Mitch f

I don't doubt that masking scent is just as important or even more important. Just take any jig out of the package and smell it. Yesterday I was at Bullseye bait and tackle talking with the owner John. He said he was walleye fishing in Canada and sitting so close to another fisherman in the boat that they were almost bumping elbows. They were using live leeches for bait. The other guy was catching one after the other. John wasn't getting bit. John finally asked the guy to bait his leech on his hook for him and he started immediately catching walleyes. Then he noticed that the guy was using a cover scent on his hands, where Johns hands smelled like aftershave. Guess it made all the difference.

They know it. I was hired to scan all of the original storm wiggle wart molds thru a vendor. I'm under NDA contract so mums the word. But I can tell you they are trying to improve it. I noticed the Lucky Strike Wart Hog knock off has a much different action than the wart. I'm looking forward to see if this new Live Target bait has the same hunting, re centering action as the old wart. FWIW, you can take a file and sharpen the lip to produce a hunting action on the new rapala Warts

Crawfish actually do rattle when they are in the back peddling mode, their claws clang together...tickling the lateral lines of the predators. We had this discussion a while back about the Okeechobee bass being conditioned to lures. FishingWrench brought up a study conducted by the late great Doug Hannon I think. The study showed the bass could remember a lure by an "acoustic footprint" and equate that lure to danger. Don't know how long their memory lasted but it adds credence to your statement about some variable turning off the fish. But I've also heard from more than one person about watching smallmouth while diving that when a lure bounces off the bottom it produces a debris cloud or a big "ca-motion" as aarchdale says. The divers witnessed smallmouth coming down to within a couple of inches of the lure and flaring their gills to taste the debris cloud without touching the lure at all. I can't imagine the fish would be turned off by a crawfish scent at that point. This behavior to me would indicate they are in a neutral feeding mode. So, having said that, I think scents will work more than not.

Classics!, oops...that's What Phil said. Great old pics!!

I would think you would need an understanding wife more than anything. Unless you're one of the types that enjoys being alone ( which I could never do). If you're constantly preoccupied with a crappy relationship, I would think you can't fully concentrate and excel at achieving your potential.

This is because you're a trout fisherman, I know many smallmouth fisherman that would love to drive for 1.5 hours on a Saturday if they knew they could catch fish.

Yes, Old Plug, this is true! Some of those tournament anglers think they are God. I've heard many stories about the way they treat co anglers. I recently heard a co angler tell me that the pro (who I won't mention) was such a jerk that when my buddy told him in the boat "I heard it's supposed to be sunny and 70 degrees today" the pro replied " I can look at the weather forecast for myself!" ......can you say A'Hole!!

The problem is not so much guys like you on this forum using the website for "leads". The problem is the sheer amount of people with access to the most powerful thing in the world....a search engine If you google the magic words in this thread, you will soon see why this topic is better left alone. In less than 30 seconds I was locked in to the right spot.

Never fished with wrench or Phil but I know Al is extremely good

Alton Jones is awfully good

I hear ya Old Plug, Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill every time!

Bingo

Especially when they beat you to the ramp!

The guy that pulled 30 yards in front of you is in the wrong for sure. Had a guy do that to me at TR once and when I passed by about 10 ft away he said "I'm in a tournament!" . Imagine the look on his face when I trolled between him and the bank.

That's great info, thanks

Phil, as a resort owner I completely understand wanting to give your clients a favorable experience, I would do the same thing. But posting it on the internet is completely different than telling someone about a good spot. At that point it's out of your control and the people receiving that information might not have the same ethics as you and I.

They won't, but his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl and his friend Merle who's got a boat and loves smallmouth fillets for breakfast, will be pounding it.

Never ever, ever, ever, ever tell anyone on the internet where you are catching fish! Yes, I'm a jerk

20 pounds??

Yea, this rig is hard to beat. I guess this will replace the April grub bite at TR

And when you hook a 47 lb striper and your rod takes on the shape of the gunnel you might be having a bad day.

One of the things that Drews rod has that the Cherrywoods don't is ceramic guides. I think they are a double edged sword on a cheaper rod. Yes, they are smoother at first but they (the ceramic inserts) fall out quickly on cheap rods and expose the sharper metal ring which will cut your line. Now you have to sink another few dollars into a cheap rod.

My problem when bringing a quality rod in a canoe is that personally I'm a little clumsy and know by past experience I've broken quite a few rods in a canoe. Not to mention, since I use a tandem canoe when I ever go out in a canoe, you have to cope with the other person's experience. I also think that you can slightly nick a rod in a certain area that will later break because of the damage in that spot. I but feel your pain Ronnie about having to use a rod that's not what you're used to.

Berkley makes a Cherrywood model for $25, it's sometimes at Walmart. 5'6" medium bait caster. It will work too as a knock around rod. The only problem is the reel seat won't work well with Shimano bait casting reels...no matter how much you tighten it, it will still wobble a little bit. Other than that it's perfect for a beater canoe rod. Here's the link: http://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/rods-and-combos/rods/cherrywood-hd

Head on collision with a gerbil!