nomolites

Last year the Uncle Ricos got hard to come by...hope that has passed. Mike

No, the original. It IS squirrelly when you first engage the spot lock or contour following UNTIL it gets set up, then it holds and tracks quite well. I can fish a suspended jerker, jig, or spoon better now than ever with spot lock; no need to be concerned about boat control - even in strong winds when the fish are out in it. The foot pedal came with the package and works well, but I only use it when working around docks. I usually run things from the fob or my Humminbird. I will check to see about an update and load it onto my head - Thanks! Mike

Have the Ulterra with Link and LOVE it. Like RPS said, while not perfect the spot lock is plenty good unless you are holding very close to a boat dock. As stated by others above a game changer for me too; bottom bouncing on autopilot while following contours and having both hands free to work is phenomenal...I use the pedal while casting and after learning how to operate it serves my purposes well. Mike

I remove the split rings from all lure tie eyes and connect with thin cross locks to facilitate easy lure swaps until I find the "secret" for the day. Especially when running a trolling spread quick lure swaps are critical...but I do the same with JBs and other baits with no negative effect on lure action. Don't break any off due to a nick in the line from rotation on the split ring either... Mike

They are counting on more people using the MOHunting app on their smartphones and moving away from paper licenses. I have been going that route the last couple years and only printing deer and turkey transport tags....of course on cheap paper that needs to be protected with a plastic bag...? Mike

Been by your place many times; actually, do you have a BIL named Denny? Used to see him often at work and talk fishing the lower end...I like to spoon that roll off to your south. Mike

Got out for a couple hours late Friday and caught three with two keeps(best 3#)on a JB on a rock point with wind across it. Tried a couple drops nearby looking for walleye and zeroed there. Saturday picked up Conorsixtakc at 0700 and fished the Dam area until early afternoon; WT 42.5-43.5, caught enough fish to make it interesting all on flat stuff, could not buy a fish on rock. All on JB in 12+ FOW with wind across the point. I am sure the A-rig boys were pounding them as I could see fish holding deeper in a couple areas but was committed to the JB( I just love fishing those dang things). Good time on the water and an absolutely beautiful June day in February. Doesn't get much better than that! Mike

Giants! Nice! Mike

That is awesome info, thanks! I have known that recruitment is low but your explanation fills the gaps! Mike

Spot on; most dedicated walleye fisherman release all big females caught, or do not fish these areas at all when the females are vulnerable. Those big girls are important to the health of the fishery....C & R! Mike

Went through the same process when I bought mine....Lund, Crestliner, and Alumacraft are all excellent boats. I settled on an 1850 Fish Hawk with TWO black motors(actually three counting the 24v) and am quite satisfied. Mike

Nice buck! I have done numerous euros on deer and elk by scraping and soaking - it takes a bit of effort but they turn out great and are cheaper than the several hundred for the dermestid treatment. The key is to heat and soak in a detergent solution just long enough to get the flesh pulling away and gradually working it clean - DO NOT boil. A metal washtub and a propane fish frying stand are the perfect setup, and once you get most everything clean use compressed air to FULLY clear the sinuses and brain pan you can end up with similar results to the beetle treatment for $10 in detergent and Elmers glue. Mike

If I were bass fishing I would likely stick to docks on LOZ as most do as the main deal but if I didn't get bit would quickly look deep due to lack of patience. Likely the opposite pattern as you, but I am much more comfortable deeper and there is MUCH less pressure out there. Trying to nail down a pattern on a bank I know holds fish while other boats are slipping in fore and aft is something I don't miss too much. Mike

I do cuss those "green fish" at times; my point being I'm usually camped out on some deeper structure that 95% of bass fisherman only pass by while on plane. There is a subset of fish that just prefer to steer clear of the shorelines and gravitate to these open water environs and they typically are not "dinks" ..... Mike

I catch a lot of quality LM while walleye fishing; they can be a real nuisance. Mike

I booked at Blackburn's 4th-9th, would like to do the Binks deal 5-7th but I'm fishing one way or another. Hope to meet some of you down there! Mike

I will say that I haven't added any since I heard that; I am likely not alone. I know they don't currently patroI but I am not going to bust my hump dragging and sinking a 30' tree as I have in the past. All someone has to do is drop a dime and then I have problems. I will likely still freshen up the stuff under the dock, but that is probably it. Mike

My understanding is a permit from Ameren is required to sink anything at this point. Don't know how long that has been a requirement - I think it was close on the heels of the rip rap guidelines. Mike

BTW, The walleye I chase are often on that brush with the bass... Mike

The new restrictions on brush will slow that down; I personally don't care how it got there as long as the object holds fish. I have seen sunken cars, boat docks, and lifts that give up better fish than some of the brush people have put out. The good stuff needs to be in the proximity of one of those breaks or contours that naturally funnel fish. I LOVE it when I find something placed in a good spot by a savvy fisherman, there is a ton of brush sunk in the wrong places just to get it out of someone's way. Mike

You earned them out there yesterday! Mike

My experience is lighter flouro gets more bites when the fish have a chance to get a good look as they do when live bait fishing. I use 14# flouro leader on braid or lead with the same style longish glass rods when trolling as things are moving much quicker and the bite is more reactive. In that situation the glass rod absorbs the shock of the strike and immediate run which with hybrids is usually pretty impressive. Mike

I fish for hybrids a lot on LOZ; while I mostly troll cranks or bounce spoons I do occasionally use live shad - I use a size 8 light wire octopus hook and 10# flourocarbon on an 8 or 9 ft medium action glass rod. If you have a good reel 10# is plenty heavy and allows the shad of behave more naturally. Make certain your drag is set a little on the light side because when they see the boat they get frisky and if you are cranked down too much they will break you off. The lighter longer rod helps absorb the shock as well. Mike

I run vanish as a leader on braid or lead on all my trolling rigs and have never had an issue; I have seen it does not hold up well to dock cables, etc. and requires frequent retires. For that reason is have been using Invizx on my jig and plastics rods. Flouro in general requires more TLC in the form of conditioners or respools but I am flat convinced in clear water it catches more fish. Mike

Well, lead for waterfowl hunting is banned to protect the eagles...I think they like duck. Mike