purpurite

Angler: I need multiple pieces of multiple colors of multiple baits and lures, in multiple sizes for every different weather and water condition known to man. Fishing Industry: Yes, you do. Fish: There's a dark thing moving over there, I think I'll eat it.

Quite happy. Fat Albert grubs are my favorite soft baits.

I have had pretty good luck with mine... this gal was exactly 3 pounds.

Hi all, my family is taking our annual week off in Grand Haven, Michigan in a few weeks, and instead of heading out on the FiL's salmon charter this year I want to stay inland and chase some largemouth. Can anyone recommend any good locations within 20-30 minutes drive of the pier where I can hunt some fatties? Thanks much! Doug

Glad this topic was posted today. I have been on a cold streak for a couple weeks now, and last night I gullet hooked a tiny pup of a largemouth. I never felt the fish hit the line, as he wasn't much bigger than my bait. By the time I realized it, it was already gutted on a 2/0 EWG. Sometimes I have a bit of panic when I can't get a hook out quickly. I learned a while ago to quickly cut the line and feed the hook through forward and pull the hook out through the barb side. It almost always works, and I feel better about safely getting a hook out with minimal damage to the fish. This little one had such a small mouth, I struggled a LOT as the hook didn't poke through the other side to button hook pull it through, and as time went on, I began to panic and fumble more with my pliers. I wound up snipping the hook as close to the gullet as I could with a side cutter and removing as much of the hook as I could. I tried to get the fish back into the water as fast as I could but I was too late. I ended up quitting for the night right there, as I was really upset. I dwelled on it all night and into this morning. It really bothered me, and I need to make sure I'm better prepared, calmer under the pressure of getting the fish back into the water, and just plain smarter when things don't go as smoothly as they should. I've been fishing for 15 years, and I still get flustered when I can't get a hook out quickly. Maybe I should look into barbless hooks. If for nothing else, maybe piece of mind to just be a little more composed under pressure. Doug