carpflyguy

Thanks for the responses guys. Enjoyed reading them. I don't normally use Alabama Rigs. In fact this was only my second time throwing one. I will not be using them in the future, but not because I have an ethical issue with them - just planning on using swimbaits all next year anyways. I know I said snagged fish don't count, but, like someone pointed out, I thought this was an interesting situation. If I was throwing an A-rig and the fish was just snagged across the back, no chance I'm counting that fish. That's where I see people taking issue to the rig... just attracting fish to the point where they smash the bait and get snagged. In my mind, this is a bit different, since the fish was hooked for real for 95% of the fight. The fish was weighed. 7-1. Good size for up here. I know it's no record though. I posted this because I thought it was an interesting scenario, that has a lot of answers depending on your views, and was just curious to your opinions. I did enjoy the fight and the thrill of the bite, but PBs are still part of the fun of fishing for me, so I'll admit that was part of the reason I posted this. My mind is undecided... only thing to do is just catch a bigger one! That's where my swimbaits will come in! Worst part is if I had had my regular net I could have netted it before the main hook pulled. I forgot that net, and was using a tiny net for trout.

First, foul hooked fish don't count. That's obvious. I don't take pictures with accidentally snagged fish, and just unhook them in the water. If it didn't eat it, it doesn't count! But I had a strange situation yesterday on the Alabama Rig... Was fishing an A-Rig yesterday with 2 hooks and 3 teasers, since I can only legally use 2 hooks in a deep reservoir. So I hooked a big fish and I fish it it up right next to the boat... looks to be a 6 or 7 pound largemouth. It has the middle (and biggest) bait in it's mouth, but during the fight the second hook has gotten stuck into its side. Then it makes one last attempt to get away just as I am netting it, and the hook in the mouth pulls. But sine there is one hook still stuck in it, I am able to net it. This would have been my new PB, but I don't feel right calling it my PB, since without the second hook snagging into it it would have gotten away. What do you guys make of this situation? Legal fish or not?

I know many of you... okay, most of you, don't use live bait. But I'm still curious, has anyone used live crawfish, or seen them being used with success? I've got a lake in mind where I think they could be deadly. Just not really sure how I would use them...

I fish for smallies mainly in a certain deep, rocky, clear reservoir. Since it is clear, with a good pair of sunglasses I can usually see the smallies, at least in the spring. But now I've stopped seeing them... I suspect with temperatures rising they have pushed a bit deeper, so my main techniques - senkos, tubes, and craws fished in shallow water - won't work well (it'll take them too long to sink). So I'm thinking maybe I need to do a little drop shottin'. Get my lures down deeper, but the problem is, I have no fishfinder. Is it possible to be successful drop shotting with no fish finder? Or should I just move to deep diving cranks?

I may give that a try, but I sort of wanted a fluorocarbon main line because I know I can cast a micro lure farther on 4 lb. fluoro than braid, even of similar diameter. That way I could also use it as a trout rod.

And is one particular brand better than others as far as memory? Line memory is just the one thing that I can't stand while fishing.

Conditioner... what sort? Like some kind of anti-memory stuff?

I am thinking of spooling up a ultralight rod for fishing in one of the ultra-clear reservoirs I fish, so I want to go with 4 pound fluorocarbon. I've never used fluorocarbon before... I've heard the line memory is awful. Any feedback on this? Is it not as bad on 4 lb. test? Is there something I can do to take a little of the memory away?

Are any Eastern Mass bass prespawning yet?

My guess is April 10 I will be able to fish somewhere in MA.

To answer your original question... YES. For my first year of ice fishing I used a handheld drill with the biggest bit I could find. Drill a few holed, and chip out the rest with a chisel. 2 minutes per hole is all it takes.

Maybe it wasn't more than your job, but that's still mighty impressive!

2014 Grade... Bass = B- Everything else = A- I fish for everything in freshwater, so I didn't spend as much time on bass this year. I had consistent bass fishing, but not in the way I wanted. I could only consistently catch 2-3 pounders. No giants. I did well for other species, just not bass. 2015 is going to be my best season yet. I know it. I'm going to be on the water much more often, and target bigger bass when I bass fish. And for all species too. I started the season off well ice fishing with my first trout through the ice and my personal best bass through the ice. Hopefully the open water season keeps it up!

Did I say anything about hybrids?

Delta Okeechobee, and Chickamauga will each make top 10... Clear Lake for #1! That's my guess anyways.