In addition to lowering the limit on panfish, I’d be all for closing down the season on Sunfish and Crappies during the spawn. This is when the most damage is done and you get the “bucket fillers”. They’re an easy target on most lakes (not all of course), so the spawners get yanked out by everyone. This is especially true in the metro area where if word of a “hot bite” gets out you can bet that there will be 10-15 boats posted up on 1 spawning bed on any given day. I have also seen lakes with size restrictions on crappies in particular- “Must be 11″ or bigger to keep a fish.” From what i can see this is working well with crappies, so why not attempt it with Sunfish too…

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Doesn’t surprise me you had this issue with DH. I have spoken to a number of people who have had the same issue with his summer rods and they also reported poor customer service. I have gone in there a number of times to get bait when in a pinch and the owner seems to be arrogant, short with customers and has a bad attitude. My recommendation to you is switch over to Thorne Bros rods-great customer service and IMHO…a much better rod. I now go to the BP gas station for bait right down the road and avoid DH at all costs.

I just picked up the I-2 bibs, so far they seem perfect what i plan on using them for. The main reason i picked these up over the other suits out there (Ice Armour, Stryker, HT Polar Fire, Strikemaster, etc) was because they are the lightest weight ones i could find. I get too warm in other suits and these are something i feel i can use as rain gear in the early summer and fall. All you really need is something that is waterproof and wind proof to stay warm. These do the trick on both fronts, plus they have the padded knees and butt for extra durability. The sleeve design was much better as well-nice extra long elastic cuff like a hooded sweatshirt would have. This is important when ripping across the lake on a wheeler or in windy situations-keeps the cold out. I plan on using them on P2 when it opens back up in Feb/March.

Go Sioux! Sioux yeah yeah!

if only he can stay healthy

It also depends on how fast you are going when you pass over the fish. The faster the speed, the sharper the arch. If you are traveling at a snails pace, fish often look like nice caterpillars on the bottom or anywhere else in the water column. Often times when vertical jigging, i’ll mark fish just off the bottom or really tight to the bottom with no arch present at all. To Mark’s point, the “arch” does not play favorites!