Chanchito

Thanks for sharing. I've had it an it's brutal... it's hard to even read about it because I fear it. When I had it I couldn't stop vomiting until I took some strong meds. The first time, about 4 years ago I was ordering a burger at an outdoor joint and hit the floor. I couldn't stop getting sick and I couldn't stand up. (They closed shortly thereafter, lol) After about 30 minutes of hell I crawled to my car and called 911. I had about 5 major episodes and all the tests etc.. I take a small diuretic almost every day and carry the nausea and dizziness pill in my wallet, incase it happens. But, knock on wood, it hasn't happened in over 2 years. I'm not the same and never will be. VERY important to lower the salt in the diet and the diuretic helps to flush it out. I do fish alone but the long river kayak trips are probably done. No amusement rides of any kind or any crazy things like that. Exersize is important too. Good diet. Hang in there and lower the salt way down. Dave

I'm not really familiar with Garmin... I'm also looking for a FF but I'm convinced that Lowrance is the way to go. I know a guy with a X-135 and its pretty impressive.

All good suggestions, some days its just like that, but I'll add a couple ideas. One is to use a tube with the simple ballead jig inserted into the tube. The exposed hook will get more hookups, a ballhead on a quality hook like a mustad or gama. Sometimes I'll also take most of the tentacles off a tube. I've read and believe that sometimes a smallie will try to take off the pinching claws off a crayfish. I assume this is to lessen the instinctive chance of injury and possibly to consume it easier. I've seen smallies peck at salamanders underwater, I don't know why. btw- if the water is good for snorkeling you can learn alot in just a few minutes underwater. Some smallies are tame acting and will even follow you around if you're turning over rocks or something. Another technique that I get good hookups with is a wacky rigged senko- on a 1/0 gama split shot/dropshot hook. The light wire penetrates easily. That brings up another thing, fine tuning the presentation. They may be mildly interested in a black senko but crush a daquiri one. They may be interested in a 4" pumpkin tube but EAT a 3 1/2" pumpkin tube with green flake. On and on... Lastly, it may be worth burning a small crankbait, spinnerbait or aggresive topwater to try to get a reaction strike.

I caught one from my kayak around 5.5-6, no scale but I have weighed a couple over 4 and it was significantly larger in every way. It was on the rt9 bridge on the Ct River in Northhampton, Ma. I was throwing a 5" senko (pumpkin with small green flake), wacky rigged with a 1/0 Gam.drop shot hook. I would just put on a 1/16 lead worm weight on the line to add to the drop. This particular cast I let it drop in the eddy for quite awhile. The fish was just on once I reeled some slack.

just curious about east Tn? I saw the link, got it.

I do think it is an underutilized technique. Getting down to depth may be a part of it. I've also used Senkos/Dingers on a C-Rig in rivers for smallies. I believe they think it is foodsource :-?

Quabbin can be good, also a very beautiful spot. There's also suprising fishing around the Cape area, I've heard Johns Pond in Plymouth has some nice smallies. Maine is probably the place to go with hundreds of smallie choked small waters. NH, Champlain- the list goes on. I lived in Pawtucket for years and have fished quite a bit around that area. Unfortunately or not, probably the best fishery in NE or more is in RI: the Scituate Res :'( I bet there are smallies in RI, maybe in the NE corner, maybe even in Johnsons pond or beach pond, probably more. I always thought that the Attleboro Res (maybe called Manchester) right off the highway looked like a smallie heaven but I didn't fish it much and the most you can do is a float tube. I can recommend a great canoe/kayak trip if you'd be interested in that kind of thing. It's on the lower third of the Ct River in Vt. and it can be just awesome. True smallie habitat with gravel shoals and clear water, no power boats. I recently moved to TN right by Norris Lake and it holds smallies if your ever in this area.