I thank IDO for allowing me to answer select customer questions here in this targeted public forum. These days when coming off the water it is not uncommon to have 15-20 emails from fisherman with questions. I’m in the midst of a 48 of 49 days guiding right now. My wife says she’s hiring her OWN fishing guide. Free time..MINIMAL. My daily inquiries range from Current Water temps, Resort suggestions, Bait stores, My Skeeter “SHO-TIME”, Long island Teas at Sha-Sha, and of course TACKLE!! GUYS LOVE TO TALK TACKLE!! While I do my best to answer each and every email or PM quickly the “In Depth” response is simply something I can only give here on IDO. As always….Take it, Leave it, Chew on it or spit it out.
First of all let me say this; I LOVE FISHING TACKLE!! I swear my wife believes I started guiding just to justify my tackle purchases!! 
Still IMHO Tackle……..The Right tackle is crucial when you elevate your game to chasing trophy fish of any species.
Let me explain. A recent common question I’m receiving as guys are counting the “daze” down before their trip; “Hey Daze!! Can’t wait to get on those MONSTER GATORS!! So I see your hucking the Max Raps!! Should we grab some of those? What color and size man??”
Here is the flat out truth to that answer. YES grab Max Raps, but also stock up on size 13 original balsa floaters. THEN grab some subwalks and Xraps from Rapala. WHY?? Here is why I believe you need multiple options in mulitiple sizes and colors. Because your friends are truly impressed when you open up your tackle box!! NOPE….JK
I have a size 13 laced up for real shallow delicate spots. I’m talking about turning the giant that puts a wake back in the rhubarb!! You have a SMALL WINDOW of opportunity here. She breaks the surface……YOU DROP it on her nose. Do it and catch her. Don’t have one laced up…DON’T CATCH HER. Just that simple. You need to be able to feather a cast back in the junk and sneak it back out. This floating “LUCKY 13” as I often reference it is my seasoned expert at reaching fish and the Triggering thost that frankly most will NEVER catch. YOU now WILL Maybe you shouldn’t tell your friends!! 
Then my search bait; I refer to “search” as to the scenario when those big fish scatter over a vast flat. Can your throw flies and catch fish here? YES. Efficient? NO. Again the big girls are NOT concentrated and huge amounts of water to burn. Bring your Casts to the “MAX” and burn water with your team efficiently and smart. Fan cast the flat efficienty with the Max Rap. Now take it another step and throw multiple colors. If your buddy misses a giant throw a different color or size back at that fish. MUCH better chance of fooling her twice.
Now fish of all species as we know are MOODY!! Contrary to popular belief are NOT feeding 24/7. To get “IN DEPTH” they are not in one mood a day, but several. I’m going to leave it there. Here is a daily scenario I count on when guiding. As an example; Possibly an aggressive morning feeding frenzy where we can work fast. I might work a Subwalk from Rapala that has a very aggressive side to side action that you can literally cast from here to Canada. Then mid morning those fish might have dropped of the feeding shelf and are hovering while digesting their breakfast. I then may slowly work a Max Rap. Slow twitch and suspend……AGAIN SLOW SLOW SLOW!! Your just a fat “dessert” in this presentation and not trying to be the main course!! Be the cheesecake and not the Steak!! They’ll eat it all just like we do.
Then a front rolls through and changes the light levels. I’ll move from my perch/walleye patterns to GHOST WHITE!! YES SIR!! Too much emphasis on Orange/Chart while white is possibly the most visible color in dark stained water.
My point is simple. OPTIONS allow us as anglers to best match the mood of the fish and the conditions we fish within. Matching the Mood and forage is critical when triggering the bigger fish. It is impossible for us to forecast the mood of the fish much less the conditions we’ll huck bait within. What I can tell you is Big fish will be triggered with several different sizes, colors and actions of baits simply within a given day. OPTIONS my friends……GOLDEN!! 
This massive Rainy Lake Pike “OPTED” to attempt to make sawdust out of my customers size 13 Perch pattern floating Rapala!! Kudos to Brian for taming the beast with…….ONE GOOD ARM!! 
Disclaimer; Rainydaze Guide Service is NOT responsible for Lucky, Sentimental, One of a kind Lures being dismantled. Your favorites may very well be treated very badly by Rainy Lake monsters. Never bring 1 of ANYTHING. Cast at your own risk and keep your toes out of the water these fish when on the right pattern can get very very angry.
