SmallieJonze

WHOAH!!!!! Man, I want one!!!!

Soon as I see them sub-walks at GAT, I'll pick up a couple-two-tree... I like Mann's waker. I got a chance to throw it down on Newton for greenies. Mann's lures are great for the money. I get sometimes stuck passing up some good lures because they look too big for smallies... so they get left at home. I'll try it on the river someday soon. That and the Spro frogs will have to be tested. ...Also...Salmo makes a good "glider" type bait. I forget the name of it but it's pretty versatile. It's pretty big so I only threw it a LMB. It comes floating and sinking. I have two floaters...they actually suspend just below the surface. You can work it slow for a wounded/gliding effect of rip it for an erratic terrified baitfish action. When it's ripped below the surface it has a wiggle like a lipless crank, but it does not come back to you in a straight line at all...it goes everywhere like it's trying to find an escape route. One of these days I'm going to force myself to bring three baits out and three only....ok maybe four... It's so hard to do!!! If I'm not catching fish and I go home I get stuck in the thought process of "what if that spot 20 yds downstream held fish...maybe I should have been throwing crankbaits....next time I'm packing crankbaits....I'll make room."

That area gave me some nice surprises last year and I plan on getting to know it well. Ken, still using the float rod?

When I Lived in Chicago, I rode my bike to work. And gas was $1.40 then! Some of us got smaller, more fuel efficient cars because we care for the enviornment. But, I think when we get hit it the pocketbook, it gets our attention most. Now more people are getting in line for hybrid and Metra tickets. Global warming...some folks out there think it's a lie. Then again, some people still write to santa.... But, most middle-class blue collar Americans (quickly becoming an endangered species) who are struggling to put dinner on the table, take notice when fuel costs, and the cost of living in general, get to a stupifyingly astronomical level. People should feel angry about this...We work hard for that money and should be able to keep some of it. Someone made the decision to increase the prices of everything. I don't think any of the OPEC guys have to shop at Aldi. I don't think the fat cats at Exxon/Mobil have to cancel their cable so they can sign their kids up for baseball. How many ultra rich, big business exec's have to "brown bag" it to work??...or carpool? See... the rich want to stay rich. They want to stay away from the commoners. And they definately want "our kind" to stay away from them. So when working class americans fight and sometimes go on strike for better living wages and get what they deserve (mostly), the are then encroaching on the comfort zone of the rich. We can afford better seats at ball games, stay in the same hotels as them, and eat at the same restaurants as them. The rich don't like this. They want working class America to stay away from their country clubs and resorts. The rich attend political fund raisers and rub elbows with very powerful people...they give them their money, too. Not because the politician they support needs a handout. They want something in return. They want decisions made and laws passed so they can stay rich....and powerful. So gas prices, among many other things, are not so high because they have to be. Someone wants it that way. I care alot about mother earth (I should honestly show it more...but I do try). I wish I could do more for our enviornment like volunteer my time and donate money to good causes. I feel guilty when I don't make it to river cleanup projects or water willow plantings. But my family comes first! Mark, that's a really good point. Honestly...If I could....I mean if it wouldn't put me in the poorhouse or suck the world's natural resources dry, I would drive a big 'ol diesel dually and haul a 5th wheel and a Ranger Z21 Comanche behind it. But, Logic, reason, conscience, and most of all my pocketbook won't allow it. I just wish they had a better way of keeping my attention. I better get off this soapbox, now. We're going to need the wood....

I love that sidearm pitch cast! I keep a low arc to get my casts under trees n' stuff. I haven't mastered feathering my casts with the spinning gear...in fact, I don't really try. I should, though. That might make a world of difference and keep me fromg hanging ornaments in trees

Never got out this morning. Fatherhood seems to take priority over everything..........even fishing. Two kids under 2 years old...oh boy! Guess I'll try tomorrow.... Ken, the area I was talking about is further downstream... I also got a whole lotta nothing thursday...east and west. But, the west side really allows for l-o-n-g drifts. That rod is going to be close by if not tied to my hip or in my hand at all times. I would love to wrassle a smallie(...or ten!) with that baby(9'ML steelhead float rod). Let's hope I can make that technique work for me. So... Wood and rocks and slower areas with graveley bottoms, aye? Sounds like the area I was going to try. If they aren't in one spot, then I'll move to the other bank where the structure is completely different...Bridge and riffle on one side, shoreline eddies, tree roots and undercut banks on the other....wood and rocks too. ...If that's not productive... ...I'll be back at that one spot (downstream of the McHenry dam) making those long drifts. ...If that's not productive... I'm going to take up golf...

Thanks for the good info and the boost of confidence, Phil. I've been looking at high muddy water as hopeless for me since all of my short little outings have left me fishless for the season....so far. I have plans to get out early tomorrow morning and try a technique I recently read about in a Bass Master article. "The smallie rig for dummies" (basically a catfish or a wolf river river rig)....three way swivel with a weight heavy enough to stay down in the current and an unweighted worm, tube, fluke etc... This way, you can drag it through the riffle and feel the bottom structure while keeping the bait in the strike zone longer. I know of a nice riffle below an old railroad bridge that has been generous to me in the past. This should make for good testing grounds. I'll post my results.

It's not all that difficult. I'm actually choosing my BC setups before my spinning gear just because I love to cast. I was intimidated at first but soon got the hang of it. Kind of like a golf swing...the whole muscle memory thing. Now that's a scary thought....me golfing. I have a hard enough time keeping a 20 yard cast out of the trees.

No, they haven't impacted my homewater fishing on the Fox. I live about 1/4 mile from a productive stretch so the car stays at home. But...I will think twice about driving four hours to a fishing hole. I am also thinking twice about buying any gas powered "toys" like bass boats and motorcycles. I even use my lawnmower alot less. Got me acouple o' dem old-school push-reel mowers and let me tell ya' I'm becoming a fan. If I do drive anywhere...I go the limit or maybe 5mph over. I take the expressways to work in Chicago (85mi. round trip) and my little Hyundai gets 350 miles to the tank if I go 60-65. If I go 80-85 like all the rest I'll get 250-275 miles to the tank. Let's see....14 gallon tank x $4.00 a gallon = $56 to fill it up I just lost my lunch!!! I got rid ov my truck so I wouldn't have to pay $50 per fill up. I cut my own hair , too. This nation has changed the world...sometimes in good ways. We can split the atom and put men on the friggin moon, we can read license plates from outer space, and drop a bomb on a fly. But I'm supposed to believe that we can't come up with a better way to operate vehicles??? What ever happened to the electric car??? Usually, when people screw other people there's dinner and a movie involved. I don't remember going on any date last night but, for some reason, it hurts to sit down. Gee, thanks Uncle Sam.

Would anybody be interested in a Plano Flipsider tacklebox? It is in great shape and comes with 3 stow away bins. I bought it last year but upgraded to a larger box since then (I still have more tackle than box ). I forget what I paid for it. Somewhere in the ballpark of $65.00 I'm taking offers and will take the most reasonable one....OR I'll trade for more tackle...lures, rods, reels etc.

I typically fan cast an area but I'll break the pattern if I see the tell-tale sign of a submerged boulder or something else that calls to my attention. I'm still working on accuracy, which is much easier with a baitcaster (my new favorite), so I'll make multiple casts to a piece of structure until I get it where I want it, sometimes that alone will make the fish vacate. Knowing that I don't have good accuracy, I'll cast my way into the sweet spot so as to not spook all the fish out of there. I try not to stay too long, but if it looks like someone's home, I'll tie on something different and change the presentation, then I'll move. Carrying less tackle means less time digging around for what I thing might work. Today was a first...a few of this and a few of that and it was a done deal. I traveled light. I usually have two rods, but I lost my holster. So there was extra time spent tying and re-tying but not nearly as much wasted time as trying to decide what to tie on. I have found that when I move too fast, I make too much noise. So now I take my time, take small steps, and travel lighter. Now if I could only stop cursing out loud at the backlashes and fouled casts...

I tried Geneva today...somewhat wadeable up to thigh deep, I wouldn't test it past there. If I had to guess I'd say visibility was in the 6" or less range. This spot is new water to me but I'll definately go back. I want to redeem myself for getting a goose egg today. My first wade outing of the year!!! I can't think of a more enjoyable way to get skunked Should a future Batavia outing get "crowded" this area would make a nice secondary spot....Good access, plenty of fishable structure, chunk rock etc...

Those cursed "what if's" they get me every time!!!! When I got my first vest, I chose the one with the most pockets and tried to fill them all with as much as I could carry. The front pockets were loaded and the back had nothing...my back was not happy about this at all. Then I put a couple bottles of water in to even out the weight this just added more weight....sorry lower back. I now have a willy joe chest pack that forces me to take less gear, but I can still get a case of the what if's and bring too much. The problem with having too many baits, for me, still being somewhat of a novice, is that I can't decide which one to use. This year I plan on leaving that backup box of lures at home and slowing down everything. I can do the run and gun thing and my presentations are generally too hurried. My new daily mantra: "less gear and slow down".....but what if they're hittin rat-l-traps? I can't buy a bite on these buzzbaits. I didn't bring rat-l-traps... They're in my other box...and it's at home!!! What a tough life I have!!!

Why don't you just come along and mark up the map from the actual spots. Anytime, Ken. Just let me know. This friday and maybe next wednesday are slated for fishing the fox.

I've been watching the levels drop ever-so-slightly day to day and it's getting close to canoe time!!!!

Cortland masterbraid has a nice hi-vis yellow that keeps its color and shape...you'll pay $$$ for it, but it's worth it. One more thing...If a fish can see the line, why the he!! can't it see the big shiny metal treble hooks dangling from my lure???...Or the splitshots and other odds and ends??? If I'm stream fishing sor smallies who ambush their prey, I'm not concerned with line visibility at all. If I'm fishing crystal clear water for crappie and bluegills, I might be a little more concerned, but maybe only if the bite is tough....maybe. And....I would use common sewing thread before fireline! I hate the stuff!!! But that's just my opinion....sorry if I've offended anyone's tastes. Try the Cortland stuff or T.U.F. line XP....it's just as good. From there I would go to PowerPro (best bang for the buck).

I am a big Okuma fan due to the absolutely OUTSTANDING customer service!! Not to mention their top notch rods and reels. Their latest line of spinning reels are smooth as silk and well balanced (no wobble). I have a float rod that makes me wonder why it didn't cost $100.00 more than it did. They have sent me upgraded reel handles and spare aluminum spools no questions asked. All I did was ask, also expecting to pay whatever the cost, and they sent it to me without charging me a dime...not even shipping costs. How cool is that??? And they follow up!

I almost bought his whole stock last week!!! Can't wait to give them a try.

Ok...being a novice I still have lots to learn and no matter how much I read about smallie fishing and no matter how many things I'm told about strategies for seasonal movements I still don't retain it well enough to help me out once I'm out on the water. Guess those "hazy days" are catching up with me. Also, no amount of books, videos, and seminars is going to do any good unless I get out and fish. Ah, but where to fish...that's the question... So... During cold water/winter periods I know smallies migrate to deeper water but how deep??? Most of the spots that I can get fish out of during the rest of the year are only a couple feet deep. All the slow spots I know of are pretty shallow, no more than 2 feet deep at best. So should I be looking for 6 foot deep water??? That brings up another thing. ...Most of the deep water I know about has a channel and obviously...current. Can they be found at the bottoms of channels?? I'm going to go dig up my bulletins with the articles about float 'n fly/cold water techniques but I would still like to know what is working for you maniacal cold water guys....because obviously, something works for you. Thanks JS ---I know this isn't a stupid question, but still, forgive me if I'm being an inquisitive idiot.

I am proud to announce the birth of my daughter, Maisy Delilah. She was born August 29th, weighed in at 9lbs 8oz, and measured 19 1/2". Had we pointed her toes down, she would have easily gone 20" The only fishing I'm going to be doing now is fishing for baby wipes in the dark Take care everyone... JS

That's one helluva mental note!!!! I'll be doing the same thank you. My brain is a bit fuzzy these days (in the 90's I was a big fan of the 60's) so I'll have to have it tattooed on my body

No worries, Ken. I was sort of rushed, too. I almost always am. Otherwise I'd sit in the shop and pick your brain all day. I usually do all my fishing in the early mornings from 5am til 9am (all Mrs. Sullivan lets me get away with) and haven't got much topwater action, at least not early on. Haven't got much subsurface action either. It'll pick up as the sun gets a little higher later in the morning. The jig/craw stuff has been productive right now. Specifically Warrior jigs with craw chunk trailers and skirted twin tail grubs on slider heads crawled super slow. Tried the Charlie the other day and couldn't keep it from rolling....can't figure out why. It looks fine...no cracks in the lip etc... I'll have a closer look later. Maybe the lip got knocked crooked or something. I dunno...

Congratulations!!!

What about this...I've seen this suggested before but never used it...how about after inserting the hook eye 1/4" into the plastic, thread a piece of heavy mono or the toothpick up through the plastic and through the hook eye to hold the bait on the hook???

Don, I use the masterbraid 10lb test, too. I thought that the 10lb was 4lb dia. I could be wrong though...wouldn't be the first time. I LOVE the masterbraid but, I have had the knotting problem, too. I can usually get them out, though. But when I first tried the masterbraid, I had 15lb test and don't remember getting any knots at all. Some old fart in GAT guns talked me into spooling up with the 10lb stuff... (just kidding, Ken) I think I might go back to the 15lb stuff next time I get respooled. First I'm going to try tripping the bail by hand.