LONGEARS

Hmmmm,Fishless days Sorry,guess I don't understand the question

Hi Not only have I fished the upper and lower Ottawa River I live on the Rideau River near Merrickville.There is LOTS of bass. My best morning involves 4 fish 3.8,3.13.4.2, 4.4 all on top and all in tewnty minutes.My smile lasted for days

What a interesting concept.I think it would be great to track the fish you have caught over time.Perhaps a e'mail address so people could let you know about the fish?

I learned everyone thinks it's funny except the guy who fell out of the boat

All above are good lists but to catch alot you need to 1) Be aware ( of changing conditions, fish feeding on the surface,etc) 2) It,s all in the hands

If I badly hook a bass I keep enough for a meal.After filleting they are soaked in a salt water solution than cooked as RW wrote except we roll them in crushed soda crackers.A properly cooked bass will flake nicely with a fork.Just love this with fresh homemade bread.

The oil should be Okay as long as it's clean.There is no shelf life or best before date.I would use it up.

As I read of everones favorite presentation, lure and fish memories.I find my self envious of the southern strain of bass untill I remember a trophy is relative only to the time and place and method of the catch. With that in mind my trophy fish will be over 6Lbs. Caught without use of a net live bait braided line These are my trophy rules anyone else have rules?

I had my beagle in the boat a few years ago,fishing on top with a Heddon dying flutter.Then a swing and a miss and a beagle with an earring.Opps! My biggest fear was the dog shaking it's head before I could remove the bait but she was really good (for a beagle) and sat while I cut the barb off and removed the bait.Thank god for small miracles.

The pitch of your prop is the most crucial factor.A motor should turn to just under the manufactor's specifcations at full throttle.The same motor will take a differnt pitch in each of the blade #'s.Call me silly but I run a high five on my Skeeter the top end is the almost the same as a 3 blade but the lift or hole shot is better.The biggest differance is the stability in rough water and the ride.

I live on the Rideau River near Smiths falls Ont.I keep my Skeeter at my dock.It doesn't get any better!!

Here is something that's a problem were I fish,too many northern pike.They get in the way of bass fishing even to the point of affecting lure choice.If the pike are on I have been known to choose a lure on the basis that the pike might not like it enough that a bass might get a chance at it.I perfer to fish top-water which pike also don't have a problem chasing,you soon reconize the differance between a pike strike and a bass and pull the lure away.Anybody else have this problem?

I start early in back bays where flooded timber and weeds abound.Throw out a pop r, catch bass and enjoy the sunrise

Longears, That method certainly is sound but I bet you get pretty wet huh? I'm use to it so no I don't get wet.My favorite ramp has a dock I can just step onto.Also this method works really well in wind conditions

I think what is not being said here is the size of the boat being loaded. My 16' skeeter is loaded my backing the trailer in untill The rear guide roller is not quite submerged. I edge the boatup to the trailer ( motor in gear ) hook up winch,walk trailer and tighten up on trailer a foot or so.Than back truck father in. The boat will stay CENTERED on its guide roller.Then winch it up tight, no fuss no muss and no scratches or sideshows.

Gee! The Etecs here in Canada don't look like that.lol

I had a morning on the river when I caught 4 bass between 3lb8oz and 3lb15oz in twenty minutes all on top water.You couldn't wipe the smile off my face with a glove.

It's only cheating if you break the rules.I only want to catch that lifetime fish by my rules so the memory is unclouded. My rules are No live bait depthfinder is OK No braided line (might as well use a winch cable)

I have scents but only use them when fishing is tuff and then I am not fishing on top.Timing on top water hooksets is everthing.I think a lot of times the eye sees the bass coming and the hook set happens before the fish is there and I'm here to tell you waiting too long isn't good either. ;D ;D

A pop "r" is my favorite lure any variation of the following should catch fish.Cast to shady side of target let the lure sit on semi slack line until ripples disapear. A small sideways wrist flick will make the lure spit or pop, repeat at varing intervals.When fish strikes count 3 seconds or feel the fish set hook with a hard sweep set.A bass or frog colour works best in my waters. A bass will come along way for this lure,up or sideways.Take your time.Sometimes I just stop and wait.Always be prepared for the strike.Goodluck P.S. Don't atttach anything to this lure it takes away from it's action.

When prefishing I would not be fishing my favorite spots but checking out and learning about other spots.And making every effort not to stick fish.

My thought is if you NEED to produce fish,than fish your strengh.If you are just playing work on other things.Don't try other methods if you are not catching fish with your perfered method.It will turn a learning period into discourgament.

A quiet morning, an original pop r (bass colour) Here on the Rideau I try to hit double digits before the locks open.It doesn't always happen but it's fun trying.

When looking at a new body of water keep in mind that the structure you see around the water usually carries on under the surface. With out charts it helps you find points,drop-offs ect.It will also give you an indication of the rate of depth change to help choose your search baits.e.g. casting distance is 40 ft.slope rate is 1 down for 10 across.Choose a crankbait to run 4 ft depths.

Biologist in our area maintain there is 3 types of bass.Those that live shallow all thier lives,those that live deep all thier lives and those than move back and forth. Do you believe this to be true and if so how does it affect your thought process?