BigAngus752

There is a lot of differences in "Fast" between manufacturers. I use the same MH/F rod for both spinners and vibrating jigs but it is a Duckett and has more parabolic action than other brands of MH/F rods that I own. If you are thinking of changing rods you might call Duckett Fishing and talk with them. The guy that answers the phone does an excellent job describing the differences and they have quite a variety of actions.

I am very blessed to have the knowledge and ability to do nearly anything that needs done. Several years ago at our old house the leach field of our septic failed. We had to have the old septic system smashed and filled in and a new aeration system installed. It was expensive. My wife said to me, "I can't believe you are paying someone to do this. I can't believe you aren't doing it yourself". I looked at her like she had two heads and asked, "Seriously? What do I know about installing septic systems?". She said, "You've replaced everything in this house. Why wouldn't I think you would install a septic system?" It's a huge blessing to be healthy enough and have the knowledge, but it also puts alot of pressure on you to do it yourself. How can I pay someone? I give up a LOT of weekends and evenings to "do it myself".

Who thinks of these inventions?! So you eliminate flys with table salt? How long before high blood pressure kills them?

Warmouths are the "recently jilted woman" of the small fish world. Don't make eye contact. They are ready to kill something.

I don't shy away from bright, sunny summer days simply because the sun and lack of oxygen in the water puts the bass in predictable places. Sure, getting the boat on the water before the sun comes up leads to more action during the morning bite, but I don't feel like I can't catch a bass on a summer afternoon. Especially on the lakes I know the best. Go fish when you can. Figuring them out is the fun part. If they were easy to catch I would have gotten bored with it years ago.

fishnkamp Bob always had excellent advice on specific rods and gear. I called him to check on him awhile back and he was having some difficulties but was positive and said he was doing well.

I have recently been finding shad busting in the mouths of coves in the early morning and I'm catching bass using a lipless crank or spinner along the outside edge of nearby vegetation. It doesn't last long, however. Once the sun is shining down on the water it's game over.

Yes it can. But it never completely stops. It's just a matter of how patient you are and how much you want to work to adjust. Some days I get scientific like Bill Nye and the Lord grants me the patience of Job. Other days I can't get my mind right and I go home.

True gunsmithing businesses are still prevalent in some states (mostly southern) but pressure from many different directions has closed a lot of shops. We had a man in our city who had an FFL and did some basic custom work for a couple decades. Then, unfortunately, he legally sold one single pistol magazine via the internet to a twisted individual who later committed a mass shooting spree at Northern Illinois University. That closed his business permanently. I am in charge of an LE only shooting facility and we train more than 500 police officers a year. I previously had an FFL and sold only to people I knew, but the mounting scrutiny and cost eventually overshadowed any pleasure I was getting from it and I gave it up. An FFL is required if you are going to be a gunsmith, even if you aren't selling guns. That may disuade some who have the natural talent to learn gunsmithing.

Flippy Flipperson was my great uncle. I find this whole thread offensive.

Stocked trout = lures that look like trout fingerlings. I've fished lakes where the bass will completely ignore anything that's not a trout. That's how much bass like trout. Also, to echo @LrgmouthShad, take full advantage of the areas that the shore fisherman beat to death if they fish live bait. Is the shore packed with live bait fishermen on Fri/Sat/Sun? Then get to that lake on Mon or Tues and hit those banks from the boat. The food chain lives on after the bank fisherman go home.

Gotcha. I can't say for sure but I found this. It's from 2006 however... MazoniaMan Registered Joined Dec 31, 1969 266 Posts #3 · Dec 20, 2006 Gas motors on three lakes only at Mazonia Gas motors are only allowed in the Mazonia South Unit, currently on Monster, Ponderosa, and Eagle Lakes. No posted horsepower limits, however, they have no wake rules, and they are really starting to enforce those. Everywhere else at Mazonia North, and the walk-in lakes at Mazonia South, are electric trolling motors only. You can put in at a ramped North Unit lake if you pop the gas motor up and have a working trolling motor, as boaters often do when blown off of Braidwood by high winds. This information is posted onsite or available at the onsite office, but not on the DNR web site. If your hear a motor coming on the no-motor lakes, its DNR coming by to check your licenses, required gear, creel, etc. Enforcement got serious last year, where my boating friend got written up on the North Unit for not having a fire extinguisher, throw rope, whistle, and enough life vests for the people he had on the boat. Lots of fines. And over on Braidwood where they say at least a 14' boat and 40 HP motor are recommended, it's more than that, they won't let you ramp in if they see you've got under a 16' and less than 25HP; although I've seen people go on when the DNR is not present.

Is this what you're looking for? "Trolling motor only, except Monster and Ponderosa Lake, which allow gasoline outboards (no wake)." https://www.ifishillinois.org/profiles/waterbody.php?waternum=04245

Not any more, my friend. Only with a time machine.

One of my best lakes has a hotspot that is surrounded by these trees. This time of the year is a pain. Wind pushes fish against a bank along with the cotton. Here are a few things you can do: 1. Fish a bottom contact lure (soft plastic or jig) and hold your rod tip almost in the water to keep the line below the surface of the water all the way back to the boat. 2. Fish a bottom contact lure with a rod that has microguides. Each time you reel in stop as the tip guide starts to fill up, pick it clean, and keep reeling. 3. Move someplace else until the cotton season is over. Whatever you do, you have to be patient and dedicated and NOT allow that crap into the spool on your reel. Pick it before it gets to your reel. If you can't exercise this kind of discipline...move on until it clears. Sometimes I'm in the mood to be patient and catch the fish I know are there. Sometimes I move on.

These days it's simple: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-key-finders,review-2657.html

I have owned a couple Ducketts for several years and I will own more in the future. They fit a specific purpose for me. The model I have has a strong backbone and a more parabolic tip. Truly the absolutely perfect rod for chatterbaits and large spinners (for me). They don't make the model I have any more but I've talked with Duckett Fishing and the Triad is similar but a bit "faster" on the tip and the Jacob Wheelers are very similar with perhaps even more parabolic action in the upper 1/3 of the rod. During the time I have owned these Ducketts I've had numerous other brand rods break, I've lost/broken guides, had cork fall apart, etc. on many other rods and, even though I fish one of the Ducketts nearly every single time I go out, I've not have one single problem with either of them. Duckett makes my short list. I haven't found a Duckett that I would use for bottom contact, but I haven't looked for a Duckett for that either.

Aleve Jack Daniels What's the name of that stuff that helps your memory?

I knew I didn't have to say it!!!

You must understand why it doesn't count. Most importantly, catching a game fish this way is illegal in most states. It's also completely unfair. Do you want to compete in a tournament with guys using large, weighted treble hooks they are dragging behind their boat to foul hook bass who aren't feeding or striking a lure? Have you seen people using this technique to catch salmon? You wouldn't stand a chance in a bass tournament if others were doing that. I'm certain this guy wasn't intentionally snag fishing, but many people have been caught doing just that in bass tournaments. We have to have rules. We have to draw the line somewhere. I think this guy achieved something amazing and we should all honor him...but it doesn't officially count and I'm good with that. And you know what? That gives us TWO records and something to talk about!

What are your water temps? Once the spawn is over the bass will start moving back out. Intercept them on the way to deeper water. Look for crappie spawn, then shad spawn and then the bluegills moving up to spawn. Bass will follow a shad spawn. I love to fish the bluegill spawn. Good way to pick off bass ready to ambush.

Interesting that I just noticed this thread this evening. Not unusual for me to leave the lake with a bunch of other people's garbage that I collected. I was beside myself today because, at one point this morning, I snagged on something and when I pulled free some crappie fisherman's jig and line came with it. I was pitching at docks and I set it on my deck and TOTALLY FORGOT about it. Somewhere on plane I deposited it back in the lake. That was bothering me all the way home.

^^^this^^^ If it goes "ZZZZZZZZ" when I set the hook...too loose. If a 3+ pounder makes a hard dig under my boat and I don't get at least a little "ZZZ"...too tight. Spinning gear (which = lighter line) gets much more attention to the drag.

Well don't hesitate to go smaller with your braid if you want. The heaviest 832 I have ever had on a spinning reel was 8lb and right now all of my spinning reels have 6lb. I fish man-made lakes with a million snags and I fish docks, etc. and I have never had any breakage issues. In fact I fish with leaders for all bottom contact just so I can break off at the knot if I need to. Ok, you guys are about to cost me some money. Now I have to try it.

I am a die-hard Sufix 832 guy also. I'm curious, what are you using the 10lb on? Spinning?