WI_Angler1989

6' 10" MLXF spinning, 10# braid fluoro leader. (Tubes, finesse, 7" worms, craws, small jigs) 6' 6" MF spinning, 6# mono. (Small spinners, grubs, aglias, poppers) 7' MH spinning, 8# yo-zuri. (Everything else) I mainly fish a tube and craw setup and a grub or Aglia setup for smallies here. Eventually husky jerks will heat up too and topwater too.

Those are incredible Smallmouth! Man I wish I had the money to go on a guided trip.

There's a bit of current around the park, not rapids, but moving. There's a big pool where the rivers meet too. Lots of the bottom is rocky and gravel with sand. Its snaggy unfortunately but it comes with rivers usually. I have pretty good luck with tubes, grubs, inline spinners, and small spinnerbaits. Tubes are my go-go-to and weedless grubs. Working eddies, slower water and hugging the shoreline. Best of luck whenever you get there! I'm already looking forward to getting back. Don't get stuck fishing the river convergence onky. Walking up either river is always a good call fish wise and quiet wise!

This was the Chippewa, right near where the rivers meet. She was pretty solid! Good weight too

I was hard pressed to find a "share your most recent catch" page, so....problem solved!! I want this thread to be for sharing what you just caught today, yesterday, last weekend etc. So let's see some recent catches, folks! Here is the first smallmouth I've caught this year so far! They're my absolute favorite fish and I caught it on my favorite lure, a tube. It's no lunker but it was solid, put up a good fight and was already getting fat.

Right out of the pools huh? Right where all the people swim! Sounds good!

I know I wasn't offended. Not only is it a sweet fish, but out of context, the finger is just a finger.

Oh it is! That's my go to for any and all finesse and bottom contact lures: tubes, worms, craws, finesse jigs and hopping grubs.

Thanks for the heads up. I've never fished Big Falls, just plenty of swimming.

Simple is best for me. There are frogs everywhere here in WI. So if it looks like a frog, I like it. The way I see it, the frogs don't turn black when it's overcast, yet they still get eaten. So if I can imitate the real frogs I'm confident the fish will come.

No boat. That's the death bell.

Hahaha, only that often?! Lucky!

Looks like you spend some quality time on Sturgeon Bay Slonezp

I've ised Texas rigged, tube jigs and Draggin heads. I like Texas rigged least of all just because it's a pain with the tubes I use (cabin creek) that are super soft. Tube jigs are awesome in open water with rock and gravel but horrible in snaggy rivers. The Draggin Heads are my all time favorite. They are pricey, but I rarely lose any if that's your worry. I fish out of a canoe and manage to free the occasional snag. Also they don't snag per say, the line wedges in rocks more often then not. As for the clear water worries, don't bother. I live in Central WI and the murkiest waters are merely stained green, but still clear. I've never had any issues. Most times the jig is hidden below the tube and on the bottom. The way they stand up helps to draw attention to the bait I think.

That's a great fish any day of the week to me!

I'd take power pro too. 15# hi vis. I don't have much experience yet with the super slick I have spooled now, but so far I love it. It's super quiet and smooth which helps feel bottom composition and bites, rather than line friction.

I may forget how too...it's been forever since I took a picture of an actual real live fish I caught!

What about water temp? I'm in Central WI so it isn't quite like southern warm waters. What's the earliest you throw a topwater?

Haha a likely excuse :-D

These are some GIANTS, Dwight. Awesome fish sir!

Awesome pictures guys! Makes My best fish seem like minnows haha I bet it's a blast catching them on the fly. Talk about a fight!

Hey everyone, Let's get a look at your favorite Smallmouth pictures! What was your set up when you caught it too? A lot of you have been fishing this winter, and a lot of you have had good fishing so far and spring weather. Me, and a lot of people up north, haven't been so lucky! It's been cold until recently and now it's been raining for 3 days! So let's see 'em guys! I'll start.... 2.5" Cabin creek tube, St Croix legend tournament bass 610mxf, Pfleuger President reel.

Yep, 2500. Can't wait to try it out with some more fish!

I've had my new Shimano Stradic FK for just a few days, but have had the chance to get some time on the water. Let me say first off that the water here is really high, muddy and still "winter" cold. Not ideal. So the fish have been a tad lacking. So the reel, it's amazing. It feels perfect on my rod (St Croix Legend Tournament Bass Dropshot). It balances perfectly and makes the slight tip heavy rod feel great. The reel design feels perfect in regards to how it sits in the reel seat. The arm shape make it a bit more towards the tip than I'm used to, and closer to the rod itself. It makes it feel strong, solid and compact. The drag is flawless. I'm used to Pfleuger Presidents so the upgrade is out of this world. It never skips, is super adjustable and you can fine tune it by the smallest amount. The castability is flawless so far. I purposely over filled the spool with 15# PP to see how it handled it. I didn't go crazy, but past where I was would normally. I didn't have any issues. No wind knots, uncoiling, springing or anything. Braid over-spooled on a spinning reel has been a BIG pain for me before and so far the spool's advertised castability and line control, have delivered. The biggest knock I've heard about the reel was it's lack of an anti-reverse switch. For me, it isn't that bad. I don't back reel while fighting fish so the benefits far outweigh the loss of it. They say the lack of the switch makes it that much harder for water and dirt to get in, thus increasing durability and life of the reel. For me and my 200$ investment, that's a huge plus. I have been consistently reaching for it while getting my lure set for a cast, but am learning to use the drag to do it. Old habits die hard apparently. Yesterday a friend and I were out in the canoe on the flooded river. I caught 2 Brown Trout (my first) and a 30" pike. The drag and reel handled them awesomely! I never felt over matched even in the fast currents we were casting into. I'm very happy so far and can't WAIT to get some warm weather again to wake up the Smallies asap!

What know do you use to connect the backing to the fluoro (or braid in my case)? I did it with a uni-uni knot since I'm most comfortable with it, but it's bulky. Idk if I'd wanna use it again.