manitoubass2

I like the Terminator spinnerbaits and the StrikeKing Potbellies, but I replace the split rings on both of them. I've had bad experiences losing blades up till I decided to change em out. They catch alot of great fish (especially the potbellies) if your wondering why I still buy them, lol.

cowbeena- big walleye

Rapala Flat Raps(firetiger) and X-Raps (perch/pearl)

good point TJ. I replace my hooks with those mustad KVD Ultragrip treble hooks, and it sounds rediculous but they really increase the hook ups. Half the time I barely need a good hook set. You do need pliers more often though. My son does fine casting cranks on a 5'6" medium heavy spinning outfit, and he doesn't have much issues with hook ups either. I use a 6'6" or a 6'8" med/heavy rod, it what feels most comfortable to me. So, If you feel you need a longer rod, go for it if it makes you more confident you'll get good hook ups, but it's not like it's necessary.

I've never used stinger hooks. I never used a trailer either until Mercmans thread on SB. I gave it a try and still caught fish. I wouldn't say more fish than without the trailer though, so I'd say either way you feel comfortable. I like the simplicity of the SB though, and prefer to fish them as is, throughout the entire water column

The Rapala clacking cranks cast real nice and rarely foul. Clackin minnows, Berkley Flicker Shads, X raps (shad and the topwaters as well), DT 4 through 10 (my personal favorites), crankin raps, Lindy River Rockers, Cotton Cordell Big O, Live target crawfish (lipless and billed), Lindy shadlings, Live Target perch and lipless or billed gizzard shad, Lucky Craft Fat smasher, Rick Clunn square billed cranks, Lucky Craft pointer minnows. I'm sure I'm leaving a few out, but these are cranks I use often that catch alot of fish and cast awesome. Most won't foul very often even on a spinning outfit, unless your using the longer style minnow baits with a snap swivel, then they'll foul often. So, tie direct where you need to.

StrikeKing KVD 2.5's cast really well. I like the chrome and the chart/black patterns I also prefer flat raps over xraps, but both are really good baits oh gawd, there are tons of other good casting cranks! If you really wanna sling em out there, 10lb PP is the line I'd choose

You mean he's going to underacheive like....Spezza??? I think the Leafs (sp?) did well, and improved quite abit. I'll be anxious to see how it all pans out in the season though. Did the Sens(itives) improve Maskymutt??? Did Alfie retire?

Good point DanC For me, its different all the time. Depends on my rod, line, species, cover, time of year, water depth etc. If I had to average it out though, I'd say I'm a 6. Years ago, I would have said 7 or 8. But just like everything, you adapt and improve your own techniques. More often then not, these days I use a reel set. If not that, a sweep set. It may look boring, but these two techniques land fish way more often (for me), than the hard hook sets. As long as you have good appropriate equipment, and a good reaction time, I think these are the superior methods. For walleye I find tension to be far more important then the hook set

Absolutely!

Man o man thats awesome Simon. Thats how to do it proper!

I think of P3TA as a bunch of people who need something to feel involved. It seems to be a collection of bored people looking for something to do, that don't get along with others and have little to no meaning in their own lives. Sort of like those people that gossip even amongst their so called friends. They jump on anything, researched or not, and just run with it. To say they as a group lack credibility, would be a major understatement... Anyhow, back to not knowing/or caring what P3TA is up to

Thanks Paul, that means alot coming from a man like you. Don't get me wrong, I had my kids in Alberta with me at times, but other times I also worked so much I lived on the job site. My kids mean more to me than anything, and I always thank them for being so understanding. When I wasn't with them, we talked every night, I sent pictures etc. I did what I felt I had to do at that time. Nowadays, things have just changed. In fact, I denied some overtime tonight to go watch the last soccer games my kids had for the year. I guess I just got older and I know my kids appreciate it. A good day at work used to make me feel very proud, now its more about them youngens. Again, in case any of you wonder why I post so many family pics, and solute those doing the same, thats why. I can really appreciate a Dad or Mom, just being a good parent and showing their children the true joys in life

Thanks Danc, much appreciated, and I will. My first good job wasn't too far from you(you were in Dryden right?). I worked up at the Ear Falls Weyerhaueser mill for two years. There I was a production technician, Fire Response and team lead, oh and our crews quality control dood. It was a great experience that taught me alot

Just so the awesome members of OFC know, I spent most of my 20's working as a miner, or in the oilfied. Basically, I worked 90 hour work weeks for years on end and had almost zero time off work. I usually took a few days off around xmas, but that really about it. It was a grueling schedule and the work lifestyle just wore me down. After I had kids, I really resented what I was doing. I loved the job and most of the people, but just really missed my children. Money is nothing in comparison to time with your kids... A few x-mas's ago, I came home 3 days early. My boys were getting older and missed me more and more, and vise versa. I basically had a moment of "enough is enough". I had bought them present in Alberta, but my oldest boy asked me to stay home, for good. I was already fed up, so I just cracked a beer, let the boys stay up late visiting with me, and just said screw it. I threw a whole bunch of cash and uncashed cheques in the living room, and just told them it was over, Daddy was staying home... It felt great, I called and explained to my company, and they were super great about it. Told me I was always welcome back to my position. In a weird way, that made me feel more comfortable. Anyhow, I spent the next few years doing everything with my kids, and even had some more kids, lol. I looked for work locally the whole time, but never had any good opportunities. So my girlfriend worked, and I was basically the housekeeper. When she was off work, I was either spending time out with the kids, or we were off to soccer or hockey or some other event. It was truly awesome. I had some offers that would require me to leave home again, but declined them, and finally, just a few weeks ago, I got a great offer. I jumped all over it. Good pay, benefits etc, but I'll be at home everyday. It's a huge paycut from the oil industry, but heck, we do pretty darn well just off my girlfriends salary, lol. So I just think of it as bonus. I'm tired, but the work/co-workers are very enjoyable, so I'm really happy. Just gonna take another week or so and I'll be used to the grind once again. Anyhow, just thought I'd share so you would understand my updates, lol. Most people hear 2 years off and think awesome, lol, but some of it was the best thing ever, and some of it really sucked. A man needs to work. But I think I was entitled to some degree, cause from age 20 to age 30, I worked more hours at a really hard industry, then most people do in a lifetime. I'm not braggin or patting myself on the back either, cause I think those hard working years almost killed me

Uh oh, it's the start of a new bass craze! Wobbly Heading, bwahahaha. Some great suggestions in this thread for sure. I've used various methods/hooks etc, and I actually prefer to "wacky rig" on a light jig head (walleye jig or roundhead jig)

Right on MM, proud Daddy moment for sure! 10 more years and he'll be braggin about beating your personal bests, lol. Good thing is you can send em to bed if he rubs it in too hard SRT8 those are some great photos as well! I used to sleep like that as a youngen to, but my grandpas boat wasn't quite so nice, lol.

Yep, they will do that, or if they so choose, will just sit on bottom and there is nothing, absolutely nothing you can do. Well you can wait, lol, thats your only option. My big one was on a 6'6" medium heavy rod with 8lb mono. I could quite literally feel the reel seat slowly splitting apart. I couldn't believe I was able to actually get that fish in on 8lb mono, it took alot of manuevering and I think I learned more about fighting a fish, that one time, in all my other years as an angler. and to anyone that wonders whether the fish is fine or not (as per the roll in the pic), these fish actually act as if they haven't even been caught. They are like no other freshwater fish in those terms. Even when you release them and they are just floating there, they aren't usually hurt/tired, they just CHOOSE to do so. In our watershed/sturgeon program, these fish when caught for mating at the farm, go sometimes up to an hour out of the water. And even then, they revive as if nothing ever happened. So I highly highly doubt this fish was harmed in anyway. And appears to be handled with utmost respect, as I would give the benefit of the doubt to bushart/Son as we all know he's a responsible angler/human being, as well as a great member of OFC

Bushart, I live right beside a river full of sturgeon. I've spoke with the MNR various times over the past years in regards to sturgeon. So far it's unanimous that they have no issues with pics taken of incidental catches, but strongly prefer the fish to remain in the water (like you did). Sometimes I see them visit other boats and ask if they had incidentals and if measurements were taken. I just take that as the anglers and CO's caring and hoping to see them flourish and be healthy These fish are true beasts. I've never targeted them, but I've had 3 incidentals over the years. Two were just pups but the last one was a 7ft beast that took well over an hour to see. It's an amazing experience for sure. Kudos to your son for the catch of a lifetime! That musta been a real thrill for him and you as well! I can tell your one proud papa!!! Kudos to the other board members as well for being respectfull and letting Bushart share his angling/parenting enthusiasm

Life gave you lemons, you made gold!!!

Seems so.... We'll have to work on that

Yeah, I wish. I don't know about your area, but do you see how much homework kids get nowadays??? Plus we got soccer 4 nights per week. If were not doing those were usually out fishing, or cooking. Maybe when school is over I'll get my slave drive on. I think thats what I'm gonna have to do, just focus on getting the grass thicker and healthier. I had mentioned we share a large lawn with other houses, and their yards have dandelion as well. So if I treat my lawn it's inevitable that I'll get more, unless my lawn is thick enough to withstand the constant barrage. Thanks again everyone for all the input, very much appreciated! Here I thought I'd get like 2 posts in this thread, lol. Turns out there are alot of weedheads on this board talking bout grass!

mmmm, tile! j/k sick jersey, I'd rock it hard

I'll take that house if we can relocate it to Ontario