Buckeye1955

Anybody used this new model yet? I like the Pflueger Presidential spinning reels alot and am looking at the Partriarch casting reel. It is a new model and I wondered if anyone had tried it yet.

About time BPS came up with something for the swimbaits! I have been buying the Basstwitchers at jpjigs.com. They do a great job too. I really like the red ones.

Having the bad habit of setting things on top of my soft sided tackle box, especailly black things as it is also black! Result --- flipped a pair of black handled pliers and a black walkie talkie into the drink by opening the top of the bag while looking somewhere else! Had to drive an hour each way to pick up another walkie.

Old eyes love them! I can change a bait without going for the cheaters. I use the red ones which in my mind adds a little +. And I figure I probably gain 30 minutes of fishing a day I'd lose tying knots. I've yet to have one break and it stops line twist from some lures. They are on all my poles except my spinner bait pole.

I've got the extendable pole with the spiral wire on the end and the ring on the string with the hooks you slide down the line. The pole isn't the most graceful thing to use and by the time you beat around down there everything in 1/2 mile has left town, but it works. Pretty long even retracted. Takes up some room. Never not got one back with it. I believe both Cabelas and BP sell it.

We fished it last year in April and spent most of our time up the Oklawaha and Bear Creek beside it. We had some really good luck on a Rapala floating minnow in perch about 3 1/2in long. Seemed that time of year that downsizing worked really well. Being alot earlier, you'll probably go a different direction. We're going back in April and I'd love to know how you did and what you used. Good luck and drop me a line if you would!

I'm partial to the Case Plastics/Madtoms. They stay upright and have a great leg action. They are a great smaller outfit to deal with too. When I ordered my frogs they sent a care package with one of everything they made. You won't get that from the big guys!

Well - ya sold me! I just ordered some of the YUM crawbugs and baby crawbugs. They sure look good......

Mepps Spinners, Cavitron Buzz baits, War Eagle Spinner Baits, Rapala crank baits, especially the shad raps, floating minnows and the DT series. Basstrix paddle tail tube baits or something similar and the BassTwitcher jigs to rig them on (jpjigs.com), senko worms, Evolution Jigs, Gulp black shad minnows, Case Plastics - Buzzing Frog, Chompers garlic & salt skirted grubs and some sort of white twister tail. I also like the Bass Pro XPS Lazer Eye in-line spinners. And my secret weapon - the Bass-Erator - my own home-made in-line Buzz Bait. With that, you'd be loaded for bear! or at least a lunker........

War Eagles. Try them and you'll throw everything else in a box in the closet. I especially like the Screaming Eagles.

I'll definitely give the ultimate bluegill a try in the old Ohio river, but we're pretty bass challenged in our area. Too much industry and not enough structure. And too much fishing pressure for what few fish we have. And the lakes are even worse other then Stonewall. One weekend at a lake just north of me there was 7 tournaments going on at the same time........ The grass did come back to the river this year which helped. At least that gives the bait fish somewhere to hide!

I hope so! I mostly fish the Ohio River and a few surrounding lakes. Sometimes get over to Stonewall Jackson. Other then Stonewall, a 3 lb bass makes the paper! But I also hit the St. Johns river in the spring and Lake Champlain in the summer. I figure the bluegill will be a big hit at Champlain and the perch might stir up a hog down south. It would be nice to have a slightly smaller version for us bass challenged areas Matt! Can't wait to get my order.......

I appreciate it guys! Just ordered a couple - one bluegill and one perch. Thanks again!

What's your favorite go-to bait for Lake Champlain in the summer? We usually fish in the Carry cove area near Alburg Vt. We fish for both smallies along the old railroad causeway there and for pike and largemouth over the grass in various places. We hit it in early July for a week and have done well with frogs and spinnerbaits over the grass and some crankbaits. We have also used the Gulp minnows on a jighead and done well. Anyone have a another suggestion or a personal favorite for that time of year? Can't wait to get back this year!

MattLures Bluegill Series 5 inch, 2 ounce, Realistic Bluegill Swimbait Anybody have an opinion on these. At the price they are going for, I'm not trying them on a whim, that's for sure. They look good, but that might be the world famous Bait Monkey calling...... What part of the country have you fished them?

Yep, I've used them too. I've been going up to Champlain for awhile up around South Alburg, Vt at Henry's Sportsmans Cottages. I like the frogs, but have done really well with spinners over the grass and last year tried the gulp minnows on a jig head. They really liked them! That makes me think the paddletails will be a hit too. I also used a weighted Rapala floating minnow in perch and nailed the heck out of them (smallies) along the rocks. I'm itching to try some Mepps spinners and some of the Bass Pro Shops XPS Lazer Eye's. I enjoy fishing them and love the blade action.

I have picked up some of the real Basstrix Paddletails, the Bass Magic's off of Bass Pro Shops and the Rainbow Worms Bowfish Paddletail Swimbait off of Hi's Tackle Box in San Fransisco. It will be interesting to see which works better. I like the Bowfish best because it is slit on the bottom which makes it easy to insert the hook and flat on top which makes the hook sit better. The best rig I've found for them is the Bass Twitcher at jpjigs.com. It is weighted on the bottom and has the keeper spring you screw into the bait to hold it in place. I like the red ones. I've picked up several various brands of paddletails ranging from 2 1/2 inch up to 4 1/2 inch. It will be fun to see which works best where as I fish Florida in the sping and Lake Champlain in the summer. The Bowfish are reasonably priced and readily available, hopefully with all the competition, some of the Basstrix will become easier to get too. I think their color and quality is still the best. The paint job is amazing. I have some of the 2 1/2 holographic shad that look like they should be kept in a bait bucket!

It pays to do some research. Or find yourself a reputable dealer. At least with a dealer you'll get a waranty of some kind and a good dealer will give any used boat he takes in a good onceover including a compression check, etc. You'll taking your chances with a buy off an individual. They don't use the phrase "Buyer Beware" for nothing.

Found another option to the Basstrix Paddletails - Rainbow worms Bowfish Paddletails - at www.histackleboxshop.com/Swimbaits-All-Brands-s/422.htm. This is a western shop located in San Fransisco. The Bowfish are slit and have a squarer back so the hook sits better. Still the best way to rig them is on the Bass Twitchers at JP's Jigs and Rigs.

Found another option to the Basstrix Paddletails - Rainbow worms Bowfish Paddletails - at www.histackleboxshop.com/Swimbaits-All-Brands-s/422.htm. This is a western shop located in San Fransisco. The Bowfish are slit and have a squarer back so the hook sits better. Still the best way to rig them is on the Bass Twitchers at JP's Jigs and Rigs.

Thanks guys! I saw a place on line with cabins for rent at the lake. Might have been at the Marina. Are you familiar with it? How is the lake level? I have been reading about how low some of the lakes are and wondered about Istokpoga. The info I read said the depth averaged 4-6 feet with the deepest 10. How careful do you have to be getting around the lake? That's pretty shallow compared to what I'm used to. It's going to be a long cold winter up here. You guys really have it good down there!

I am working on my annual bassin trip to Florida and came across a recommendation on another site for Lake Istokpoga. Any suggestions on where to stay on the lake? I was looking at the 2nd week of April. Any thoughts on going that time of year? Patterns to use? Best areas of the lake to fish?

I ordered a herd of stuff from JP Jigs and Rigs for my Basstrix Paddle Tails. They came today. Wow! Great looking stuff. The jigs for the Paddle Tails are a bottom weighted weedless hook with two sizes of spring retainers on the front to hold the Paddle Tails. Also picked up some dock slingers with the same retainer spring on them. Check him out at www.jpjigs.com. Or 770-246-0464.

Got my hands on some of the Fat Minnows and FIRST cast nailed a nice one! Two more before the day was out. Found the proper way to rig them tonight too. http://www.jpjigs.com/BassTwitchers.php BassTwitchers. You can go with either weighted or unweighted. I tried them the other day on a Gamo football head jig with the little spring screw that secures the plastic bait. Worked great that way too. Prices are coming down on E-Bay. I got a 5 pack the other night with 5 jig heads for $10.50. I'll have me a gunny sack of the perch when I head for the St. Johns in Florida in the spring......

Thanks guys! I'm off tomorrow to give them a try. They'll never know what hit em!