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Is it "cheating"? In my situation, yes it is. It's easy, but easy isn't bad when you are talking about fishing. It has it's advantages. The lake is Richmond Mill Lake and the company is The Kingfisher Society. We are the cutting edge of fisheries management. But for me to sit here and say it's fishing just like every other lake would be a lie. It's nothing like a public lake. The bass are all 4.5lbs are better. We are able to sustain more fish per acre than most lakes. We have feeders that always have a couple of catchable bass around them. Our bluegill average 1.5lbs and 1 in 20 will be 2lbs or better. (If you are wondering how we do it just subscribe to Pond Boss Magazine and check out the Pond Boss website.) A private lake/pond, weather managed or not is a great place to learn how to fish. It's also a great place to hone your skills. You can learn what makes a bass tick a lot better than you can on a large lake. It's a great place to gain confidence in yourself and gain a passion for fishing. For a beginner it's not cheating. It's like driving in the express/HOV lane on the highway. You get where you are going faster than if you were driving with the masses. Be proud of every fish you catch. You earned it. This is my fifth season guiding at Richmond Mill and I have learned so many things about bass and bass fishing that have helped me be more successful on any body of water I fish. Things that would have taken me years to learn on larger public waters. I have a better understanding of daily fish migration, how bass relate to structure and cover, how they use current and much much more. I've been able to gain confidence in lures and presentations that I didn't have the patients to try on public waters. I've become a better jig, crankbait, spinnerbait fisherman because I was getting more bites. The satisfaction comes from taking the skills that I have learned and trying them out on lakes like Guntersville or Clarks Hill and being able to use them to be successful. If it's a club or a business I think you have to look at it a little differently. They are in it to make money and catching is much more fun than fishing. The company I work for has a business model that is designed to give clients an experience that will blow them away. It's not about fishing at all. It's about the experience of the entire package. The royal treatment, the great food, the quail hunting, the falconry, the sporting clays, the ultimate man cave, the awesome lake and the list goes on. Clients pay a premium for that experience and that's what we strive to give them. The icing on the cake is that we can almost guarantee that they will catch a bass that is over 4.5lb. I say almost because I had a day few years ago where I had two experienced fishermen in my boat and we didn't catch a thing. But most of my clients aren't fishermen. Most of them have never even held a fishing rod in their hand and that is why I guide there. They asked me to guide there not because I'm a great bass fisherman, but because I'm good with people and I love teaching them how to fish. Do I consider myself a pro because I guide there. No! That's what they call me and what they pay me for, but I will never consider myself one. I enjoy learning every day and love to teach people what I have learned.

2 Years and four days ago, I joined the Bass Resource forum looking for some answers on what to get for my first decent combo. I can't find that thread anymore, but I know I got some of the most friendly, educated, and helpful advice in many many pages. 3,300 posts later, i'm still kickin, and you guys are still #1 on my most frequented websites. The knowledge I've gained has been tremendous, and believe it or not, I sucked at fishing too, haha. Th cumulative knowledge on this website is unfathomable, and I can truly say that of all the forums I've belonged on, I've never been on one this nice, and friendly. Even when there is a heavy debate, it's just a debate about the subject, nothing more. And a shoutout to all the moderators, and many more that I cant remember off the top of my head. You all have done a fantastic job at doing what you do, I've never personally moderated a forum myself, but I can imagine "It's not easy, being cheesy." And a big thank you to Glenn, who keeps the site up and running. Without you, this post would never be made, none of us would have any the bond that we do, and more importantly, millions of fisherman worldwide would probably not be as succesful, or as interested in the sport of bass fishing as they are today. Also, to our sponsors, without you, well, I don't know if we would be where we are today, but you all have certainly helped, in many ways, and I am never shy to recommend a product of yours, as a sponsor of Bass Resource. In fact, I use over 14 of our sponsors regularly, and the list seems to be ever growing. I have actually switched most of my hooks to Mustad over from Gamakatsu, mainly because they support the site I love, and they make a better hook IMO. Either way, I love this place, 2 years, 3,300 posts, and i'll still be coming back for more.

From an achievement standpoint a trophy fish is relative to the area that one fishes, not the overall size. A 10# fish caught in an area where high DD's can be caught is no more worthy than a 7# fish caught in area where 10# is almost unheard of. I personally don't consider any tactic, live or artificial bait, and location to be cheating, especially if the goal is just to have a good time. Some frown on pond fishing not being worthy, yet some of the same people use every hi tech piece of equipment there is to increase their fishing production. I know a lot of the old timers grew up fishing like myself, from a rowboat sometimes, without the aid of a motor and no electronic equipment. As kid we fished Lake St. Clair in a rowboat with a 6hp Elgin engine, both the American and Canadian sides. A handful of lures, unsophistcated gear, 2 rods at most, little available literature to read, no internet forums for advice, we learned how to find and catch fish. I would be the last to turn my nose up at someone catching a great fish in a pond. I still say this, you're as good as the body of water you are fishing on, all this hi tech gear don't hurt either.

Just stick with the companies that are known for rods. St. Croix, All-Star, Daiwa.

A topographical map will not show you structure or contours of the body of water. A hydro map will show you the contours of the water and structure. You can view these in PDF format and download them by quads on the ISGS.org website. Hydro maps are the most useful to fishermen.

Why would you assume that? I happen to hold the smallie in very high regard. Mainly for it's tenacity and never-say-die fighting ability. I also like fishing for LM's, pike, crappie and catfish.

My pleasure! It's become habit since getting married to a chic fil a employee. It's the response they train you to say when a customer says thank you. I guess it just become habit from hearing it so much.

You are welcome. And smile!

I've heard some good things about the Abu Garcia Alphamar it goes for 150$.

I have a place in Meredith on the Center Harbor side by water so I usually fish that area. However, the lake is a bit warmer in the northern section so while the boat was still on the trailer before it gets launched for the summer I decided to trailer up to that area and fish out of lees mills. 9 smallies and 2 largemouth in about 3 hours. Got off to a slow start but it picked up after the first hour. Got the girlfriend onto her first smallie ever and what do you know it was the biggest of the day at 3.4 pounds.

i've fished both and had plenty of fun doing both. i am very fortunate to live close to ky lake/tn river. when it is "right" at ky lake, i'd say it's some of the best fishing i've ever experienced. plenty of 50 plus fish days with several 5's and 6's in the bunch. i have never experienced that type of size and numbers mix at ANY private pond or lake i have EVER fished. and if public water fish are supposed to be "educated", these fish never got the memo. last december when the water was high, i cherry-picked one sandbar over the course of the month for hundreds of fish with plenty of good ones in the mix using the same lure the whole month. you'd think they'd learn to leave that xr50 alone but they never did. that said, i have also been fortunate enough to fish several amazing ponds and small private or semi-private lakes. with regards to bass size, there's no comparison. i have 2 teens, a 12, and several 10's and 11's. and i will always feel like these fish have an asterisk beside them because they came from a semi-private lake. i also manage a pond. back when i was really putting the work in, i could fish there on any given day and catch 3 fish over 7 pounds in 5 minutes. once i started supplemental feeding, it was even crazier. big fish, super easy to catch. kinda like hunting for cows in small pature with hand grenades. however, even in this fishing paradise, there were always a few select fish that were super "smart" and incredibly hard to catch. the biggest one of these was over 12 when she died and i felt very fortunate to catch her the few times i did. with regards to bragging, there's 2 kinds. you can either brag on yourself, or the fish. theres the "hey everybody, look at ME, i'm so awesome!" kind. then there's the "hey, look at this awesome FISH!" kind. i'm not a big fan of the first kind regardless of whether we're talking public water or private. i am proud of the big fish that i produce in the pond i manage because i know how much time, effort, and expense went into growing them. but the truth is i just feel blessed for every day i have on the water - ANY water. i fish for personal satisfaction and relaxation, not to prove anything to anyone else.

Power Pro Superslick

Okuma isn't really known for their rods, they're known for their reels. As for the quality I have no idea.. It's kinda like buying a penn trolling rod, you rarely see them because they aren't very good, as for the reels that penn makes, they are outstanding. IMO.

They always tear my lures to crap

OK, I'll accept the TWO lakes you named. You said "any" lake is managed. My point was about the other three million public bodies of water. Eceptions to the rule are a poor example in a debate.

GO CHUGBUG! I knew I kept mine from '95 for a reason.

Looks to be a 5-6 pound bowfin. I caught one about the same size. Put up a fight huh? Them fish are beautiful. And much more nicer than the aggressive snakehead. ( the last one I caught but my thigh and took some layers of skin ) good catch.

They make a good swimbait, that's the only lure I have made by them.

Zip POW and I caught 9 this morning. All keepers. Swimming anything white through 3 foot of water in the Lilly pads. Highlighted by a 3 1/4 lb spot on one of my homemade swim jigs. More thorough post and report when I am not on my phone and at a computer. Jeff

Me and Traveler hooked got on a school of white bass smacking the shad, Had about 30 between the two of us. They got a lot of fight! The one other guy fishing in the area got on his cell phone and pretty soon there were about 10 boats in the one area haha. No largemouth though. Really hope tomorrow I hook into some. Where can I find them?

Sounds like a lot of the distinctions being made here are the difference between folks fishing for fun and the folks fishing to impress others. I fish for my enjoyment only, so other folks "assessments" of my skill mean diddly-squat to me

My Kmart has senkos for 3.75, I bought a dozen packs because I didn't know when they'd realize that it isn't the msrp.

that's walmart for ya.

You'll stop when you realize what works and what doesn't work. Only downside is you'll just start buying more of what works.

Hey guys my name is mark. I've fish a few of these ponds in my area off ft.Caroline with good results. I'm headed out tomorrow and will post the results of my find. If interested ill show you "MY HOT SPOT". Ill post tomorrow around 5 with how it went down.

That is might kind of you sir! Kudos to you! Senco lover, you might look into some chartreuse tube baits/gitzits, usually we have some off brand here that is cheap and work great for spawning smallmouth.

Eastern, Please read Radical's first "Don't." Sheesh...