Attila

Nice fish, they're awesome fun on those smaller rooster tails. @budgetbassin - the one shown above, I've never seen that colouration before; is it what one would call a redbreast sunfish?

They have more smallie studies coming down the pipe, once the results are found I'll do my best to post them here on the forum. They also have a Facebook page dedicated to the lab I believe if you want to join. The studies are geared to the Bay of Quinte / St. Lawrence River region but one can learn a lot by reading them.

@Glenn, thanks for sharing the video; I do believe based on it that I've found the culling system I'll use when I buy my boat next year!

There's a University Lab up here in Canada called Tufts Lab that has done some extensive research on smallmouth bass and their movements. I think you'll be most interested in this video. It seems that fish which were originally caught in eastern lake Ontario and then subsequently released into the Bay of Quinte are choosing to remain in the area of their release. The one part of the video which I found interesting was the portion which shows the travels of one fish which made it back out to the lake...

Happens so often it can get annoying...lol Nice accidental catches buddy.

So I'm a bit restricted to the areas that I fish, but there are certain structures which I've found will hold bass more than others and in particular are conducive to a topwater bite. One of my favourite locations are sand/rock/weed transitions, especially ones that involve a change in depth and where there are larger rocks or boulders present. A key piece of structure that only serves to enhance such an area would be a boat dock which extends out into the area and is able to provide bass a primary ambush location. A couple of things to look for in addition to the structure is wave and wind action. If you see the wind blowing into your location, then it makes it that much more attractive. Finally, some food for thought. While there are classic times to throw topwaters, like early morning or towards the evening, a larger bait fished in the right type of big fish structure will make fish bite. A big bass doesn't only eat first thing in the morning or before it gets dark; it got big because it's opportunistic and isn't about to pass up a meal when it's available. Have a great season.

I've been leaving the crappie alone lately and just targeting some bigger blue gills. This is an average one which came in at 8.5", just love the colours on her. Hoping to break the 12" mark over the coming days as I enjoy a week off and get to do some more fishing between the house errands that just never seem to end. I've been fishing an Angler's Choice 1.75" Crappie Fry on a 1/64oz jig head with red bleeding hooks under a Thill slip float. The colour I've been using the most is called Bionic Tiger, a two tone chartreuse and orange with a thin triangular shaped tail which quivers when shaken. There is an additive added to make it react with UV light which I have yet to put to the test but will be doing so this weekend. Next up for me will be some pike fishing for a couple of weeks before walleye opens in May. Cheers, hope that your spring is going well!

Thanks to you both for the replies, I do very much appreciate them.

Hi everyone, just a quick question regarding Navionics cards and the Humminbirds I'm going to be buying. Do both console and bow units have to have the same card loaded if I'm running them together on Link? Or is only one card required and then the data be visible on the alternate unit?? It's probably an easy question, but I'm new to this whole electronics stuff....lol Any help appreciated! Attila

As much as I would like to buddy, I'm on a budget and I'm not even sure that Fury XL will come in under it...was originally just looking at the 1600 Fury SS with one seat for me and a second seat up front to use when I'm fishing and using the Minn Kota. My tackle is one of those Plano 3700 Guide bags and I liked the idea of side rod storage that the Fury SS comes with so that I can have plenty of deck space when needed, say like for a camping supplies as I do most of my journeying to campgrounds. On the 1600 Fury SS there's room for a couple of rods up front for me and if they're not biting I could easily swap out rods from the rod storage areas on either side as I only use about 6 rods in total, split between 4 for spinning (UL x2, ML, M) and 2 baitcasters, one for topwater and another for 3/8oz crank and chatterbaits. As much as I'd like to have a bigger rig, and believe me I'm tempted to pull the trigger, I think I can get away with the 1600 Fury with all the bells and whistles like the Humminbirds mentioned above along with the batteries to keep it all going while keeping the cost down too. Cheers, and thanks again @A-Jay, as always.

If I had that kind of office space..LOL..on the Fury XL it's located beside the centre console and opens to the left, not straight up like the one on yours. Will have to check it out at the dealership to see how I feel about it....

Na, I'm a Daiwa fan and am looking at picking up a Steez or one of the new TATULA® CT TYPE-R in a 6.3 speed. They're an economical but quality product that I fell in love with last year.

As always @A-Jay, your wisdom and knowledge are appreciated. I picked up all the electronic catalogues from the companies I was interested in and felt that the Humminbird/Minn Kota combo was the right way to go. It helps that they have a discount available if you purchase a Lund too. I was originally looking at the 1600 Fury SS to fit everything into but now think that the 1625 Fury XL is a better fit...I just don't like the centre rod storage idea...lol Again, thank you for your help.

LOL....na, I actually have one extra rod which I need a reel for. Just haven't decided on the reel yet...so many options.

You know, I love this site. I was thinking of this exact question today as I'm hoping to have a boat next year and was wondering what type of setup I should consider for that boat...it's only a 16 footer but will have a command console and a casting deck with a Minn Kota up front. I come here and I find the answer that makes the most sense to me and is easy to understand and in this case that would be @A-Jay's. Just one question - what type of battery setup would you use? I'll be running a 40hp Merc and a Terrova 80 / i-Pilot Link / US2 along with the two Humminbirds he mentioned and a livewell.... Sorry for taking the thread off topic...

Ya, the really good deals get gone real fast. That's just the way it goes I guess. As to the Steez, I don't know...nothing wrong with putting it onto another rod until you get the one you want. At least it's what I think...

Ummm....that to me sounds more like it would require a heavy duty setup instead of a medium setup....

Daiwa Tatula 7'2" MHRB....I plan on throwing crankbaits (including squarebills) and chatterbaits with it, everything over 1/2oz in size up to some 1oz baits. It comes in at a nice price point too.

My original topwater rod was actually a flipping stick that I fished with 65lbs braid. I was big into frogs and the good old Moss Boss back then, and I never had a problem using the heavier braid as it helped me get fish out of cover that looked just nasty at times. I stopped that style of fishing simply because it's too hard on my tendon damaged hands. Thanks to new innovations and lighter tackle, I may start doing it again and if I did I wouldn't hesitate at throwing 50lbs braid into those same slop piles to pull out bigger fish now simply because the blanks, reels, and line is a lot better now than it was 15 years ago. When I started fishing topwaters in my home lake I found I was casting around docks and open water, rock with weed transition structure. The bass were predominantly smallmouth and were very line shy. I ended up throwing light 6lbs test mono with my poppers and did really well. It also helped me use and rely on the reels drag system more which I think helped me become a better angler. Last year I tried running braid only for my topwaters, ranging from walker type lures to poppers. I found that running 30lbs Power Pro Super 8 Slick braid in timber brown gave me a greater hookup ratio due to the no stretch factor from braid and I never had a fish break off due to using a lower pound test line which would happen at times when I was throwing lighter mono. Yes, I have had to adjust to the zero stretch factor and when I set the hook, but it doesn't take much to make that adjustment and I find it also helps make you become a better angler too. Long story short, I believe braid gives you a better hook up percentage especially on longer casts and will pull fish out of cover that you can and can't see. From now on I wouldn't change for anything.

I've always done well with X-Raps and last year really did well fishing the Shadow Rap and Shadow Rap Shad series from Rapala. They don't break the bank and I catch big fish with all of them on a year round basis, from colder fall type water to hot summer days and nights. I haven't pulled the plug on any Lucky Craft or Megabass lures simply because the cost is high. There might be a time when I may splurge and create a mini box of those jerkbaits, but that time certainly isn't now.

I think, realistically speaking, every company that makes a bag has one that will suit your needs; it really comes down to what you find is your preference among them all. I decided on a Plano guide series bag that I picked up for 50% off as the tackle store was closing shop and I couldn't afford to not get it. Cheers, Attila

For those Canucks who live in the GTA, might want to head out to Gagnons for their annual Yard Sale. Some great savings to be had. http://www.gagnonsports.com/YardSale Attila

My go to topwater smallie spot, caught her on a Sexy Dawg Jr. thrown on a Daiwa Tatula 100HSL attached to a 6'6" Daiwa Lexa and 30lbs Power Pro Super 8 Slick in timber brown. What made her special? This is the first fish that I couldn't fit into a selfie picture...lol

Shorter rod lengths are definitely better when it comes to jerkbait rods. I currently use a 7' Daiwa Tatula MF action spinning rod and it works well. I'll be happier when Daiwa puts out a Tatula in the 6'6" length as I feel it will give me even more control over the jerkbaits I throw. I use a 2500 Procyon to round out the combo. Might I suggest changing your line setup? I have found that I control the action of my lures when running braid to a fluro leader. It imparts more action to the lure given there is no stretch involved and that is very important to me regardless of the water temperatures I'm throwing baits in. Cheers, and have a great season.

As a devout Rapala user, my first choice would be a Husky Jerk in both firetiger and black/silver patterns. After that, I've done well in cold water using the Shadow Rap in the black/silver and possibly clown pattern depending on how much visibility there is. I'm hoping that I can get by my love of Rapala's to use some Strike King KVD baits more this year, particularly in the Ayu pattern that seems to do well regardless of the water. I don't know enough about how their patterns look in the water to provide any other pattern, sorry. Cheers, Attila