Crankhead

It's February, I live just west of Chicago and we've been getting snow about every other day. Today we got another 10" & I'm starting to get sick of shoveling snow. And what have I been thinking about the last few days? The 1st day I can put my boat in the water to start the 2008 fishing season! What water temp do you all look for to start your season off? I've read where bass start to get active when the water temp hits the high 40's. Since I fish a very deep clear lake, what water temp should I be waiting for? I can't wait to get back in my boat on the lake!

My buddy wants to buy new rods & reels to replace the ones he's had for over 15 years. I think when you read on, you'll see he's looking to spend alot of money. He is looking at Shimano & Quantum reels and St Croix and G Loomis rods. I have always liked & bought Shimano reels matched with St Croix rods. My rod/reel combos that he likes are Baitcasting: Shimano Curado 200 DHSV w/St Croix Legend Tournament LTBC63MF and a Shimano Curado 300 DSV w/St Croix Legend Tournament LTBC70MHM. Spinning: Shimano Stradic 2500 MgF w/St Croix Legend Elite ES60MF and a Shimano Stradic 2500 MgFB w/St Croix Legend Tournament LTBS66MLF. He is looking at comparing the Curados listed above vs. the Quantum Tour Edition 1160PT w/St Croix Legend Elite EC66MF and Tour Edition 1170PT w/St Croix Legend Elite EC70MHF. Now for spinning he is looking at the Shimano Stradics listed above vs. the Quantum Tour Edition 20PTiAS w/St Croix Legend Elite ES60MF and the Quantum Tour Edition 30PTiAS w/St Croix Legend Elite ES66MLF. I have no idea what G Loomis rods to have him compare to the St Croix rods listed above. My advice was that I'm sure G Loomis compares very well with St Croix rods. I've have always bought St Croix rods. The performance & sensitivity are fantastic. And any problems I've ever had with a rod, St Croix has stood behind their warranty and replaced the rod with no fuss. He told me that he has read on this website that people have had problems with Quantum baitcasting reels when they tried to properly adjust the drop of a bait. I know I listed a lot of info above. But I really don't know anything about Quantum reels and/or G Loomis rods. He's going to be spending big bucks and I figured this is the place to get the answers.

I was looking in my Bass Master magazine (Dec. 2007) at the new lures for 2008 and saw a topwater lure called the Injured Minda. The interesting part was that you run your line through the lure and tie it to the hinged back tail. I went to their website and it directs you to You Tube where it shows you how the lure works. On the website it states the Injured Minda has been sold since Aug 2007. Is there anyone who has bought this lure and can give a review on their results?

Vertical fishing slow...slow...slow. I mean I only twitch it once in awhile & then let it sit. You can wacky worm or grub w/small jig. Just so you are fishing straight down & slow.

We have the Chicagoland Outdoors Show (in Rosemont, Illinois) coming up and I can remember when this show was a big 10 day event that you couldn't wait to go to every winter. My buddies and I would go and between the shopping, looking at new products and the seminars, we'd be there for the entire day. But the last few years the show has shrunk to just a 4 day event with really nothing to see and no real reason to go. We went last year, saw everything and we were on our way back home within an hour. I'd like to know if others that go the fishing shows may have had better results?

Thanks for all of the info....time to go shopping!

Has anyone tried the Daiwa TD Mouthwashers? If yes, how did you work it and what kind of results did you get?

It's time to start going over my list to see what new baits I NEED for 2008. I've been looking over my topwater baits. I'm heavy into Lucky Craft. I have sammy's & live sammy's (never have caught anything with any of my LC live baits) and g-splash. The g-splash really produced on just about every time I was on the water last year. So I'm looking to add to the arsenal. I'd like to hear what new topwaters I should get for this season. Anyone used the daiwa td mouthwashers? I'd like to hear how the action was and how they performed.

On a lot of my Lucky Craft lures, I like to switch the trebles with red Lucky Craft trebles. Just wondering if anyone knows who manufactures the trebles for Lucky Craft?