Brian R

I'm planning on being there. This will be my first NW Region event, and I look forward to meeting all of you.

I'm in. I'll bring watermelon again this year.

I'd love to join all of you but I'm already booked on the 16th. I'm definitely looking to do some floats in the future. I have a couple of pontoons and just took the plunge and invested in my first kayak that should be ready to go this weekend/early next week at the latest.

Great video! Sorry I wasn't able to make it this year. I wasn't able to shift around the commitments I already had on my calendar when the new date was set. Thanks to everyone that pitched in and helped.

I'll definitely be there, Ed. Thanks for passing on the request. I'm seriously looking at both the Coosa and Cuda 12, but currently leaning toward the Cuda 12 due to its greater versatility. However, I would love to check out both of them on the water (along with the Big Rig and Kilroy).

I stopped into Rocktown Adventures last week as I'm in the market for a kayak and we talked a bit about the upcoming Float Your Boat. Any idea if they'll be bringing a Coosa and a Cuda 12 as well? I was under the impression that was the plan last week. If not, can I make a special request?

I also use 20 lb. Sufix 832 on my baitcasters for every application except topwaters especially "walk the dog" baits. After experimenting with topwaters using braid on my baitcasters last year the baits got tangled up too much, and I never could get the baits walking quite right. I switched back to 14 lb. Berkley Trilene Sensation this year. As far as the heavier braid, I still set my drag as I would when using a lighter line. Since braid has little to no stretch, unless that smallie is able to pull out some line when making a hard run it's much more likely the hook is going to pull out. In the end, the fight is the same. I agree with Scott and Jonn. I've never had any problems with the braid "spooking" the fish when fishing the DuPage and the Kish despite the clearer water. I even use 10 lb. Sufix 832 (Lo Vis Moss Green) with no leader on my spinning outfits when finesse fishing small plastics and landed plenty of fish in the 17"-19" range last year. I too used lighter lines in the past worried about visibility, etc. At least for river smallies, it doesn't seem to make a difference. My guess is river smallies only have seconds (sometimes fractions of a second) to decide whether or not to strike before the current carries potential prey away from them. Not to mention the river current is constantly carrying bits of this and that downstream. Even if the fish can see the line it isn't going to think that it's any different than the other harmless bits of stuff that are constantly floating downstream.

Sometimes big bass love 'em. However, I've also seen buzzbaits spook the heck out of just as many big bass as well. The same thing does happen with poppers and any other surface baits that make a lot of racket and commotion, but on a much smaller scale when compared to buzzbaits, in my opinion. I won't hesitate to throw one from time to time to change it up, and I've picked up some good sized fish on them. However, also factoring in the number of strikes that are actually produced and how many of those fish miss the bait (seems to be the majority), I've never been completely convinced that the benefits outweigh the costs in regard to buzzbaits.

Ed, I plan to be there. If you're still looking for someone to bring that chilled watermelon, I can do it.

I'm going to try to make it for the fishing beforehand as well. Regardless, I'm in for the fishing afterward.

Ed, that's how I see it as well. Thanks. Is there a way to make the boards private. I actually assumed some if not all of the forums were private. When I joined the ISA recently, I couldn't post in the forums or view some of the forums including the "Fishing Reports" until my registration was approved. I assumed that someone from the ISA approves the registrations. Why are non-members' registration requests approved in the first place?

I'm in.

First of all, it's important to note that unless you are signed in as a registered user of the forum you can't access the "Fishing Reports" section. You can't even view it. To my knowledge, the only way you can become a registered user of the forums is to be an ISA member or an Inter-Alliance Participant. As a new ISA member, this thread has raised a question for me. If we shouldn't name the general location (possibly not even the river), when we fished, and what baits we used then exactly what is the function of the "Fishing Reports" section anyhow?

Sounds good, Ed. I look forward to meeting you as well. I've noticed that Jackson tends to be the favored brand here on the ISA forums. Jackson must put out a good product.

I plan to attend. Float Your Boat will be my first ISA event. I'll be one of those attending who is considering buying a watercraft in the near future.

Apparently, the Tail Dancer has been good to you when it comes to walleyes as well. In my experience (and based on the responses, other ISA members' experiences as well) it seems like walleyes tend to favor baits with a bit of length to them such as the Tail Dancer etc. Diving stickbaits can be consistent producers as well, e.g. Bagley's Diving Bang O Lure and several of Rapala's other offerings.

On the topic of crankbaits, in my experience 'eyes will hit a multitude of cranks when they are in the mood. However, if I had to pick one crankbait that has produced more walleyes, and not to mention the largest number of good-sized 'eyes for me, it would be the Rapala Tail Dancer.

Hi All. I'm one of, if not the newest members of the ISA. I am planning on making it on the 20th if it's a go.