BigAngus752

The Illini hosted Purdue. Illini came in 4-1. Purdue 1-4. Purdue had beaten the Illini 6 in a row at home. Illinois went up 27-3 and ended up behind briefly and then winning 50-49. The craziness continues. I hate watching boring games so....

^^^This is a champion's mentality^^^ If you decide that there are circumstances in which you are unlikely to catch fish, then you probably won't. It's extremely rare that I get to fish for smallmouth and your tactics are extremely similar to my tactics for LM fishing in clear(ish) water.

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.

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.

Always studying, always evolving = always moving forward. Nice job, brother. That's good stuff.

I've ordered just a sideplate before due to this. It happens. If everything went perfectly every trip what would we have to talk about?

He's a younger fellow that hasn't had to deal with an Amazon error before. Many of us are happy to help him out. That's just how we are on this forum.

Several times I have "donated" an identical lure to someone or, more likely, have tossed someone a small handful of plastics that are working that particular day. If I see someone catching and I keep doing the same thing that isn't working...isn't that the definition of stupidity? I think what your asking is "should the guy that I'm copying be mad?" and the answer to that is, what he chooses is his choice. You be you. If it means pretending to be him for a day then go catch some fish. Big disclaimer, I've never fished a real tournament. Just competitions with friends and I tell them my spots and techniques when we do that so...

Oh yes. There are some cash wells dotting that area.

My in-laws live in Olney, IL which has the largest concentration of albino gray squirrels on the plant. They are pretty proud of it...

Best fishing typo ever.

I'm with the OP. Rods have the most influence on what I "feel" and keeping the fish pinned. I could fish every day with a spinning reel loaded with monofilament if I had all the modern rods.