Heron

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This is highly subjective.

Dont spend hoards of money

You could also try casting with more line hanging down. Orrr....if youre feeling saucy, its fun rig two jerkbaits on a twin rig. That will at least provide you enough weight for casting, and you get to work two of them at the same time.

If its too light...I just cast it with my spinning rod.

Whoa, that was really long. Sorry guys.

My PB? No. But it was, my first fish. And this catch was about as planned as one could get - for a new guy. Let me tell you the story of how this all went down. I began fishing last August, and I would walk to the water with one goal in mind - I want to catch a fish, of "respectable size." Now of course, that certainly lends itself to a little ambiguity, because, it really isnt in regards to any specific size in particular. I just did not want to catch a small fish. I wanted one, of respectable size. Well, as the weeks started to pass, I had scouted out 6 or 7 great spots to fish from, all of which were chosen because they contained features that the fish are typically attracted to. I was also absorbing an excessive amount of fishing information at the time, as if I was cramming for some sort of exam. But, to no avail, I was not catching anything. Not to be discouraged though, this was expected. Then, I came across a fishing report from some guy who fished the same lake in the evening and did well. At the same time learned more about the "dog days of summer." Well, when I put these two informational tidbits together, it made more sense, why I wasnt catching anything. I concluded from that, that perhaps evening fishing would be a better choice. On the day of the evening trip, I arrived at the lake when the sun was only about 2-3 fingers above the tree line. But where to go? I selected the spot that was on the shore of a deep 40ft channel, and next to me, to my left, was a shallow pocket. It seemed ideal for its deep water access, availability of shallow forage, fallen log for cover, and plenty of ambush staging. It seemed to me, at the time, that perhaps the fish would hold deep during the day, then come into this shallow pocket in the evening, or stage just outside of it. Hmmm, ideal indeed. But what to throw? I didnt have much of a selection at the time, only 5 different baits total, to be honest. But, I figured, the sun is low, the water is stained, with visibility of maybe about 2-3ft. --- So with that, I grab my White/Gold spinner bait. But where to throw it? Well I figured, parallel to shore, sweeping across the front of that pocket. And on about the 5th cast - Bam! I got something. The fish that was hooked, had some fight to it that I had not encountered before. It also had a heaviness that I was not familiar with. When I bring the fish on shore, I am stoked to see that, yes indeed, THIS fish was definitely larger than anything I had caught in the past. But how big was it? I scramble to pull out my tape measure, and camera. The fish measured 17 inches. Im stoked. THIS fish most definitely qualifies, as being of "respectable size." THIS fish, is exactly the fish I was looking for. It was exactly the fish, that I was trying for...that I was hoping for. I take a quick photo, and pick the fish up and hold it for one last look. Feeling highly accomplished, I wanted to hold the fish up over my head and hollar out as loud as I could like one of them sand-people from Star Wars. But, just then, a voice in the back of my head says to me, "ok put it back." When I released the fish back into the water, and watched it swim off, I had a strange spurt of emotion overcome me, and raised up my hands victoriously to the sky (I was alone, of course). My personal best, before this fish, was a 12" LM that I caught in 1986. And since this fish, I have had bigger. Everything just came together that evening. So, even though this fish is not my biggest, and certainly not my PB...It is, and always shall be - My proudest fish.

Dont spend hoards of money.

Excellent Choice - Let us know how it goes with it.

+2 definitely The BPS Nitro Tournament Z, is also worth a look. But my vote is firmly for the Lews Speed Spool.

Lews Speed Spool - Excellent value.

The idea of having an actual baitfish-style soft jerkbait is getting me rather percolated. Does anybody have experience with these at all?

Should I specify, FISH = Bass?

What is the average size range of the fish you catch most often? For instance, the majority of the fish I catch, are roughly between 14"-17" (maybe 2-3lbs) What about yours?

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Hey look - somebody gets me.

The buzzbait in question, is coming in laying nearly flat horizontal, with the spinner on the right side of the line, and the skirt/trailer on the left. I favor the explanation that something is bent. But, nonetheless...it all doesnt matter anymore now, I lost that buzzbait yesterday.

I reach my rod back and say, "Tooooo infinity....AND BEYOND!!" what?

During a retrieve?

How does this make Pike NOT a sport fish?

How has my fishing progressed? Well, the short story is, I havent fished in over 18 years. And back then, I never caught much but bluegill, and my PB bass was only 12 inches. Fast forward to today, Ive been fishing now for only about 1 1/2 actual seasons, and in that time span, I have landed 16 fish, with the average size range being between 14" - 17," with one personal best at 21" 5lb. Its not much, but considering my lack of experience, more or less - Its not a bad start. Im happy with it.

Wait.....Muskie is a sport fish - But, Pike is not a sport fish? Explain please.

Its a good recommendation to to stay relatively mobile, rather than spending too much time at one location - if its available for you to do so. My game plan tends to vary from one day to the next. Some days I'll be mobile, other days I'll junk fish. But I think a good rule of thumb, is to relocate about every 10-15 minutes, and stay no longer than 30 minutes in one spot. However, if youre catching fish, stay until the bite goes dead, then move on. Usually all of my fish are caught within the first 15 minutes of arriving at a location. That being said...Its been my experience so far, that nothing good has ever come from fishing from one location too long IF there is nothing biting. Sometimes our minds may trick us into thinking that if we stay in that one spot, some great fish just might coming swimming our way shortly. Dont listen to that.

I picked this thing up last year, really just as a goof. It was something different, and I like things that are different. But low and behold, I actually caught a fish with it recently. It was a vicious little 1lb'er, with a lot of spunk. So, score one for the eel. Guess its a keeper.

Is it 35 horsepower? Or 35 gerbilpower? But yes, I concur, what he is describing is not entirely inaccurate. The performance of engines that rely on a fuel/air mixture are effected by the changing air density, relative to altitude above sea level. However, only 10mph? Altutude aint the only problem with that particular motor. Sounds like a lemon.