Rick D.

Norm, If you didn't have the love, convict and stalwart participation for angling you wounldn't have been there in the first place. Difficulties and challenges are a normal obstacle in your sport of choice. When you've had enough is when your fix is meet of waders spring a leak. I had the same questions after years of steelhead fishing in frigid streams thur the winter and early spring months. It was a partial fix till the smallmouth season was viable. I've since learned that smallmoth bass season is ANY day ending in "Y". If the water isn't hard and the guides won't freeze. GO FISH!

Well now I know is really in that Cajun Crawfish I've been slammin' down with a(several) beers. If the smallies like them how can I complain? Anuthr roond innkeepper! I gut a picher stuck und kneed tu warsh it dawn!

Norm, I not sure where this lies in the subject. I high water/high flow situations where the structure is more likely to be stone. I have used smaller Erie Dearies with single-tail grubs, double-tail grubs, small swimbaits, 4" worms or tubes. I can get the presentation out into the flow and down towards the bottom structures.

Chris, I started with the beeetle spin and moved to additional variations or plastic tails and blade types, sizes and jig weights. The possibilities are many. It has be a great pattern for searching, attractive attention or intimidating a target to strike. Great as a spinnerbait, fluttering jig, bottom bouncer or swimming imitator. The jig & safety-pin spinner is a good starter pattern for a less experienced angler as the hook tends to ride up, away from most snagging structures. My kids started with these and still have them in their tackle bags. If you think things can be goofy. My adult son hooks a safety-pin spinner to the eye of a road runner jig. He adds a white grub and throws that thing. Its the darndest thing that hooks the smallies when the are chasing small shad. Plenty of flash!

Norm has the right idea if your looking for ONE pair of waders go with the breathable stocking foot. Get it large enough for a pair of wicking thermal/liners. I use wading boots or NRS ATB wetshoes with my breathables or nylon waders. Many chest waders can be roller down to convert to a waist deep unit. I own four pair of waders. Three are stocking-foot chest waders. One is 5mm neoprene for winter steelheading. A good sturdy wading boot is best here. One pair of light weight nylon for light packing into isolated streams in the summer. One pair of breatable for all-round use most all season and applications. I also use a pair of rubber hip boots with cleats. I throw them in the canoe for shallow muddy bottoms or clay banks of smaller streams. Rick

Jude, Thanks, I have to turn in my vacation reservations by Friday. I'll just pulls a few weeks and hope.

Does anyone or is there a list/calendar of ALL the planned fishing outings, work days and events for 2008. I have about 4-5 extra weeks to waste away sampling smallmouth waters this year. I need to confirm date ASAP.

I think I'm going to catch flak on this as I have with some TOSA members. I practice a very limited select harvest of SMB, LMB, and Spots. I'll have one sandwich annually for one of the previous mentioned. Usually with the grandkids at the annual family reunion campout. Rockies are my choice for flowing water and usually partaken once or twice a season. Harvesting is only practiced to match pressure, population and slot sizes that least adversely impact the specific stream fishery. I enjoy the rare fish sandwich with a future responsible angler. Pass it on!

Try a safety-pin spinner of a jig/grub presentation. Keep the blade size small and jig weigh higher to allow depth maintenace in fast water. I also throw the Venom Super-Do weedless 1/4 oz. jig with a 4"-5" skirted(spider), single or dbl. tailed grub. This pattern can take the toughest cover. Try a Venom 4" stonecat pattern in place of the grub.. Stonecat are at there biggest in the spring.

Check out craiglist.org in your area. Its a free BB with everything for sale. I've found some grest deals on boats, motors, tackle or just about anything.

Norm, I have fished a 3-way witha swivel. I also use a weighted nymph and a streamer for steelhead in a leader pattern similiar. The drop shot is different in the presentation is readily more sensitive to detect and set. It more of an in-line presentation. I like dropping into stone drops and crevices.

Bterrill, Thats the type of stream I was fishing. Stone edges on high banks of wintering pools in 4-10 ft. I have had a couple guys joke at me because I've been seen fishing with my 9' & 10' steelhead spinning rod. It works! So, don't knock it. OH I have don't drop shot in streams with large stone to pitch off edges with 4'-6' drops. Smallies come ripping out of the big stone crevices with ambush in mind. Sometimes it works better that jigging.

Dave, Thanks to you for putting it together. You da man! Hopeful we can get our new web site up and past it along. Rick

I've been dabbling with drop shotting this past season with some success. Today we had temps in the 60's and I got a hour of light to what I figured was going to be casting practice, I rigged a drop shot with a 4" finese worm and gingerly worked the bank of a large wintering hole. I will now add drop shot patterns to my cold water patterns. Two smallies in under 45 minutes along about a 100 yard bank. Consider trying drop shot for cold water.

They are at it again. Check out www.sunrizetackle.com/shop/closeout.htm . This was a tip from Jonn G. about Assalt Tackle from '06'. Nice tip! Thanks! Well they are have Blowout deals again on jigs and assorted plastics. I use the dickens out of their King Kobra jigs, Spyder Grubs, Salt Stixs and swimbaits. Fuel for thought!

To my friends at the ISA would like to compare note or experiences. The Ohio Smallmouth Alliance has created an open message board at http://ohiosmalliance.proboards82.com . Here a few of the us Smallmouth Alliance folks and friends exchange thoughts on bronzeback topics. Come visit or stop in for a story. We may see some of you at the Bronzeback Blowout!

Norm, I've got a extra week of vacation this year and I hope to put some time in of ISA waters. I need to try some of my Ohio tactics on those waters. Just completed another regiment of antibotics for a leg infection. I'm learning the signs of trouble and getting at the issues before it get serious. You take care on your end of the dstream of life and I'll do likewise! Till we can share a cast, conversation or coffee. One day at a time! God bless! Drop me a note anytime!

Norm, I've read your struggle and recovery over several times. Its great the support your getting. It struck me when the fourth specialist I've seen in in the past year tells me that a circulatory issue from a congential handicap will like cost me a foot in the upcoming future. The leg is a high maintenace issue. I'll be damned if I'll stop my paddling, fishing or outfitting at any point. I have become cautious about where or how I step, wade, work and care for the foot. If it should come and then pass. All else fails I'll be an natural extra for a future sequel of The Pirate of the Caribbean. Hopefully, we both share smallie story after a day of wading a smallie water before either has cast the last line. God bless all! Especially anglers of the school of bronzeback.

Mark, Welcome! Joe C. does a great work with that site. He a helluva smallie angler with a long rod! ISA, At least the Bassbuggers have something to share between the long rodders, fly-flingers and fur tyers. Its more than TOSA has at this point. I'm thinking we need a BronzeBuggers.

For those looking into the future for a canoe, kayak, inflatable, PFD or paddle get the Dececmber/Janurary Canoe & Kayak Magazine. It is the 2008 Annual Buyers Guide with the manufacturers, products and details for the inquiring boater. I have these since the early 90's and find them handy when looking for, information about or sharing with others in search of a paddleborne watercraft. Check at a hard copy stand in your area. Fuel for thought,

Now thats what we need in Ohio. The Wisconsin Doctrine. I had a meeting with officails ODNR, Div. of Watercraft. I was told the definition of navigable is similiar to those of a highway. The fact that you are actually plying a waterway ii thus navigating and as such considered a form of transportation and the laws of waterborne transportation. The is actaully little to no court determination as to defining navigable, except on a couple specific waters. The best legal consideration is from the Office of the State of Ohio Attorney General in 1890. It discusses the concept of navigable and unnavigable with that of public and private consideration. It considers portages around river (highway) obstructions and furter comparisons of the river/ highway rightway and traveller user privileges. In other word, its anyones call in Ohio until you are hauled in for trespassing and you have to prove you were rightfully navigating the river, creek or waterway. That would require me to reduce my angling budget. Ouch!

Mike, That wouldn't happen to be the story where the property owner put a couple shots over my son's canoe bow? Then proceeded to tell him and JJ that the fish, water and creatures with we're his as long as they passed over his creek bottom?

Check out www.flyfishohio.com. This site is Joe Cornwall's site, past TOSA VP and newsletter editor. Joe is a warmwater fly angler & writer with a special love for the smallmouth bass Maybe there is something there to add to your tying program.

Quote: "Fishing is all about waiting for a jerk at the end of the line. Sometimes its difficult is determine which end of the line holds the biggest". My Grandfather

Heres a quick thought to pass around the ISA. Dicks has offered Wilderness Systems Pamlico sit-in kayaks for as low as $200 I just found a WS Pamilico 120 on Ebay in Blommington for $250. If your undecided or have a pal thats looking for a good start. Heres a low value way to break-in with a yak that should be easy to fish with. If its not your cup of tea. You should be able to resell the yak easily. Fuel for thought.