nomolites

I have Oakley, Costa, and Maui Jim’s. Glass is the only way to go…MJ has the best clarity and are my favorites(and also prescription) but the Costas(blue 580)are the best for intense light/saltwater fishing. I wear the MJs for everything else..the Oakleys are now just backups. Mike

I agree, most folks don’t know how to keep fish alive this time of year. Surface temps(and live well) will be pretty high. I don’t put anything in the box I’m not going to eat…and them you are better off with ice than surface water. Mike

I do the same with my trolling rods with a layer of clear packing tape over the top. Mike

Okay. Found a good school of hybrids this morning(10:00-12:00)and caught a bunch BUT they were all the same size, too small to eat in my book. Picked up the usual mixed bag with a few keeper LM, Blue cat, White bass(good ones), Crappie, etc. Caught fish on almost every cast for about an hour at the peak - lot of fun. Released all. Mike

I went out this evening for a little while with my wife and we had 5 blue cats 3-6#(no big ones), 6 LM up to 17”(had a couple good ones jump and spit the spoon), 1 3# hybrid, 2 whites and a 13” crappie. No walleye. 27 FOW on spot lock. I was pitching a 3/4 jigging spoon and she was working a vibrating spoon vertically…she had the bigger fish as usual. I could have really worked over the LM with a 5” spoon but I was not after them. No pics as these mostly unremarkable fish….maybe tomorrow. BTW - Hope that flutter spoon works well for you FW, if you need a map out to those main lake points lemme know….😉. Mike

Welcome to the party…spooning is a hoot. Mike

I have fished with guides that expected me to keep fish and were somewhat offended when I declined….my take is in a least a couple instances is they wanted pictures for their websites. They should consider becoming better action photographers… Mike

The stingrays still work well as well, always have white and green pumpkin in the boat rigged tail horizontally….

Blackberry fire tail nights and eves….strawberry on sunny days.

We’ve always called them “Attack ‘Gills”…routinely catch them on baits twice as big as they are. Mike

Awesome, and welcome! I agree that JB fishing is addictive….looks like you’ve got it working just fine! Mine

I have not been down recently but I would bottom bounce the 20’ contour +/- 5 and look for brush or breaks in that range; flats or gravel runouts toward the main lake. Spooning should be picking up as well once you find them. Mike

The “weight forward 5 weight floating” is a good all around line for a 5 weight rod. The “double taper 4 weight floating” is a good line for dries and delicate presentations. Sometimes you can go up or down a line weight on a rod depending on its casting characteristics/action. Mike

We need to protect our kids in the same fashion as our politicians and judges, but that is too simple and quite frankly can’t be used to advance other agendas. Seems they aren’t important enough to those who erect the fences and have the armies of security to protect themselves from these same products of modern society. Mike

I watched bits and pieces and at least one of these guys indicated that the fish he caught had been caught before, and that it was possible to pick up fish others in the competition had already scored. Also, a few mentioned hooking up a fish more than once and losing it before finally bringing it to hand. I just wanted to see if these guys were picking on my pets….did not see our dock but I have no doubt there were/are boats working that cove. Did pick up a few skipping tips while I watched. Mike

I am certainly no expert, but have learned to always have a spare spool(at least one) for any reel I buy. As I’ve gotten farther into this fly fishing thing I’ve found the ability to swap from floating to sink tip, etc. to be worth the expense…especially when fishing streamers which I love to do. As previously mentioned I would place less emphasis on the reel and more on rod and line when allocating funds. Mike

With the weather an afternoon fish is not surprising….and that’s a good fish and will probably hold up but you never know. I’ve been crappie fishing a bit and with the weather it’s a last hour or so thing for me - not even trying with the BBB guys on the water. I went out for 20 minutes last night and had my 15. Had a couple 13” fish and lost one at the boat that would have been 15” or better. Mike

Agree - when the sun rises tomorrow the females will be in and you’ll have to take a ticket for a chance to fish the spawning pockets. There are lots of bass boats out there today. Mike

Have caught and released many in LOZ all different times of the year….have never had a floater. I know they won’t live in a live well very long and if your going to keep them might as well toss them on ice. Mike

I worked for years in Alton/Wood River and fried buffalo/carp was a lunchtime staple. I’ve never wanted to expend the energy to prepare myself, but I will not pass on the opportunity to enjoy them properly prepared! Mike

Those pheasant tails will catch….in addition to all the other suggestions size 16-18 ruby midges are a good alternate to zebra midges and can be tough to beat some days. Mike

Sorry, already somewhat familiar with Ursus and could therefore deduce the member through the species identified. I guess I do remember some of the UMC book learnin’. Mike

I’ve caught many up to 40# below the old Alton lock/dam when I was younger and I certainly have all the tackle except I only have a couple suitable heavy rods…I mainly walleye, striper, and crappie fish. Have the dipsies, heavy duty driftmasters LH/RH, etc. and I know how to put and keep things at a specific depth. Like you, I would rather pursue fish that are more palate friendly. I admire the technique though, and may do it someday just cuz. Mike

Seth has that gig dialed, the lazy man’s way. Mike

I can attest to that…this fish came from right at 300’ out of Cook’s Inlet. Had him up to the boat twice and he decided to head back down and I wasn’t stopping him.