AJ Hauser

@Texas Flood I think you're right - I thought the top seal would be tighter on the Edge 3700 slim that I purchased because on my "regular" Plano 3700s (Prolatch Stowaway) I don't have anything jumping around. For the Edge, I'm not even carrying split rings or anything like that - my 1/0 Grip-Pin hooks are jumping compartments. Maybe I got a defective one? I'm curious about the Edge Terminal box but man... I already had to get myself pretty hyped to spend $35 on the first one... the terminal option is $50 (more if I pony up for different terminal compartments) plus with all of those little boxes inside big box, I feel like we're losing a substantial amount of storage real estate. Curious to hear your thoughts, and thanks for the info so far. The magnet idea in this thread is really clever, and so is the one about those small sliding containers.

Awesome - thanks guys - @MN Fisher this is super clever man. I'm going to check these little tins out - thanks!

That is a cool little gig. Nice. @MN Fisher those are small enough to fit into the rows of a Plano box, or you're using them in a different way? Those are cool, and so are the bead organizers, @Elkins45. Thanks guys.

@txchaser cool - thank you. I don't have split rings either, but I do have some skinny little dropshot hooks and even a few tiny wacky hooks that tend to sneak over into each others rooms constantly. I have to keep separating them. Might spray them with the hose.

@txchaser nice - thank you! How does the ice box do when you tip it up and sideways? Things stay put? @RRocket haha yes sir, great to touch base - I need to get back into writing on the 'ol blog but I've been doing work for other people which is pretty cool. We just put an offer on a house in Arkansas too, so if all goes well the migration will finally take place. I am extremely excited to get out and get to exploring that area - big time. How are you? Good season? Get out a bunch? Little boat perform well? Talk soon!

@RRocket what's up my dude? Thanks guys!

This is very helpful - I'm going to use a combinations of the suggestions. Thanks guys!

Hey guys, I just picked up a Plano Edge 3700 (thin) utility box for storing all of my terminal tackle. I've already run into a huge problem though: the hooks jump compartments big time when the box is up on it's side - and I mean in both directions - over the movable dividers, and between the lid and the actual rows themselves. Quite disappointing for a $45 box... I had less "jumpage" with my standard Plano boxes. I'm talking 3/0 EWGs are popping up and over the edges - not just the dropshot hooks... chunky pieces that shouldn't be an issue. I wade rivers & creeks often and this needs to life in a backpack on it's side. I'm not sure if I got a defective product, or if it's warped, or if there is intentionally a slight gap so the anti-rust things can pull moisture out since the outside edge is sealed with a gasket. Either way, have you guys experienced an issue like this with these boxes? Have you found anything that you can line the top lid with that prevents the problem? Would love to hear your feedback, and hopefully solutions. Thanks!

Got it - thanks guys! Today was the first time I had ever seen anything like this, and they were roaming in packs. Interesting fish. Much appreciated!

Hey all - I have been trying to figure out what kind of fish this is, but I can't for the life of me get a good answer. I was fishing a small river in northern Illinois, and I saw packs of these swimming back and forth. Never seen them before and I accidentally snagged one - see that big 'ol pointy dorsal fin? What is this thing... and who or what eats it? Thanks!

Holy cow that is wild - and backs up what @PaulVE64 sad making me think that's not just a one-off anecdotal incident... they're joining forces, gentlemen... it's time to start getting concerned...

@PaulVE64 that's wild!

@Harold H it's lipstick. Bass are very trendy and as we've seen it is now socially acceptable to... nevermind... Thank you guys for the input here - as always, you did not disappoint. I think my key takeaway here is that I need to put more of an emphasis on finding and following the fish, then I can worry about what they're eatin'! Tight line all around, and thanks again.

@casts_by_fly this sounds extremely similar to what I have experienced, and I tell you what - I haven't ever seen these bass spawning around here either, like you mentioned - or come across leftover signs. Last season we had quite a bit of water, and I didn't even try the creek until the end of May - and the water was 66°. The main river is always muddy or carrying a lot of sediment, but these connected creeks clear up beautifully... until it rains, then they are unfishable until the water calms down and clear up a bit. I have also caught huge carp (2 actually, one on an inline spinner and another on a jig worm last season) and catfish in here at random times, which has seemed odd, but again I think it ties in with what you are describing. Thank you so much for your insight, it is very appreciated and it seems to make quite a bit of sense!

Good morning brothers, I've been doing some research trying to get ready for the year. Yesterday while reading about smallmouth bass in rivers (In-Fisherman) I came across an article that said as the water temps breached 40° they become more active, but they would start to become less "baitfish oriented" and begin looking down for crayfish, etc. This may have less to do with a magic temperature and more to do with the fact that the increase in warmth brings the entire food chain alive, along with the bass. What are your thoughts on this, and have you noticed any seasonal preferences for largemouth bass that might be similar? I know that much of what largemouth eat relies heavily on what's available, but assuming all things are equal - what have you seen on the water? Thanks!

I came back to read more about everyone's bowel movements. Congratulations on your regularity! Seriously though, I have 2 Elevation high protein bars on the way to the lake. Coffee w/ 2% milk at home and on the drive. Then nothing but lots and lots of water until I get home in the afternoon. The protein bars are carried at Aldi and they're not too expensive, plus each one has 30g carbs, 20g protein and 10g fat - so double that if you eat two like me, and you have a pretty good supply of energy for the entire morning without feeling sluggish or bloated. For those of you with sugar sensitivities, make sure to check the label. There are some processed ingredients so I don't eat these everyday... Happy pooping!

@raydomz I appreciate your insight - very interesting, and more importantly, congrats to the big man!! That's a fish! I think you are right though, the more reading I have done lately the more I'm thinking that the smallmouth bass I've encountered are only in my creek when the temps and length of the day are correct and the water is a bit higher. As it warms and the water table drops back off, I think the big fish leave for the main river channel. I wrote a lot of this information up (combining the feedback from this very forum post - so thank you guys again) in an article on targeting smallmouth bass in spring, posted this morning. I am not sure if links are allowed to blogs like this, so if they are not, please let me know and I will remove the link or a mod can. I don't want to cause trouble, but I think a lot of the information combined & refined there would be useful to my fellow smallmouth anglers. Tight lines boys - I'll talk to you soon!

Good idea! I'm old school so when I catch a dink, I eat it like a sardine.

Thank you for the reply @raydomz - much appreciated! You're north of me even! So after reading your response and doing a bit more research, I'm starting to wonder if the bigger smallmouth are "pushing up into" my creeks when the water table is higher, not so much when the water is warming. Maybe it's a combination? I thought they were moving up into the creeks because the water was clear and the warming temps had something to do with spawning, so they felt some sort of prehistoric urge to move up the current... but maybe it has to do with them moving to the sources of the increased flow? So this would mean by me, in April when we get a lot of rain, the smallmouth would move up towards the dams in the smaller rivers, and it could explain why they were up in the creeks that dump into the large rivers around that same time - but then they're gone a month or two after that. Whaddya think??

Good morning brothers. I've got the itch. No, not one that requires a cream or an ointment or a salve... I got bass itches. I'm gearing up to fish here in the Midwest (northern Illinois) and one of the things I've noticed over the past 5 years is that smallmouth bass tend to use some of the creeks for some of the summer. During May and June there is a shallow creek that gets absolutely loaded with smallmouth bass. Some in the 20" range over 3 pounds. It's a blast, but as we get into July and then through the rest of the year... the only thing you'll find in that same creek is a dink here and there. The water gets cleaner & clearer but also much shallower, and the big gals are gone. The only thing I can figure is that said creek dumps into a large nearby river (the Illinois River) and when it gets hot and shallow, they vacate for the deeper, cooler water, even though it's also dirtier and has lower visibility. I'm curious how you guys would approach this since it's only March right now. The water around here is still very cold, but it will be warming soon. Do you think that the creek is filling up with smallmouth bass because they are spawning and then hanging around? Do you think they're just in there to feed and it's not spawn-related? We have another river that is connected but it sits far away from the creek. There are several dams along that river, and I know that guys will fish them at certain times of the year. Do smallmouth "move up" in river systems and make their way to dams early in the season for... reasons? This info is going to help me plan out a starting point so I am on the water chasing bass earlier than ever before, instead of fishing dead water for hours hoping for a random bite. Thanks!

I clicked "like" on that post, but what I really mean is... "dislike." Lol. I hate this state. Agreed - great point! That's the law in Kentucky? I don't suppose you know the rules in Arkansas? I will need to learn those...

Gotcha - thanks for the tips everyone. @Kev-mo I think I'm going to hoof it across some corn fields and hopefully I'll be able to find a clearing so I can see the bottom, and enter if it's rocky. If that's the case I'll work back and forth by those bridges and see if the bottom is stable or if I start to sink... @TOXIC we're moving south to Arkansas next year and I plan to explore the White River by Bull Shoals and other nearby creeks and rivers. Would these areas likely be similar to what you are describing? @MassBass see comment below on lead-poisoning. Thank you for the feedback! @Scott F a wading staff sounds like a great idea. Plus I could smack any dirty hippies I come across along the way! @newapti5 that's scary. I'm by myself so I definitely do NOT want to get swept under. I went out to retrieve a lure the other day and I stepped right off a boulder and went from 3 feet to 5 feet of water in an instant, soaking my backpack and getting water up over the top of my chest waders. I wouldn't say it was dangerous because again, it was mostly big gravel and slow current and I walked it back... but it was just enough to rattle me a bit. I started paying much more attention to where my feet were landing after that - and stayed where I could see the rest of the day. One more question regarding log jams. Last time I was out I made it to a big bend with some sunk trees jammed up and sticking out of the water. I'm talking big trees, not sticks. Just like the bridges I mentioned, this area was all silty with steep bottom and mostly mud - I turned back. Are these areas to be avoided and should I be walking around them on land? Even though the river is public I'm a bit paranoid of trespassing after being threatened with lead-poisoning (AKA bullets AKA "getcher butt offa my property 'fore I choot ya!") in the recent past...

Hey fellas! I hope you are having a great week. So recently I asked you all about waders, and I received some very helpful info. Thank you. I've been able to get out and explore a nearby river - and it has helped me avoid the "dog days" big time. I have a safety concern I need some input on. This river is worth exploring more, because there are pockets with big smallmouth (maybe 5 feet deep) opposite very shallow water, that can be walked instead of kayaked. I have found 3 bridges a few miles down river from where I have been wading. It looks like I can get under them, to the water, but it also looks very muddy. I can see spots shallow enough to walk, but the upper portion of the river has been rocky and shallow... this mud makes me nervous. I'm going to go out tomorrow morning and walk along the shoreline for about a mile and a half, and look for a low area where I can easily walk in, and see if I can visually tell if the 2.25 mile stretch between the bridges is rocky or muddy. If it's muddy as well... I might just leave... 1. How concerned would you be about hidden sinkholes or "quicksand" in muddy rivers? Are they common, or does it take specific conditions for them to form? Last thing I want to do is go under... 2. Why does it seem like mud and silt seems to pile up around bridges? The other access points by bridges that I have been using have loose silt and mud but it's only for a short way, then it turns to rock and sand. As far as current in this river, it's slow. Any input would be very appreciated. I'm honestly much more concerned with being careful and safe than catching fish... but there are probably more big fish... Thanks guys.

Very nice post. I use a similar process when I want to force myself to get better with a certain bait or technique - I think removing everything else before you head out is very smart! Otherwise it's darn near impossible to stick with something when the going gets tough...

Got it - thanks @Big Hands - good to hear from someone that has one. I took a trip the other weekend to check one out in person. To be honest, I was surprised at the size difference between mine (4 foot beam) and the one I was looking at (6 foot beam). For the small waters I'm fishing (strip pits and small to medium-sized lakes), that is probably about max what I would want, which was really surprising to me. That said, when we move to Arkansas and I take it into the river, as long as I have the right motor for it maybe we'll want to go even larger at that point. River fishing is going to be different, that's for sure... Thanks again. This has been very helpful.