justfishin

Thanks for your help ReelMech. I clicked your link and saw your available products. I am good for the rest of the season but, I am sure before spring I will be placing and order with you. I will pass on your site as well. I appreciate your time. Equipment and clients, sometimes you just wouldn't believe it, LOL. I am getting older now and my weekend G trips are getting too expensive and it seems the people have changed as well and I just want to go fishing for myself and with my son in my 50's. A few trips here and there. Good luck on the Good ones !!!, and thanks again.---Jim

Reel Mech, You obviously know what you are talking about and after reading this post I value your opinion. I have always used the Lithium 777 on all my reels. I also use sewing machine oil on some of the parts. I am a stickler for keeping up my equipment since my clients put some of my reels through heck. I mentioned in an earlier post that I also spray some WD-40 on my reel once in a while, especially on the outside worm gear on my Curado's and Abu Garcia 5601's. Is this a bad idea?,and is the sewing machine oil ok or do you recommend something else? ------Jim

I guess its not a law to embed the hook. I mostly skin hook them myself. I have never had a problem doing this as the way I set the hook I am sure that little piece of plastic is not going to affect my hooking power. I do throw a open hook in some situations in open water when I throw flukes or sometimes when I am deep water with a drop shot or chucking a tube on a leadhead jig or throwing a Alabama rig. Just look where you are at, is there wood or riprap? I surely wouldn't throw a open hook in those environments. Good luck!

I throw a lot of buzzbaits, spring,summer and fall. My favorite is " The Cavitron ". I feel it is one of the better ones out there. For me a buzzbait is a big fish bait as I have caught a lot of good ones with them. They are fun to use and work. Don't give up if you throw it 10 or 15 times and don't get a bite. Stay with it for awhile, expecially over submerged grass in 2-5' of water or around pads. I tend to throw them on line between #14-#20 test as it helps keep them on top and I almost always use a trailer hook. Burn it or slow down and just keep it on top to see what the fish want. Good luck!

Those color selectors crack me up. I am not saying there is no science to them but c'mon. Those guys plug that stuff for a paycheck. This is only my small opinion. It reminds me of the old adds for the" Magnetic Wonder Head Ring " that will grow your hair back! When it comes to gadgits like this along with others like the Aqua View, and others that claim that their items were banned in professional tourn. because they worked too well, I get heartburn. Just fish, I say.

First of all, you said you spent countless hours " beating the banks ". Were you in a river or lake? What was the temp? As to the generic part of the question of what I do. Unless I am on a lake and heading for a specific spot with a specific technique in mind I almost always start with a faster bait such as a spinnerbait, buzzbait or maybe a crankbait. I use them as search tools. Looking for that bite or bump. When I find some fish I will then slow down and work the area and attempt to pick it apart as to what the deal is. What is holding them there? 99% of the time it is for two reasons,food and cover. Then ask yourself, are they after shad or some other type of baitfish? Is the bottom rocky or have riprap and contain mudbugs? This will tell you, at least, give you some avenue of how you want to start your pattern there. Spinnerbait,crankbait or maybe jigs, tubes or worm fishing. I use a lot of jigs because you can swim them or fast hop them to cover some water and then if you get a few bites or bumps you can slow down. I see so many guys " bank beating " and although you can certainly catch fish this way and sometimes of the year this is a excellent technique it will never let you progress as a fisherman. Your tacklebox is your toolbox. All the new fancy,smancy stuff will not do you any good if you don't apply it as intended. There is no " wonder bait ", so don't believe the adds. Just figure them out. We are smarter than they are,although, sometimes, at least personally, I wonder,LOL. Good luck !!!

Lip them and if you do have to own a net, clear rubber.

If you live in Florida, check out GATOR RODS. The owner is a real great guy to deal with and their rods are great and very reasonable. We love them here in Maryland. Most of them are either X-Fast or Fast action. If you are looking for plenty of backbone this is a great rod. www.gatorrods.com THE AFFORDABLE CUSTOM ROD The objective of Gator Rods is to give you, the angler, a custom-built graphite rod at an affordable price. All of our rods are spined (see FAQ), assembled and hand wrapped by professional wrappers in the U.S.A. The eye placement, weights and actions of these rods are a composite of the needs and desires from you, the angler. The result is a light-weight, sensitive fishing rod that is pleasing to the eye yet tough enough for the "Big One". We feel that when you pick one of these rods up you will see that our research and open ears has given you what you have been wanting - "The Affordable Custom Rod". THE FINAL CAST All Gator Rods are made with the sole purpose of catching fish, a lot of them. But this is a two way street, the fisherman and the fish. Sometimes the fish gets to let the fisherman go, but in most cases, it's the fisherman who can let the fish go. Live release - it works. Dumas Wiercioch STANDARD HANDLES Casting - Cork,Foam Spinning - Foam. Cork, Tennessee (Cork) WIERCIOCH CUSTOM RODS & REPAIR P.O. Box 623 Tangerine, FL 32777 Office: 352-383-6741 Cell: 407-353-6984 dwiercioch@gmail.com HOME / SPINNING RODS / POPPING RODS / FLIPPING STICKS PISTOL GRIP RODS / FLY RODS / CRANKIN' RODS / WARRANTY

Sounds good to me. I am 50 so peddling is out of the question,lol. If it works use it. Sure beats dumping $3.00 a gallon in that gas hog outboard jet of mine. I think if it is a small lake the fish will get used to the noise, so don't sweat it. Just back off a little and maybe take a paddle to sneak up on them. Good luck.

Thanks for the links Paparock. As that goes, thanks to all. I recieved a wealth of info on this post. Also, ingenious work there Alpster. Sounds like you may have created a Frankenstein. It also sounds like one heck of an idea. Let me know how it works. You just might have created a whole new system! You know you just have to name it,lol. Again, great thinking outside of the box. Thanks again to all.

I can't tell you how many times I have said " Just one more cast " and I suddenly caught one or two and I end up staying another hour or so. My partner and I won a tournament on Deep Creek Lake in Maryland like that. We were almost to the dock and had about 90 seconds and my partner said " one more " and caught a big fat ol' smallie. It was enough to cull one and put us over the edge by 2oz and we won. That is one of those days you remember. Of course I also had to listen to that story from him for the next two years,lol, but he earned it!

Thank you for the link " Keithscatch ". This was a great help. I think I got the jest of the reason for the float and fly system and with some tweaking with my fly line I think I can achieve the same goal and give it a try. You were very helpful.

Thanks Dizzy. I am sure I have seen you on the ol' Susky before. Maybe we will run into each other. I had to laugh about your running with the trolling motor down. I have done the same. At least we admit it,lol. I am going to keep the Motorguide until it dies but, when it does I think I will try a MinnKoto. I was up above Duncannon Campground the other day around Clemson and did fairly well but, it was tough that day. I only had 33 and they were cookie cutters. I ran down to the statue and did real well but it was like a boat marina down there,lol, as usual. I have not been to the airport in awhile. Anything good going on there? Up around the steel mill and the Cabana hole?

Outstanding job Dizzy. I use Quakmap as well. Your map of the area you were fishing was text book for this time of year, outside bend, etc. Do me a favor, throw a 1/4oz jighead with a dark melon purple flake tube in that area and tell me how you do. As I said, excellent job.

This post ought to start a war but, here we go. I guide on the Susquehanna in PA and on the Upper Potomac in MD. I have a 17' Express Outboard Jet Boat. The waters I fish, especially the Susky are powerful. We need long lasting and powerful trolling motors to run hard all day. Most of the time there are three people in the boat, me and two clients. I have always ran a Motor Guide 36 volt motor with 82lbs of thrust. One of the other guides purchased a MinnKota 36volt with, I think, is a 101lb thrust. I like the idea of more power because of the way we fish by holding our boats below the eddies this time of year. To the point, I have never owned a MinnKota, I have always had a Motorguide and have never had too many problems even with the beating we give them. I do like the idea of more power though but was wondering about the stamina and reliability of the MinnKotas. I would value your opinions.

I would like to reiterate my statement about BPS. I was only speaking of the bad experiences I had in the Baltimore MD location. I am not alone in this judgement. Many of the other guys that I know have experienced the same thing at this store. I have been to the BPS in Harrisburg PA and had a wonderful experience with them. Everyone was polite and it was stocked well. So, I guess it was a Baltimore management problem, not BPS as a whole entity. I will say one thing. If you are ever in the Harrisburg PA area be sure to stop at the Cabelas there. It is fantastic. Its a great place for a family outting because it will take you all day to see everything and the kids will love it. The only bad thing with Cabelas is like what was said in the above post, the shipping is ridiculous. Its just not worth it but going to the actual store certainly is.

Thanks Ronnie. Your info was very helpful. As a matter of fact, yesterday I went to a fly shop and had a 9wt in my hand and I think it was a little much for smallies because I want that fight on my rod not a overpowering feeling like I have in my regular fishing. I think for now I will stay with the 7wt. I have a lot to learn about lines as in the double taper, wt. forward and so on and what applications I will be needing them. This is fun for me. Its like starting all over again. I am as thrilled as a kid going fishing for the first time. After sixteen years of being a guide on the weekends, and almost 35 years of fishing this makes the old heart pump again. Now only if I could get a date with a 23 year old raven haired beauty, I would be good to go, I am willing to up my blood pressure medication!,LOL. Peter, again, thanks for your info as well. It was very helpful. Roadwarrior, I guess I just have to understand that this post covers all of the country and different people use different slang. Trust me, I do play nice but, if you understood how derogatory " Bud " is in my neck of the woods you would have spoken up as well. I like this post and would never use it to vent my anger on anyone. I am here to maybe pass some info on to the young un's and to other people just starting out in the sport as well as attempting to learn some new things myself. Heck, even though I have been doing what I do for so long it helps me to get others opinions and to refresh my outlook on fishing. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut and I am always open to new techniques and venues. In my opinion fishing is a continued learning process. I have been in the Health Field for a number of years and I have to constantly go back to school because of the ever changing techniques and discoveries. Fishing is no different. Good fishin to ya.

The people of PETA are extremist. They are miserable people whom crave attention. The more you buck them the more they react. Anyone with any sense and education does not listen to their extremism. The best way to deal with them is to ignore them. They thrive on publicity and seeing their name in the press. You will not out scream them and having a conversation with them is impossible. Use your heads and fight them by backing legislation that keeps them at bay while enjoying your sport. Fight them on a legislative venue. Do not let them get a hand in your rights as a sportsman. We as sportfisherman put more in the conservation of the fisheries, wildlife, and keeping the lands wild than they could ever imagine. Just tell them , ok, we will quit fishin, boating and hunting but, all the revenue that will be lost will have to come from PETA. They are not worth arguing with. Just keep an eye on them and whom they befriend in the administrative offices. That is were the war needs to be fought.

Absolutely take your dog fishing. My dog licks every fish I catch before I put them back and he is a pleasure to have along. He loves the junk food I take with me and he thinks I must be something else to be able to catch those fish. Other than the couple of times a day he jumps in to chase the occasional beaver or go to the shore to chase a mink and gets back in the boat and stinks like wet dog he is great. I have had many fond moments with the old mutt in the boat. He is your best friend, right? So, take him.

I thank you for your opinion and it made sense. I guess when you live in different parts of the country different slang means different things. Where I am from " Bud " is a bad term to call someone. I took it wrong and I am sorry for being so rude. Thank you sir for your opinion. I have to practically hide my fly rod from my friends around here, lol. But, I have been guiding so long and doing the same things year after year I thought that fly fishing for those big smallies on the Susquehanna would be a new and fun experiance to try. I am a secret occasional smallie fly fisherman and it is a blast. I bought the 7wt as I did not really know what to buy. You said you use a 9wt. I will have to try one. I do really like the Battonkill Large Arbor Reel. Any suggestions on the 9wt as in what brand? I only want to spend about $200.00 for one. I did like some of the Lefty Kreh's. Maybe I should contact him as he use to go on guide trips with an old friend, Butch Ward, whom passed away a few years ago. Thanks again, and again, I am sorry for my rudeness. Good fishing, Jim.

Thanks anyway. I guess the float and fly system is a Tenn.,Kentucky and Cumberland lake tool. It has been in the bass news for the last few years. It has become popular in the gin clear lakes on suspenders and evidently works well.I guess I will research this system more myself and make a decision. I just thought I could get some reasonable help from this post for a honest question. By the way Peter, my name is Jim or Mr. Blair, not bud. Maybe its not slang in your neck of the woods and I am taking it wrong but " Bud " in my neck of the woods means "stupid" or is meant to be used in derogatory terms. Hopefully you did not mean it in those terms. Just thought I would let you know. Have a good day sir.

Butch Ward and I were involved back in the early 90's on a Upper Potomac River project that involved radio transmittors attached to some smallmouth that we had caught in the Whites Ferry-Edwards Ferry area above Washington DC in the Rockville MD area. The Maryland Fisheries provided us with the transmitters. Some fish stayed in their areas while some were prone to move 6,10 even twenty miles. Most of the smallmouth that moved great distances were prone to do this during the winter or pre winter months searching for winter haunts. I felt that after the project was over that each had their own personalitys and preferances. To keep it short, some were roamers and some were home bodies while many did migrate down stream towards a dammed area or deeper holes. Ken Penrod has some interesting info on these migrations. Get in touch with him via the net. My opinion on how territorial bass are? I think that the bigger fish, especially the females can become very territorial, even after the spawn. I always felt that big bass are sort of loners and do not like anything in their area. On the other hand I have seen many "pairs or groups of three that seem to hang together. Especially smallmouth bass. I guess this deserves a lot more research and time to build a case on how, when and why bass are different in there territorial ways. Thanks , Jim

Rigged weightless,carolina,alabama,texas,wacky or any other way the bottom line is these straight tails work. Use them. My favorite time for them is during the spawn. I fish the flats and rig them on a 2/0 or 3/0 hook with a Gremlin 1/32 -1/64 oz bullet sinker for just a tad of weight and throw them on #8 test in the clear water in Western MD. It sure does well for me and I have caught some hogs doing this.

I am a predominate river fisherman. I do although like to fish for smallies in lakes as well. It is just not the same and I will admit I am not that good at catching them in the winter on the deep clear lakes of Western Maryland. I love a challange though and I always leave myself open to new ways to catch smallies. I use tubes, hair jigs, flukes,senko's,mojo rigs,Bomber 7A's, Huskey Jerks and drop shots mostly on the lakes here in the winter. I am usually in 30-80' of water and have had some excellent days. I have been reading about this "Float and Fly System" for a few years now and I can see where it would work on suspenders. I guess my real question is could I use my Battonkill LA and my 7wt fly rod with floating line and a extra long tippet to get the same results. I am curious. Thanks. And yes, in my old age I just started using a flyrod on occasion for smallies on the Susquehanna in Pa during the summer months on the grass islands and after all these years of making fun of fly rodders I have to admit that it is a blast on occasion to do this. A 3 or four smallmouth on a fly rod is a blast. One thing though, any one around me should stay back about two zip codes as I am a admitted novice with this setup,lol.

Good question, but, I would not touch that one with a ten foot pole,,LOL. I would hate getting hit in the head with a rock !!!