papajoe222

Unlike a jig or worm presentation with a single hook, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits are faster moving presentations. There needs to be a little give somewhere in your equipment so the bait isn't pulled out of their mouth before they can close it. Mod/Fast is a good choice (IMO) for a spinnerbait rod, but as stated above, make sure it has the power to drive that bigger hook home. If it doesn't, you may be able to get away with using it and braided line. Not the best option, but if that's all you have....

Aside from the size and style of hook to choose, you should also take into consideration the thickness and strength of the hook itself. I use a lot of light wire hooks because many of my rods are medium power and I rarely use heavier that 12lb mono. 8lb is the norm. No way am I getting a good hook set with a 3X EWG. They not only penetrate the fish's mouth easier, they go through the plastic easier also.

Yea, you'll want a tool of some kind to take the pin out. I fabricated my own about ten years ago when I began cleaning my own reels. It's worth the investment in purchasing one if you plan on doing your own reel cleanings. Bearing upgrades become an added plus. Drag washers are a simple swap, but make sure you make note of the way the stack is when you remove the old ones so that you install the new ones in the same order.

I've been getting very frustrated, being unable to fish, and decided to do a fishing project to help ease my pain (and lighten my wallet). My four favorite reels got upgrades. Fuego-bearings and drag washers Sol#1 Swept handle and star drag Sol#2&3 Swept carbon fiber handles with wood knobs and bearings (all Sols now have bearing and drag washer upgrades). Now, If I can figure out how to add a pic

I fish craws as a jig trailer and rarely by themselves. I'll use them to add bulk, action, adjust fall rate,etc. I couldn't choose only one favorite as both the Paca and Rage Tails would tie for the title.

I tie my own, mostly buck and squirrel tail. I go through a dozen or so between pre and post ice here, so it's a frugal thing for me.

I agree with Rolo when it comes to a bouant worm, especially if you'll be pausing, or dead sticking it. For the conditions you mention, the MegaStrike or a football head design will likely work best. I like the MegaStrike for the sole reason that 99% of the time it will land standing upright and I like to pause for at least ten seconds after the bait hits bottom. It adds a lot to my confidence knowing that jig isn't on its side sitting there.

I'm with AJ when it comes to color selection. The first thing I check is the shade of the bottom, though, not the color as I'm partially color blind. Often times, in the same lake, the bottom composition changes from hard to soft, or rock to clay or sand. Aside from being great places to target, being aware of those changes and changing colors when you do can greatly increase your production. The other thing to consider is how pressured is the lake? Everyone, and I mean everyone, that fishes a private lake I frequent uses green pumpkin or water melon colored plastics. I've gone to PBJ and black/blue on tough days with great success. The other guideline i've always gone by is to show them something different and that goes for color selection, too.

For those that are faced with an 'off season' what kind of projects (not activities), if any, do you take on until you can wet a line again. They don't need to be fishing related, rather just something that keeps your interest and takes some time to complete. I'm faced with 8-9weeks of inactivity and looking for something fulfilling to do. Wrong forum.......my bad

I haven't tried the Whopper Plopper, but have used the buzz plug on a number of occasions, mostly when the bass were missing a slow moving buzzer. I bought it to replace one of my last TwoFers, which they are a poor replacement option for. The biggest flaw is the body shape. I suspect it is shaped so it floats with the tail down. Problem is, I've never gotten a hit while it wasn't moving and a fish closing its mouth on that fat body and big blade has little chance of getting hooked as you pull it out of its mouth. I removed the blade and added it to a Spook, added some weight to the tail and ended up with an awesome topwater. I added the hook to a Rocket Shad, so the only thing wasted was that alien body.

Any other time he doesn't take things literally. Cabin fever setting in? Oh yea, Martin, but if Ike were in the running............

Yea, you don't get as big of an increase in IPT with the higher gear ratios in a Sol, so even with the 7.2 you won't end up with a burner that pulls in 30+in. per turn. Compared to the stock gearing, though, it's a big increase.

I don't quite understand what you mean by the line catching under the spool. If stealth spider wire 30lb is a braid (I'm not familiar with it), then the line is likely digging into itself. That was a problem with some of the older baitcasters. Recent production reels spread out the line across the spool so it overlaps rather than laying the line alongside itself like a garden hose. You can help reduce this by keeping constant tension on your line during the retrieve. With some style baits, the bait's resistance is all that is needed. With others like some top-waters or when jigging, slack line is allowed to enter the spool and any subsequent tension on the line during the retrieve will cause it to get under the looser line. Hope this helps.

Culprit. Day, or night it gets bit.

Here's wishing you Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. Glad You're back.

Two things I'll add; First, WHERE IS THIS LAKE that's thick with muskies????? Second is you need to remember that in muskie and pike waters, bass are not at the top of the food chain and you will do better fishing for them in non-prime habitat. Stay away from flats with cabbage or pond weed. Coontail and hydrilla offer better cover for them and make it difficult for the longer fish to move around in. Small, isolated pieces of cover are another great target and mid-day dock fishing can be very productive, but avoid flats and docks early and late in the day. Now back to that first thing I mentioned...................

Yes, it's their version of a Fluke. I've tried them, but they don't sink fast enough IMO.

Is that how you got the nickname Dink?

At age ***, I worked at the local drug store stocking shelves and such. Being inquisitive about things, my sticky fingers provided me with a twelve pack of condoms for examination. My curiosity was quenched upon opening the first pack. Unable to return the open package, a friend and I decided to make reusable snow balls (they actually looked like fat sausages) and throw them at passing cars. We could then retrieve them and repeat the 'fun.' The second car to pass was my target and as I let fly, I noticed the elderly lady behind the wheel and momentarily felt a little ashamed as my 'snow sausage' was about to hit her windshield. It didn't, however bounce off as anticipated, but stuck to the wiper arm waving back and forth as she passed. I had to go home and change my pants as I literally soiled them from laughing so hard.

My attempt to revive the joke thread: As I was packing for a business trip, my three year old sat on the edge of my bed, joyfully playing by herself. After a short, quiet spell, she turned to me and exclaimed as she held up two fingers: "Look daddy!" In an attempt to keep her occupied, I replied: "Dady is going to eat those little fingers" and put her fingers in my mouth. I left the room to get some grooming items to pack and upon my return, my daughter sat bewildered, looking at her hand. "What's the matter, honey?" I asked her Still staring blankly at her fingers, she replied: "What happened to my bugger?"

If you want to not only learn a new technique, but gain confidence in it, you can do one of two things; Leave everything else at home and just fish it all day until you know exactly what it feels like and looks like when retrieved, let settle, picked up a weed, bumped a stump (you get the idea). The other way is to wait until you're on a good bite with your confidence bait and then switch to the new technique. The downside of the first is when you don't catch anything, the frustration may turn you off and with the second, your confidence bait may produce better and give you reason to choose it over the new one for future outings. The best advice I can give, however, is to stick with one bait when trying out a new technique. Concentrate on learning the bait and not so much on catching fish.(the first suggestion) It's like the muscle memory a golfer develops.

Hey Tom, What if I haven't caught one yet? Can I do the same thing to my cold hearted fishing partner? How long would I have to keep him submerged?

I just wanted to jump in and welcome you to the forums. Don't be a stranger. It sounds like you are a fairly versatile angler when it comes to different lures and presentations. If you haven't already learned this lesson, take note: 'The fish will tell you what they want and what they don't want. You just need to learn how to listen.' Don't beat yourself up attempting to get bit on what you want to catch them on. If it isn't working, find something that is. Your enjoyment of the sport will increase and your frustration from not getting bit will decrease.

What I've done I consider 'drift trolling.' Most of the waters I fish are natural, north>south lakes and a good breeze will move my boat at a good speed for working a worm down or over a weed line. A bump now and then on the TM keeps me where I want. I've attempted trolling on windless days, but those are the days when the bass tend to not want to chase a bait, so it isn't the best presentation.

Throw in a rod build or two and this will work until sometime in Feb. Then I start thinking about driving 300-400mi. to wet a line and the bait monkey hasn't been fed in months, so by April 1st, I'm out of reloading supplies because I've spent everything at fishing shows.