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I don't think too much about it when I'm keeping fish honestly. We humans have a tendency to really anthropomorphize everything (assign human attributes to them) and most of the time it's really a faulty way of thinking. Fish don't "want" anything. They don't consider which way to die would be better than any other. All they care about is getting away and surviving, but that's a basic instinct, not a conscious thought. Any considerations we take on how to treat a prey item is based on ideas that have been socially constructed by humans, not something that is uniform across all species. That said, I'm not going to go out of my way to ensure the fish dies in a miserable way because I do have a general respect for life. I'm also a realist. I realize that in order for anything to live (with the exception of autotrophs such as plants) something else has to die. I don't necessarily think it matters whether you bash a fish with a rock or let them suffocate. Myself, I tend to try and see to it that the fish dies humanely but I realize I'm doing it to make myself feel better about killing something, not for the actual benefit of the fish. So just act ethically for your own sake is about the only advice I could give.

Let's see if I can figure out what this is all about. You intentionally stick them with a mean ole sharp hook, pull them from their environment where they cannot survive and you are concerned about how they die? Maybe you should quit fishing, take up knitting -synthetic fibers of course.

To say Lew's is back in a big way would be an understatement. They have a large prostaff. Their reels are gaining a reputation for being good quality reels, that last and now they've released more than 100 new rods and reels across more than 20 different series. The flagship of the new launch has to be the release of the 21st century version of their original BB1 Speed Spool. This is the reel that guys like David Fritts made famous for cranking. The reels are simply put, amazing. They are 10 ball bearing reels and the BB1 features a multi-stop anti-reverse just like the old reels that enables a crankbait fisherman to feel the bait much better in his hand because of that added freedom in the anti-reverse. But the reel is not the reel of yesteryear. This reel is low profile, great braking systems, clickable tension knobs, solid cranking handle, and the line guide is set further away from the spool to give anglers a much improved casting distance which is paramount to a good crankbait reel. The best part is the reel is $159. It comes in 5.1:1, 6.4:1 and 7.1:1 gear ratios with three right hand models and three left hand models. The next reel that blew us away was the Team Lew's Pro Speed Spool. It's the high-end model in the Lew's baitcasting line-up at $299. It has 11 bearings, a one piece aluminum frame and sideplates, frictionless titanium line guide, dual braking systems a lighter bowed handle with EVA grips all in a package that only weighs 5.9 ounces. A lot of the pros were excited about that new reel. They also introduced a Super Duty Speed Spool for flipping, pitching, frogging and other heavy power techniques with a heavy-duty handle, braid ready spool, solid brass gears, soft touch rubber paint on the sides to keep a good grip and more features for a $179.99 reel. On the spinning reel side they released a Speed Spin, Laser and Laser Lite at $59.99, $39.99 and $29.99 respectively. The Speed Spin comes in five sizes from 100 to 450 size bodies and spools. They feature a soft touch armor finish for slip resistance, drilled forged aluminum spool, Oversized line roller, one way clutch bearing and their speed lube for smoothness. On the rod side, the Team Lew's Speed Stick had the Lew's pros really excited. This their top of the line tournament driven series of rods with 9 casting actions, a flipping stick, 3 crankbait rods and 6 spinning rods at a $179.99 price point. The rods are 85 million modulous rods with Fuji KR Concept Micro guides. The feature cork split grip handles, skeletal graphite reel seats and a multilayered, multidirectional blank. The rods looked great and felt very light in your hand. We'll be following back around on more Lew's product later but that's some of what we really liked from this massive 100 product introduction.

Here you go - and I like Samuel Adams ~ Summer Ale. A-Jay

LOVE that combo in your pic YEEEE HAWWWW

Welcome. Lucky you. I had a pond not too far away until 12 at which time we moved. Now I drive 35 minutes minimum to get to a lake. Take time to read some of the articles. I suggest you not read any threads on rods or reels. Not healthy for your parents pocketbook. :)

An In-Depth Look at Powell's Bass Offering After a long, strenuous, run with Powell's rods, I have a little review for you on Powell bass rods. Rods Used: Powell 682C, 683C, 704C. Variables: I've used these rods with various reels, including Daiwa Fuego, Daiwa Tierra, Shimano Curado 50E, as well as all types of line, including mono, fluorocarbon, braid, and copolymer. Feel In Hand: The first thing I noticed upon receiving my rods was the sheer light weight of the rods, including the 7' Heavy rod, but as a Heavy power it still had some noticeable weight, yet still lightweight. When mounted with a mid-weight reel he balance on the rods is extremely well placed, right at the reel side of the reel seat screw, at the top of the reel seat on the 683C, a bit higher for the 704C. Upon further use of the rod, you will really notice the how crisp and light these rods feel. They have a really high end feel to them, yet they still feels sturdy and you're not going to be afraid of them breaking. The cork handles also feel very high quality, I've had no chunks fall out, and only some minor loss. Components: Featuring Fuji Alconite guides, ECS reels seat, and a multipurpose hook hanger, these rods boast the standard for its price range, but they're standard for good reason, they are quality, and as good as it gets for only 139 dollars. The Alconites are very nice guides, not SiC's but they'll stand up to about anything you can throw at them. The ECS is the time tested reel seat, and it's very comfortable. One thing I would change if I could though, is change the reel seat to the ACS, or atleast offer another version with that seat instead. It takes some getting used to, but after an initial awkward feeling you'll appreciate it's palmability over the ECS, but that is all preference. The hook hanger is also very nice, being able to hold anything from texas rigs to dropshots. They use some very nice cork as well, its not the best you can get out there, but still very nice non the less with no pitting. Sensitivity: The key feature of all rods is sensitivity, right? You need to be able to tell what your presentation is doing at all times, know what the bottom is like, feel structure, and fell a bass pick it up. These rods are very sensitive and I can feel everything I need to, and performs above its class with some rods in the $200 price range. I have favored these rods over anything I've used so far, being on par with a St.Croix Avid. But where the rod differs from an Avid is that it feels much better in hand, thank in part to it not being as tip Heavy when compared from the 704C to the 7' MH/F offering from Croix. Styling: One of the reasons why I really like the Powell's are they're subdued, but yet flavorful choice of styling. These rods boast a split cork grip (no foregrip), with small EVA bands on the end, aluminum winding checks, and a simple metallic green, silver, and black thread wraps. It doesn't jump out at you, but you can really appreciate the beauty of these rods. The logo is also very simple, but yet elegant. On the underside of the rod you can see the model, ratings, and some intended uses for the rods. The rod is also a naked graphite after the logo, being a matte gray all they way to the tip. It looks good, but also saves you a bit of weight. One thing I might like to see on these rods is a very small foregrip, a la NRX rods. Durability: Over about 7 months of fishing hard, banging these into rocks, and trees, and abusing these rods, I've yet to have a rod break on me. I cant speak for longer term durability, but I imagine they will be fine, except for slamming the tip in a door ! However, if you were to have any issues with these rods, Powell has you covered with a lifetime warranty. So if it breaks, you're covered! Overall, these rods have really grown on me and I prefer them to any other rod I have used. They are light, balanced, sensitive, use top of the line components, and dont feel brittle like some others I have used. I would give these rods a solid 9/10 and would highly recommend them to anybody looking for a rod in the 150-200 dollar range. Obviously, Its no Steez, but for only $139, these rods deserve a Best In Class award. If you have any questions, or want to know something I havent covered with these rods, please post them below and I will get back to them promptly, otherwise, I hope you enjoyed my review, and will consider a Powell for your next purchase! (Oh, and Btw, Im not sponsored by Powell, just a fan!)

I sold all my REVOS last year, bought lews tournaments... Then Abu releases the Gen3 REVOS....... then lews launches the BB1............ I'll never win this battle......

Also I never slit a Quails throat. The gun usually kills it and I just rip the head off before I clean it. Didn't know that people raised Quail to eat; there's got to be a better way to get meat lol. I'm guessing you were traumatized by one or more of the things you mentioned?

x2 Carolina rig may be another option in the deeper water as well as the crank I drop shot a lot if I get off the bank a bunch and fishing deep

Merrimack River, Lawrence boat ramp, turn left at DD off Rte 28 from 495N. Big ramp and nice size parking lot. Got there at 7am on Thursday and there wasn't another boat trailer in the parking lot. River was barely moving and there was a nice sandy beaching spot next to the ramp. My friend and I fished all 8 or so miles of beautiful river with good structure and cover along both sides. We caught many Large and Smallmouth Bass, although mostly Smallmouth. The largest Smallmouth ran well over 3lb. We discovered the presence of Northerrn Pike as well. In earlier posts, I mentioned catching Walleye here also. The boats that we saw on the river for the day were 1 scull, 3 crews, a small excursion boat, and 3-4 kayaks, not bad for 6 hours. This river is a "Must" for any avid Smallmouth angler or for that matter, anyone who wants to take a truly enjoyable boat ride. My only cautions are, don't drive the boat too close to shore and when the water becomes 6' deep or less(way up at the other end) it could get rocky on the bottom. Don't miss this great fishery. Grampa

You had to know where this thread was going. A-Jay

If I'm keeping my fish to eat, they get put I'm the box on ice. Certain species I'll cut and bleed out. No, it's not because I care about the poor little fishes feelings, it's because I want to make sure I get a better quality meat. If I'm not keeping them, take a couple of pictures, revive and vent if necessary, and send them swimming.

This is the Boss hub I'm using to make up my "A-Jay Rig". It's kickin for sure!

best to slit there throats while alive and let the heart shoot all the blood outta em... gut em out right away... then toss em in a cooler full of ice. if i catch em and going to eat em they are treated as food... it does make a difference!!! bleed em out, best way to kill anything thats food, granted 99% of you probably couldn't stomach your meal screaming and bloods shooting out all over the place... could ya? and were talking about how a fish dies... how bout some lamb for dinner, lets go get some nice farm fresh lamb chops... mmmmmmmmm good... .how bout if you want to save the blood for cooking also, then you gotta hang em upside down ALIVE over a bucket, sounds fun huh. any raise rabbits for food, only way i know is is hold by ears over barrel slit throat and let bleed, mmmmmmmmmm huh that's some life education right there.... how bout raising birds for dinner quail and stuff, hold em over a barrel get the big scissors and snip snip while alive off goes there head,, you think its done by walking up to a cage and shooting em up with a bb gun, yea i wish but no its not done that way on a farm..

I'll agree that you would have to make a LOT of jigs to recoup the cost of tools and materials, but that's not the reason that I make 'em. There's a certain satisfaction (vanity?) in catching a fish on a lure that you designed and made. It also gives me something to do when the water is frozen over and I've memorized all of the tackle catalogs. Tom

Very first mod is to replace the War Eagle bench seat installed by P.O. My dog loves it but my mistake back was killing me after an hour of riding around on my first shake down run. Two new high back Tempress seats are on the way. Really don't think I will have to do any major mods. Just upgrade electronics and replace some broken trailer lights. It is really nice buying a used boat from an owner that is completely honest and has taken good care of it to begin with!!

I bass fished yesterday. Of the 30 bass I caught, none were over 5#. The mid-day period was the most productive. I don't have to guess where they are, I find them with my electronics and fish directly for them, sort of like sight fishing. Slow presentations and crankbaits have been the most productive for the past few weeks.

Whether it's a good idea or not it is a tool I have no use for. Much of the time my smartphone isn't even with me, unless I'm expecting a very important call. Lund is an old dog and so am I, I grew up fishing in Michigan in a rowboat with 1 or 2 rods with no electronics what so ever, caught plenty of fish then and still do without those aids. Fishing serves 2 purposes for me, one is to get away and not be bothered by distractions, and two is to challenge myself. Having 15 rods, 6 tackle bags, fish finders, side imaging, 70 mph boats, lake maps and the internet to get information before leaving your home..............how much easier do some want it to be? I know many will say all that is needed because of fishing pressure, I say that's an excuse, not a reason.

Make artificial structure that will stand for sure. Here are some of mine! Jeff

Yes, the same rod. I'd throw them anywhere, but keep in mind that every so often the fish will shun a curly tail in favor of a straight tail and vice versa. I learned that the hard way many years ago.

Make sure the ornaments are evenly distributed and to unplug the Christmas lights. Lots of times the cord gets tangled on the dock or other timber causing the tree to fall over. For a tree topper, I prefer a star over an angel. Angels aren't native to water and a star can resemble a starfish or crayfish. Also rather than using garland, thread popcorn onto a string. Works great attracting bait fish. Merry Christmas

You could have answered the question in as many words as it took you to be a jerk about it.

Well said As for me, Q: How long does a bass live out of water? A: AS LONG AS IT TAKES ME TO UNHOOK IT AND TAKE A PICTURE AND THEN PUT IT BACK IN THE WATER TO LIVE... so about 30 seconds to a minute I'd guess

It doesn't get much better than That ! Congrats to the Mrs on her toad of a PB. Did someone say "Replica Wall Mount" ? A-Jay

Thats a nice one, congrats to yall. Brandon

The french fry.

Piece o' cake. Find your spot and drop your bouy. Then make a lousy cast and tangle your crankbait in the rope. Four out of six hook-points will be embedded in the rope. By the time you get those unhooked you'll have one point in your thumb and another in your pant's leg. By the time you get those undone you will have drifted to the other side of the lake. Might as well fish there.

^^^^^^^^^ ~ This ~ The Jig Alternative. Basically it's just a Texas Rigged plastic bait with a skirt between the weight and the hook. What I do like about this rig over a Standard Fixed hook jig: First and fore most, the fish eat it. The hook-up ratio is the same as a standard jig or maybe even a bit better. It comes through cover better. I can modify / customize the rig any way I want. By switching the weight, the skirt color or type, the hook size or type and the plastic trailer of my choosing - the options are endless. With very little chance of hanging up, I Fish it through lily pad fields, milfoil patches, cabbage patches, stump/log jams, and open water ~ All on One Cast ! So, instead of carrying a ton of different color and size jigs, I can be ready for anything (including punching through the slop) with a hand full of weights, skirts, hooks and a small assortment of plastics. Beavers, Beasts, Grubs, Craws and creature baits have all taken fish. I have 3 Plano (3700) boxes of jigs that hardly ever get wet. Here's the rig, from the main line to the hook: -A weight / bobber stop - A small bead to keep the stop from slipping through the weight. (if needed) - A 1/2 oz tungsten weight - a Boss Punch Hub - this is placed inside the skirt collar - The skirt of your choice - A parasite clip (optional, but does help prevent the plastic from sliding down the hook) - A 5/0 Owner wide gap plus EWG hook (#5139 - very stout, I love this hook) - Your favorite soft plastic - pictured is a Power Bait Beast Hope this helps A-Jay

Some zebra mussels or a toothy critter

Rapala makes super line scissors if nothing else