Rick D.

For the super line or braid anglers. Try a aluminum bead made from small tubing. I've used this using a small tubing from my old RC aircraft supplies and a modelers tubing cutter. I haven't noticed any sticking, line fraying and they seem lighter than the glass beads. Flat lines like MagnaThin and thicker. less supple monofilaments don't seem to work with the plastic. lighter Mono and florocarbon works better. I use plastic more when light lining. Otherwise go to the glass.

That is a tough choice. I have had bad luck with Shimano, except the Sahara's. My Stratics are junk! I used a borrowed Symetre and didn't find any negative factors. Can't say how they are day after day. The Quantum Catalyst PTi would be my choice over the Kinetic PTi. I found the Kinetic less than smooth in performance and handling. I would suggest looking at the Okuma Alumina VS your title choices. I think you find a good alternative. Good luck!

I need to add that my first Smallie Fly combo was an 8.5 6-7 wt. Pflueger Summit rod. The reel was Pflueger palming reel and spare spool with Cortland WF-7F(rocket taper) and WF-6F 3M. This served me well and is still serving may son as I passed along the experience of smallies on the long rod.

My all-round for bass is a 6-7 wt. in an 8.5 ft length. For a start I'd look at a graphite moderate action rod (tip). A respectable palming reel to handle like size lines with a spare spool should offer a good line holder. I suggest a good WF7F with a DT6F on the spare spool. Save the sinking tips or lines for when your expenience develops. The 3m Scientific Angler lines are a good selction, A Cortland, Rocket Tapers, are a great alternate in WF lines. I use 0X-3X leaders in 7.5 - 9 ft lengths. If your looking for line Orvis just put their Lines on clearance in the latest Orvis News. Orvis lines are 3M Scientific Angler. My personal all-round rod/reel combo is an 8.5 ft. Lamiglas graphite rod with a 5-6 & 7-8 tip(s) with an Orvis Madison III reel and three spare spools. I carry a WF-5F, WF-6S, DT-7F, WF-8F. These lines are 3M or Orvis except the Fenwick WF5F. Good luck and enjoy the move to long rodding.

I usually carry a combination of these spinning rods depending on my intended water. 6'6" Fin-Nor Mega lite Medium-Light. 6'6" Fenwick HMX Medium-Heavy. 7' Berkley Trout Series Light (Glass) 6'6" Galyans HMG 40 Performance Series Medium-Light 4 pcs. Pack Rod. (Back-up) I utilize a combination of these flyrods depending on streams and conditions. 8'6" Custom-build Lamiglass IM-7, 5-6 wt. or 7-8 wt. (two tips). 8' Reconditioned 7 wt. Montagu 3 pcs. cane. 7' Fenwick FF70 6 wt. (Glass) In the picture I'm fishing the Fin-Nor with a Stratic 2000 and Super braid. I had my Fenwick MH w Sahara 2000 and Galyans pack rod with me. In the backgroung you see a work deck I build to outfit kayaks. Several patterns have patents pending.

I first used a two fly pattern for Lake Erie steelhead fishing. I have used it with some success with a nymph under a streamer in the spring and late fall or winter for smallies I have also land a couple on a Hare Crawfish under a streamer in the dawn hours of summer.

I'm curious to see what rod/reel combinations our anglers are carrying in the river or stream watercraft. I normallly carry two spinning or a spinning and flyrod when kayaking or canoeing. I also carry either a pack rod in spinning or fly as backup. On my inflatable catraft I carry a single spinning, or fly rod with an alternate spinning or fly pack rod for backup. In a Jon or shallow-vee boat I carry a casting and spinning rod. I primarily fish via kayak or canoe when using a watercraft.

Lets see if I can narrow this down? WINTER Float-n-fly/hair jig Suspending Pin Minnow Bitsy Tube SPRING Tube/Senkos Rattling Crankbait Safety-pin Spinner with Jig-n-Grub SUMMER Hula Grub on Venom Super-Do Jig #7 Skitterpop Diving Crankbait FALL Buzzbaits Hula Grubs with Super-Do Jigs Stickbaits

Last trip to the Blowout several folks spoke of a BIG show for oudoors, paddling with test tank< angling and such. Particularily paddling and angling. I'm looking for a change of venues from the meager choice in Ohio. Looking for other distractions and shows mentioned this winter. Suggestion in the IL., IN., and MI. regions???

Here is an 18.25" smallie I bagged in June. I landed it on a Caroline rigged with a Kanami 5" Gold Shad skirted grub. It was taken on my home water, the Hocking River, while fishing from one of my outfitted WS Pungo 12 Classic kayaks.

Consider making meeting once ever 2-3 months on a Saturday. Try something like a 10 am - 2 pm. The scenario with a presentation at 10 am. Then buisness till noon-12:30 pm. Lunch break and a short program, demonstartions or lure swap. to end the day. This can be effective during the foul weather season and allows those with a drive or local members to invite a buddy a better opportunity to participate. In "season" go to a breakfast location with business and a demo, program or angling to follow. Fuel for thought.

My wife told me, "If I get any more smallie fishing stuff I'll have to sleep with it". Gee! I wonder if that includes the first 1200 pieces I just got from Assalt.com were included in that statement? Gee! I hope she appreciates the extra blankets and her pillow I put next to her kayak for tonite? Thanks for the tip, Jon!!!!

I'll add my two cents from Ohio. 1). A 5" skirted twin-tailed grub on a 1/4 oz. Venom Super-Do jighead. 2). A Venom Mad Tom on a 1/8 - 1/4 oz. Venom Super-Do jighead. 3). A Venom Salt Series or Strike King Pro-Model Tube with a 1/8 oz weight on a 3/0-5/0 Eagle Claw(Grisby) clip hook. Check out www.venonlures.com.

Joe, Try a basic utility trailer with a tongue extention and T-bar tubing carrier attachment. Here is a pic of a kayak variation. Fuel for thought!

Steve, As others have stated there are many between $50 - $150. The value is in the usage intended, weight and material. Most canoe recreation/angling paddlers start with something like a Bending Branches "Breeze" for a basic recreational two pcs. paddle. You can find these at most Gander Mtns. Since your paddling a canoe stick to a 230cm or longer paddle. This will allow a lower angle motion and save the sholders some additional torque. I have seen some paddlers drill a couple holes in the blades to reduce the torque of cupped paddles. Heck, maybe it was to hang up afterwards, too.

John, Its one of the tactics I'm using here is southern Ohio that is productive thru the winter. It landed a smallie, several nice rock bass and a small channel cat the past week.

Mike, You tell them. I've been taking smallies her in southern Ohio streams the past week. The bite is slow but they have taking bitsy tubes, hair jigs, small suspending cranks and a float & fly. Its been a dead sticking around deep water structures near riffle bottoms and solar warmed banks in the late afternoon. My best last week was a 15"smallies on a mustard tube. Also been taking several big rock bass to 11".

I'm having the same issues with the ISA site yesterday & today.

Don, Check out www.paddling.net. Check the reviews. I have both keeled and keel-less. The keel is a tracking ad for open waters. It can a hinderance in moving water manuverability. I have outfitting many canoes and kayaks for angling, camping, exercise, whitewater and physically challenged persons. Don't purchase the cheapest thing on the market. I've made a business like hobby of finding river craft to fit or outfit others needs. Let me know how I can help. Rick D. EcoAngling Adventures & Outfitting

I like Metal when I'm offering a fast retreive and want a polished flash. Great a situation for presenting a BIG target. These shake, rattle & slap the water. I prefer Plastic for three and four blade baits where I can slow may presentations. These offer a longer time in the potential strike zones. These sort of squeak and sputter in the water with the slower retreive. Rick D.

Mike, Summer patterns are off here. Seem to be lagging. I think its the volume and frequency of rainfall and stream levels. The most effective direction has been favoring shad patterns. Its been firetiger or flashy diving pattle cranks in the stain. Nature shad diving cranks in modest stable and clear waters. Texas rigged shirted grubs in white, pearl or gold shad in tthose near clearing times. Sahd colored Venom Stone Cats, Boogie Bugs or 5" Kanami kirted grubs o 1/4 oz. weedless Super-doo jig heads in shad, madtom or chub colors are sometime effective. Spinnerbaits with Grub trailer are working in the broken waters as water levels are falling. Senkos or dropshot small plasics have also worked on the small streams and tribs. Spooks, torpedoes and Dailey Rockers occasional work larger pools. Conditions for my long rod as been a struggle with the varied conditions. Actually the surprise ahs been tah a Orvis Gator Bug popper has been hot below riffles and below the canopy. Some weighted streamers and a light (1/100 -1/64) with a trailer of leather or floating plastic has been an attracive experiment that has been promise at times. Rick D.

Mike, This is s 20.75" Smallie my son, Kris landed from our home water, the Hocking River, here in southern Ohio. He landed a 19.75 about 100 yards below this. We commonly see 17"-20" smallies on his stream. Rick D.

I find white and silver are more effective as water normally clear thru summer. This summer has been anything but normal, here. Rick D.

Chek out www.flyfishohio.com and www.buckeyeflyfishers.com These contain many good patterns, tying instructions and streaming video of tying. Rick D.

ISA, I'm prepare for foot surgery in the morning. My recover period should allow me to have a couple of weeks for angling therapy in mid August to early September. If the fuel costs allow a week of exploring I'd hope to try to visit Illinois and/or Indiana. By canoe, kayak or wading (if capable). I'd like to try some buckeye bassin' tactics (spin/fly) for some other 20" smallies on new waters. What my options? Oh! My email address might change to "onepiggyshy" after tomorrow. Rick