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Tackle Warehouse when I am buying online and Bass Pro Shops if I am not buying online.

Im in, however, maybe we should have the big fish pictured on the scale as well since some pictures and weights are a little fishy...

I love how everyone still "lips" those lil fellas!!

Pffft I noodle for Musky

#1 Rule in clear water..............don't let the fish know your there. If you can accomplish that, you can catch them on just about anything.

Just ordered some jigs from Siebert Outdoors. The way you guys talk, they have to be good. Can't wait to try them out, hopefully by this weekend, if they get here that fast. Hootie

My mother has a refrigerator magnet that says "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and get rid of him for the weekend."

LOL, how about you don't throw jerkbaits and I'll lay off the swimbaits.... Yeah, that's what I thought.

Joey, I'd recommend you stick with your Shakespeare spinning combo for now. No reason to "graduate" to a baitcaster any time soon. I didn't for years and years. In fact, some of us here on the boards don't even use baitcasters and catch plenty of fish. Don't let TV or magazines fool you into believing you have to throw the same stuff you see people doing on shows, on commercials. They want your dollars. Save 'em and become proficient at what you have now, then, when you feel ready to move to the next level, do so.

Matt, you can go with both. I do. Probably my preference is to use spinning gear. The issue with line twist is easily solved by moving to braid for your mainline and using a leader (or not). Braid doesn't have line management issues like mono, copoly, or fluoro. So you can go with 10-15lb braid, and use a leader anywhere from 6 - 15 pounds (give or take). TIe on your wacky style hook with a snell knot, or a palomar, and go to town. I do the same with my baitcaster. I use braid main, plus a leader.

Cheap and fluorocarbon can´t be in the same sentence. Good quality FC is always "expensive". Seaguar manufactures excelent FC.

PM me your phone number, and I will call you tonight and explain it to you better. If I wrote it all down, I would be writing pages and still not cover everything. Talking on the phone will be easier to answer all of your questions.

I agree that some claims can seem "a bit off," but in this contest, the fish I have seen posted have definitely looked legit. Heck, I caught a decent fish a couple of years ago and didn't have a scale. I posted the picture for grins but told everyone it didn't count because I didn't have my scale. I think the honor system has worked well in this contest since its ***.

I'm getting antsy. Wait, I'm going to run out and check my mailbox. What's the hold up? I ordered these nearly 3 hrs. ago....lol Hootie

No way, really - say it isn't so shimmy . . . . A-Jay

This is very sage advice regarding a Float Plan. This site offers a lot of very entertaining information - but this stuff right here can save your live. As an Ex-USCG Search & Rescue human - I spent almost 30 years either on the water conducting the search for lost / overdue boaters or back in the Operations center collecting information and planning the actual search for the units (boats cutters and aircraft). Every trip you make, someone should know the who, what, where, when and how about your trip. This includes the following ; Where you're going - so we know where to look if you don't get home. Who is one the boat - names, ages and physical description - so we know who we are looking for and when to stop searching if victims are located unconscious / unresponsive. When you're coming back. What boat ramp you use and a description of your vehicle and trailer. What marina you use and where you get gas. A description of your vessel including length, color, make, model and type and gas tank capacity. Some supplements info such as if you have food / water on board, if you usually fish at night, if you're familiar with the water you're fishing, if you have warm clothing on board, and if anyone on board has any medical or health issues ( such as running out if medicine) helps too. If you routinely fish the same water, the same way and with the same person or people, you can collect all this info and put it in a folder and leave it with whoever, your wife, husband, brother sister, parent - it doesn't matter, just whoever it is that will be calling me to report you missing. Then, if the case arises, they just grab the info (with the emergency numbers written on the front of the folder) and make the call. Your loved one may not know what info they will need, but the people looking for you will be very happy that you did this in advance. Late boaters, called overdues, are one of the most challenging cases we prosecuted. Often times boaters are located and they ore OK, as the bite was on and they chose to stay out. That's OK at least they're safe. Other times, if no float plan is left, by the time we find out they are missing, several hours even days have past and that really makes matters worse. Cell phones although convenient are often not reliable. I would not bet my life on them. In places where a marine radio is used, that's really the way to go. Insuring that you have the required safety gear (before you actually need it) is a no brainer. PFD's, flares (check the expiration date), fire extinguisher, and a sound producing device (if required) can mean the difference being able to tell the story later and not. This is a good time of year to review all this stuff and to have a plan before you need it, so that when you do, you have a reasonable expectation that those who might be looking for you are provided the absolutely best chance to find you, because we really want to. Stay Safe A-Jay

Thats real close. I do my best in keeping that time frame accurate. I'm working even harder to shorten that tail end.

Reading all the testimonials....lol Hootie

Sucks you'll be missing fish til they get in!! Haha

Rods For enthusiasts, technique specific gear is fun to collect. However, three rigs cover all the basics: #1 6 1/2' or 7' MH baitcaster for jigs, some soft plastics and spinnerbaits #2 6 1/2' or 7' MM baitcaster for treble hook lures #3 7' MF spinning rod for lighter lures and a variety of techniques Reels Baitcaster: Shimano Curado 50E Spinning: Shimano CI4 Lures Top water Zara Spook Sammy PopMax Rage Tail Menace Rage Shad MegaStrike Cavitron Frog Booyah Pad Crasher Rage Tail Toad Jerkbait Smithwick Rogue LC Pointer Megabass Vision 110 FX Spinnerbait MegaStrike Strike Back Cosmic Spinnerbait (Siebert Outdoors) NorthStar Custom Baits Hidden Weight Shallow Norman Fat Boy LC RC 2.5 Lazy Ike GYCB Kreature 4'-8' KVD Red Eye Shad Bomber Fat Free Shad Cotton Cordell G ay Blade 8'-16' Rapala DT DD22 Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad Jigs MegaStrike Evolution Siebert Outdoors Big O & Storm Series NorthStar Custom Baits Original Swim Jig & Hairy Jig Trailers Rage Tail Menace Rage Single Tail Grub Rage Baby Craw, Craw & Lobster MegaStrike MegaBug Soft Plastics Rage Tail: Space Monkey, Smokin' Rooster, Hawg, Eeliminator, Cut- R, Ananconda & Thumper GYCB: Senko & Fat Ika MegaStrike MegaBug and Tube Craw Soft Swimbaits MegaStrike Fat Shad Yum Money Minnow LFT Live Magic Shad Shadalicious Berkley Hollow Belly BassKing17 likes this Please read the Forum FAQs

Under 5lbs is lunch in Mexico.......seriously! Jeff

Went with my son on Saturday. I did not get a darn thing, but I have just now started to teach him how to work a texas rig. Which he was doing really well. He is 4 mind you....put on a berkley power worm texas rigged. He cast, hooked, and caught this behemoth. Measured out 27-28 inches. I know it is not a bass, but man what a lot of fun. I think I have a fishing buddy for life.

Go spinning tackle. You will be miserable and frustrated with baitcasting gear and will be limited to heavier lures, thus eliminating lighter and weightless baits that may produce besy for you.

I genuinely appreciate the reasons why some do not agree with this idea and you have brought up some very important points. There are a few things that I should have communicated better. I would not simply focus on bass, there are a variety of species that would work for a program like this, including carp. The goal I have for this in my head is not to supply a soup kitchen or food bank in the area, it is to help a few local families and widows. I am very happy for I Love Bass' "rant" because the post does bring up issues that local fisherman will have with the program. The question of "What are you really feeding?" is a legit question. It is in no way about my ability to fish, if so, I wouldn't need other fisherman to help me with this. I am familiar with the Donate a Deer program. There are a few hunters in the area that participate in the program. I checked with a few people at church who are looking into the regulations with providing food that is not FDA approved. This is an idea that needs refining and the pros and cons that have been presented really help with the process!

Sunline Sniper in 16lb. ALWAYS use a ton of spit and the San Diego Jam knot. I think/find knots with lots of wraps or long pieces being pulled against others generate more heat and weaken the line. I'll never use Vanish or Flurocast again. L&L helps too, spray it on as you spool up the reel.

Here is one of the true defenitions of High Sticking that is on-line. http://www.torquedfishing.com/HighSticking.pdf Tight Lines!

One clarification and three requests. After casting your baitcaster rig as far as you can in your yard pull off two arm lenghts of line and then put the Scotch tape over the line on the spool. Remember to "balance" your baitcaster after you change baits. It takes a few seconds and it pays lots of dividends. Post pics of your catches. Post stories of the ones that got away.

You are new to bass fishing so please don't rush into anything. Just remember that what you buy now may be obsolete in the future as you learn more about rods, reels, line and baits. Keep the old stuff for the kids and grandkids. Some suggestions: 1. Always read the rod's specifications as to line test and bait weight. 2. Don't be bashful. If you are considering a reel let the clerk put it on the rod and you and your wife note how it feels. 3. Unless the clerk is a bass fishereman, don't believe anything they say. Ask for a clerk that is a bass fisherman and can communicate with you in an intelligent manner. 4. Spinning rigs are easier to handle. Consider a spinning rig for your wife and yourself. 5. Any medium heavy rod over 6'6" is acceptable. 6. Any line you want to use is acceptable. Most pros are now using flourocarbon. Some still suscribe to the old philosophy of mono for treble hook baits and floruocarbon for everything else. 7. Keep bait selection simple: Green pumpkin and watermealon for plastics; shad and crawfish for crankbaits; chrome with black back and chrome with blue back for lipless crankbaits; white/charteuse for spinner baits and chatterbaits; and white and black for buzzbaits. 8. Hooks 1/0 and 2/0 size. Any brand of your choice. 9. Bullet weights of 1/8 and 1/4 ounce. You can go with a 3/16 if you want a little more casting distance.\ 10. Needle nose pliers for both you and your wife to remove hooks. 11. Ask clerk to show you how to set the "magnets" by opening the side panel. Go for an "X" pattern with four magnets "on." If the clerk has no idea what you are talking about go to another clerk. 12. Consider purchasing a Berkley Spooling Station. Well worth the investment. 13. Have line come off the spool in a counter-clock wise manner for your spinning rig. 14. Decide what size tackle box or bag you need to carry your extra reels and tackle. Yep, one day have duplicate reels so when you or your wife don't use the Scotch tape trick and get the backlash of the century you can change out reels. 15. Pick up some MegaStrike or JJs Magic. Learn the rule: Nothing leaves the boat or bank without some type of scent on it. Use scent on all baits, especially your plastic ones. A 6:1 reel speed is the middle selection. You can go faster (7:1) or slower. Yoy may want to go down a notch for your second setup. Your wife's baitcaster is perfect. You and your wife need to learn how to "balance" the rod, reel and bait so practice the following. 1. Go outside in your yard with your rods and reel rigged and ready to be fished and bring some Scotch tape with you. 2. Set drag and baitcaster's spool to the desired strengths. 3. Point baitcaster rod tip to 11:00 o'clock with bait reeled all the way to the tip of the rod. 4. Release baitcaster so bait falls to the ground slowly. 5. Adjust spool tension to allow bait to fall to ground so that spool stops when bait hits the ground. 6. Now cast the bait as far as you and your wife can with the rig. 7. Take the Scotch tape and place two pieces across the line on the spool from end to end (left to right). This will stop any backlashes from going deeper into the line. 8. Adjust the setup when you get to the water by adjusting the spool tension. 9. Double check the drag after 10 to 15 casts to be sure it is still set where you want it. The drag is not to be set too tight so it does not move but that you can move it with 10 to 12 pounds of pressure. 10. When spooling your line you may want to run it through a wash cloth that has a Keven VanDam Lure and Line Conditioner "wet spot" to condition the line as you spool it onto your reels. Spray some additional conditioner on line on spool while spoolint. For spinning reels DO NOT OPEN THE BAIL if the line gets twisted. And it will get twisted. With the bail CLOSED, loosen the drag and pull the line off the reel. Then respool the line through your fingers to keep it tight as it goes back onto the reel. If you bring some KVD Lure and Line conditioner with you spray the line once again. Your goal is to find a clerk in the fishing department that knows bass fishing. Sorry to say that Dick's stores don't have these people. The big stores like BPS, Cabela's and Academy usually have at least one person in their fishing department that fishes for bass. If you cannot find anyone who fishes for bass you are putting yourself at a distinct disadvantage when selecting your tackle. You may want to consider a smaller tackle store that specailzes in fishing and who has guys who actually know how to bass fish. Have a budget. It is easy to start to inch up the money ladder. The Bait Monkey will be with you so beware of the Bait Monkey. What is going to drive you and your wife crazy are the number of baits, types, colors and sizes. It will take time and you will purchase some baits that will prove to be worthless but that is part of the learning curve. Try to keep it simple; learn how to tie the Palamor knot; read, read and read; watch bass fishing DVDs on baits and techniques; ask questions on the Forum; go to various bass pro's sites, like Woo Daves and Hank Parker, and read their articles and advice. And what ever you do don't let your wife out fish you!!!! Good luck. P.S. After you buy your tackle start planting the seeds for a new bass boat. Ranger, Bass Cat, Stratos and Triton have some nice ones as does Nitro!!!!

Hook size depends a lot on personal preference and size (diameter) of the plastic bait used. EWG offset hooks are the most popular for rigging plastics. I carry everything from 1/0-6/0. If you'll be doing any finess rigging, you will likely need smaller. For weights I'd also go with an assortment from 1/8oz. to 1/2oz. bullet style in whatever material your pocketbook is comfortable with buying. Again there are specialty weights. Line is a personal preference based on application. for you, a flouro and for her either mono, or what's labeled as a co-polymer like Yo-Zuri. Keep your selection of bait styles small until you determine your own likes. Spinnerbaits, cranks for different depths, one or two top-waters (avoid Spooks for now) and some jigs is assorted weights should give you a good start. Have fun, and don't be intimidated by all the gear you see at BPS. You'll likely have most of it at your house once you get hooked on bassin' but for now, keep the bait monkey in the car, or get a second mortgage before you go.

Hi newbass, right now BPS is having a sale I believe so its good to stock up on some baits. Heres my top 10 baits I would be getting at bass pro shops 1. Lipless Crankbaits (XPS Rattle Shad or Strike King Redeye shad are my two favorite brands) get a white colored one, a flashy one, and a redish one 2. Spinnerbaits (white is usually an all around good color) 3. Black Blue jig paired with a black trailer (any brand) 4. XPS Slim Dog 5. 2x Pack of Berkley Powerbait worms in red shad color (ive caught more fish on these than any other bait on the market) 6. Square bill crankbait 1.5-2.5 diving depth (luck-e-strike or strike king KVD are both good models) 7. Buzzbait (any brand) 8. Hollow Body frog (any brand) 9. Rage tail Shad (if you live near any type of lilly pads or vegetation these are a must) This lure is pure deadly during the warmer months...reel it in like a buzzbait and kill the action and let it float down if needed..run it across the pads..let it sink in the hole and it gets smashed..get these 10. X-Rap Jerkbait or a Lucky Craft pointer good luck

Alot of knowing what weight to use on plastics depends on the plastic and the weight. For instance a rage craw with a hook and 1/4 oz weight will run about 1/2 oz total. Most medium sized plastics are going to be around 1/2 oz.

Bass Pro had their Fluorocarbon line on sale last week. Check that before you spend to much on fluoro. If your wife wants to use Popr's fluoro will not be the line for her. I'd say go with some Trilene XT for starters. It's cheap as I assume your both new with BC's, so if you have a backlash that has to be cut it won't be too expensive. As for hooks, I prefer Mustad. Size and type depend on the baits used. 4/0, 3/0 and 5/0 EWG should cover most of the plastic baits. I like jigs tubes and flukes. I'd recommend getting some jigs in greens, browns and blue/black in 1/2 oz to start with. Grab some Strike King Rage Craws or Craws of the like in the same colors as the jigs. Grab some tubes in the same colors as above. I like the Gammy Skip Gap hooks for tubes, but a good 4/0 EWG of your choice will work. As for flukes, I like Zooms and Strike Kings. Baby bass, white or pearl ans smoke are my favorite colors. You'll need some swivels too. As for weights, right now with the start up costs, stick with lead weights. They are cheap. Grab a pack each in all weights from 3/16 to 1 ounce. The hooks on most of your cranks you'll be buying will suffice for now. You can upgrade later. I'd wait until you are certain crankbaits are your thing before dumping several dollars in new hooks. Make sure you get yourself a bass pro rewards card. It's free and you'll get points for buying stuff. They add up quick and it's all free. That should be a small start to get you both set up. You'll add more as you go. Search Bassresource on YouTube for some good how too videos and by all means ask away here.

Thanks guys, ill just keeping grinding it out till I can stay on them. I imagined it would be slow considering it was the first two nice days of the year.

Deeper than what? The smaller the line diameter the greater the diving depth.

I never did understand this mentality. People claim that deer hunting is good for the population because it thins the heard and keeps them from overcrowding. Why is it not good for the fish population as well? I understand that over fishing is harmful, but that is why we have creel limits. I do practice catch and release a vast majority of the time, but I also like to take some home to eat every once in a while. As to the original topic, I think its an interesting idea and worth a shot.

As a Giants fan....... Ahhhhhh hahahaha!!!!

Daiwa Zillion, am i really the only one??

You gotta move. Get outta dinkville, and into where the big girls are. Head to the "Wal-Marts" in the lake.

No smallmouth in Erie. Move along, nothing to see here.....LOL

Good stuff above. Some thoughts: -I like "fish deeper", above. And would add, "fish slower". Fast chuck-n-wind retrieves tend to interest small bass. -I wouldn't say big fish are always "smarter", many are energetically stingy, and/or they are simply rare esp in hard fished waters. -There may be few large bass in your water. -Figure out where you are in the season. You may likely be fishing to males on spawning banks. The females (the larger of the sexes) may not have come in yet. Or if they have, you may be fishing to males guarding beds. Peri-spawn females tend to be grouped up until the spawn. You may just be missing them. Get off the shallow banks the males are occupying and fish a bit deeper, looking for prominent structure and cover pieces (breaks) that might hold female groups. When they are ready, female groups will break up and enter the spawn banks with the males. Then you can get an idea of just how many "big ones" your lake actually has.

I think this may be about as accurate as a scientific weather forecast

I think it's not the wind direction, per se, but the atmospheric pressure changes that are associated with certain wind directions. Maybe there's some truth to it over the long run, I just don't know. But I never decide to go fishing or not go fishing based on wind direction, as I've done lousy too many times on west and south and done well on north and east. As the old saying goes, the best time to go fishing is when you can.

Baya Boricua!!! Great action, great catch nice fishing day. Congrats!

I take my Grandson out & tail hook a live crawfish, put a split shot about 8 inches above it, I use a hula grub on a round ball head jig, he catches 10 smallies to my one, he says to me "grampy why don't you just use these" I don't know what to say to him, but his smile is priceless, so I guess my favorite rig is a tail hooked live crayfish. LOL

On Chaffee road right where you get off of I-10 there is a Holiday Inn, it's from the pond right beside it. It's walking distance form where I live.

Love the matte bluegill cranks.

I see you are on the westside. Talk to Jaxbasser he lives over there and has some spots. A friend of mine who used to live over in Argyle area gave me a spot and I passed it along to him. He got a 4 or 5 pounder out of it. These are some old farm ponds that have houses built around them now. Take arglye forest to chestwick oaks then left on to spencers plantation. There will be a bunch of condos on your right, a big pond behind them has 7 and 8 pound fish according to the guy that used to live on the farm before it was sold. The oldest pond with the biggest bass is the one on the left past summit drive, directly across from redstone drive with a big tree next to it. He said he caught and released an 11 pounder, his personal best, on live bream under a float. I haven't had the chance to make it there and fish it, take some pics if you land that big one

I am afraid to count them but I am sure it is well over 100.

yes.. I swear by them. I have caught Bass, large perch, walleye, pickeral, rainbow trout, brown trout, and large crappie on my 1/2 oz lipless golden shiner. The bluegill pattern has netted me a few nice bass too!

I've got some spots out near the westside of town (whitehouse area) that I'd be happy to share. I'm always looking for more people to fish with but It can be a bit difficult since I don't have a car at the moment. I've got some spots that hold some good fish though.