BigAngus752

Outstanding work!

I was fishing at a private fishing club today on a lake that is rarely fished. I find this little guy stuck in a crevice in a log. His shell and head were dried out and I thought he was dead. I was surprised to find him alive and kicking when I pulled him out of his predicament. I clearly saved this turtle's life and I really expected him to be appreciative but he tried to bite my face several times when I only wanted a selfie with him. I was about to set him free when I discovered HE HAS NO BACK LEGS. He just has two nubs. Something had long ago bitten his hind legs off. I was feeling sorry for him and wondering how he was escaping predators and feeding himself when he has no back legs. I had kneeled to pull him out of the water and take the selfie and I set the turtle down on the deck to push off from the laydown and HE CHARGED ME! He tried to bite the side of my calf so I stood while he tried to chase me around my own boat. Seriously ungrateful turtle. Allow me to summarize: 1. I saved this turtle's life and he hates me. 2. He has no back legs. I named him Lt. Dan and sent him on his way.

Okuma TCS All Purpose is the deal for this. A more moderate tip that makes it extremely easy to walk lures and works perfectly for treble hooks. Keeps the fish pinned but good backbone. Love this rod for Spooks and pencil lures. During the sales you'll get one for $120 or less. You won't be throwing a spinnerbait with it. It's very much a treble rod but it does trebles better than any other rod I've ever used.

I don't mind sharing my spots, but I thought this was funny. This is what my friends would expect of me. Turns out I'm more pleasant when I'm fishing.

Lipless. Anything else is a far, distant 2nd. So good that, when it's sunny, I keep two tied on (shad and chrome). Catches piles of LM and striper. But just to be clear...FALL fishing is when you're wearing layers underneath Gore Tex and the wind is blowing (think 50 degree water and 40 degree air temp). Any water warmer than 55 degrees at MY latitude is "late summer" fishing.

I completely agree with you. The solution (as stated by many others) is reading glasses and a Palomar knot. The Palomar is easier to tie with thin line and it is, in my experience, stronger on the really thin lines than the Uni or Trilene knots. Sit on the couch and practice the Palomar. It will make your life much easier while fishing.

Have one in the fridge! I got six different Oktoberfests last weekend with a Binny's "pick six" and that's one of them. Good to hear that I got at least one good one. Had a Reservoir Brewing Oktoberfest last night. They are in Colorado. It was good, but not run-and-buy-a-six-pack good.

I use them mostly under a specific set of circumstances, like Tom @WRB does. I have great success using Zoom Ol' Monsters during the height of summer when the water is warmest. Typically 6ft or deeper. Also, a small curly-tail worm rigged weightless and jiggled/wiggled deep into cover is one of my best producers when the males are guarding fry during the spawn.

^^^this^^^ I sometimes, not always, use Megastrike on plastics except when I'm using Berkley MaxScent plastics. If I'm flipping/pitching (putting my hand on the lure/bait each cast) then I smear a small amount of MegaStrike on my hands. The latter is where I see significantly repeatable results. I can go from no bites to many bites when flipping/pitching by putting a scent on my hands or by cleaning my hands in lakewater with non-fragrance soap. I have also consistently gone from no bites to several bites by using a MaxScent plastic. Nothing, however, is a sure thing. Your results may vary because mine certainly do.

I think it's rare that a cover turns out better than the original. The two I can think of off the top of my head were both Michael Jackson songs. Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm Billie Jean - Tyler Rich Runners up: Hurricane - Band of Heathens Black Betty - Spiderbait House of the Rising Sun - Five Finger Death Punch Can't You See - Black Stone Cherry

You just described east central Illinois. Ditto with the maples. Much too early.

The when and where are more important than the retrieve itself. As far as the retrieve goes, you just want it to appear to be a baitfish in distress. Bounce it off stuff. Especially rocks. The when and where are during the most active feeding seasons, which means prespawn and fall. In spring and fall if I can find a windblown bank with rock on it then I have nothing on deck except a lipless and a spinnerbait. I've spent entire days with just a lipless catching 30 plus fish in the fall and I ALWAYS fish the wind. Wind blows the bait, bass follow, and the lipless acts like and injured baitfish. Summer not so much. I will pull them back out again in late October. I've posted pics of 10lb striper I've caught in less than a foot of water on a 1/2oz lipless in November. One of my favorite lures spring/fall.

100% are and we need to try that one also! Thanks

Have you tried Wild Turkey Rare Breed? If you like cinnamon, maple sugar with some spice it's a great value. Gotta find this now. Shiner has several that the wife and I both love. Haven't tried this yet.