Joe D

This is my Centerpin. As you can see, it's a pretty simple setup. I've taken the spool off so you can see the frame.

what will he be speaking about??

no problem rich, I'll get it up as soon as I can. I'll get some pics of my gear togather. Joe

the 5'' raven matrix is next on the list for me. a buddy of mine from mich. city got one and it is very nice. I think they are $229.99 if I remember right??? it is very smooth and has great start up. Joe

I just got some plastic lips to make a "crank fly". I'm going to fool around at the vise and I'll let you guys know what I come up with. Joe

cabelas is having a sale this weekend and they have breathables very affordable Joe

that sounds like a great deal. I really like that orvis vortec(VO2) but at $375 I could buy several reels. that orvis has a huge drag, it shows it on their site. it is cork on rulon. I 've been hearing more and more about rulon, not sure if it something new?? I dont know there is so much good stuff out there these days. too much gear and not enough money!! Joe

wow what a wide range of opinions. like alot of things nobody is right or wrong its just their opinion. gulp has worked well for me, but thats me. I know a fast growing secret is the 3'' power bait trout worm in pink has been killing the steelies in the creeks under a float. I even seen it on youtube. but hey if it works for you go with it, if it dont then dont waste you money. I was just wondering how everyone else did with it. good fishin to all Joe

pretty good, they are coated several times with a clear finish to stiffen them up and make them more durable. I have some that are missing a claw and they still catch fish. nature is not perfect and there are lots of craws with only one claw out there. they loose them all the time. Joe

yes rich that is scudback material. and although its meant to make the back of a scud, just by experimenting I found that it has a fabulous action when tied in like that. Joe

well I'll do what I can to help promote centerpinning. its the most natural and effective way to present a bait to the fish. wheather it is livebait under a float, flies, jigs it is deadly! at the next ISA event( I think next sat??) I'll bring my centerpin and the terminal tackle I use along for the guys to check out. I have yet to use it for smallies, but my first trip to the river I will be bringing it along. Joe

I like the flouro leaders. rio makes a saltwater leader that is used for bonefish. the saltwater one is a little stiffer and helps to turn over weighted flies easier. I'm sure there are many others than rio too. Joe

yep, that little bait bucket is $20! but at this point I'm in so deep whats another $20?? Joe

I tend to ramble on and on quite a bit!! I just love anything to do with fishing!! Joe

Here are a few patterns that I thought should do some damage on the smallies:

Here are some Caddis Fly designs:

Here are some Crawbug designs..

Here are a few different sizes and colors of some of my crawfish designs.

Mike G, good to hear from some of my other friends again! I will be more than happy to cure your problem! I think me, you, KD and a couple of other guys have a appointment with some fox river smallies and golden bones anyway! Joe

john, thanks for the invite. I'm pretty sure I will be able to make it and I'm looking forward to meeting some of the members. should I bring my vise and stuff?? Joe

centerpining or float fishing is a deadly tactic for river smallies. and I was wondering how many guys here do it? I got into it over a year ago, mostly fishing the tribs in indiana for steelhead. I've fished the creeks for over 20 years and dont know how I ever did it without a centerpin, they are that effective! so now I will wage a attack with my pin on the smallies this year. river smallies will fear me and my pin this year Joe

have you guys seen the new gulp alive products that come in their own little "bait bucket"?? I have had alot of success with the gulp products and I think the leech pattern is gonna be a killer on the smallies this season. what do you guys think? I love the minnows they have, thats what I've done the best with. I plan to do alot of fishing them under a float with my centerpin this year, that is gonna be a dy-no-mite presentation to the smallies!! Joe

rich, on my SR3 I use 8wt wf floating. I have 2 main carp rigs that are 8wt.'s and a 7wt that I sometimes use if the fish will be smaller. both my 8's are wf floating. then I usually go with a 9' 4x or 5x leaders. in my flyrod arsenal I have 1-3wt, 1-5wt, 1-7wt, 2-8wt.'s and 1-9wt. that covers just about anything. I may get cocky this year and chase those golden bones w/a 3wt!! I have a 5wt size pflueger trion mid arbor reel with ALOT of backing on it, that ought to prove to be a adventure!! I really like that SR3 alot, the drag is incredible. I was looking at a orvis vortec (VO2) but it is $375 so I think I'll stick to the SR3. I would like to get another while cabelas has them on sale but a little smaller one for smallies. I find that wf floating covers all the fly fishing I do. even though when carpin I use weighted nymphs and stuff that sinks, I'm sight fishing in skinny water the 9' leader is enough to get down to where I want to be. then I use the floating line as a bite indicator as most of the pick ups are very light.

I like to put my own "twist" on flies too. I rarely tie them to the book. Joe

thanks for all the replies!! I already like it here, made some new friends and come across some old friends. I've got a fly pattern I designed that I call a "crawbug". it is what I would call a searching pattern. it looks like it could represent a few different things. I'll get some pics posted of a few of my flies that would do the trick for smallies. you guys got me all fired up to hit the rivers for a few bronze bombers!! another thing I want to do is fish lake mich smallies with a flyrod. I think the "crawbugs" I was talking about will be my go to fly for those big guys. I'll take anyone up on a fishing trip that wants to go. I usually give anyone that I fish with a few flies to try out. so fly guys lets go get 'em. Joe