I've been using Moaner Hooks for a little while now. I heard about them from Big-O and a few others over on Bass Resource and thought I'd give them a try. I'm very impressed with them and would highly recommend everyone check them out. As an added bonus, which I just figured out once I joined the Rage Talk Forums :), they are made right here in Pa, so it's always good to give your money to a local business. 

Moaner uses Mustad Ultrapoint hooks and they stay very sharp, even after being pulled through rocks and wood. I like to use their 'Stroker Hooks' (weighted and unweighted) on swimbaits and creature baits. Next time the Texas rig just isn't producing for you, try using a creature bait on a weighted swimbait hook. The horizontal fall this hook gives you can be all the change the fish need to bite. The Rage Craw and a weighted Stroker hook has been my go to bait for this season, especially on the largemouth!

Check out their site at http://www.moanerhooks.com!

Interesting article from PennLive regarding the emergency smallmouth regulations put on the Juniata and Susquehanna rivers. While I am all for these regulations, I do see the issues these tournament anglers will face. A lot of tournaments run out of the Susquehanna during the spawn and this is going to hinder them greatly. Is it going to have a huge effect on the sale of tackle and licenses? Probably not, but only time will tell. Nobody said this was a permanent regulation anyway, so give it a chance. 

As I stated before, this is a step in the right direction, but it isn't the only answer. Have a look at the article and post your thoughts!


http://bit.ly/cJwp2I

http://www.fishandboat.com/newsreleases/2010press/bass_cr.htm

I'll be up front and honest, this should have happened a long time ago! I haven't been catching the numbers of smallmouth I used to on the river. A catch and release only season (or more) may help put the smallmouth back into their prime, but I don't think it will be enough. 


I wouldn't mind seeing the Juniata C&R section pushed as far as the Granville area. The fishing has become very slow from Lewistown to Granville and something needs to be done about this area too. Once you get above Granville, the smallmouth seem to be thriving. This area is very sparse in population and easily accessed fishing areas and it shows in the numbers of healthy fish. 


I'm writing this in a tangent and my ideas are all over the place. Here is what I would like to see happen with this:


- C&R section on the Juniata pushed to at least the Granville access area.
- A closed smallmouth season during spawn (there are enough species in the rivers to keep you busy). 
- Big Bass Program covering more of the Juniata River, AFTER the C&R program is lifted. 


Will all of this happen, probably not, but at least this C&R program is a step in the right direction. I'd like to hear your comments on this matter, so please post your thoughts!