fishballer06

I very rarely throw my same lure that they just missed back over them. I usually follow up with a Fluke or a Zoom tube. Or with frogs, I'll sometimes throw a Havoc Pit Boss.

A wishlist would be nice, but I normally keep a Post-It note book beside my computer that I write down what all I need on, that way I can get everything I need on each order.

To update this thread, went out yesterday on the boat. Lost the following - 1 Rapala Skitter Pop 1 KVD 1.5 1 Strike King Football jig 1/2 pack of Senko's Overall, that's about $20-25 worth of tackle in one outing. That's my worst outing this year as far as losing lures, but it does show that if you've only lost $24 worth so far this year, you're doing pretty good.

I generally use 40 or 50 pound test. I've never tried to go any lighter than 40.

I own 3 Extreme's and 1 Bionic Blade rod, and none have every broken on me. But I have always heard that BPS CS was great.

I'd recommend a baitcasting setup to help you out immensely. Here's what I'd recommend. Baitcaster with a 6:1 or 7:1 ratio 50-65 pound braid. Being in Canada, you probably aren't fishing the super nasty stuff that they have down south where they need 80 pound. 7' or 7'6" rod, in either MH or H. With a fast action tip. Frogs seem to work best for me whenever they're tied directly on. Plus, a snap can pull apart when pulling a big fish through heavy weeds/pads. With 50 lb+ braid, your line/knot are much stronger than your snap, so tie on directly.

I started off using the Zman's, and they work well. I've picked up a few D&M and the quality is a lot nicer with them. Any color will work depending on what the fish want and the water conditions. The stock trailers are nice. I also like to use the Trigger X Flappin Grubs and depending on the color, a 3" Havoc Pit Boss.

Squarebills and spinnerbaits do no good in standing timber whenever you're talking 30-40 feet of water. I fish a lake in West Virginia that is very similar to your lake (large lake, tons of standing trees, and 30+ feet deep everywhere). Jigging vertically in them is usually the best bet. But again, whenever you're jigging vertically, you're not covering a lot of water, so fishing can seem slow. You can use a jig/pig, jighead with live bait, or a spoon. I can also recommend getting out in the deep channels where there could be down trees or tree tops in them. In the lake I fish, the channels will run 30-50 feet deep, and there are random tree tops in the channel that come up to about 15-20 feet deep. Trolling a Shad Rap or DT that comes just over the tops of that wood can produce as well. If you find a particular spot that seems to be producing well, you can then hover over it and jig them vertically.

I agree with everyone else. I catch pike and bass together at the same spots all the time. I also bass fish a lot with a buddy who only musky fishes, and we both catch fish in the same spots.

Just found this thread after posting my initial post in here. I didn't realize a little joke would get so many people riled up. Anyways, do whatever makes you feel most comfortable. I'm ambidextrous with everything except whenever writing, I can only do that right handed. So I guess I have to call myself "right handed." With that, I've tried baitcasting both left handed and right handed. I do not like switching hands on every cast, and I feel that I have much more power and control whenever I crank with my left hand. But again, everyone is different, and you should see what you're most comfortable with before making a purchase.

I love top water and jerkbaits

With Senko's being $7 a bag, it's easy to go through 2-3 bags an outing on a good day.

I love my Chronarch E5 series. I also love my Curado I series 6 and 7's. You won't go wrong with either of those two reels.

I keep my boxes because whenever the reel gets retired and I upgrade the newest and greatest thing, it's got a nice place to be store. I also store all my receipts for rods/reels/trips in those boxes, so that the old lady doesn't find them.

Cavitron. Hands down the best.

Because people are idiots... Join the movement. Use a left handed reel like the rest of us more intelligent fishermen.

Yes. I'll put a FC leader on in clearer water.

A few years ago, we dug out a pond down at my uncle's farm. We built a bunch of structures, placed them in the pond, and then filled it up in the spring. We then stocked the pond with bass, bluegill, perch, and crappie. Over the years, we've maintained it and slowly watched as the little fish we once stocked, slowly started getting bigger. And then about a month ago, while fishing the pond with my little 4 year old nephew, I caught a 5 pounder on topwater. He was so excited to see such a big fish, and I was so excited that our little project had finally gotten to the point that it developed a fishery with quality fish in it.

I just started using a trailer hook on my buzzbaits this summer and I would say my hookup ration has almost doubled. I see no reason to ever take that trailer hook off my buzzbaits.

Shimano Curado I series, 6:1. Perfect all around reel. Retails for $179. As for rods around the $100 mark, Fenwick HMG, St. Croix, Premier.

I'm a big topwater guy. I throw a little bit of everything. In the past, I've always been big on Jitterbugs and poppers (Skitter Pop's mainly). This season, I've been having more luck on buzzbaits and torpedo's than anything. I've also started getting into frog fishing as well. The LH Lunker Frog's have the best action of any frog I've ever fished.

I see lots of wood in the middle and eastern side. You should hit those up once you're able.

30 pound might be a hair too thin. I always use 40 and 50 pound Suffix 832 and I never have any problems (I own 2 ci4's). Do you have mono backing? Is the spool properly filled? I have noticed this issue some whenever I started getting low on line. How many of the brakes do you have on inside? I normally run with 2 on, 2 off and the fine adjustment on 1.5 to 3. On a windy day with spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, I'll go 3 on, 1 off. Having the 3 on, 1 off setting will cut down your casting distance, but it will basically eliminate the backlashes on any of the new SVS reels (ci4, Curado I).

On a popper, very interesting! My father caught one once on a Jitterbug while we were night fishing in Canada once. Never thought I'd see one caught on a popper during the day time.

I'm not sure what kind of "slop" you were fishing, because you cannot bring a buzzbait through what I consider slop, but... A spinnerbait, chatterbait, or Rooster Tail could have been good for a weedy area. Also, throwing a Fluke wouldn't be a bad idea, and it could be a follow up to his missed hits on the buzzbait.