first time in history. Both Mississinewa and Salamonie Reservoirs were a couple feet below capacity and they had to let out. There was no access. As the rivers go down, they're leaving impassable muck behind that will have to dry before we can reach the rivers. Salamonie River is generally knee to hip high on me. Now it, along with the Wabash and Mississinewa, are well over my head. If we get to river fish at all, it'll be early to late fall. But they should be letting out for winter pool anyway around that time... so I don't know. Josh

Oh, I do fish them, in water that allows them to be effective. I don't fish that water often. The lake I usually fish is covered in vegetation with about 25% of the surface (and most of the surface reachable from shore) being covered with mat or with densely-packed weeds that come right up to the top. No plug I've found works well there from early summer to late fall. Late fall, the lipless crankbaits work well. I do like the square bills for river fishing on the rocks, but the rivers are still up way too high to do anything with 'em right now. I like the jerkbaits too, but again, it's all timber and salad that I'm fishing and they lose their action very fast. Josh

I got a WA55 in bream, and a Spittin' Frog in Leopard. Already made room in the tackle box for these! Regards, Josh

Ever open your tackle box and wonder this? I have a large tackle box that I take on boats. However, when shore fishing, I prefer to carry a smaller tackle box, a two-drawer Plano. The top is filled with worm hooks, bullet weights, and topwater lures. The middle drawer is packed with crankbaits. I keep my jigs in the bottom, in a small drawer I bought. Now, here's the thing: I use my crankbaits for maybe 1% of my fishing. I have no idea why I have so many in there, but I can't bring myself to remove 'em! I think I'll swap spots with the jigs so I have easier jig access, but dang -- I can't figure out why I carry so many crankbaits with me! Josh

I punch through with heavy jigs or use a frog. Texas rigs work well if you can cast heavy enough to get through. I will be getting a heavy rod for use with heavier bullet weights. Meantime, the frog and jigs are working. Josh

I just ordered two on the strength of your statement, Big C, and will blame you if they suck! Josh

A self-feeding problem is that those new to baitcasting generally don't want to drop a lot of coin on equipment, but are then soured on baitcasting when it fails to perform as expected. Go get a good hybrid rod. I have fished most of my life and really love the Berkely Cherrywood HD for my main rod. Know what? The thing ran me $20. I bought it as a stopgap when a more expensive rod broke, and ended up putting the more expensive rod in the corner! Weird. You might grab a 6' MH or 6'6" M Cherrywood HD, top it with a decent inexpensive reel like those marketed by Bass Pro or Abu Garcia, and give that a go with worms and jigs. Use braid. Josh

I generally fish by myself. I don't have patient friends. I do take my boy often. Josh

I have exactly one frog. It's a Live Target and has worked well. I'm impressed. Want to pick up a Spro or two also, and a couple weedless poppers. Josh

Hello, I use both types, the dog and anti-reverse, for different techniques. I like the dog because I can feel the strike through the reel handle as well as through the rod. This is good for moving baits. Regards, Josh