IdahoLunkerHunter

A 2/0 will barely handle the 7", you have about a 1/4 to 1/8 inch hook penetration after. I don't fish the wacky unless I'm spot fishing, you can hang up on too much stuff. Thank's for all your support and I think I'll just upgrade to 5/0 EWG.

Pattern Fishing is a difficult subject to cover. There are so many obstacles that you have to adapt to. If your fishing a boat with a depth finder, pre-fishing tournaments is a good idea in my opinion. You can scout the area with the depth finder to find structure that you would have otherwise missed. Even if the lake is continually changing you can still know what the lake bottom looks like and where your instincts tell you the fish are. If you are bank fishing the c-rig is a classic way to scout the bottom and the lay of the land. If i am fishing a lake that I have never fished before the local outdoors stores will have pretty good information about what works well in their lakes and what is biting at that time of year. It also depends where your fishing, temperature of water, time of year, and what the weather is like. Most lakes in my area fish the same with the same type of lures, but this is not the case everywhere else. One lake might have a good population of crawdads and yellow perch with structure/rocky bottom so I would throw a crank in brown/orange or chartreuse/green/grey. On the other hand you might be throwing into lily's or weeds where a t-rigged senko/fat ika/creature might be the better option. I also do a lot of research and watching of a lure on how it moves in the water before I start throwing it. This will allow you to predict how your lure is going to move accordingly to what type of bait you are trying to imitate. After practice you will be able to throw almost anything in your tacklebox in any occassion.

Congrats

Thanks for the help! BTW i'm using a 7' medium action quantum with 10lb SpiderwinerA braided line, Lo-Vis green.

This is mine, Crystal Clear Waters, Mountains surrounding, and 111 miles of shoreline. Endless adventures and perfect smally and largemouth fishing.

This last weekend I tried throwing a 7" Senko at my usual spot. I have been throwing a 5" and 6" for a couple weeks with a 2/0 off-set hook rigged texas and have been catching 4-5 lb largemouths so I just wanted to see if I could hook a monster. I threw on a 4/0 hook and a 7" watermelon senko from GYCB and was bank fishing and flipping along the bank with about 10-15 yards out up shore. It doesn't take much to flip the monster lure I've figured out. I was bouncing across the bottom and all of a sudden I had a huge hit. It took about 10-20 yards of line as I was trying to set the action and keeping the line tight so I didn't miss it and then, "SLACK LINE". I realed the Senko in and the hook hadn't budged through the senko. Now I thought to myself I guess I didn't set the hook hard enough but I really yanked back I thought. The marks on the senko from the bite were right in the middle of the senko between the top and bottom of the hook, so I thought it would of slipped. Do I need to use a bigger hook than the 4/0 for a senko of this size? Earlier I had caught 7-8 3-4lbr's on the smaller 5" & 6" on a 2/0 hook. Or could I just have had a little rotten luck?

Idaho fish and game is having public meetings discussing fishing rules for upcoming fishing regulation cycle. I am an avid fisherman in our area. Everyone that knows me in my town knows if they are having a problem with smally and largemouth fishing to come and ask me. Idaho fish and game is having discussions on releasing any limit and size restrictions on Small Mouths. I am going to absolutely bezerk if this happens. The actual verbatim is: "Smallmouth Bass: The expansion of smallmouth bass throughout the panhandle has increased concerns that these fish may be hurting other fisheries. As a result, Fish and Game is asking anglers' opinions on whether we should manage smallmouth bass differently from largemouth bass. Possible changes include removing size restrictions and limits on smallmouth bass." I've attended the first meeting and there is no proven research or evidence that I have seen of this or anyone to explain which species they are worried about. Our lake used to hold one of the best Kokanee spawning grounds in the nation. Over time the Lake Trout and Rainbows have been overpopulating and restrictions have been taken off to raise the Kokanee population. This year 3,500 Lake trout have been harvested, and people are being paid $15 for each head. I believe our local deep trollers who aren't catching the Kokanee they want are coming up with any excuse possible. If something like this was to ever happen to the smallie bass regulation, I'm going to have some serious issues. This email : nhorner@idfg.idaho.gov is the contact to email regarding this issue if you cannot attend the meeting. Please help voice opinions about taking size and regulations off smallies. I don't want to see every person out there diminishing my family and friends fishing grounds. Is this happening to anyone else out there?

When in doubt, Ask the "Warrior", haha! Thanks, I am ordering some today. I use the Gamakatsu EWG and the skip gap and they dull pretty easy, atleast in my experience. I love my hooks sharp as can be and I think I'll give your reccommendation a try.

I know how you feel man. I slipped yesterday walking down some rip-wrap to my local spot and busted my quantum cabo between some rocks looking for a rock to grab onto. So after about 15 mintues of yelling at my dummy I went and grabbed my $30 dollar ultra-lite combo from the car that I use for crappie, and landed a 4lb smally on 2lb line. Talk about a fight and "What the hell was I thinkin' throwing a senko on an ultralite." haha

I would try what road warrior said. When I am missing fish I always sharpen the hook. I use a Lansky Hook Sharpener. After every fish I catch I sharpen my hook. I can never blame missing a fish on the hook anymore, just slow reflexes and not paying attention.

The smallies are heating up on Lake Pend Oreille and the River. If anyone want a fishin buddy I have the gear and the knowledge. I have a questions also... I have need some monster fish 6lb+ jumping and surfacing at dusk, and don't have much a clue for what lure to throw. I've been through all my tackle, tweaked buzzbaits for top water, plugs, and i've gone old school with jitter baits. I haven't had any luck, so I stick with my usual. Anyone have any suggestions.

Northern smallmouth grow bigger because they feed continuously (365 days a year) throughout their relatively short life (10 yrs). Northern bass are much easier to catch because their "feeding season" is so short and they are VERY aggressive. These bass are the same species living in different environments. A five year Southern smallmouth may weigh between 4 & 5 lbs, a northern bass is 10-14 years old before it reaches 5 lbs, although that may be changing. Warmer, clearer water and gobbies may have changed the dynamics. I totally agree with you RW. I fish our river here that has a constant slow flow during spring and summer and for the past two years the smallmouth population has boomed and fishing has been absolutely awsome. I was catching 5-10 per hour between 2-5 lbs last year. I haven't caught a small bigger than 4-5 lbs in my area. They are not very common. LargeM Bass are also the same way in regards to size compared to southern fish.

I agree with ghoti and RoLo. I usually stick with a two tone color. Usually a darker body color brown, watermelon, red, and I try to stick with a light grey/orage/red/or chartreuse for the bottom, usually with cranks. We have brown and orange/red craws in Northern Idaho eastern washington.

Jerkbait, spinnerbait, senko or Ika

My calander of fishing: Spring Time In my experiences the morning's when it is cooler, spring bass are going to be moving up to their spawning grounds (flat gravel/sandy areas). These fish are coming out of the winter months and their only thing on their mind is laying their eggs and eating. Colder days the fish will suspend back to their ridges. Rocks, rip-wrap, and any kind of cover can help you locate these fish. Spring time conditions, 10-20 ft is where I do most of my fishing. You still have to fish your lures with finesse and at a much slower speed than what your techniques are in the summer. Summer These fish are on the hunt. Mornings they are going to be in shallower water because that's where the warmest temp is going to be. 2-10 ft. Always fish structures, weeds, and lily's if you got em. When the day is starting to warm up and the spots that I am fishing are starting to lose their bite, I'll move a bit deeper and fish the same types of structure 5-20ft. Don't ever change what you are doing if it's working. But also don't lose your patience. Just cause you haven't had anything in the 30 minutes doesn't mean your doing it wrong. You just might be in a spot where there aren't any fish. Fish like comfortable temps. They don't like it too cold and don't like it too hot. When it's hot out, they will generally move to a deeper location and when it's cool in summer they tend to be in more shallow areas. That's my 2 cents on weather conditions

I agree with road warrior. Winter months are hard to get out and land fish. Depending on the depth and temperature of the water all plays crucial parts in where the fish are. Suspending cranks, bouncin' a jig off the bottom, and carolina rigs with an Ika or tube are my best lures in the winter. You have to be very patient when you are fishing these types of conditions. The fish are out there but they aren't very aggresive. Again in aggrement with raodwwarrior, your location is everything. Look for downed trees, rocks, shelf lines, rip-wrap, and anything the fish could be hiding. They don't move much unless they are eating and it's not at any fast pace.

The adrenaline is what gets me. It's a natural feeling. If you didn't get pumped up why would wanna keep doing it?

Don't over look the 92F-series weightless Fat Ika. I would try a watermelon/black flake, dark orange/black flake, or a chartreuse. It sounds like the water temp might be a bit too cold still for the spawn. Try looking in the 15-25 ft areas. Don't be afraid of using a large crank. Bass are predator fish, they want to be the baddest and biggest fish out there.

Welcome 8-)

I would try throwin a crank red or brown with a orange bottom. If they are too deep for the crank you could carolina rig it. Anything that tries to imitate a craw is a good bet if there is a good supply for the fish. If you throw a tube or jig don't be afraid to bounce it off the bottom and jig it slow. I would also suggest the Ika also, try a brown or watermelon color with red/flake. Craws don't swim too much so jiggin off the bottom is the easiest way to imitate em. Don't get too carried way with tryin' to make it swim. It's spring and might be pre-spawn, the fish could be a bit slow right now.

What is the water temp? Remember what spawning temps are... Fish start to move out of the deeper water at about 45-55 degrees. Once 55-60 they will be looking for beds to spawn in... 60+ give it a couple weeks and you'll see the schools. Cold fronts might have pushed the fish onto ridges and downed trees, rip rap, etc at deeper locations. If the weather(Outside temp) is getting hotter try fishing the flats in the morning and moving a bit deeper in afternoon.

People will always have different opinions. Just because you think about fishing all the time doesn't make you abnormal. Many teens are very intense about what they like to do. Some think of football, girls, cars, baseball etc... Your's just might be fishing. I fished 4-5 days a week in high school and which I still try to do today. Some say I might be addicted, but I have many friends that sit infront of the tv for 5 hours watching sports everyday. Make sure you get your school work done first, because having that diploma is a ticket. Don't let an obsession take over your life also. You need to have friends and a social life because it's important at your age. But I am sure there are other kids at your school that fish the same amount as you. Fishing can be a good experience and it can land some great conversations. Hell, I met my wife, introduced her to bass fishing, and now she loves it!

Welcome, I am also new to the board but I am a veteran to bass fishin'. Depending on what type of fishing you are doing will determine what type of rod/line/reel you should use. If you are gonna be casting out with no vegetation you should be lookin for a medium rod 6'-6'6", spinning reel, with about 6-8 lb test. You should also use a colored line that best camoflages in the water. The less you can see the line the less the fish will. (Note fish see in all directs except down). When you start getting into flippin a tube or senko you need to upgrade your gear. A medium action rod 6'6"-7' will work, with a baitcast reel, and about 20-25lb test. This heavy line is used so you can yank those fish outta the weeds and/over the covor your flippin' in. When flippin make sure to rig your softies texas rigged so you won't hang up in the vegetation. The gear ratio on the reel all depends on what you want to do. If you want a fast retrieval a higher gear ratio is wanted. I would recommend a 5:1:1 or 6:2:1 for starting out. Make sure the reels also have the anti-reverse on them. If you need any lure questions I might be able to help with just ask ILH

If I don't know anything about the area except there are smalliest you can't go wrong with a watermelon senko. All depending on the type of water and day it is also. Usually the general rule, try and imitate what their eatin. If you have crawfish, try bouncin a jig off the bottom or a rat-l-trap crawfish color. If your mostly dealin with small fish as their main source of food try a texas rigged senko in cover, a carolia rigged floating senko about 18 inches, or a 4-5" jerkbait. Watermelon w/black or red flake, or pumpkin are my favorites. You could try a crankbait in chartreause, or a 3/8 oz spinner bait or buzz bait (remember to use your buzz bait at the top of the water, I usually use this in the morning if I see bait fish surfacing). If you are fish are missing these types of baits you aren't spinning fast enough and just crank it up a notch. The fish will chase the lure and hook themselves theoretically. Depending on time of year, and what source of food their eating it's hard to tell, but this could be a good place to start.

I used to fish with knock off versions but I wasn't getting the results I wanted. I hear over and over, why would someone pay 6 bucks for a pack of 5 when they can get a pack of 20 for half the price. I used knock off's for 10+ years before switching to the senko's and, don't get me wrong, I caught some lunkers, but the best reliable in every condition I have found in the senko. I have 6-7 different lines of the same looking softies in my boxes but you should always carry the senko because it has never failed me. I have found that the 'cheaper' versions don't act the same as the senko. I've always believed quality over quanity. I also have noticed that the fish might like the salt taste better in the senko vs. knockoffs. The large packs for cheaper price makes sense if you can't afford buying the senko's, but for people who will spend $400+ on entering a tournament why wouldn't you spend a little more to land you the bigger fish. I've found using the senko I catch much larger fish. That's my opinion on the senko vs. knockoff. Thanks