Congrats on making the championship!

There are many great places to stay in the area. http://www.vacationokoboji.com is a good place to look and/or call (800) 270-2574 and the Okoboji Tourism people will help you out.

Good Luck,

Eric Naig

Hey Ryan;

Sorry to hear about your confrontation. Unfortunately, these stories are becoming more common. I’m sure you have heard of “A few bad apples spoil the basket” That has happened to an extent in tournament angling of all levels. Heck, we have “Pros” (and I use that word with much sarcasm) yelling at service crew guys and crashing local pre-tournament meetings telling anglers to “Stay off my spot–I have a chance to win $50,000!”

The truth is tournament anglers are always being watched and scrutinized…that is the nature of the beast. Tournament anglers need to be extremely well behaved on and off the water for our sport to continue to grow.

I applaud your decision to leave the area in question. Something that has worked for me when a boat is near the area I would like to fish, is to slowly motor up to them and ask if it would be O.K. to fish the spot WITH them. You’d be suprised how far a smile, a wave, and some friendly converstaion will get you.

Although there is no answer to rudeness on the water…and no doubt it will continue…fishing by the motto “Treat others as you would like to be treated” will always work out in the long run.

Good luck!

Eric Naig

alkfish

I use the OPTIMA Group 31 BlueTop batteries for my trolling motor and starting battery. With all of the electronic gadgets we have running on our boats these days, I think a deep cycle battery (with enough cranking amps) is the way to go for your starting battery too.

The OPTIMAs look like a “six-pack” with their Spiralcell technology. This is a fairly new technology that gives you a leak-proof, vibration resistant and maintenance free battery with more starting power and longer cycle life.

Their website is http://www.optimabatteries.com

Good luck;
Eric Naig

http://www.gophertackle.com

Good Luck!
Eric Naig

Congrats on the new boat!! I have a new TS202 sitting in my garage, itching to get on the water…(I have a 225 Mercury Optimax on mine)

The boat should run (full load) in the mid-to-high fifties. Ride will be good with the quick-shot transom, 20+ foot length, and wide beam.

I took my first ride in the boat last fall and was impressed…I previously had a glass boat, too.

Have fun with your new boat and with all of the room you have in it, take some friends fishing with you!!

Good Luck;
Eric Naig

Comenchero15:

This will be the “new” wave in areation. By maintaining 100% oxygen, keeping fish and bait alive will be much easier…even in hot weather. I’ve heard that Crestliner is offering them as an option on their Tournament Series boats.

Check out http://www.lesmonster.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=39 for a place to purchase them.

Eric Naig

For the original post question, I like 1/8 to 1/4 oz Gopher Tackle Mushroom head jigs when casting plastics/Powerbait.

For verticle jigging them, a round head with a long hook shank works for me. (Size depends on river depth and current)

Gatzeye:

I use Powerbait exclusively also. Berkley makes most of the shapes and colors mentioned here. I guess I like the odds of having a scent and flavor enhanced bait vs. a piece of plastic.

I think the “marketing scheme” (as you put it) is to give people another option other than a minnow on their jig. And sometimes plastic will outfish bait.

Give plastic/Powerbait a try and add it to your toolbox to help you catch more fish.

Good Luck,

Eric Naig

Congrats and enjoy!!

Eric Naig

Dirk W.

I got my daughter an ABUMATIC to use. Prices range from $25-$65. All models are very reliable with fewer parts, steel bearings, dual pick-up pins, etc.

There is a new model this year ABUMATIC 275, that is smaller, which is great for smaller hands and lighter lines.

Glad to see you getting the girls involved with your fishing…….Good for you!!

Good Luck

Eric Naig

Red Rock Eyes:

All pro-staff positions start with the dealer……find yourself one you like and trust and build the relationship from there.

A dealer standing behind you is more important than tournament wins, etc. in regards to pro-staff.

You need to prove to the dealer how you can help him sell more boats and create exposure for his dealership and products. If you can do that, most would be happy to put you on their pro-staff.

Good Luck!

Eric Naig

I use Cabelas 5mm neoprenes and they have been great.

Mainly used duck hunting and cold weather casting for walleyes, thus the thick neoprene.

If I have to walk a long distance and I have the liners in them they do start to hurt my feet. Anyone know of wide sizes for my fat feet?!

Kensyl:

Right on!!

Looked at the info in Fenwick catalog and in fly-line and backing.

Thanks for the info.

Eric Naig

I think good, progressive dealers are always looking for more pro-staff members to help them sell more boats (which is the name of the game)

I have heard that most boat dealers have had tremendous sales at the boat shows this year.

Good Luck.

Eric Naig

Bassbaron:

I will use a small #10 or #12 barrel swivel to attach vanish to superlines.

Tie the superline on with a palomar knot and the florocarbon with a Trilene knot and you should be good to go.

The only drawback to using a swivel is the leader can’t be much longer than 3 feet because it becomes awkward to cast.

Good luck

Eric Naig

Berkley Vanish has a place in my fishing toolbox.

I use it mainly for leader material…….spinners, live bait rigs (6# test worked great for me on Mille Lacs last year), leaders behind leadcore line, and tied to a swivel behind flame Fireline when verticle jigging in clear water.

I also use it on West Okoboji (gin clear) when drop-shotting for bass and walleyes and open water trolling on the Great Lakes.

The benefits to using Vanish are: its low visibility, low stretch, and it 100% knot and line strength when wet (nylon line loses some strength when wet).

The disatvatages are: not as manageable as nylon based fishing lines, heat caused by friction tends to weaken line at the knot when not lubricated (as mentioned before…..wet the knot and wet it again just to be sure).

I personally haven’t found one single fishing line that works for all techniques and applications…….maybe someday. Until then I will take the good with the bad and keep using them as “tools” to catch more fish.

Good Luck.

Eric Naig

smtroutchaser:

Thanks for the great, detailed advice. It will be put to good use this spring/summer.

One thing that is confusing to me is tippets/leaders…….You don’t tie directly to the tapered leader?

And, yes I would like the nail-knot instructions. [email protected]

Eric Naig

BLIZZARD up here in Northern IA…….unable to make it to Fort Dodge today.

I will post here if we reschedule.

Eric Naig

Sounds like a great time. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend…….(I’m pre-fishing for a tournament in South Dakota)

Good luck with the event!

Eric Naig

James:

Have you tried the photochromic colored Berkley Premium Strength line? It is pretty visible above the water (although not as visible as the XT solar)

Its a very versatile line. I’ve used it for years (an earlier form of the line used to be called Tri-Max) and it has worked well for me.

Good Luck,

Eric Naig

Zim,

The 7’10” GR Lightning Rod is a little stiffer than the 8’6″ model. I like the slightly heavier action for leadcore fishing so I can “read” the baits better (it shows bait wiggling).

Whenever I’m trolling, I like to keep the rod angle the same as the when the fish bit. In other words if the fish hits the starboard side rod, I simply take the rod from the rod holder and start cranking with the rod remaining on the starboard side in a similar position where the fish was hooked. No hook set or change in the rod angle (lifting the rod to above your head versus horizontal with the water).

Take your time with big fish and don’t pump the rod when your reelin the big girls in……..slack line is bad!

Hope this makes sense………I would be a heck of alot easier to show you how I fight the fish than to write about it.

Hope this helps

Good Luck.

Eric Naig

Hybes, lots of choices here…….I’ll break it down to 3 trolling methods…..1. Open water trolling 2. Countour trolling 3. Leadcore trolling…….here it goes.

In open water when using in-line boards I like 10 lb. Berkley XT (green), a 5500 or 6500 C3 Abu Garcia Ambassador (line counters are nice also), Fenwick Eglass downrigger rods 8 foot.

For contour trolling I like 10/4 Berkley Fireline (smoke), an Abu Garcia 5600 C3, and a Berkley Lighting rod (Gary Roach model 8’6″)

For leadcore I like an Abu Garcia 7000CL with 10 colors of lead and a Vanish florocarbon leader, on a Berkley Lightning rod (7’10” Gary Roach model)

As far as leaders go, Vanish is some tough stuff and since it is Florocarbon it is hard for the fish to see. I use the 15lb test leader material and it seems to combat those pesky zeebs pretty well.

Good luck.

Eric Naig

I like the 1/4 oz Frenzy Rattl’r in the Gold/Black color. (They even come with the hooks like Beav talked about……larger on front and smaller on back and sharp……I think they are VMC)

Like it has been said, lipless crankbaits catch everything that swims and they are fun to fish. Try one this season, I think they work great.

Good Luck,

Eric Naig

Try the Berkley Frenzy diver. I like the crawdad color in the river.

Eric Naig

I like black with a chartruese tail or pumpkinseed…..both 4in Berkley Powerbait ringworms.

You can look at Gopher’s mushroom heads at http://www.gophertackle.com

Good Luck

Eric Naig

I like to rig mine on a 1/8 to 1/4 ounce Gopher Tackle Mushroom head jig. Sometimes I will take a Berkley Power Minnow and “lip hook” it on the jig too. This gives me a “V” type shape with the ringworm tail and the power minnow.

Eric Naig

My friends down at Ranger Boats keep telling me abount the good walleye fishing on Bull Shoals. I know the White River there is a world class trout fishery.

Gaston’s Resort has a number of full time fishing guides working out of there. I would get a hold of them. Sorry I don’t have their number.

Good luck, its a wonderful part of our great country.

Eric Naig

James is right on with his advice.

One thing about bottom bouncers……I always tell people they should be called “bottom feelers” because that is how you want to fish them. Don’t drag bottom bouncers, rather use them to touch the bottom periodically. If you fish a bouncer correctly you rarely should lose one due to a snag. Like James said, keep that 45 Degree line angle and you’ll do fine.

Another trick I’ve learned is to not overwork the bouncer/spinner…….an old MIlle Lacs guide once told me that walleyes weren’t acrobats…….After finding the bottom, try holding the rod very still, no jigging or feeling for the bottom, you can even put the rod in a rod holder. For some reason, some days the fish prefer this.

My guide for bouncer weights is 11/2 oz for less than 15 feet, 2 oz. for 15-30 feet, and 3 oz. for deeper. This is for speeds around 0.8 to 1.2 mph.

Bouncers and spinners is a great technique that will help you catch more fish.

Eric Naig

Jim:

Yes, the rapala knot is a loop knot.

Eric Naig

Jim:

I always use a small Berkley cross-lock snap (no swivel)whenever I fish crankbaits. I tie the snap onto my line with a palomar knot.

If you are tying directly to the crankbait be sure to tie to a split ring or tie a loop knot. (A knot snugged down on the eye of the crankbait will reduce the action of a crankbait)

Good Luck

Eric Naig

I like the Berkley PowerBait nightcrawlers, you don’t get green fingers…..heck you don’t even need to put them in the fridge.

My favorite color is the pumkinseed with the orange head.

Eric Naig