Hi Waters still high and is on a slow drop.Water is really clear in most areas. Shad and a lot of river minnows are showing up on the weed lines big time.As far as the bite goes, get a lure in front of them and they seem really aggressive. Good luck STEVE

Sounds like you had a good time on the river.Went by your cabin and I thought I saw those new rods leaning against your boat trailor.You had a good chance to break them in right.I’ve had the same problems with weddings,going away parties and grad. parties.But some times they are a lot of fun also.Yes the surface bite is starting to heat up on the river isn’t it.Well take care BASS BULL

I’ll give it a 2 but that might be pushing it!!!!! Bass just not acting normal for me.Old haunts just are not producing.Hope it gets better quick.Still beats working,this retirement thing is just great!! Hope everyone has a safe summer.

Cade concrats on the fish you are catching now.Those are some dandy perch for sure.In life and as you get older you will run into a lot of people that get all worked up over a lot of things you do in all aspects of life.Just step back and think things over and don’t think you can talk a lot of these people out of, our into the way you think.You have a very good work ethic and I believe a good head on your shoulders.Good luck in your fishing and what ever direction you take in life.Don’t get into a public Pi$$on contest it never works out!! Good luck this summer.

If you put all the peices of the puzzle together you will throw those enchanted treble hooks away and never use them.It will in the long run make you a much better fisherman.Some of your problems have been talked about already above,very good advice.Try to keep in mind that you have to have a balance set up as far as line size(mono our braid),rod lenght,med-heavy our light action.To become a very succesful jig fisherman you must have the answers to this and this all comes with experience.Enjoy and good luck

Getting into this type of fishing will open up a lot of knew ways to fish for small mouth and lrg. mouth bass.The action can really get hot and heavy at times.I fish it from ice out to ice in, its that vercital.One big thing about rods is to be sure and look around at differant sizes and makes of rods.Heavy action our med heavy.The main thing I would say is find one that is at least 7 foot.You will want to make very long cast to schools of fish and the farther you stay off the school the better off you are.In regards to this casting, keep in mind how this rod feels in your hands, it must be balanced and comfortable.You will be making a lot of cast in a days time and you don’t want a club of a rod because it will where you out real fast and make this kind of fishing more work than fun.As far as jigs go try as many as you want to buy.They all have some good points and bad.Some that have been mentioned here already are as good as place as any to get you started.Just make sure the grub you pick is one that you have confidance in.RC Tackle ,Lucky Strike and BNF Tackle(Custom Jigs and Spins) all make a very good trailor grub.For a differant look you could try a ZOOM Fat Albert grub.these are just a snaller size and some times that is what they want.Good luck and have fun.STEVE

I’ve used a fly reel for about 3 weeks now and have only good things to say about it.I fish as deep as 25ft. and the line coming off the reel straight is a big benifit.I have the spool handle on the left side because I left hand reel everything else.That way I use my right thumb for drag when needed.So far its been all positive.

With out question it would be the northern pike !!!!!!

I have used it both ways.I have sight fished with them in my tent and if you put a big wax worm on them it will give the bait that little bit of hesitation on the drop making the big blade lay on its side for just a moment.Some times they really like it that way(crappies).But nothing is cast in stone in fishing .Good luck STEVE

I agree that the dead fish on the bottom of the river is a waste. But I have been on the other side of this coin for most of my life.In that I’m talking about comm.fishing.I’m not hear to say that how and why this took place could have been differant.When you are pulling sceine hauls on the river you have a VERY SMALL area in which you can pull a net.We all know that most of the river with its current and snags a net can’t be pulled just anywhere.It’s actually a very small % of the river as a hole.There are spots on this river that fish stack up on and those fish never see a lure and aren’t bothered in any way shape our form.The fish that I noticed on film were fish with very good population numbers.The good that those men do for the river far and a way help the river more than a few lost strippers and sheep head.Thanks for letting me stand on the box for a while.I hope everyone the best in there fishing and lifes this year.STEVE

I wouldn’t take a four wheeler any farther than Indian.If you want to try Hay Shore drive thru New Albin a few miles and there is a road to a boat landing that is a short walk to Hay Shore.Really watch the ice right next to this boat landing and stay in the old tracks until you cross the slough.If you have never ice fished the Indian area before you can go to aboput 4 our 5 good places just from the New Albin boat landing,just fallow the tracks.Good luck STEVE

About 1 ft. down here,but checked the river last night and the water has soaked up into it and is easy walking.But these temps don’t turn me on much.Just about to head out right now to the Ambrose area.Well good luck and may the fun begin !!!!!!! STEVE

GreenLake has always been my go to spot for early ice.It seems like it always freezes up about as early as any place.No didn’t try Shore Slough but thought about it tho..Down around Prairie theres to much deep water for me to even think about trying it down here.My brother was out just north of Bagley(Havel Lake)and fished for a while on Monday but ran into the same thing I did.Bad ice getting worse about noon our so and had to beat feet also.Not much biting for him either.Next couple of days will tell us a lot about how good our bad this ice formation is going to be.Well good luck guys. STEVE

Pool 10…I think the snow and after affect of high pressure shut down the fish I was on also.The gil bite went south fast. Have a good one. STEVE

The water stage today is 8.30.Went out yesterday with little luck at all.I think it was the spot.(Mudslough)Water was very dirty yet.Greenmore has been the hot spot for the last week because of high water.The north end which always turns on after the water gets to 8.50 and up.But now that bite has slowed down also.The ice is very thick yet also,BUT make sure if you cross anywhere there was current it could be thinner than it was a week ago.So be very carefull.steve

Try this- It could be that your weed guard is to long .Cut it shorter so its just above the hook point.Also remove some of the fieber guard all togethor. This will take a finger nail clippers to cut it as close to the head of the jig as possible.Take your time and remove them and take your finger and brush the guard towards the hook until it has just enough pressure to get thru the weeds ok.Takes a little tryle and error.I’ve ruined a few so don’t feel alone if you do also. If done right the jig will swim as stait as a arrow. GOOD LUCK.

Three nights of 40+ degrees in a row and the bite is on !!!

Hello Scott …..Ice fishing is still going on and the bite is good.But as of last night where we had over a foot raise in water things are going to change fast now. You will need a boat to just get on the ice .The ice in the dead water lakes is still good for a short while yet I would say,but has turned real soft on top. I’ve hung it up for the year the water is opening up now in the channels so its time to get the boat out for me. BE VERY CAREFULL IF YOU TRY AND ICE FISH NOW.

Hi Birdman how’s it going.Have been also catching a few perch up my way and when I clean them they have a lot of very small Bluegills in their stomachs.The bite has been good over all this past month.Had a 4 wheeler go thru the Abroes ice on Sat. up by the north landing in front of the springs. They were all safe .Well have a safe spring ice out. Steve

HI Guys Seems like down on the Ambroes area we have a good bite going . But right now depth isn’t that important as in most of the fish are just under the ice. Good luck Steve

Poll 10 – Right now there is a lot of snow (12 inches)and about 8 inches of water standing on top of the ice making it real hard to get around. The fish are biting tho. Mud Slough is going good on the Ambroe side of the ditch. Little M. and Big M., with Upper Doubles all have fish going but you might have one heck of a time getting around for sure. Good luck Steve

NUTS !!!!!! There is nothing sacred any more. Every one have a good day

Your right Herb this could change a lot of things going on right now.If it drops real fast we it will raise a lot of h!!!%%ll with the fishing. STEVE

HI Birdman Long time no see!!!!! Didn’t try to get on any other spots yet.I thought in the Ambroes area with the current and deep sloughs was not to my liking.Maybe about Tues. our Wed. I might try Mud Slough tho.. Take care

Should be able to get on Green Lake up on the North end of Desoto Bay this morning.Spring lake (North of PDC)had a good layer of ice on it last night but not good enough to walk on tho.This morning I would be surprised if you couldn’t walk on it with no trouble.After work today(2:00) I will give it the test for sure.Every one becareful.STEVE

Hello Heres my 2 cents for what it’s worth. PTrudeau I fish with basically the same set up you are trying right now.I went the Floro leader route for a while and had to ditch it because of the same problems you are haveing.I think the Floro has a bad habit of cutting its self.I would try P-LINE (17 LBS.TEST)for leader. I use power pro our fire line for my main line and I think the Power Pro is the better of the two. Leader length that works best for me is about 30 inches,tide together with a uni knot.Have fished this set up now for about 3 years and haven’t had any problems in that regards. knock on wood. Just cut back on the power in your hook set and that will help a lot.With no stretch lines just a small snap of the wrest is all it takes to sink the hook home. I use this set up on all of my swimming jigs and drop bait set ups. Also Danwi if you are useing the new style tungston sinkers they are rough on your line also (even with plastic inserts)They will cut your line quick.I use them and might have to change back because of the same problem you are haveing.Tho I like the size of them better.Still have the jury out on that one yet.Sorry for such a long winded thoughts guys but good luck in what ever you chose to do. STEVE

The better tourn. fisherman always have they’re money in early and are ready to fish.They all have had tourn. when they aren’t on the winning school but still give it 110 percent. Bass Bull

I use a rubber bobber stop.

Hi Bigweav….I have been out bass fishing for about a week now and all the ice is out of the dead water areas right now for sure.Only problem now is the cold moving water is going over the islands and into the dead water lakes and cooling them down!!!! I HOPE THIS HELPS STEVE

HI ….Gills and Specks, They open at 5:00 AM ,I’m use to getting up early so I might try and be there sometime around 6:00.Would like to be done eating and on the ice by first light if possible tho. Bass Bull