Jim Hill

I would have been trolling for them but where we fish is an old mine pit and is really deep. The ones they stock are rather big to begin with. Everyone I know who does fish for them there has big rods and reels, heavy line and large lures. On avg they are 10 lbs

Just got notification that my wifes 26" splake qualifies for Master Angler! She has no idea I sent it in! Very unexpected catch as we knew the place had lake trout but we dont have the gear for it. It was in 10 feet of water, caught on a rapala.

filled out and hopefully it works, thanks!

d**n, i never did do that next to the tape measure. We wanted to get a photo and release it as fast as possible.

we werent fishing for pike at the time but crappie and as my wife was reeling one it a monster northern grabbed it mere inches from the dock, ran and snapped the line like it was 4lb test! Ive caught many a northerns and top water is my favorite! I sometimes take out my zara spook and they just explode with their entire bodies sometimes on it!

nice and congrats! That being said, whilst fishing for bass and northerns at our local pit my wife landed a 26 inch splake. We thought it was a laker, as thats what stocked, but was told by many it was a splake. How did you go about verifying and sending in your application for it? I would love to have my wife get one also!!

I'd say .9 to 1.2 is the fastest we'd go. Thats just me trying to remember. Yes we usually use a lindy type setup but typically use snap on lead weights. I dont recall the weights as we just look at them and say yep, this should be fine. Since we will be at Hoodoo point, its very shallow there. We always start the opener there and then later move out to near moccasin point. I think its like 6-maybe 15 feet max? Some days we do well with the normal way, other times we get little to none. I just like to have other options that might work better if one isnt. Last year I bought some Lindy lil' guys and they did pretty good as opposed to crawlers with a cork floater off the bottom. I always bring 2 set ups. My normal mono walleye set up and my heavier braided set up for when I coax him to get close to the shore I cast for bass or northerns. I have to see if my local stores carry those brands, only a few days left!

Actually I will be fishing for walleye exclusively. I've seen many videos now suggesting swimbaits for walleye and even crank baits. I will most likely be at hoodoo point for opener. My dad tales his boat and has fished vermilion longer then my 38 years of life but has never done anything else but troll with minnows or in summer crawlers. I like to try other things but it's going to be trolling.

Going to lake vermilion for minnesota opener and mainly going to be trolling with no minnows but I want to try a swimbait. I'm grabbing some of those gt 360 but what size and color should I get? Doesn't have to be 360 brand but I'd like to get the correct size and color!

I didn't realize there were so many replies, it never notified me. So many suggestions for the rod and line but it almost seems for certain I will try and get a pflueger president. Not sure if I mentioned it but it's all from a dock and casting distance does matter. There are weeds near the dock but virtually no snags. Casting further usually nets the bigger ones. With casting distance, no snags, using live minnows and bobber (or super small light rapala top water) would this change the rod or.line type?

I saw two rod and reel combo listed a few different places. One was like crappie slab hunter by lews and another zebco combo. I believe both are on Wal-Mart's website. Anyone know of these? Also the suggestions sound good!

I'm looking for a nice rod and reel set up for crappie and bluegill specifically. This will be from docks and shore mainly. I wanted something good but not wallet breaking. I have other rods and reels but I'd like one for this type of fishing the most. Usually if not always it's bobber and minnow or really small rapala. Also, line choice?

I am with the VA for my glasses and I do not think they provide sunglasses. I saw some nice cocoon ones on amazon, just might need to get a correct size for my current RX ones

website error made me like triple post! Sorry about that. I will check out the cocoons, I suppose.

Ok, not tackle per say but doesn't fit really anywhere else. I wear prescription glasses. That being said I went to wally world and got some clip ons. I've been thru one too many pair of either getting broken or bent. I'm tired of clip ons! Can anyone suggest some good fishing sunglasses that fit OVER my current glasses? I know i've seen some people on fishing shows with them. I want specific ones for fishing, you know polarized and what not. Anyone know of any?