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My daughter and her hubby had to have their old Labrador put to sleep. Today the two grandchildren asked if "Cinder" wasn't coming back. My daughter replied that she had died and wasn't coming home. My 3yr' old granddaughter asked her 5 yr. old big brother if "Cinder" would have wings up in Heaven. He quickly answered, " No, dogs only get halos". These kids just never cease to make me smile.

Some of y'all met my son Chad at the Bassmaster Classic dinners or at the road trip this year. Anyway, just got the news that he's been appointed to be the Texas BASS Nation youth director! I'm a proud dad!

Please see my signature.

Don't really know. Once they hit that swash they become immovable, I had to walk it backwards to pull it out of the surf. That's when you know you have tied a good knot, 15# braid to a 20# leader with an alberto and an ordinary clinch on the jig head.

Your selflessness knows no bounds

LOL, you need help.

full lesbian? what is she now?

God I was seriously hoping that someone was about to post a monster caught with a Believer... Oh well...musky season almost here!

Up here in MN a 6 pounder is rare. My chances of catching a 5 pound bass have decreased since I bought a digital scale. I used to catch 5 pounders but now I just catch 3 to 4 pounders...........

Because of a time restraint I was unable to do my normal routine, but how does one not hit the beach at first light. Water was flat and outgoing, worst conditions possible so I'm looking for a bit of nervous water and I find some. Not much going on until I see a fin, I cast my DOA jerk shad and this jack was all over it. Fairly lengthy battle as I was using a med 7' spinning and soron 20 reel, which I planned on replacing later today at BPS, I'm rethinking that one, lol. Off in the distance I see mackerel beaking water, I switch lures to cast that far and pull in 3 spanish.

Wanted to 1 st thank Sam the man for all the start up info you gave me on the James and getting me going on this awesome body of water me and my partner have caught some nice ones no giants but wanted to share with you guys thanks again sam

Yeah i guess you are right....one of those days.

You must never have tried a Rage Craw. The new DB craw looks awesome too. The Menace is a good option on smaller presentations and the Lobster on bigger ones. 99% of the time I hang a Rage Craw on the back. Everyone has their favorites and there probably is no wrong answer here. Good luck!

One thing I really recommend is when you get a bite and miss or half stick a fish, throw back with a 7" Strike King Ocho Senko, 90% of the time they will bite again when they normally wouldn't take a second pick at the jig. Hands down best follow up bait for any application!

Is that great or what! We are all proud of him. Do you realize how many guys out there would love that job? You did a super job raising him. How about some background information that you can share with us so the young guys who want to get into the bass fishing industry will have your son's story. Please tell him on behalf of everyone on the Forum that we are very happy for him and his new career.

The Missouri Department of Conservation will come out and shock the lake to let you know what's in it. They will also guide you on how to make it a better fishing late too. Here's a good manual they have produced about how to take care of a small private pond http://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/resources/2010/05/mopondhandbook_2011.pdf

I couldn't resist and I went to the park for a little bit. Within 5 minutes I missed a nice 4+ lbr, that would have really helped my numbers. Anyhow I stuck with it and landed a 15.5" right before I was run out by a big thunderstorm. This makes it my 5th, finally!! I have a few more days to cull. Right now I am at 78.50. I am shooting for top 3. I am swinging for the fences!!

i took that picture, it's him

Thanks, I have never tried pegging my sinker, I will give it a shot. What weighted hook would you suggest on a Gary Yamamoto Swimsenko 5"?

Not a PETA fan, but why test products on animals when we have convicted murderers, rapists, and child molesters in every state living off our tax dollars. If I could pay to punch the hell out of a rapist with proceeds going to charity I'd be quite the contributor.

Who cares it's a fish check your egos at the door gentlemen. Only thing I don't like is people keeping bass. And if you're gonna keep them don't just let them die in the sun. Cooler of ice will let them suffer less regardless of if you eat them.

If you caught a 20" it will replace one of your 19's and you will be tied with Tightlines. Pics we need pics.

Money! All of the money I make goes into our house. We're hoping to have it paid off in 8 years. We are debt free other than that. I do work on the side, fixing things that others can't (motorcycles). They bring them to me as a last resort most of the time and I pretty much charge what I want. This extra money is what I use to buy fishing toys. I have enough saved up for a 10' Bass Hunter and trolling motor, I just haven't pulled the trigger.

Where are these replacement fish??

Spiral wrap on baitcasters for custom rods is a no brainer. They prevent the blank from twisting when loaded & help with line management. I have them on a custom jerkbait rod & love them. Unfortunately the only production rod (if you want to call it a production rod) utilizing this technology is Edge Rods by Gary Loomis. Like John said spiral wrapped micros work too as well as other conventional guides systems spiral wrapped. http://www.edgerods.com/catalog/rods/bass

Was it a cold front? During the height of the day? If the former wait a day or 2, if the latter go during lower-light conditions, especially if the lake is unusually clear.

Caught one on a senko before. Had to dig for the picture.

When asked how he learned to bass fish KVD's answer was "reading Bassmaster magazine"! Don`t believe the hype! Bass can see your line & will spook. If a bass sees your line what does he think it is? Don't believe the hype! When asked why he made lures in so many different colors Tom Mann answered "To catch the fisherman, a bass has never put a penny in my pocket." Don't believe the hype! Spring time lures Summer time lure Fall time lures Winter time lures Nope the lures are the same the locations change!

LOL, you need stainless for clear water.

If you can see them, then they can see you. Try making longer casts and moving more slowly around the edge of the water.

I too fish them many different ways. One of my favorites is when fish are suspended in less that 10 feet of water. I cast it up in the skinny then let it hit the bottom. I stroke (full stroke of rod from low on the water too high in the air) it and let it fall back to the bottom. I feel the fish follow it down. If they don't eat it on the fall, then when it rips off the bottom like it is running from them. They reaction strike it.

I like to fish them as slowly as I can while keeping the blade vibrating, just a slow, steady retrieve. Sometimes it's best to start the retrieve right away and sometimes I'll let it sink all the way to the bottom before I start reeling. It works very well to pump the rod and kind of rip off the bottom then flutter back down too. I like black and blue or white with a chartreuse trailer or firetiger, 3/8oz is about the only size I use.

Tenkara is a lot of fun. I would go with a 3wt for panfish myself. A 4 wt also will work but a 5wt i feel is to heavy. And by to heavy it doesn't really affect the catching but it is kind of like if you were pitching a jig with a MH or H rod and caught a bluegill. Yeah it works but it isn't as much fun as if you had caught him on an ultralight. Also remember that the weight of the fly rod is as much a reflection on the size of flies you are looking to throw as it is the size of the fish. I have landed quite a few 20"+ brown trout, smallmouth and 15+lb carp on my 4 wt.

Bangin a deep diving crank in the gravel!

Thanks guys!

Yeah Pflueger, a supreme XT or Patriarch would be what your looking for and you will forget about those other reels right quick.

Ok. I will take them back. That sucks because I was really excited for these reels. Any recommendations for a spinning reel that doesn't make rubbing noises and is smooth? She just chews I disagree when I tick her off. She wouldn't buy a new husband. She has her hands full as it is. She'd probably just go full lesbian after me.

Like spinner baits, there are many ways to fish them. Slow retrieves on the bottom, fast retrieves up top, yo-yo through the water column, etc. When I first started bass fishing the chatterbait was my confidence bait. I personally don't use a plastic trailer anymore, and haven't noticed a difference in the effectiveness of the thing. #1 recommendation is to sharpen the hook. They suck right out of the package.

If it didn't work out of the box, I'd expect nothing less than a perfectly working replacement, not parts.

Plenty of great brands. I grabbed one several years ago at Costco, been using it ever since. Costco's policy has been good to us for auto and marine batteries, so I tend to return there. I've also considered (since I power a light kayak) a smaller battery like a Werker wheelchair battery via batteriesplus.com. However, they tend to be quite a bit more expensive if you want higher AH rating, and then the weight savings start to dry up. But they are sealed and won't spill acid if it tips over.

Wtg Jay, Deak is a nice fella huh This is one of the great things about BassResource... Nice folks that not only love to fish but share both opinions and EVEN Baits with us sometime! Good on ya Deak

My very first bass was caught on a 5' stout little saltwater rod with a zebco 202 spincast reel using a yellow fish shaped plastic lure with the lightening bolt on the side of it. I got it on the back page of a comic book offer for 50 lures for just $4.95. It was springtime near the Easter holiday. Funny I didn't catch on to bass fishing back then. It was the first lure I ever used. I never judge a fisherman by the tackle he or she uses. That new state record bass could strike there hook as well as mine. I would love to see a youngster with a zebco outfit break the state record.

I generally follow with a jig. I'll change color, size, fall rate, profile, etc. But in cover conditions that dictate a jig, I fish a jig.

Just because you can catch a fish on a cane pole and string, doesn't mean its the best tool or the most convent tool to do so. Fishing is a hobby for me. Nothing more. I've never fished a Tournament and I don't know if I ever will. Firearms used to be my main hobby. I attempted to turn it into a career and it completely ruined it for me. That said, better equipment, nicer equipment make the experience better. If a guy talks crap on your gear when fishing, he's a POS in my opinion.

As for a motor, get the most powerful one you can afford. You can't have too much. The Endura would be more durable since it has a composite shaft. The battery type needed is a Deep Cycle typically at least group 27. A 24 may be OK if the pond is small and you don't fish very long. The size numbers refer to the physical size and amp capacity. Small number=small battery-less usage Adding to the overall cost is a battery charger. Fully recharge the battery after each use.

I'm a PETA member People Eating Tasty Animals

Sometimes I wonder if the most ridiculous claims of PETA's actions weren't completely manufactured by their detractors. I don't care for them either, but there are wing nuts on both sides of the equation.

Great post. Thanks for sharing. Some of he pros can be nasty, depending if they are catching anything and where they are in the previous day's results. Nice to read you had three pros that were true professionals and good ambassadors of our sport. To have a small villa on The Thousand Islands go to college, get that degree, start a career, do well, save your money and one day your dream can come true. Of course, that is after you get married, raise a family, pay over $150,000 to educate each of your kids in college, buy a house, buy new furniture, buy your wife some jewelry for birthdays and anniversaries, step up from that Corvette to a van, invest in a $50,000 bass boat along with a $25,000 truck to pull it, start your own business, work 60 hours a week and keep that smile on your wife's face the entire time. Keep us posted on your progress on and off the water!!!!

This is completely silly, Butch Brown has over 1500 bass over 10lbs and Mike Long has 30 of the 100 biggest bass ever caught. Learn how to start fishing for adult fish instead of juvenile bass and your odds are really not that bad at all.

Thanks for the info, braid really helps too