farmpond1

It's a tankless job but somebody's got to do it!

I was fishing on the Kankakee River with a buddy this past summer. I was standing on a steep bank when I heard something crashing through the brush a short distance away. The ruckus grew louder/closer and I started to panic, thinking I was about to be attacked by some fierce creature, when a huge beaver busted through the edge and splashed loudly into the water only a few yards from me. Later I told my friend of the event and asked him if he'd ever been attacked by a beaver before. He replied that he'd nearly been suffocated by one and did that count? ;D I laugh everytime I think about it. ;D

It's fun to watch that big bass head emerge through the ice hole. My ice fishing opportunities were pretty good during the cold snap we had the previous weeks but now cabin fever is back upon me. Phooey!

Agreed. If ever want to cast heavier/bulkier flies and get some distance too (for bass) you might consider going up to a 5 weight. But if you want to use it only for panfish, than a 3 weight is great. Foam spiders and small poppers can tear up panfish (in the spring especially).

Yes, you may find you need to lower the CG (Center of Gravity) but otherwise, it's a great job. I should be so organized. Good luck with the fishing!

I read part of an In-fisherman article on the goby and the Great Lakes smallmouth population but I can't recall-are the goby's providing great food for the established smallmouth population but decimating smallmouth recruitment? In other words, Are the remaining smallmouth getting big and fat but once they are gone, there won't be any to replace them? Hope not. (Not that I ever get to fish the great lakes)

It doesn't look like much in particular but the performance is stunning! I can easily imagine someone getting tossed overboard if they aren't securely strapped in.

Being a novice at the rules of the game, wouldn't it help to run it out of bounds if you want to stop the clock or run it on the wide side of the field if you don't? I imagine they must sometimes factor that in.

Nothing shoots like an official Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and a thing which tells time.

You know my best wishes go out to you, your daughter, and her unborn. Hang in there!

It doesn't surprise me in the least. I can't count the number of times I see people leave public restrooms without washing! Gross! People, wash your hands!!!

Sadly, the only thing we have less of than sporting goods stores, is sporting opportunities. Hence, why there are so few. I exaggerate a bit but not a lot.

Sad to say, just Dicks. Nearly every place else (Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas and Gander Mountain) are equally spaced around 2 to 2.5 hours away. Ironically, sometimes I go to Meijers for some things. They have a decent selection and while they are more expensive, I don't have to pay shipping and handling.

I've lost track. It could be the fifteen minute period when my two personal best smallies jumped a number three Mepps and a 5 1/4 inch Rapala-both bright orange. Or it could be my first day out this past spring when I caught a 6 lb largemouth on a rattletrip right before dark and right before it began to rain. Or it could be really hot day in June when the bass in the lilly pads just couldn't get enough of my soft mouse bait. Or it could be this past cold and rainy October day when I met fishfightingIllini for an awesome day catching bass on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. There are too many days to choose from!

Boat control on a windy day. Everything else is a piece of cake by comparison.

Wow! You sound like I do during the month of March! I've got some old Zebcos you can buy if you'd like.

Ditto on the fly rod and line weight. It's not so critical for the size of the fish you are catching as it is the size/weight/bulk of the fly you are using and how far you want or need to cast it. Naturally, a lighter weight system will generally cast lighter flies more delicately (for spooky and discerning fish) but over shorter distances while heavier rods/lines are better for getting distance and for casting heavier flies. If all else fails, you could always spool up your existing flyline and leader and see how well the line loads on the back cast and and how well it unloads. You can usually get some idea. Usually, rods will handle line of one weight above and/or below it's own "weight" with reasonable (abeit not perfect) performance.

Well, at least your honest. On some days I feel like I'm a better than average fisherman and on other days, I feel like I don't know much of nuthin'. As long as your priority remains on tryin' and learnin' (and lovin' all of it), than that's the best strength a person can have.

It looks like it's just laying flat. I vote it's a smallmouth.

You could probably drive an M1A1 Abrams tank on that ice.

If it makes you feel any better, I'm in love with the Esurance animated woman. Sooo I'm not the only crazy one? ;D Hardly.

The bluegill I caught were really too small to keep. And the Conservation Police will fine you anyway-I saw it happen last year. Ironically, that's probably why the bluegill are so small. No one is allowed to thin them out.

If it makes you feel any better, I'm in love with the Esurance animated woman.

Ditto!

Yes, very sad. Accidents sometimes just happen but I'd hate to be responsible for contributing to someone's death because of recklessness.