papajoe222

Mine was also a #7 Original Floating Rapala. I lost it the same year (1964) to a nice walleye. That was the same year I got hooked on artificial baits and that, a Lazy Ike, a Daredevil, and a Mepp's spinner became mainstays in my tacklebox.

Every year around this time, I reflect on previous seasons. What did I learn and more importantly, what did I forget. Prior to last season, I kept a fishing log. It was a good reference, not only for this yearly review, but also for checking prior to an outing. Last season I stopped doing that, both keeping a log and checking previous years logs. Big mistake. Although I did change my focus and goals, I am without reference to my success and more importantly my failures. The one big lesson I had driven home last year was; If you plan on targeting big fish, you need to fish waters that consistently produce them. My home lake is just over sixty acres and although there are plenty of quality sized fish (18in.+), there are very few lunkers. That was one thing I 'learned' or should I say finnaly accepted. The one thing I forgot and one that has always been the backbone of reaching my goals was; slow down and listen to what the fish are telling you. Oh yea.......and keep a log, STUPID! So what did you learn or forget last year?

I know a lot of guys from upstate also fis some southern Wisconsin lakes. I'm looking for someone that can put me in touch with a guide for fishing Lake Geneva. I haven't fished there but once recently and figured the best way to get reacquainted with it was to go out with someone that is familiar with it. So how about it, any recommendations or better yet, anyone familiar with Lake Geneva willing to share a day on the lake at my expense?

Welcome to the board. There are a number of lure making suppliers that have what you're looking for, along with a small assortment available at BPS and Cabela's. Luck-E-Strike makes a couple of bare/unpainted ones with a single wire weed guard and if you're looking for hand poured jigs with the typical fiber weed guard, I'm sure Mike at Siebert Outdoors can hook you up with whatever style head design you're looking for.

I'm assuming you fish from shore if you loose a lot of baits. I would recommend a floating jerkbait, but reguardless you get what you pay for. I fish Rogues and Long A's almost exclusively as I only own one Pointer. The action and attitude of the baits at rest are different for all three. I haven't lost one in a few season, but if or when I do, I'll be replacing whatever i lost with a Pointer. Long pause or short, they seem to work better than either of the others, but that's just my opinion. If I were loosing two or three a year, I'd opt for one of the other two.

It's been a while since I fished Lake Geneva in southern Wisconsin, but I'm determined to get there early this spring for some smallie fishing. I always like to go out with a local or a guide on a new lake. Does anyone know of a guide that does half day, or week-day outings? I know there is a member on this site that does some guiding at night on Geneva, but I don't recall who.

When I have to downsize because I'm either shore fishing or as a co-angler, the first thing I consider is the season. The majority of my box will contain lures that target that season, both for finess and regular presentations. A few proven 'off season' confidence baits and that's it. I found out a long time ago that I have much better success changing my attitude and approach rather than constantly changing changing lures hoping to find one with some 'magic' in it.

Two weeks after I purchased my new SUV and only two months after purchasing my boat, I took a day trip to a little lake well off the beaten path.hidden deep in the woods. Eight straight hours of fighting a strong wind and very few fish I called it a day. My vehicle was parked under some big trees so it would be out of the sun. Unfortunately the wind had shaken most of the acorns off those nice tall trees and left my roof and hood riddled with dimples. If poured rain most of the way home. A truck kicked up a rock that chipped my windshield and the pin on my swing trailer tongue popped out and the trailer rammed the bumper on the exit ramp a mile from home...............can you say a day to forget?

Now THAT is a die hard jig person right there!

I rarely T-rig a tube. I'll rig with a tube jig either exposed hook, or stupid rigged. When I do T-rig, it's always with an internal weight of some sort. If you plan on T-rigging, go with a thin wire EWG, what size will depend on how thick the tube is that you choose to use. You should see some daylight between the tube and the hook's bend when rigged.

You have too much tackle when your wife has too many pairs of shoes/purses/ear rings, etc. Seriously, you have too much when the money you intend to spend on it is money that needs to go toward necessities. Any money left over after the bills are paid should be used for your enjoyment, whatever that may be. I get a LOT of enjoyment buying fishing gear (most of which I will likely never use), my kid spends it on shooting gear and both our wives complain we have too much until I mention what our son-in-law spends on his golfing habit.........end of discussion.

I picked up some Pro-Tec powder paint and have a question. How long to heat the jig head before using it? I painted six heads and although I didn't overheat the lead to the point that the paint smoked, the color wasn't consistant. If I shortened the heating time, the powder didn't 'melt'. Is it just an experience thing, or is there a trick to it?

Grip, reel seat. hook keeper and decals are finished. Guides will be wrappedwith the gun metal and gold trim, underwrapped in the blue. Not the best pic. Thread colors are metalic blue/gun metal and the split grip area is a chevron

That was my Spook rod until just recently. Great for minnow (jerk) baits, too.

In a word,McCoy.

Actually, line sensitivity in flourocarbons is due to the density, or molecular structure of the line. Stretch is dependent on that, not visa versa. Mr. Riley will learn that relationship along with line diameter in it's relationship to water resistance in his studies. Sounds like a great topic for a research project. Good Luck

I was gifted two builds, one a kit and the other my choice of components, for Christmas. The kit will be built on a Forecast SP841 blank and the other on a white MHX843. The Forecast will be my Rod of choice for 1/4oz. tubes and crappie size cranks paired with a Daiwa Sol. The MHX will be a split grip worm/swim jig Rod. I have the area of the split grip chevron wrapped and on the dryer, cork for both grips ready to go and will be peeping the guides later tonight. Needless to say, I clouldnt wait to get started on them, or do a little crowing.

You do have a gift with cork, not to mention Rod building in general. Awesome, awesome, awesome!

Why blue? Just asking.

Original floating #7 Rapala C-rigged. #3 Mepps squirrel tail. I really have a hard time dead sticking or slowing down much more than a C-rig.

I use two 3600 series, one for hooks and another for split rings, swivels, hitch hikers, snaps, beads,etc. I keep my weights in a different box. There is double box (flip sided) that is slightly smaller than a 3600 that could fit the bill for you. I think it's made by Flambeau's

I prefer a moderate tip vs. a fast one in cold water. I like the slower start/stop action the bait gets from it. Once the water warms up into the upper 40's and low 50's, I'll use a fast tip. That's also about the time I shorten the pauses between jerks.

Using a point as an example, I will work shallow to deep and then deep to shallow from different angles until, or unless, I contact fish. Reguardless of what direction (up or down), I will attempt to duplicate that angle reversing the direction of my retrieve before moving on. If I continue contacting fish using the same angle, but completely opposite direction I know that the angle is more important. If I don't, I know that both angle and direction (deep to shallow or visa versa) are what I'll need to duplicate. As WRB mentioned, the majority of bass will position themselves the same on a given piece of structure, for whatever reason. If you can figure where and how, you have developed a pattern that you can use on that entire structure and possibly other similar structure in the area.

The only type of line I flip jigs with is braid, sometimes it 30lb. and sometimes it's heavier. I will, however, occasionally pitch a crank. I'm currently using Yo-Auri Hybrid Fluoro-Nylon which replaced Original Stren as my line of choice.

Brand and style are a a personal preference. I prefer a light wire standard length for cranks (red on the belly), but you may like triple strong short shaft. My only recommendation is to stick with proven brands and shy away from the store brand stuff.