BassinCNY

I got my shipment. Now I just have to wait for spring to try them out.

The bait monkey got me and I ordered a variety of Hyabusa hooks. I won't be trying them until May though.

I like pulling up to a large pad field and hearing the kissing sound that sunfish make when they're taking something off the surface.

I did try it a couple years ago but it seemed to lower the catch rate instead of increase it. That was just one evening on my local river though so your results may be different.

I didn't know these were out there. I know what I'm ordering tomorrow. Any size suggestions?

Of the finger lakes I'd absolutely choose Cayuga.

To fish the Seneca River this time of year I'd recommend watching the last day of the recent BASS tournament on the Sabine river. The baits and techniques they used are exactly what I'd recommend for the Seneca.

I have asthma and my wife asked me not to go fishing yesterday evening. I explained to her that I had been out all day running around and had no lung issues at all but if I go anywhere near a gas stove I will. So if it's not at least as bad as a gas stove or a 1970's bar or airplane then I'm not going to worry about it. The fish were biting on the Oneida river yesterday. Maybe because I was the only one on the river.

I saw a large dead one that looked like it had been chopped by a propeller on Keuka lake. That's a cold deep lake so if they can live there they can probably live in MI too.

For pitching the thin walled tubes work the best for me. Either tender tubes or power tubes. I haven't tried the maxscent power tubes yet though just the standard ones. 3.5 inch tubes texas rigged on a 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook. I use a 3/0 hook because it just fits the 3.5" tubes but it works for a 5" senko too and I'll often have different rods with different weights rigged up and it's easier to change baits than weights.

Yes. They're the Seneca, Oneida and Oswego rivers.

In the rivers around me the largest smallmouth immediately post spawn are in boat slips totally out of the current. One fish per slip and the nicer the slip the bigger the fish. I always thought they were the recovering females because of their size but I don't know for sure. They're there for a week or two and then the slips are taken over by the largemouth and pickerel.

I use Gamakatsu 3/0 EWG's for 6" lizards and 7 or 8" curly tail worms. For 8" lizards I use 4/0's. I fish them Texas rigged or drop shotted so maybe go up one size to allow for the weight on the lizards?

There is a tag on the transducer cord that says what model it is. That should be the same as what you have your unit set up for.

If we're talking about wacky, ned ,texas, neko or drop shot rigging then I agree. It makes me realize that I don't remember ever ned rigging a 4" lizard. I'll be giving that a try in a month or two on the river.

I'm enjoying this thread because it's interesting how different people enjoy different baits and techniques. I might fish all day and only use a whopper plopper, chatterbait and drop shot. Probably in that order. But no toads. Those things are evil.

Improved clinch for mono only. I've had it slip on fluoro. I probably tied it incorrectly but it's a problem I haven't seen on mono. For fluoro I use a palomar. I don't use copoly. I've never really given the trilene knot a shot and I'm inconsistent at tying a uni so I don't use it.

I have a rod made from a Bushido SJ68/6-10. I ordered it as a ned rod but it's versatile. I'm very happy with it.

#1 Gamakatsu octopus.

I get more bites on thick wire spinnerbaits than on the thin wire spinnerbaits that are supposed to give more vibration.

I err on the side of too big rather than too small. You should be able to use them all day and want to get up in the morning and do it again without worrying about foot pain.

What I went to most this year was a drop shotted wacky rigged green pumpkin finesse worm.

I use the 8" long, 12 pound test Eagle Claw micro leaders.

I'm sorry for your loss.

I have a Bonafide RS117. It is very stable and maneuverable. If you're floating it is a great choice. If you want to paddle upstream against much flow it might not be the best choice.