Chilidog

The last two years I have been working with skipping with a baitcaster. This includes a lot of practice on a concrete driveway. I use a 7' Dobyn's Champion 705c with a Tatula sc tw. I have slowly gotten better but it has taken time and I still get backlashes. I feel I am more acccurate with the baitcaster and I never pick up a spinning reel for skipping anymore. It has been worth the effort but it does take time and has included respooling several reels because of backlashes.

I have had some good days when fishing with the kids using a bobber and a wacky worm. Like others have said fishing in a little chop or twitch the bobber. I think it is more effective with a 4 inch senko. At least that has been the case for me.

I keep the occasional 12' - 14" bass. We beer batter fry them and they taste great. Around here we are encouraged to keep 10 pike under 22". They have become a problem. After you learn how to filet them its not that difficult and they are a great tasting fish.

It was on a border water. I have been fishing for weeks.

50 degrees is the lowest water temperature that I have caught bass on top water. That has always been in the late fall. I was struggling yesterday in Minnesota and decided to try a whopper plopper. The water temp was 51 degrees. It saved my day.

I would consider a 30 inch pike a big pike in Minnesota. There is the potential for pike up to 40 inches or bigger on some lakes in Minnesota that are managed for big pike. On the lake that I mainly fish the pike are getting bigger since the new statewide regulations went into effect. I fish lake Pepin also and I would regard that lake as one on the best pike lakes in Minnesota.

I always spend some time targeting pike especially on the Minnesota opener. The big ones are shallow on a normal opener. Where I fish you can keep 10 under 22 inches and they taste great. I release anything bigger than 22 inches. Big pike are my favorite to fish for.

Norman Rapala

Largemouth Swim Jigs Buzz Bait - Whopper Plopper Crankbait Jig Senko Smallmouth Jerk Bait Crankbait Tube Whopper Plopper Paddle Tail

The x rap has been a great bait for me when fishing smallmouth. For largemouth I have used the husky jerk but I would not consider it a great bait. It seems to be a better bait for walleye and pike.

I have a NOCO Genius GenPro 10x4.

I have several of the SLX XT's and I have very happy with them. I like the Curado's I have also but I have not been as impressed with the K series.

I have a last years curado K that I sent in because the thumb bar wouldn't pop back up when you engaged the reel. I sent it in and Shimano sent it back and said they couldn't find anything wrong with it. I used it a few times this year the thumb bar is not releasing again. I have tried to contact Shimano without a response yet. I have started to switch over to Diawa as I update my reels. So far I am impressed with the Tatula.

1/2 ounce buzz bait black or white 110 whopper plopper with darker colors Walking bait with a rattle - white

The sounds of a lure smacking the side of my boat, This time of year it's chains saws, mowers and leaf blowers all day long.