JoshS

Nice brownies!

For $25 I'd get: One HJ 14 in baby bass, one xrap in XR12 in silver or perch, and one decent spinnerbait.

Chillies a brewin' and snagged four loaves of corn bread. Order a greasy pie and keep the beers cold... that's how its going down today.

I second the Crucial, if you can scrounge the extra 50. St. Croix legend is the nicest feeling one i've tried but $$$. Crucial is very nice and can't beat the warranty, good luck breaking it tho. I've seen the legend blow up on a hard hookset but great warranty as well. Get the Crucial if you can.

Dumb purchases: 13 ft St croix float rod (first float rod was a wild river, had it fixed at the old Pollacks only to never see it again), Fenwick Walleye Classic crank rod (breaks too easily), various stupid looking plastics for bass that make me laugh looking at them now, crappy spinnerbaits, portable fish finder that takes AA's, crappy waders, etc. What I now buy instead: Better quality gear. I see no sense in getting mediocre gear only to need to upgrade. If you know what you target and are going to be serious about your hours on the water, get good quality gear! Example: I've been using my calcutta 250 for over ten years and don't see it ever sitting at home, easy reel to service yourself and works like a beast.

I have a Revo S and can't really complain about it for the money. I use it on a 7 ft medium for senko's and stuff, sometimes I dropshot with it. I flip with it too on occasion and it does the job. It's definitely not a powerful reel, hooked a salmon on it and didn't have chance, but for bass its not a bad reel, especially for its price range.

Its always sweet finding some open water close to home this time of year, nice fish and beauty bling!

Sorry to hear about that Mike, I hope everything turns out ok. Looks like you got a lot of good support here..

I prefer soft water any day but when you have to fish winter months in Canada you really don't have a choice but to fish through the ice.

Nice fish, and beauty brown! Accidental catch while pike fishing Lake O? Its funny that you dont see more boats in the harbour.

I had a brown cough up a cigarette butt a few weeks back. I've also had the same thing happen to me a few times that happened to sinker, with pike and salmon. Always nice catching a fish and a bait at the same time.

Good stuff! I used to fish that lake like crazy, and adjacent ones, when I was younger. I remember that guy at Wedgewood (if hes the same one), and i remember not liking him too much either. Sucks that that is the only marina around there. Theres a launch on little boshkung too if you need one. Nice smallies!

Damn and i thought I was seeing things! Thanks for posting and clearing things up. I happened to catch a brief glimpse of it as I was moving and carrying a huge box. Wasn't sure if what I saw was real or i was tripping out from over exertion lol. I remember seeing a fireball shoot across the sky for about two seconds and burn out. Really cool to see!!

I don't have tons of musky hours but I know you can't go wrong with black. As well, I was throwing white a few weeks back and it was getting lots of attention

Beauty fish!

If you're thinking about lining salmon, don't. There is no need, just do some research and fish them with real baits and you will out fish any lining loser on the pier. Wait for the good nights like after a strong north wind and cast glow spoons. If it's a little later, throw a J-13 or other cranks if they're stacked at the mouth. Once they build up in the lower big pools, learn how to drift skein and you'll never have to snag (line) a fish again. One thing I can't stand is walking to the end of a pier and seeing ten set lines out there leaving no place to cast like the respectable angler should be doing.

All round, I think depending on the waters the senko style bait will get the most bites from both species. If it's smallies you're after than the tube works great, as does dropshotting baits like 4 in senko's, gulp minnows etc. But if you're tired of catching 10 dinks to one hog than pitching the jig produces. If conditions are right, can't beat a spook. Windy cloudy days on a good smallie lake, burning baits like a white spinnerbait can be killer. Twitchbaits when its cool. Thats pretty much my general rule of thumb.

Gotta love finding lakes like that! Great fish and some very nice pics!

Great topic! I don't know the actual extent to which conditioning occurs and I know there are other variables included in lures being hot or not, BUT... I can say I've noticed the productivity of some lures decrease over the years on certain bodies of water, such as the spinnerbait for bass. Sure you still catch fish with them, but not as many as before (this is speaking on average, b/c there are still times when bass are extremely active and hit most lures). See guys throwing bright pink senko's and other plastics? Times change on certain bodies of water and techniques need to be adjusted. I bet in twenty-five years the thought of bass fisherman going to a tube or a senko will be a little outlandish to some and there will be new go-to techniques that will be the staple.

I agree with Raf but other reels you might want to look at that won't break the bank are the ABU Revo series reels. I've been using the cheapest one, the Revo S, and I can say its a fine reel for the price. Not the most powerful (not something you want for BIG pike or chucking hardware for salmon) but easy to cast for a beginner and will most definitely get the job done for what you want it for. And, definitely go with a fast tip and 7+ foot rod if you're fishing jigs for bass. I'd Use one of your spinning combos for the small jerkbaits.

topwater walleye!! nice fish! haven't seen that YET, very neat. nice report too.

Depends where you are... Around here (southern ON) a walleye and a pickerel refer to the same thing.

SMOKES! ahah.. pathetic. Always like to have my polarized with me to see follows b/c it builds my confidence to see that fish are somewhat interested and maybe tells me its time to switch it up. And a bottle of water.

That's a freakin beaut!! Nothing really wrong with keeping a fish like that outta lake O considering the unsuccessful reproduction issue and population of lake trout, plus it was a derby! I doubt anyone would let that thing go with first prize on the line. If it was a smaller lake I would be opposed to keeping it. Like Craig said, its good publicity and could get more people involved in the sport which will be better for the business and fisheries in the long run. Nice fish!

1) 3.5 in. tube in smoke/red flake 2) lucky craft pointer 100sp shad colour 3) #4 silver spinner 4) grim reaper tandem spinnerbait in black/gold 5) 5in. senko type bait in green pumpkin