Smithvillesteve

Love the fact that it is catch, WEIGH, and release!!

I certainly dont disagree with you boys about the population of predators increasing dramatically. But MDC will tell you that loss of habitat is number one. You just dont see any crp fields anymore and that was so beneficial to turkeys, quail and pheasants. Farmers also started tearing out ditches, fencelines, draws etc in order to get more rows of crops. There use to be quite a bit of timber here around the Smithville area and into nkc area. See a lot of deer and turkeys on my way to Walleyworld. Now they are replaced by apartment complexes and the like. Just sayin boys.

Thanks boys. Always appreciate the advice and info you guys provide. I will do a little research on the products you recommended. Once again, thank you.

Buddy of mine was fishing with my St Croix Mo Jo bass rod the other day. It broke about a foot down from the tip. He was hung up but wasnt doing anything unusual to make it break in my opinion. That is the second one of those that has broke in the exact same spot. The good news is that St Croix has a pretty good warranty system. Send them a pic of the break and they ship me a new rod. I think it is 25 dollars. I'm thinking about going to a new setup. I would like to stay in the 150-200 dollar range. I'm looking at: 1) Staying with the St Croix but upgrading to the Avid series. I've heard good things about the Avids 2) The Falcon Bucoo series. I know Bill and some of you other boys like the Falcons Any advice from you boys would be appreciated.

Happy Birthday RPS!! I have enjoyed a lot of your takes on here and especially enjoy talking walleye fishing with you at the OA events. Have a great day buddy!!

Happy Birthday Wrench!! You're a different cat but we love you!! And thanks for all the mechanical help you gave me last year! Have a great day!!

troll Martins flats for whites

Tell the people up at Stockton that Bill. I tried and got grilled!! The best response i got was: "yea, i practice catch and release. Catch and release right into the hot grease!"

I've been to Mille Lacs the last two years. In september. The good thing about Mille Lacs is you can always plan your fishing sessions according to the wind. The lake is a big bowl. The thing is a 10-15 mph wind on that lake can whip up some serious whitecaps. But you can check the wind and find a launch in the appropriate area that is protected and fish that area. We never did venture out to the middle where the big boulders are. Where the pros are catching 6-7 lbers. 2 years ago my buddies boat had some issues and last year we just didnt feel the need to do it. My buddy caught a beautiful 4lber and i have caught a few 2-3 lbers. If you want to stay relatively close to home this is a nice place to go.

Stockton has the greatest sunsets

Thanks 196 Champ. Appreciate the input.

Hey Champ: I'm looking at the Lowrance FS 7 unit and am glad to hear you like yours. I too am not that interested in Active Target. Not my cup of joe either. Would you mind telling me what transducer you got? Thanks.

Ok I'm 70 yrs old and clueless on the new depth finders. I want to buy a new one for my console. And move the graph on my console to the bow. I have a Terrova trolling motor with the transducer in the head. I have been told all i can do with that is put 2HD finder up there and that is what is currently on the console. So move it to the bow. I am looking at buying a Lowrance FS7 with the 3 in 1 transducer. I believe i get sidescan with that and downscan. And later i could add the Active Target if i want. Is this correct? Can i put the Active Target on the back of the boat? Or does that need to go on the trolling motor shaft? Or does it have a shaft of its own? Thanks for any help boys. I sincerely appreciate it.

Good job. Good report.

I got a 7'4" St Croix Glass Cranking rod for Christmas. MH Power Moderate Action. I havent used it very often as i am not a real big deep crank guy. But did use it last monday down at Pomme for awhile. Was throwing a 6XD. It just almost felt too stiff for me but a 5lb flathead loaded up on it real nice. And like you boys say, that heavier rod makes it a lot easier for throwing a 6XD. I just ordered a Lews David Fritts Cranking rod from TW to throw lighter cranks on like the RK, Wart, DT's etc. It got good reviews for the price. 99 dollars.

Bill: I am certainly not one to give you advice. You will forget more about bass fishing than i will ever know. But everytime i read on BassBlasters about a tournament guy winning with a crankbait they talk about changing out the hooks. Now, they are fishing for thousands of dollars and their livelihood. I dont have the time, energy or tools to change out hooks. That 6XD is a popular bait right now.

Dutch: I fished Stockton monday afternoon from 2 to 6. Got a little bit of repreive from the heat so I thought i would give the smallies a shot before i headed home. Bright sunshine and very little wind. Tough conditions to bass fish that clear water. I focused mostly on bluff ends and points putting the boat in 25 fow and fan casting the area. Tried a jig, crankbait, shakeyhead and swimbait. Caught a 15 inch walleye on the swimbait and a very small smallie on the shakeyhead. Headed home with my tail between my legs. But it was nice to get out. Never saw another fishing boat. Only sail boats.

Wow. Hope there is no major fish kill.

You Stockton boys love it when the spots disappear!!

Dont think i could put a knife thru a 7 lb 8 oz walleye. Not knocking Mr Stillings at all just saying I personally could not do that. I fish for walleye at Stockton quite a bit and i cant bring myself to fillet up a walleye over 20 inches. Just my personal opinion here. Congrats to Mr. Stillings.

I fished Pomme for about 5 hrs last thursday. Bass fished. With the water in the flooded bushes it all looked so good. I caught 4 dinks. Tried a spinnerbait thru the bushes and no luck. Tried a baby brushhog in there and not much luck. Caught a couple on a shakeyhead outside the bushes. Trying to hit the old shoreline. Water temp 75. I went back to the ramp around 8 pm with my tail between my legs. Lots of big floaters still around. Be careful!!

If its being reported that there is way too much pressure on the bass at TR why do we allow all these tournaments to continue? Seems just asanine to me. Why wouldnt they start limiting the numbers? Why wouldnt they want to protect that valuable resource?

thanks for the info MoPanfisher.

I spent last week down at Pomme and the crappie spawn did not seem to be on. Now, i am a bass guy but will fish for crappies when the spawn is on. Let me ask you crappie guys: what happens now with the lake going up 10 ft? Will the crappie still come up shallow to spawn? Spawn in deeper water? Not spawn at all just dissolve the eggs? Thanks boys!

spent 3 days over at Stockton instead Ketchup. 3 out of 4 guys got turkeys. You can guess who didnt get one! The crappie fishing over at Stockton was hit and miss. One of my buddies who is pretty good stick over there got his limit monday afternoon. Jigs in 8 to 12 ft. SLOWWWWW. Tuesday he got shut out and he fished almost all day. I struggle over there crappie fishing. Coming down to Pomme this sunday afternoon. Will probably go over to LOZ and fish a couple of days but will give Pomme a shot. Any updated info on Pomme?