BrianA

I hear the smallies love them because of all that good stuff too. Hard to need anything but their version of the Adkins Diet!!

Jonn, You are a master craftsman! I bet these would work well down in KY on the Green River Lake Reservoir The bigmouths down there like bulky baits - add a chunk and I'm in! FYI - now that its nearing the end of ice season - I've still got to send you those other ice jigs - I did not forget you my good man. Keep a tight line Brian J Athern

Norm, I agree w/ the techniques - I have also found in the fall/winter off-colored waters of the Rock that a jig w/ a spinner (Road Runners) work pretty well for both smallies and 'eyes. The fish don't have trouble finding the bait - the bite is usually just the wet rag or I'll lose the feeling of the jig coming back to me. Big Colorado blades seem to play on the same seek & find methods. Haven't tried the other blade -type baits but will look for your feedback

The coldest I can remember catching any on is somewhere between 43-40 degrees. Naturally this was one of those patches of 2 sunny days in a row that had followed the bone chilling cold. I have heard of guys down south catching phenomenal stripers while it was snowing, does the winter wonderland magic work on bronzed bass?? I'll have to check the stockings later in the month.

Thank you kindly to fellow ISA Members........ Scott for purchasing the CALCUTTA 50C light action casting reel - I hope you two will enjoy each other's company for many casts to come!!!!! Thank you to our Pres..Rich for the lead on the Fishing Swap Meet - found a guy that wouldn't buy the 5'6 Berkley MVP casting rod but he was willing to swap it for a 6'6 MH Shimano Carbomax caster - I think we both made out on it. He got the lighter rod he wanted - I got the extra MH Caster I'll need for fishing the jungle cover of Green Lake River Reservoir (isn't that an oxy-moron???) in Kentucky or beautiful Lake Cumberland when I visit my other parents (in-laws). It cost me a whopping $5 and my rod to make us both happy!! Weather made the drive real dicey to Shabbona on Saturday - white knuckle commute.

MR MIKE...... It's not that bad now is it.......... The Mister Twister Weighted Keeper is a real nice design, you just need to drag it across a hook sharpener about 2 dozen times to make it sharp, even more so now that their made in CHINA! I still like the design, especially for craws, grubs, and Hellgrammites That doesn't make them all that bad, now you've actually got a hook point about as thick as the head of a pin!! I like the Owner, there are also others made that are marketed thru Bass Pro Shops *Mustad Ultra Point Power Lock Plus *Daichi Bleeding Bait Hooks w/ the clip weight *K&E or K&K worm hooks The Mustad is a wide-gap, the other two are more suited for slender baits Nice Post - the hook/sharp quality has always been suspect on the MR TWISTERS.

OK, apparently I need to sweeten the deal on this one........ Shimano Calcutta 50C - light action round baitcaster FOR SALE - This is the gold beauty that holds 8# test max. This one is in great shape, bought it in a very coveteous mode. I will part w/ it for $100 and I pay shipping. I am also willing to throw in approximately $20 - $30 worth of smallmouth and green bass worthy baits - hard baits and soft plastics included. SLiders, grubs, spider grubs (Yamamoto's) a crankbait or two/three all inclusive. I've got tackle to spare but who can honestly say they don't but want more! I might even throw in some walleye baits to the right guy that asks. You will not be disappointed w/ this reel and I have used it once in 3 years - again very covetted reel for all the wrong reasons. Please P-M me for details

Steve - glad to see you enjoyed your visit. I have also been a fan that stayed away due to the Ho-Hum team and ridiculous management scheme. Unfortunately it took the death of a dinosaur owner, his eldest son pushing out the similar minded younger sibling to get that house in order. What a shame all these years. They are a young, very talented exciting group now. I hope it stays that way. I would love to be Denis Savard watching all of this potential knowing Bob Pullford is gone and won't be breathing down your neck. What a joke, to turn potential 35-40 goal scorers into muckers & grinders. It's been painful to watch for so long that now I don't consider it a waste of time & money to pick up a game or two. Our men's pickup games on Sunday mornings seemed to hold more potential & excitement than the recent teams the Indian Head has fielded. Hats off to the fella that put that one in the hat for the Blow Out!!!!!!

WOW, thought I was seeing things but I've favored that Silver Lake for the past 10 years. The water is certainly dropping. It's sad, a good recreational/family/forest preserve lake all at the cost of PROGRESS. That's another political term for kill off the green, sell the land, fill the pockets w/ Green!!!! Sorry, I'll get off the political soap box for now. That lake was a virtual haven for a kid who grew up in Cook County, tripping over garbage, beer bottles & cans, and found this to be a haven. The lake still holds fish but not for long w/out the water. It's quite a shame. Silver Lake is such a small, diverse fishery but it won't be around forever.

Mazda 6 Hatchback is a good option. Don't be the "ANTI", I picked up a used 2004 E-150 Chateau Van w/ the 5.4 Triton V8. I practically stole it for what I paid but talk about being 180 degrees the other way, WOW. Not so green but I've got plenty of green left to spend elsewhere, say @ Speedway or Marathon?? This one's got everything except the gas station to run along side of me.

Mark......Thanks for the laughs - turning yuppies into psuedo rednecks I'm still laughing. I had a similar experience w/ Bass Pro in Bolingbrook with finding things I knew the catalog has. Now I've been there enough, I don't really ask for much help. I also got the "check back with us". And if that guy near the waterfall/fishing walk-thru asks me about another time share I'll get 5 minutes for fighting and a game misconduct penalty. I think I can take this guy! I do however need to experience Cabela's for myself and get this, my wife already likes the clothing! I'm in, now how do I hide a pair of reels under those close & check out w/out getting caught. Now that' a technique worth trying. I need the overhead rod holder for my new/used van that retails for $19.99 and I'm looking to add panfish reels & 1 inexpensive baitcaster........ Cabelas Fish Eagle Caster(Daiwa in disguise) Cardinal 100 or 300, decisions,decisions.

The Frogg Toggs have kept me dry but I haven't tried Off Roading with them, looks like I'll take a pass! They're pretty good for a disproportion guy like me. Had one rainstorm that only an enclosure would have kept us all dry. You just can't pull the drawstrings on the hood far enough in a monsoon. I don't like them as much as the light-weight Gore-tex I had from the NAFC by joining as a Life Member. The sad reality is whoever broke into my brother's truck and stole his golf clubs and PDA probably threw out my excellent rain gear.

Shampoo??

Monty Hall just stopped by everyone.............He says "Let's Make a Deal!!!" Any takers for both rod & reel for 1 price?? Both beautiful pieces with a matching end table (picture that in your wading vest!) for $125......I pay all shipping costs. That is the Shimano Calcutta 50 Light Action baitcast reel & Berkley Lightning Rod MVP 5'-6 Casting Rod, 1 pc Medium action - short trigger handle. P-M me on what would sweeten this deal to take home....how about an assortment of quality-name brand softbaits, cranks, free musky lure?? Homemade carrot cake over the winter?? I am currently in a bit of a cash crunch by month's end, Lord knows I'll get thru it but parting with some extras is not really a sacrifice

Being inept of the fly fishing craft - I hope only to be able to tie beautiful flies one day for others to cast. It must me a retarded gene in me or something similar to my baseball/hockey/golf cross-over problems. Can't maintain any type of consistency w/ the golf swing either! Maybe I just need the right kind of teachers, more patience (learning from my children 7 & 6 yrs old), and an armored suit for said teacher! Keep a tight line y'all!

GANG, Time to do some rethinking..... On the trading blocks - Calcutta 50 Light action baitcaster - gold/round series for those who know this one well. New brings $190 plus tax......Gently used $100 firm plus Post Office Shipping (Let's say about $107-$110 for argument sake) Next... 5'6 Berkley MVP Select Lighting Rod, 1 pc Md Action casting stick. This is the short trigger handle model not the pistol grip. New these were $60-$70.....I'll take anything more than $35 plus shipping. The rod has been used sparingly since I wade more and fish ponds a bit less. If you live that close to Darien,IL...... invite me out to fish and I'll deliver just like I did for BrianG.... Feel Free to P-M me for any details.

My other Dad grew up in eastern Kentucky near Pikeville,KY and has witnessed these events first hand. I've visited and have seen the streams that are now barren due to the greed and prostitution of the mining country mountains & their streams. He talked of walking in gym shoes and jeans and catching smallmouth, L-M bass, and rock bass o'plenty. Those were the glory days of stream fishing from the 50's & 60's. Now, their rusty and empty. A sad commentary on what the coal mines have done to the landscape. The mining companies finally relocated his Mom & Dad (Granny & Pa) from their "holler" when their water starting coming up very rusty and sulfur smelling from the contaminated well. Again, sad. I guess it's still working on the new golden rule.......those with the gold make the rules!

Jimbo- With those options - I like the MXF action rod. gives up nothing in feel and when you put the hammer down w/ those plastics you're bound to get better hook ups. With smaller, more petite baits, I opt for a MF action. I tend to set the hook hard and the Med-fast or even moderate action gives me that cushion. That's more suited for 3-4 inch grubs and smaller craws. Good luck - keep a tight line my friend!

I guess it pays in ways I never imagined to go with the 2 pairs of lug soled waders. They're a bit more cumbersome but I guess it's more eco-friendly. Learned something new today.

Wow! That's a good one. Sorry but my record was broken with that snarly mess. I think there were only 14 pcs together in my mess. I feel your pain. Need any clippers to cut any of those hooks from inside your pockets???? Or did you yank on it and then bury one in your thumb like I did? I had one tackle box roll over some years ago and it looks bad but again, you're the king bud.

Jim, If you get a chance to scan a current MWO - I stopped writing about individual experiences and more on this type of fishing. This month's is "Stream Rules - Early and Often". I'm thinking of another article named "Smallmouth Myth Busters" - after my 7 year old's favorite show on cable. We've been experiencing some spotty success on topwaters - early has been consistent - then it changes after 11am and the fish have been back on the topwater feed again. Those older articles were more based on individual KKK River experiences. The fish are biting on lots of different baits, clear water, skinny water, weeds, no weeds all that good stuff. With our new guy, my brother and me were able to catch them through 1pm on topwaters in less than 18 inches of water! Many quality fish 12" and above. Small topwater baits - larger ones - it's all good. Right now - the point is to get out and start casting. It's like Wayne Gretzky said once "You always miss 100% of the shots you never take". Note* Hula Grub is the name of Yamamoto's Brand skirted grub. Just like my favorite quote of "twister-tail grubs" over curly tail grubs, the MR TWISTER is one of the most famous.

Ditto for me from Steve S & Paul S. I use the P-Line CCX and it handles great. Very tough. Good castability & knot strength. Also, good feedback for McCoy line, similar quailities. These are both copolymer lines and as it was explained to me in laymen terms-the formula is different from regular monofilament. A word of caution-use 6# for spinning reels. I rcv'd that caution from Jonn Graham and heed the warning. I have heard from others that these lines get a bit "coily" (is that even a word?) in 8# and higher on spinning gear. They get 2 thumbs up from this fishermen/reporter!

Actually, the first topwater smallie my brother caught went between 13 1/2 - 14 inches Saturday morning @ 6am. This bronzeback puked out a 6 inch greenish/orange craw as it was being landed. I guess there out there somewhere, the smallies appear to be feeding well! I haven't seen many either come to think of it!!!!!!!!

My man, I like the white teflon pipe tape idea better than my idea of LocTite. They make a real mild Loctite product, they come in red (do not use!!), blue (less adhesive but acceptable), and then there's yellow (the mildest formula) that will work. They show the color and locking ability on the pkgs and should be under $5. Good luck, I struggle w/ the same problem on one reel I don't use as much.

Ron, Tough break. I've had fished hooked that were hurting. It also disturbed me. I had one hooked pretty ugly on a popper type bait that had the rear treble underneath the mouth where the gill openings split. The fish swam off but it looked like an ugly little wound. I often take the front treble off crank baits and the middle hook off baits that have 3 (ie... devil's horse, bigger raps) for that same reason. On bottom diggin' cranks, it actually helps to keep you out of snag trouble also. Rest easy, your motives and intentions were pure.