drscholl14

This was referring to the previous question about Bald Eagle Lake.

Haven't been out there this year yet, but the end of last year it was VERY brown. Frogs are always a good bet out there as well as dock fishing and punching. If it's as dark as it was last fall make sure you bring loud lures with you.

Yeah I use 40 and can't remember the last time I broke one off without it being a knot failure. That being said, there's nothing wrong with a little overkill when you're pulling a fish through a jungle.

DO NOT SET THE HOOK RIGHT AWAY. I think this is one of the biggest mistakes people make when fishing a frog. When I see a bass blow up my frog, I give it a second or two (reel down because I can't make myself wait) and then set the hook. I used to miss frog fish all the time until I learned that. I use Spro frogs also and don't miss many. And yes, braid is the only line you should be using.

For braid I use Power Pro in either Moss Green or Hi Viz yellow. Fluoro I use Seagaur InvizX.

When they've been biting, I've found them in flooded bushes and laydowns. Most likely still in a staging mode although I would think many of them will be on beds by the weekend if not sooner.

Those are two great videos. I have a Tatula CT and a Fuego. Two of the best Daiwa reels I own. I have 4 currently and don't have any plans to buy anything other than Daiwa until they give me a reason not to.

Friday morning I caught almost 30 bass on a Bronzeye Frog in a 100 yd stretch. They were blowing it up almost every other cast. It was awesome.

Can't be sure, could've been the weather could be there's enough baitfish and other food sources. My guess is they are still searching for the spawning areas and aren't protecting beds so they aren't quite to that "spawn level" of aggressiveness. I'm glad to hear other people found a tough bite the last few days. I was starting to wonder after having a great trip on Opener and then having two tough days Sunday and Monday.

Saturday I found the same thing as Popper Ninja. Bass were way back in flooded bushes and trees and chomping. My best five weighed just over 17. I didn't see a single bass cruising the shallows, or on beds. Water temps on White Bear have been mid 50s all week. A smaller lake just east was in the low 60s yesterday but NOTHING was biting. Had one swing and miss on a Spook and caught another on a texas rigged structure bug in a laydown.

KVD 1.5/2.5 Crank or Texas Rigged anything on brush or laydowns.

Brand new Dad, which means when my wife told me she was going to take the baby over to grandma's for a couple hours I, being the good husband, said that sounds like a great idea. She left, I ran outside to hook the boat up and snuck in 3 hours on the lake. Now I'm back at work wishing I was still on the lake.

I've had great success with the Pit Boss and started this year out with the Rage Tail Structure Bug and have had a couple nice days with that. If I want a bigger profile I'll usually go to the Brush Hog.

Spook! Easily my favorite topwater. So underrated these days. I've caught bass in 15-20 ft of water on the Spook. The noise, the action, it's just awesome! I usually seem to have better topwater days when it's cloudy now that I think about it.

@WolfyBrandon The bluegill color on the Strike King cranks are so sick. Love that paint job. Catches em too!

Strike King Poppin Perch. Thought it looked ridiculous when I first saw it but then saw how the pros were fishing it and how well it was working I picked one up and can't wait to use it.

Two boats were fishing the north bay of White Bear Lake today. The ice is only about 100 yards from shore but they must've really wanted to get on those panfish. I can't say I blame them.....Bald Eagle is 90% open.

I want to take Wheeler but I just can't stand him. So I went with Combs and his big bass ability. Connell Ehrler Evers J Lee Combs Man it seems like it's been forever since we've done this.

I agree about not using puncture style. I just bought the TH Marine Conservation Cull system and look forward to trying it out this year once our lakes finally thaw out. I've heard good things about it the system.

Tough to watch Christenson struggle so much today.

Yep Hartman sunk me as well. Got Ott, Palaniuk, and Connell moving on with Howell one spot out of that 25 cut.

Ended up going to Cabelas this afternoon because they had the Daiwa Fuego CT at a nice price and ended up looking at spinning rods while I was there. Ended up going with the St Croix Triumph M Fast 6'6. It's felt amazing and was extremely sensitive. I think he'll like it.

It will most likely be used for wacky rigging or your basic finesse set ups, weightless flukes etc. I got him a baitcasting set up last year that he uses for cranks and topwaters. Just trying to upgrade his spinning rod. Looking for it to be versatile and sensitive. Don't need top of the line by any means. I pretty much only have a spinning rod in my hands for drop shotting or spybaiting and haven't bought one in 3 years.

Look for rocks or boulders for sure. Smallmouth roam so they will be there and then all of a sudden not, unless you find structure that they are sticking too. If your body of water is really murky drop shotting might be tough. If you do it, I would try to add a rattle or use plastics that will displace a lot of water. I'm a huge fan of Strike King's 5 and 6XD crankbaits. They dive to 15 and 20 feet and smallies and largemouth up here love them. I throw them on deep weed lines or run them over the end of main lake points with good success.

Looking at this spinning rod for my Dad who has just started to get back into bass fishing after I bought my boat last year. He's still using his spinning rod from the 80s and I'd like to replace that for him. I bought him a Daiwa Fuego spinning reel over the Winter and now I'm looking for a rod to pair it with in the $70-100 range. I like the specs on the Lunker Stik and it has pretty good reviews. Thoughts?