wareaglecamo

ALL-YEAR MUST-HAVES: ( JERKBAIT, NED RIG, DROP SHOT, PLASTIC SWIMBAIT, CAROLINA RIG, ROCK CRAWLER, SPINNERBAIT, JIG AND CRAW/CREATURE, GRUB and NEKO RIG . . . and this does NOT include any trolling rigs or crappie rigs . . . IT WAS SOOOOOOO SIMPLE IN THE 50s and 60s . . . only used 2 or 3 rigs and felt well prepared . . . simple, no confusion or second-guessing

hey Champ . . . have you changed your mind about one of your previously-recommended colors called SPOT REMOVER?

Bill B . . . I think the Tyler,Texas clients story is the single funniest story I have ever read on this forum . . . I laughed so hard I actually forgot, for a moment, how horrible the weather is outside . . . I'm guessing that second day he somehow positioned himself BETWEEN you and his wife at all times?

dtrs5kprs . . . I really like the idea of cutting the hook end off of a jig and gluing the jig head with a portion of the shank into the worm, craw or creature bait . . . Bill B . . . yep, you are correct, regarding the "finesse" part of it, I would say most finesse-rigging videos on YouTube involve 10lb braid with an 8lb fluorocarbon leader on a spinning rod and usually with a 2500 series reel . . . putting that aside, have you personally ever used that exact technique with a true finesse set-up . . . I'm guessing in your hands and on your home lake, you couldn't keep 'em off . . . to say the least, I have a great deal of admiration for your skills:)

seems like a real advantage would be by having the hook located at the midway point along the length instead of down by the weight (i.e. shakey head), the tail of the bait would never have a chance to lay on the bottom . . . regardless whether the bait is "buoyant" or not . . . you also could have the same result by weighting the tail-end of a plastic craw or creature bait and hooking the bait through the thorax . . . this would always keep the pincers or tentacles of the bait up in a defensive posture

I had never heard of it until a couple of days ago . . . evidently developed by Japanese tournament anglers and showed up, with success, on the FLW tour in 2010-2011 . . . looks like it deserves a try . . .

nice report . . . 15lbs with the way conditions have been? I'd say give yourself a high-five! great job . . . nice pics

thanks Cj . . . great info at a time when people are at a loss as to what conditions are like and whether it is even remotely feasible to venture out

to everyone . . . what can I say? . . . simply "thank you" doesn't seem like enough . . . I think I have just been on the receiving end of a priceless seminar on "techniques of trolling for walleye" . . . unsponsored, unbiased and based on years and years of actual experience along with the unselfish willingness and generosity to share successful approaches and help a guy who is getting up in age and wants to pursue a new approach to enjoying these unbelievable southwest Missouri lakes that we are blessed with . . . Could this happen anywhere other than on the OAF??? great, great information! thanks to all . . .

thanks for sharing Qb . . . very interesting

powerdive and dennishoddy . . . thank you . . . interesting, informative and eye-opening for me . . . one thing for sure, after all the comments shared here, I definitely will be using my Honda 5hp with no thoughts of scaring the fish . . . for me, having now resolved the outboard vs trolling motor issue is a load off my mind . . . it also puts the pressure squarely on my shoulders . . . can't blame a no-fish day on the gas outboard . . .

wow . . . L175 and Wmike . . . priceless input . . . thank you guys so much! I have been buying trolling merchandise on and off over the winter for the last 2 years in anticipation of trolling . . . but, I am embarrassed to admit, everything is still in its original packaging and never been opened . . . just never made the commitment . . . 2016 will be different! I have some Mack's smile-blade slow death rigs and some Flicker Shads, just never used them:( However, since taking the the big step by ordering the Okuma line-counter reels this week, I will follow through with the commitment this time . . . You guys have definitely got me "PUMPED".

thanks rps and nomo . . . I'm relieved with the positive feedback related to gas outboards . . . gas outboard is the way I am leaning and I'm not hearing anyone say they feel it hurts their chances as compared to a trolling motor . . . I'm anxious to get into trolling and have been wanting to give it an honest try for years . . . it's just been hard for me to break old habits . . . just ordered 2 Okuma Convector line-counter reels model CV-20DLX (left-handed) for $61.64 each from Amazon . . . best price I could find anywhere . . . 33 "rave" reviews on the Fish USA website averaging nearly 5 stars convinced me that it would be a great reel without breaking the bank

thanks L175 . . . just ordered 2 Okuma Convector line-counter reels model CV-20DLX (left-handed) for $61.64 each from Amazon . . . best price I could find anywhere . . . 33 "rave" reviews on the Fish USA website averaging nearly 5 stars convinced me that it would be a great reel without breaking the bank . . . really looking forward to using them . . . I'm very glad to hear that using an outboard has no noticeable impact on fish count . . . gas outboard is the direction I was hoping to go

Qb . . . great info . . . thanks so much

I have decided to give trolling a try in 2016. I have done very little trolling in the past . . . actually, next to nothing. I also want to be able to get down to very slow trolling speeds (0.5 to 1.0 mph at times). My main concern is the sound of a gas outboard running at idle speed vs the hum of a trolling motor. Will the sound of a gas motor (Honda 5hp) reduce the number of bites as compared to the trolling motor? . . . let's say bottom-bouncing at a depth of 30 fow, 45 degree line angle to the water surface and 75-100 ft of line out . . . if I "strike out" while trolling, I'd like to at least know that it was due to technique and not noise . . . as aiways, thanks for your input . . . happy new year to everyone out there in the OAF world?

I have decided to give trolling a try in 2016. I have done very little trolling in the past . . . actually, next to nothing. I also want to be able to get down to very slow trolling speeds (0.5 to 1.0 mph at times). My main concern is the sound of a gas outboard running at idle speed vs the hum of a trolling motor. Will the sound of a gas motor (Honda 5hp) reduce the number of bites as compared to the trolling motor? . . . let's say bottom-bouncing at a depth of 30 fow, 45 degree line angle to the water surface and 75-100 ft of line out . . . if I "strike out" while trolling, I'd like to at least know that it was due to technique and not noise . . . as aiways, thanks for your input . . . happy new year to everyone out there in the OAF world?

Cj . . . thanks for the heads-up:-)

you're information and photos are more-appreciated than you could ever imagine . . . especially in extreme times like now . . . I would nominate you for the "CONTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR" award if OAF had such an annual recognition . . . I think you would be right up there with Bill Babler?

great input . . . great ideas . . . amazing how each person eventually settles on their own specific technique undoubtedly "tweeked" over time to produce positive results . . . I am immensely grateful for all the feedback . . . What makes OAF soooooo special to a person like myself looking for advice is I feel the responses are genuine, supported by personal experience over time and not a result of a sponsorship rooted in an obligation to promote specific products. There is no substitute for the kind of unbiased and unselfish feedback that continuously surfaces on this wonderful forum. Thanks so much. I will "re-load" psychologically and give it an honest and "open-minded" try in the next few weeks following Christmas.

MOsmallies, abkeenan, mjk86 . . . Wow! What an incredible wealth of information! Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and the "detail" of your information . . . a great help to me:-)

I find myself walking endlessly up and down the aisles at BPS trying to make a choice on size, color and brand of both jig head and plastic swimbait to put on an A-Rig . . . I haven't been able to make a decision yet . . . do you have your favorite "pairing" jig head/swimbait to use on the A-Rig??? In recent years I have been able to settle on my favorite favorite topwater, crankbait, jerkbait, etc . . . but this A-Rig thing has been a tough one for me with no real success to report and minimal usage along with loss of confidence in the overall technique itself . . . I'd like to thank everyone on this forum for their willingness to share and priceless input/reports . . . have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends and thanks again for all your input throughout the year:-)

IMO . . . not a good idea wrapping yourself in an electromagnetic field . . . hmmmmmmmmm??? . . . seems strange how the manufacturers of those once-popular electric blankets simply stopped producing them