kend

Maybe the fish already ate by the time you got there. The fish may have not worked their way up into the parking lot. I presume you tried "curb-side" service first. A Rapala is a "dead-stick". Have you tried a Lucky Craft?

ps--- I should have read the topic "chatter baits", before posting the above message.

I've had great success, fishing "chatter" type baits in moving waters. The 1/4 oz size in slower and shallow waters, and the 3/8oz size in faster and deep waters. I generally swim it across current and on a diagonal--- using a slow retrieve---allowing the current to carry it along, and allowing it to "tap" the top of the rocks. Using 10lb test superbraid line on a 6.5ft Med to MH action rod, [like the GLoomis SJR782 or SJR783], works great for me. ML action rods are too soft. St Croix Avid or Tourney Series AS68MXF [6-8 Med X-Fast action] is other ideal rod. Rigging a 2/0 trailer hook, is a plus. TIP: Darken a silver colored blade with a "yellow" or "brown" permanent marker pen, to reduce the flash and glare. Sometimes the "bright flash" does not attract fish, I think it spooks them. My #1 choice is a "hammered copper blade", on my spinnerbaits, fishing for smallies. Works for me.

Norm, Just a thought--- try a "chatter-type" bait, (a jig equipped with a wobble blade) something like a Booyah Boogie Woogie.

Gary, My wading deep fast water days are over. I leave the deep fast water wading to the experts. I generally wade knee to crotch deep, hence the Hodgman Guide Pants are suitable. I don't find it necessary to wade deep moving waters, my best catches come in water less than 3ft deep. When the waters of the Fox are high, bank or shore fishing is BEST. Long rods [10-12ft] presentations are much more productive. I see lots of anglers wading deeper water areas, most come up empty. Many anglers wade right where the fish are holding, step on 'em, don't catch 'em---fish get spooked and swim off. Anglers in boats cast toward shore, while shore anglers are casting as far out from shore as they can. Go figure.

Phil, There are several houses for sale in the area. One is within a block of some prime smallie waters of the Fox. 'til you find the suitable house, "lets get together", as they say in the movies. The double surgeons knot is not 100%, but provides acceptable results. With any three-way system, there is always the chance of line overlapping or twisting/wrapping of one line over another, on the trailing leads---it occasionaly happens. A small split-ring seems to be better than a swivel. A fly-anglers "tippet-ring" is even better, over a split-ring. It is a welded ring, which does not have a place for the knot to get caught in, as with a conventional split-ring. I keep a supply of the tippet rings on a snap-swivel, attached to a clip on my fishing vest. TIP: suspend a fly/jig, or the like about 6" under a jigging spoon, (treble hook removed), and rigged under a float. The jigging spoon suffices as added weight and flash. Can be fished effectively at any depth, from shallow to deep, using a slip-float. Excellent set-up for a beginner or novice angler. Great approach for suspended fish. Rattle spoons are effective in stained water. Rattle beads on the line above the spoon also work. Works for me. I like using a Mini-Mite under the jigging spoon for crappie and bluegills. Buck-tail, hair jigs, or the like, are also productive. I frequently use them.

A "National Smallmouth Alliance" was initiated, several years ago, but never materialized. It appeared a short time on a website, and had links to various states, as they formed. I believe Jonn Graham may recall some of this. Jonn was pres at the time and started the initial ISA event closer to the Chicago area. The first event was in Kank area, and Tim H was the guest speaker. The initial membership/group was about 20 anglers, then went to over 60 members after that 1st event Jonn G got going, and hasn't slowed since.

The drop-shotting is more suitable for verticle presentation and for deep water fishing. I've not found drop-shotting advantageous for stream fishing or fishing shallow water. The typical drop-shot rig involves affixing the hook to the line above the weight. In shallow water or stream fishing, the hook would be mostly horizontal and very near the bottom--- unlike in a vertical position, the hook is above the bottom, a greater distance. Alternate rigging---stream or shallow water fishing: Make a loop, about a foot long, in your line coming off the reel. Join the looped line to the main line using a double-surgeons knot, trim tag end. Cut the line about 1/3 of the way in the looped line. [Alternate: join leader to main line using a double-uni knot]. Add a hook/lure, or the like, to the short lead. Add a bull-shot weight, or the like, to the long tag end. [This is a basic 3 way-rig, but without the added hardware (3-way swivel, or the like)]. This rig can be effectively fished in streams or skinny (shallow) water, along the bottom or under a float. The techique is most effective in drift fishing streams/rivers for trout, and works excellent for smallies and walleyes. I prefer using long rods in the 9-12ft range. I don't pretend to be an expert, I just fish a lot.

ps--- a "bungy cord" will last pretty long too---its very stretchy.

Lead has a good sink rate, as well unweighted #8 wolly bugger. On many ocassions, I've caught several fish on a single Senko. The method of rigging plays a big roll in this matter. Expensive is all relative. Gas is expensive----some only go 15 miles on a gallon of gas. I can buy a lots of bags of Senkos, in lieu of making a trip to the northwoods. You can have all my 10X plastics. I haven't been able to give any of them away to avid anglers I've fished with.

The Falcon Bait Jerker features a heavy wire hook. Gamakatsu's thin wire EWG hook, is ideally suited for the light-line angler. Added weight can be affixed to the thin wire hooks, by adding adhesive backed foil tape, to the hook shank. The slower falling Senko or Kut-tail worm results in more tail waving enticing action. It appears more akin to a real bait fish slowing decending/swimming downward, maintaining its natural horizontal appearance. Storms Suspend Strips are also well suited for this application/presentation.

Spent more time fishing, and less time doing, whatever people did when they were not fishing.

The GLoomis Adventure series fly reels are a great value for $100. Great smooth drag with a LARGE drag adjusting knob--- much easier to make fine drag adjustments.

or . . . one of those old window weights

The hooks are manufactured by "Gamakatsu", marketed by Falcon, with an affixed weight. Quite popular, with anglers in the know.

Check out the HUGE selection of various bass fishing and rigging hooks, at GAT's: Gamakatsu Yamamoto Mustad Mr Twister Falcon Owners Daichii Lunker City Luck-E-Strike, just to name a few. Hooks with integral weights, springs, coils, keepers, barbs, straight, offset, EWG, etc. GAT's has what you need.

Norm, Glad to hear you better and up-and-about. I followed my Doc's advise, signed up for the rehab areobics class--- man, what a work-out. Legs and arms going in all directions, up, down, bending over--- whew! worked up quite a swet--- by the time I got the dang spandex on, the class was over.

>>>..... missing the boat! <<< Jonn, Does it have to be from a "boat", or can it be done from the bank/shoreline or wading?

China is buying up lots of scrape metal.

The "blockers" should be given more credit--- they make his look good. If he didn't have all those great "blockers", he wouldn't make it.

>>>Shimano's been making the Calcutta for how long now? The design stands. Like The Abu Garcia reels. The venerable old Cardinals. Daiwa SS. <<< Abu-Garcia reels, in recent years, (since made in China), are not the quality--- *lots of failures in service---material failures---parts malfunctions (drags, brakes, level winds, gears)--- reel seat failures (weldments failing)--- just to name a few. They're made a lot cheaper---(design & materials). Lots of newer models/versions have appeared on the market, over the past few years--- some lasting only a year or two, then discontinued. What happened to the Morrum?---Why was it discontinued? (too many failures/malfunctions) The "anti-backlash" models? They got dumped after a couple years. (Anglers today, can't get theirs repaired). The former Cardinal Series reels were quality---made by Zebco.

Cortland Line Company, offers a superbraid line, labeled, "MasterBraid". Available in 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 65, 90 and 100lb test. The 10, 15 & 20 lb test is formulated for spinning reels, virtually eliminating "wind-knots". Colors: Bronzeback Brown, Hi-Vis yellow and Seafoam Blue. A true "round" braid. The color is dyed into the individual strands, (does not ware off, like the coated lines). The best superline, I've used, to date. ps---it's made in the U.S.A.

"EZE-Lap Diamond Products, [EZE-LAP.com], manufactures the best sharpeners on todays market. The Model "S", is a pocket clip tool, that features a groove for sharpening hooks. Place the hook point in the groove and use a simple "back-and-forth" rubbing motion. The "diamond steel" shapeners are a must for cutlery knives and fillet knives. GAT stocks a huge selection of EZE-Lap Diamond sharpeners----[see Ken for FREE demo].

Jim, When you stop by GAT, see me, I'll show you my "Cortland Superbraid Scissor" set-up, with an "auto-closer" feature. The Cortland Superbraid Scissors, are the finest I've found to date. They'll even cut thru a single strand of a single strand of the thinnest superbraid lines.

FYI--- Great price on the Shimano Calcutta 50. A GREAT reel! I've had 'em for several years and love it. Great for light line fishing, when fitted on a light action rod. Also, well suited for 10-30lb superbraid lines. Great for ice fishing---verticle jigging and live bait rigging for walleye, pike, and trout. Great reel for ice fishing, employing the "dead-stick" method.