papajoe222

I use 4lb mono on my ultra light, split shotting 4in. drop shot worms and a small circle hook. No need to worry about snapping the line when setting the hook, I just raise the rod tip and reel. That small hook penetrates easily and a 12in. bass or crappie on that outfit is a blast to fight.

While attempting to unhook a nice smallie my wife had caught on a trip to northern Wisconsin, I ended up hooking my right hand past the barb. I'm right handed and there was no way the wife was going to remove it. I cut the split ring and the other two hooks off and covered it with a bandage. I continued fishing for around four hours, then drove six hours to get home before having it removed. What can I say but, the smallies were being cooperative and there was no way I was getting off the water before dark.

In a couple of responses to a previous topic reference was made to bigger fish spawning first, or early. On my home waters, I've found just the opposite to be true. The bigger females tend to hold off until the water temps. are upwards of 65. Could that behavior be unique to this body of water, or to northern waters as the shallow water temps here can drop quickly and the bigger fish instinctively know that?

I learned this one from a friend of my dad's back in the early '60's. Tie a string to a white coffee cup and lower it in the water until you can no longer see it. Mark and measure the string and transfer that measurement to your anchor rope. Motor slowly toward shore and the anchor will grab at or close to the weed edge, a few casts will pin point it. You can drop a marker and repeat the process 30 yards down the shore. After a few markers have been placed, you'll have a visual aid on the surface that you can now cast to. It's a little time consuming, but worked for my dad and me until we could afford a 'Little Green Box'

I have a Daiwa PMA10 that I haven't had one backlash on in the last twelve years.............I loved that reel so much I retired it twelve years ago

I learned this one from Uncle Homer: Keep a rod baited with a large shiner suspended under a bobber set out behind the boat as you drift and cast from the bow. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the number and quality of fish you pick up.

Sorry. My response was a little tardy.

If it's been a few days since the cold front things should be stabilizied. Check the weather report and unless the barometer is still high, the fish should have moved back up shallow. At the very least they should be getting more active. I'd start with whatever pre-spawn baits you had success with in their staging areas and move shallow from there. They'll be spooked easily, so long casts and stealth are going to be priorities. I would stick with slower moving presentations unless they are taking your offerings aggressively.

So I couldn't decide between the two, so I got both. The M&P will get an Apex trigger along with a couple of 'little' extras and the Glock will get a Zev trigger and possibly some cuts in the slide to reduce weight. I decided on the Glock as my carry although I'm sure my trusty 642 will still see some summertime pitch hitting.

I use braid for my spinner and buzzbait fishing and actually have better hook ups because of the lack of stretch and their big hooks. I would assume if you pair the braid with a softer action rod that you should be okay using it for cranks, not so much for the hook set but for keeping the fish from coming unbuttoned.

None of my baits are old enough to retire yet, though I do have a couple that will be eligible for early retirement in a year or two.

I've been using a jig for 'Bubba Shottin' for a couple of seasons. I started doing it when, using a bell sinker, I was feeling pick-ups and coming up empty on the hook set. I've had limited success, but this year I'm going to a 1/16 hair jig for regular drop shotting, but that's just between you and me. No sense letting the cat out.

I didn't know Shelly or Keats fished.................then again, I didn't know either of them so what do I know?

Has anyone from the Mid-West experiencing an early spawn on their home waters? I finally got on the water yesterday looking for some pre-spawn action. The surface temp. was 62, but 4ft. down it was still in the upper 50's. To my surprise, a lot of males were already on beds. With the clear water and light colored bottom here, it's normally the end of May and water temps. in the mid 60's before I start seeing that. The bigger females here are waiting to make their move, which is normal here. With the smaller fish spawning already, I figure they will be bedding on the next new moon which is only two weeks from now. Lucky for me because the season just opened here.

My rod of choice for 3.5in. and bigger tubes is a baitcaster paired with a Daiwa Sol. I even fish them weightless on that combo and (don't tell anyone) use 30lb. Seaguar braid with a flouro leader. I retie often when fishing chunk rock because I don't trust the hype about it (fluorocarbon) being more abrasion resistant than good old Original Stren, which I would also retie frequently.

I'm in the 'love them' school here. My first boron rod was a 5'6" pistol grip and it was my go to worm rod for many years. I currently have three Browning Boron Matrix rods and my 7'6" with a split handle is always on my deck.

You sure it wasn't my wife you overheard??

With the high pressure and murky water, I would have reached for essentially what you did. A 4in Senko, either black, or watermelon lemon and a 1/4oz. chartreuse Colorado bladed spinnerbait. The same size spinnerbait in black would be another choice. The downsized baits allow a slow presentation and the colors should help with the low visibility.

There are few variations of swim jig head shapes, but as stated, most are pointed with the line tie at the tip. You can swim just about any style jig, that style is just more suited to the task.

SWEET!

Topwater......................Zara Spook Jig................................Siebert Supreme Series Spinnerbait...................MegaStrike StrikeBack Crankbait......................Bomber/Norman/Bandit

I'm old school when it comes to a lot of things and a lizard on a C-rig in the spring is one of them. I know the old 'ball and chain' is loosing it's popularity to other presentations and it seems (from lack of talk) that lizards have lost out completely. So my question is; Who still uses a C-rig during the pre-spawn and if you do, have you abandoned a lizard as your plastic of choice? What about on a Texas rigged lizard for bed fishing?

Only if you aren't getting a solid hook set with it.

Are you sure they were bass? Many times bluegill or crappie will hit your bass offerings. If you're sure they are bass, then the bad news is you're doing something wrong. The good news is you're doing something right. Something isn't just right and the fish aren't committing you your offering. It could be the offering, in which case FB06 has good suggestions. It could also be something else. Are you sure they weren't spawning? How clear is the water (your line could be a deterrent )? Can the fish see you ( standing and/or bright clothing make you more visible)? What about scent, yours? Try the simple things first, then look elsewhere.

Tubes and/or grubs