dcashion

Lesson #1 of the year - when it is 35 degrees outside try not to trip over a rock within minutes of getting in the stream and filling up your chest waders with very cold water - tend to ruin the trip Three things I've added to my arsenal this year: 1. Weightless plastics. Always fished weighted plastics of one type or another - normally texas rigged. 2. Flukes - (@Eric - try a Zoom Arkansas Shiner pattern fluke) Carolina Rigged and weightless Flukes are something I just started using in the past two or three weeks for LMBs locally. Since I started I've landed more than six LMBs in the 18-24 inch range, even in the current cold water conditions. A definate 'keeper' technique for next year's smallies. 3. Swimming Grubs. About a month or month-and-a-half ago I started slow rolling grubs on light jig heads and they produced an incredible number of LMBs(including some reasonably big fish), a pike on a trip with Jonn G., and a few smallies on the Vermillion about 3 weeks ago (one or two topwater running the grub like a mini buzzbait.

Like you I just added buzzbaits to my arsenal this year - mostly for largemouths. I like the cheapies because I can bend them around - I have a few good ones but they don't seem to bend as well - want to return to the factory shape. I tend to bend them up so the spinner thingy clanks against the head or wire - seems to draw more hits that way. Downside is you are always adjusting the bait to get that clack sound with the cheapies. I finally broke down and ordered up a couple Booyah's with a built in clacker and a black spinner - I really like running a buzzbait and chatterbait when fishing for LMB's at night - nothing like a good solid buzzbait hit in the pitch black starlight to get the system pumping

Couple of thoughts on this... 1. Since they don't seem to be actively feeding on bugs I wonder if the bugs are attracting smaller bait fish such as bluegills and minnows (or whatever) and the smallies are feeding on the secondary baitfish attracted by the bugs. Much like the effect you see when you hang a light off a boat at night for crappies. Draws bugs and tiny aquatic stuff, that attracts bigger baitfish, which in turn attracts bigger fish like crappies, ect. 2. I've noticed that for the last week or so that the bite for LMB's has been off - I thought it was the barometer fluctuating wildly for the last week almost (yes, I think they can detect barometer changes somehow but that's another discussion). Then I noticed in the late evenings(dusk) and early mornings (dawn) for the last week that the bite picked up but as soon as the sun hit the water it was completely dead. Surmising that the coming full moon on cloudless night was enough to hunt by I went to the lake very early. Produced a couple of LMBs including another 22.25" bruiser on the 4th cast that scared the stuffin's outta me when it hit in the dark . My considered opinion is (and this is like most opinions - it's worth what you paid for it). Is the week before and after the full moon if there are enough cloudless nights the moon produces enough light for the bass to effectively hunt at night and they are satisfied by morning and 'off their feed' During the other two weeks and spans where there are mostly clouds at night you will see a better daytime bite since they may feed/hunt at night but it isn't nearly as effective and they have to supplement with daytime feeding/hunting. Will this carry over to smallies - don't know since I don't fish nearly every day for smallies but it seems to be holding up for LMB, but I imagine it would.

Most suppressors use a MOV (metal oxide varisitor). This is a clamping device - the higher the voltage the more clamping it provides. Eventually, it takes a surge that destroys the MOV and it no longer provides any protection at all. Unfortunately, most surge suppressors don't let you know the MOV is no longer functioning - hence giving the user a false sense of protection. I prefer to see a UPS on all computer equipment, with the exception of printers which draw too much current for it to be feasible. I've seen an APC UPS take a 4,000 volt surge and protect the equipment - fried the UPS but it did it's job. Just my opinion - probably worth what it cost .

It's alike like those tv shows - when the moon, stars, and planets all align some pretty cool thisng happen. Well, when the weather, fishing condisions, water temp/clairity, and the solunar tables alight it will be really great things happening. Wait a minute - the last tv show I watched (TMNT) it took 3000 years for all that to happen again - and that excluded weather

Honestly I'm not sure it works on lakes - but I would imagine if it does it would work on rivers - they use them for hunting as well. But honestly it's hard to really tell if they do work since so many other factors come into play. Things we talk about all the time - water clarity, water temperature, weather, availablle sunlight, the list goes on. I do refer to them daily and it seems like during the periods I would fish (like now I try and hit on morning or evenings) that I seem to do better most of the time - but that's pretty subjective since I can only fish one lake at a time.

Does anyone use, have positive or negative things to say about the solunar tables???? Just curious what other considered folks think. David C.

I broke down and bought Pelican Micro-cases for the GPS and Cell Phone and a small Pelican Case for the camera and accessories. Something to think about - I went through four cell phones in the last year between trapping the Mack and storm chasing drownings

Have a set of US Divers Shredder Float Tube Fins. Worn once for about 2 minutes (until said watercraft sank like the titantic). Will fit over my Cabelas size 12 Wading boots. Built in retention strap in case of loss off boot. Short flipper length, split toe design. Paid $59.99 through Amazon - will take $40.00 and you pay shipping or pickup from Peoria area (Roanoke, Woodford County, IL).

As far as why - I tend to fish for what jumps on the hook sometimes. I've stood next to buddies using spinning or casting gear and had them go hours without a hit and they were tossing the kitchen sink from the end of their line. I was standing on the other side of the bush (about 10 feet away) and caught and released 50 or 60 hand sized bluegills on furbugs. I also attempt to tie my own flies - my latest (and probably one of the strangest) has a six color (including bubble gum pink) marabou tail, spun deer hair head, and silver flashy body. It catches bass, bluegill, and crappie - there's something about tying on something you tied that morning out of you imagination and catching fish on it. As to the sinking lines - this is my first year to ever try a full sinking or sink tip line. Has anyone see the new Scientific Anglers L2L system of leaders? Connector is rated at 10# with 2x-6x or 7x. Connector ties to your fly line with a overhand knot. Push the leader in, turn a quarter turn and it's locked. Works as a strike indicator. Got a box you can keep four pretied on flies in and takes about 15 seconds to change leaders. Reason I mention it is because they have a wet tip version. 4 - foot long section of sinking line to insert between the fly line and the leader. Documents say it sinks 1-4 feet. Cool system actually. I'm not a purist - I'm into easy and the L2L system is probably one of the easiest things I've ever seen when it comes to connecting fly lines to leaders. Some of the packages have a little plastic wrench thingy for cold days to tighten and loosen the leader. It won't take you to the bottom of Loch Ness but if you need just a few feet of depth it's a really easy rig to work with. David C.

Speaking as an ex-animal control warden the secret is a couple cans of vienna sausages Besides if you have nothing else along but a few crackers it will take the edge off when you're hungry and the fish are biting and you don't want to leave the water

Hello everyone, I'm new to ISA and like to flyfish (although I am probably a threat to public safety if anyone is about ). One of my tendencies is to just throw stuff on a hook and then go fish it to see if it works. I did one of these a few days ago and have been catching dozens of small crappie and a few bass on it in Eureka Lake. Can anyone tell me what the real name of it is??? I'm been temporarily calling it a silver bellied leach headed maribou streamer.