I just thought I would post this to see If It could help anyone. We had our first tournament yesterday, it's was in northern Indiana where the weather is still #$%$&* cold and crapy, 32 degrees and snow. As you can guess fishing was slow,but there was a few good bags brought in and they were all caught on silver buddies. I threw a silver buddy almost all day and did not catch a single bass. The guys who won the tournament also threw silver buddies but they did not yo-yo them, they cranked them with a varying retrieve of fast then slow fast then slow. They had over 14 pounds of fish. I fished the same area as them and caught nothing, just goes to show you somthing a simple as a difference in a retrieve can be all the difference.

By the way my hands still have not warmed up!!!!

I hear ya T-bone....I live in New Hampshire now, but grew up in Portage, IN. Looks like we're sharing the same spring this year.

Sometimes we forget what a difference retrieves can make. I was fishing the Connecticut River yesterday morning and was using a 'Gold' Buddy. This river is deep and rather fast moving by Indiana standards, but fishable. The water temp was only 37 degrees and I was yo-yoing and bottom bumping step drops with no success. About an hour before I had to leave I decided to try swimming the lure, rather than bumping it. Needless to say I was late getting home!

One question: I.U., P.U., or N.D.? Whose your team?

Ive heard from successful local anglers that continually place high in many local and regional tournaments confess that the silver buddy is a staple in their cold weather tackle. But they also said that the secret is yo-yoing it off of the bottom. Now ive heard from other anglers (like roadwarrior) That the secret to these baits it keeping a steady retrieve for suspended bass. You have to try them both to see what works. By the way, i live in SW michigan. I feel your pain

ND all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Good News 60 degrees by wednesday!!!!!   WAHOO

Hey t bone, check out the Northeast Bass Fishing Forum if you haven't already.  There's alot of posts from your area and some good info there.

Btw....2 things....first, I used to fish a place called Willow Slough when I was living in Portage and it was really good for largemouth and pike.  I have a wedding to go to in July and wondered if you'd heard of it and if it was still decent.  Secondly, I went to IU, but it's hard to cheer for their football team, besides, you guys have Charlie Weiss now......Go IRISH!

 Hey Walkingboss I have heard of the lake but I have never fished it. I don't get over to that side of the state to fish. I was just over in portage at the new Bass pro shops two weeks ago, now I'm broke!! The lake I fished last weekend was Hamilton. The pike were biteing on a pig and jig ( to bad the bass wern't). If i hear anything about Willow Slough I will let you know.

 go Irish  

Oh, the bitter irony of a Bass Pro Shops in Portage.....makes me want to shoot myself.  Where was it when I needed it. >