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?

I've seen some other things about ice out, not really much about specifics. I was wondering what temps maybe it needs to be after ice out for pan fish to hit the shallows? We here in Minn have seasons for fish and bass doesn't open till May 14th this year. I've developed a love for sunfish and crappie now, due to the taste and wanted some better advice on how long to wait, I guess. It was 76 two days in a row and all the ice was gone. Now, its been 50-55 for 4 days or so, with little to no sun. I tried a bobber and a wax worm to no avail. Im wondering if I need to wait longer for either sun or warmer water, or maybe another bait? Mind you this is from shore only.

so yo-zuri is only fluoro and ultra soft is mono?

yeah I like the suggestions above but the first one with the yo-zuri, doesn't have which type, just the #'s. Im not so much of a brand name guy as I am of type. I used power pro at first because it was cheaper. Then I got suffix and it actually was better because the braid didn't fray like my power pro. I think so far im going to do one mono (the walleye trolling one), the pan fish one is set on weight but not sure of type. the third will be braid with a fluorocarbon leader. The lake I go to for walleye is Lake Vermillion in northern MN, its stained water I believe. I think a decent 10 or 12 mono would work fine. Oh, and what are the major differences in mono and fluoro anyway, just stretch and visibility?

So today I went to a scratched/dented local non chain store looking for beds and a dryer (because mine just broke). What I didn't realize is the whole store is full of things from other places and other stores which were outdated, dented, scratched...etc Anyway, they had fishing rod and reel combos for half the price they are sold online or in stores! This isn't like a $500 set up with a st croix rod mind you, but they had some decent ones. So I got a small panfish rod and a gx2 ugly stick 6/6 medium. Its not top of the line but its more of really good for broke people ones, ya know? Well, I finally have 3 rods and one more reel I will have my 3 set ups, finally. That being said, I would like to choose the right line for what I want to do and would like the opinion of more experienced people. Im not a novice, but not an expert. I've fished for over 20 years, but still have a lot to learn. Last 2 years I only had one rod/reel and used power pro or suffix #20 braid for every thing. Now that I have my 3 set, one if for panfish (crappie and sunfish only, basically), one will be for pretty much trolling on a boat for walleyes, and the third will be for bass, northern, trout...etc. SO basically, which line is best for my 3 types of fishing? Panfish will be from shore, Walleye will almost always be from a boat, trolling, and the bass/northern/trout will be from shore. I only had braid last few years because I thought hey, doesn't break on snags as often..etc But I have been watching and reading forums about fluorocarbon in addition to braid...etc My concern is not only snags, weeds, and rocks. But also stretch, pull, visibility of the fish. Just want someone who has more experience then me in lines to give me some tips for specific kinds of fish/fishing on my new 3 set ups.

If snap sinkers are just as good, used in a three way rig instead of just on the line, I may stick with it instead of going no snag or bottom bouncer. Maybe the key is 3 way?

Snap sinkers are what I use and consider "regular" ones. Then bottom bouncers and the no snag ones. I DO catch them using the regular snap sinkers but I get stuck alot!

So when I go fishing on a boat its with my Dad and its usually lake Vermilion (northern MN) for Walleyes. While I do love to do it I wanted to find a better method. He uses and so do we just regular sinkers and slow trolling. On may 14th or somewhere around it we go for opener and slow troll minnows with maybe one rattle bead on it. It does work but hes always dead set on the same thing. That being said, I want to change it up with my sinker first. We get stuck, ALOT, and it takes away from catching fish. I have only maybe used a bottom bouncer 3 way rig once or twice but I have seen the lindy no snag ones a few times and wondered, which is best? I saw something from lindy also called the lil guy which I want to try while he does the old way and I think it would land me more fish AND it would get me less snags. So any input on which are best from your experience would be appreciated!

its up to 2 backpacks im considering to buy, the bass pro one and the tackleware house one. Both well within my budget, just having a hard time deciding but I think the TW one has better space for 3700's

sure thing!

yea the simms one I am looking at on a different site and looking at video reviews.