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Because rage tail is part of SUCH a small business.

Took my four year old son for his first real fishing trip Saturday. He's been with me before but was more interested in playing in the water and catching tadpoles with his net. This time he actually wanted to fish, so we stopped and got some crickets and went to a small private lake close to the house. It was funny watching him crank that reel handle for all it was worth and trying not to let the fish ****** the rod away from him. I was impressed with how well he did because I apparently had forgotten how hard these fish fight on ultralight tackle. Needless to say, I think I have a new fishing buddy for as long as he wants to go with me.

Who are you, Ted Dibiase?

rc06, for brim or baitfish pattern vertical and for craw pattern horizontal. Both will catch fish but in a nice bite they'll normally show a preference especially swimming in shallow conditions. Normally in shallow conditions, a predator is more likely to be attracted and attacking from the side... so the side profile becomes more important to attempt to match a bait they're most interested in at that time. A Vertical or horizontal tail profile and action will be translated as Bait fish or Craw easier.

Have you ever spent a few days on the water in less than idea conditions lets say. Then you take a day off to take care of business and the day turns out to be perfect weather wise. So you're looking up at the sky, bumming out and kicking yourself all day for not going. Yea, well that's me today . . . . . . . . A-Jay

My response was purely to get at two people and they know who they are...... :whistle: Nice fish there Ian. Looks to have some girth! Jeff

I'm stuck in the tens. 10-2, 10-4, 10-8 & 10-14. Caught two on a Bomber BD8F, one on a swimbait & one on a scrounger jig.

You say "Unfair" I say "Proper Real-estate Investing" . . . Location, Location, Location

I don't know.... I haven't caught my biggest bass yet Fish

I spent much of this winter / off-season reading In Pursuit of Giant Bass. Over the winter, there were a couple of threads discussing the book and the author’s unusual techniques. I do not recall anyone saying that they actually fished like that or would even consider making the commitment to do so. This really got me thinking . . . This season (at least) I'm planning on dedicating my efforts on my home waters to utilizing the tactics and techniques that the author Bill Murphy described. In other words, this will be the only way I bass fish all season. By learning the techniques he employed and adopting the mindset required to use those methods effectively, I'm hoping to see a whole "New" side to the waters that I have been fishing over the past few years. And maybe while I'm at it, I'll sore-lip a few worth posting. Regardless of how it goes, I'm planning on posting up the results here, in blog like form. Each post will chronicle my thoughts, efforts and of course fishing trips and results - if there are any that is. I would certainly appreciate any and all input and remarks from the vast pool of experience and knowledge here on BR. My impression going into this is that it will definitely try my patience and test my resolve. I’m hoping that by starting and committing to documenting my season long efforts here, it will assist me to remain focused as well as perhaps inspire a few other BR members to join in this venture. Also, living this far north, “Giant Bass” is a relative term. My PB for this state is just over 7lbs, which is a stout fish for this latitude, but I’m betting that there are more and perhaps even bigger fish to be had. We’ll see. One thing I’ll say right up front, if you’ve not read the book, some of what gets posted here will undoubtedly sound a bit contradictory to current / common bass fishing practices. More to follow . . . . . . A-Jay

Decided to try a new park pond to change thing up a bit. I had 1 hit on a timber doodle ( awesome on lily pads) and lost my split double tail grub. Switched to a spinnerbait and then a jig with a swimbait on it. used that for about an hour. then pulled out a booyah top secret buzz bait in white rigged with white curly tail grub. First cast on a steady retreive with a quick one inbetween and saw a big pickerel jump out and smash it. Pulled out drag and swam into the pads an got stuck. A nice tug and another fight and brought him in. Fantastic and very unexpected as I bought it recently. To be honest I did'nt like how it swam but now am hooked. It was 22 1/2 inches more or less. He darted off as Soon as he touched water.

I recently took back up fishing for the first time since I was a kid and have fallen in love with it all over again. Anyway, I was watching Bassmasters the other day and the dumbest question came to mind. What do those guys do when they need to poop? I mean, there are cameras everywhere. Obviously, they would not film a guy trying to do his business, but still, how awkward. Do they go in the woods, have some kind of portable toilet on their boat, how does that work?

I'm headed out smallmouth fishing at Lake St Clair. I'm shutting down the shop for the week. You all have fun and catch some fish. I'll be back in action on Memorial Day. I'll post some pictures when I return.

Thanks sir!

^^^^^^ bahahhaah 20 points for old school WWF reference.

Thanks for some great tips....more options is not a bad things!!

Herb Parsons has been fishing good as well. My buddy has caught a few in the 4-5# range lately. all catch & release...

Try and keep them under 7lbs Mike.

That looks killer Steve! On the menace twin tail, which you you recommend the tails to me verticals or horizontal with the jig? I am going to order some in the Bluegill pattern next payday. They look more like a crappie and may match my new jig to a T

Dick's will have them starting Sunday, 2 for $50.

I would suggest you soak them in soapy water however you may not wish to be called a dirty cork soaker.

Respectfully, your question is a bit like asking "What spices are good on food?" Assuming you live in the northern hemisphere and some distance from the equator, time of year (specifically spring) seems to be the most relevent factor now and there are a lot of good articles on this site http://www.bassresource.com/seasonal-fishing-articles#spring that address springtime fishing. It's not simply the baits that are relevent, however. It's also location and methods. Fortunately, smaller ponds/lakes make finding fish easier.

A-Jay, i am loving what you are doing here. My only worry is you burn out and put that jig on and hit the shores...Hang in there, i think this thread could become unbelievable if you keep it up and stick to your guns. Don't putter out, can't wait till your first 7+ fishing this way. Get that net.

Thanks Big O!

Beautiful fish.

Did you forget your raingear again?

Weighed or not, that was gorgeous!

menace, single tail grub, Roboworm Ocean swimbait tail (big profile but it lets off a lot of thump and is very tough), Havoc Devil Spear, and rage craw

I've gotten on spots and caught the dog snot out of 3-5 lb fish for a couple hours straight with the graph on! If they are turned on, it doesn't matter. Conversely, I can see how unagressive fish may get spooked by the ping of a graph and it might be something to consider when bites are at a premium! I think releasing fish back to aggressively feeding fish will shut them down just as quickly, but that's just me!

Brian, No need to switch your baits so many times. C-Rig is a awesome structure fishing bait/search bait. A couple more suggestions are look for contour changes on land they usually carry on into the water i.e. look for where a bluff wall ends and it’s a quick change to flat shore or chunk rock, chances are it does that under water too. Get on google earth or map quest and look at the arial view of the lake. Sometimes you can see long points from that view or other interesting spots. Doing a little homework before you go out will save you some time out on the water. Good luck and tight lines. Jay-

Excellent rigging photos Big-O!

I don't work in a trade so I can't comment on that directly, but as for new hires, most of these kids were given everything they ever wanted and then some. They have no work ethic because they never had to work a day in their lives for what they wanted. In high school I had a car, that I bought and paid for mowing lawns. The car was a piece of crap but it was actually mine, something that I sweat gallons for. First cell phone, I walked into that store and paid my hard earned cash for it and the plan. I paid insurance on my car and paid for repairs when they were needed. Flash forward to today, my 9 year old daughter wants a tablet and cell phone and a bunch of other crap that her 9 year old friends have. I told her she can have them when she is working for them, whether that be a true job or doing the dishes in the sink. I REFUSE to give my daughter the handouts that here peers are getting because it will only make her weak. People appreciate what they have more if they actually work for it. Some new hire acting like they own the place and should be given everything, they don't appreciate their job, they feel it was owed to them. Our society is headed down a dangerous path, and I'm afraid that the "give me's" far out number us hard working folks. . .

Grandkids are awesome! I have 5

Nice fish, nice hat. Hail.

well i always add 5mph to the wind when im fishing but spinnerbaits work good in the wind and rain. throw moving baits if ur fishing the bank or either way i guess. just easier and they work for the conditions if the waters dingy or stained go with white and chart colors or if its clear go with white those are my go to and if the water is cooler like under 65 i would go with a single or double colorado blade. if its warmer maybe go with a willow leaf or one of each and i dont know the lake but what ever color crank i would have that rigged up too oh and a buzzbait top water is a dream in the clouds and wind and rain

Thanks. Next time I'll bring a trashbag or something to place the fish on. I wasn't sure where to place em, but thought it be better than on the sand. The fish swam off strong.

Before this gets shut down from the above response I like bruisers and bitters both are extremely cheap and effective don't forget gambler either

Siebert, Siebert, and, Oh, did I mention Siebert? Hootie

There is a big fish or 3 in every body. its up to us to find them, The smallie fishing at Bow lake is incredible, if you know the place. it takes time and effort to find them. the big girls are there, they dont get big by being stupid. the back side of the small part of the lake has some huge pickerel in the weeds. There is a small stream that flows in to there. fish that area and back if you want some big pickerel. if your one that likes to eat pickerel , take all you want , especially from Naticook.

#12 Yo-Zuri Hybrid is a good all-around line at a modest price.

Pitching, spinnerbaits, and finesse do not go along at all. I would suggest you spool up with 50lb braid and find another rod for finesse techniques such as using a shaky head or dropshotting, preferably a spinning rod. If the water is clear add a 15-30lb fluorocarbon leader. You can go straight braid for spinnerbaits because they cause a reaction bite. For pitching you may need the fluoro in very clear water, but not stained.

12lb test

I'm a preacher. I can't imagine doing anything else, and the retirement benefits are out of this world!

When you're talking about a degree you're going to be centered on for the rest of your life probably (either chasing a career in the field or paying for the schooling), the last thing you need to be thinking about, is how big are the bass I might be able to catch. I guess, if you want it to be that easy, just hope that The University of Texas offers Marketing as a major.

Thought of another one http://youtu.be/zuQGx1H1Qh8

Definition: Water that is unprotected, well exposed, and influenced by a variety of often dangerous environmental conditions. "Open Water" usually refers to being in the Ocean or in a large lake that is quite a distance from the shore.

#1. Yes #2. Everyone was "a novice at one point looking to get better". You've got to start somewhere! I started fishing (seriously) when I was 12 years old. I was lucky to have a family that was fishing oriented. Tournament fishing isn't as hard as you think. Here are some tips to help you excel quickly through the ranks of ANY Club atmosphere: A. Learn the water your going to tournament fish- (Sounds simple- it isn't!) You've got to be able to eliminate water, NOT find great hotspots. Sometimes the best fishing is 100 yards from the ramp, sometimes 30 miles away. If you don't want to Pre-fish, (or learn how to Pre-fish) then you need to ask yourself WHY your tournament fishing. Most Club fishermen who come in the top 1-3 at any given Club tourney spent the time to properly Pre-fish- they didn't goof off or "just go fishing". They worked! The easiest way to find out "what it takes" to win on any lake is to look at past weights for that Club and lake/water. If, for the past 3 years you needed approx 18LB's to win on Lake A, well, thats your target. And remember- If you can't pull (at least) 12-14LB's on ANY given lake, then, you need to work harder. (Don't get me wrong- some days are extremely tough. BUT, ANYONE that is serious about tournament fishing and can't consistently pull 12-14LB's from their local lakes needs to rethink their strategies and techniques.) B. Have reliable gear- To Club fish you really only need 4-5 outfit's. Anybody that tells you they "need" all 12-15 outfit's on tourney day didn't do their homework. Come tournament day you should know EXACTLY what you will use and have a few (2-3) alternate outfit's ready, JIC. Remember- Having reliable gear doesn't always mean expensive new gear. For Club or local tourney fishing, having a shiny boat that goes 75 MPH, a deck full of $250 a piece outfit's and owning every single lure known to man (in triplicate) doesn't mean.....well.....anything. At the end of the day, it's the fisherman that wins, not the boats, outfits or lures. C. Learn 4 lures- DON'T get bogged down in lure selections. Learn 4 main "bread and butter" lures. Make sure those lures can cover the three main water columns- shallow, mid-depth, deep. (Typically these lures are a Jig, Texas-rigged/Wacky-rigged Soft Plastic, Tube, Super-Shallow and 10 FT or more Crank- you could add a Spook Jr and/or Sammy) LEARN those lures and how they interact and react with different diameter line, wind, fall rates, ETC. And remember- there is (really) only 2 color's- "Dark" and "Light". You don't (really) need 700 colors of worms to win a tournament. Having the "hard-to-find methylate, green glitter, purple-tailed worm with painted on eyes" probably won't put any more fish in your boat than a basic Red Shad worm. BUT, learn to make ON THE WATER lure modifications when having those "painted eyes" DOES make a difference. How to tell when to modify? Let the fish tell you by how they strike the lure. D. Don't let other fishermen influence your instincts- First, you must attain instincts. To get instincts see "A". E. Try new techniques- Constant learning is vital to any endeavor. Once you start relying on that one "special lure" you love to catch all your fish on, you've diminished yourself as a fisherman. Don't "romantisize" your lures, outfit's, boat, ETC. Does a knowledgeable carpenter sit around fretting which hammer to use???? Heck NO! He just "knows" because he's spent enough time actually USING his tools- it becomes "muscle memory" or instinct. If you follow these guidelines you'll have a good grasp of what must be done to excel at any Club tourney. (Pro level fishing is slightly different- but similar!) I hope this helps you???

I've been fishing the Kanzen braid a lot since my last post in late Jan and wanted to give you some more feedback on it. I use 15lb and 20lb on all my spinning reels with a fluoro leader for all my drop shot, shaky head and wacky rig presentations. I like the thin diameter and the way it lays and comes off the spool. Knot strength is great too...make sure to use the modified albright knot when joining your leader. I pitched and flipped a Texas rigged Senko around all week on 60lb at Falcon Lake in March and it performed flawlessly. I was fishing in everything from brush to large diameter hardwood trees and it held up great. I used the same spool all week. I throw my topwater (buzzbaits and walking baits) on 50lb. I attach a short mono leader when fishing walking baits. Like the smaller tests it casts great. Love the no stretch factor when topwater fishing. All in all the Kanzen braid is super solid based on my experience with it and I personally wouldn't use it or recommend it to any of you if I didn't feel like it was a high quality braid that you'd like fishing with.

To keep it clean, may I suggest starting out with live bait on a spinning rig? Then move up to plastics and then your moving baits. To stop backlashes, have her use a spinning rig and then graduate to the baitcaster. Have fun and if she catches on and loves bass fishing marry her and get her a new Ranger for a wedding gift and name the boat after her.

The scotch monkey recommends Johnnie Walker Double Black