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My most memorable experience was fishing with an old friend in the Everglades in April. We fished together for two days, and had a great time catching loads of fish and reminiscing old times. It had been several years since we shared the boat together. My best friend was in great shape and was planning several trips with his wife to some exotic locations. Three weeks later he died of a sudden heart attack. I am so thankful for that time we spent together, and never forget telling those close to you how much you appreciate them. You just never know what the future will hold.

I have been a lurker to the thread with some occasional post, and I am really disappointed FSU will have to face someone other than BAMA in the BCS Championship game. Sorry Buckeye fans, but Ohio State, even though undefeated, should not even be in the top 5, I think Duke can take them!

Might make you a better drinker...and real good at looking at flags.

Alright gang, a new month is here before us and you all know what that means..... new competition time!!! If you participated last month, or you are new member, or you have been following us now for while and you're just curious. Now is your time to join us. I am proud to say that this will be our 7 month of having this monthly competition. Last month we had 27 participants and we are looking to grow that number. So please, any BR FL member can join. All we ask is that you play fair and have fun while you are with us. Just to give contenders an idea of what they are up against, here were Novembers top five bags (sort of speak) in inches. 1. 101" 2. 99.5" 3. 94.5" 4. 89.5" 5. 86". Think you can do better?? Participate and show us. The rules are simple. Go bass fishing, and if you deem your fish is worthy to brag about, then all you have to do is measure your fish, take a clear picture of the whole fish confirming the length on a measuring device. For example a ruler, tape measure, etc... The person with the longest 5 bass at the end of the month wins bragging rights. The beauty of this competition is, there are no entry fees, no prize money, just pure clean fun for bragging rights. You can fish from the bank, from a boat, from a yak, from canoe anywhere that it is legal to fish. [ Also, please make sure your fishing license's are up to date]. On a side note we also have big fish honors. That simply means we recognize the angler who has caught the biggest fish in the month. For that recognition you will need a scale and picture confirming the weight of your catch. When you take a pic of your catches you have up to 5 days to post those pictures on our forum. To avoid any misunderstandings on your post, please include the date of the catch. I will take care of the rest and track your catches and progress. I will post daily and weekly standings. Lastly, this competition is for fun and to share our experiences so the rest of us can learn from your catch. Any intentional acts to mislead or harm this competition is highly discouraged, and you will be disqualified for those actions. We are participating in a honest, and fair competition. By saying " I am in" you are accepting the guidelines of this competition. If any one has any questions or concerns please PM me at any time. I am here for all of you. Best of the luck everyone, let's have an awesome December Finale!! and with that..... I AM IN!! Bassinlou

Shhhh.

You guys are awesome!

I enjoy night fishing! When it's flat calm and you're in a kayak it's stealth and finesse for me, and just enjoying the silence

sorry to hear about the yankees/mets fan thingee.

smaller diameter line with a longer more flexible rod = more distance with less effort. Plus A-Jay is right on. Learn to cast with your off hand. When I tore my shoulder I had to learn to flip and pitch left handed so I could fish period.

wait a minute?!?!? where's Gambler?!? did I beat gambler?!?!? OMG!!!!!! I'm so happy!!!!!

I have tried just about all of them. A few have made it to the regular rotation, most did not. The "winners" for me: The Devil Spear and The Jerk The ......." I caught some good fish on them, and I'll use them if I am out of my regular stuff " category Pit Boss Craw Fatty Bottom Hopper Grass Pig Subwoofer The..........."tried them, don't hate them, but don't really need/want them" category Juice worm The Deuce Sick fish Slop craw The ............."tried them, and couldn't get rid of them fast enough" category Rocket craw Smash tube Hawk hog Wide load Beat Shad And lastly the..........."I have not tried them yet" category Backslide Flat Dawg

Dwight, your batting-average with trophy smallies has been nothing short of phenomenonal! Then again, knowing the perfectionist that you are, I'm not at all shocked but nonetheless impressed. Going back a few years, I'm on record as dubbing you the "Al Lindner of the Northeast", and some things never change (eat your heart out Joe Balog ;-)) Roger

Alright folks here are the end of the month numbers. Congrats to AK, once again for his 6th consecutive win and Dsidle for his 6lbr big fish of the month honors. 1. AK: 21" 21" 21" 19" 19" = 101" 2. Rovingmutt: 21" 21" 20.5" 19" 18"= 99.5" 3. Bassinglou: 19.5" 19.5" 19.5" 18" 18"= 94.5" 4. Lunkermaster24: 19" 19"17.5" 17" 17"= 89.5" 5. MCS: 19.5" 19" 17.5" 16.5" 13.5"= 86" 6. JaxBasser: 19" 17" 16.5" 16.5" 15.5"= 84.5" 7. Dsidle: 21" 17" 16" 15.5" 14" = 83.5" 8. ZachD: 14"14"13"12.5"12.5"= 66" 9. Phil M: 16"15.5"14.5"14"=60" 10. FSTR: 20.5" 20.5"18.5"=59.5" 11.1234567: 19.5"17"16"=52.5" 12. Fishingator: 17.5"15"15"=47.5" 13. BassCzar: 16"16"14"=46" 14. BostonSox: 16.5" 16.5"=33" 15. Mouldie: 15"14.5"=29.5" 16. Plunske: 20"=20" 16. Martin: 20"= 20" 17. FishinDaddy: 18"=18" There you have it guys and gal. These are the individuals that recorded catches for our November contest. Congrats again to AK, and the rest of the top 5. Looking forward to December. My next post will be the December launch.

Was it a field goal Attempt or a kick off? All on Coaches shoulders.

screwed? poor coaching decisions on his part in the 4th.

WAR d**n EAGLE BABY!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

I had a local shop that I tried to support. He never had what I was looking for. He would order it for me, but it would take forever, and sometimes would never show up. The owner was not customer friendly. My point is, I support business' that take care of the customers. If it's a mom and pop shop or a big box store, they have to treat me right to get my business.

And me and Big O are in agreement. A 5 pounder up here, is a 10 pounder down in Texas. a 9 pound fish up here, is like catching an 18lb, probably lake record, down there. 6's are 12's, and 8's are 16's. See the pattern? It holds true (compared to my catch rates), too. About right, for sure. There have been plenty of trophy fish posted by us in the Northeast.

You may want to consider learning to cast and fish with the other wing. Then you'll be able to spread the work load around. I do it. A-Jay

Tackle warehouse has % 25 off on all Seaguar lines starting today. Get your credit cards out.

Keith Jones' book - Knowing Bass - The Scientific Approach to Catching More Bass Anything Kevin VanDam Anything Denny Brauer Ike's book - Fishing on the Edge

Bill Murphy's book "In Pursuit of Fiant Bass" has some insight into bass behavior, on a practical level, that should benefit nearly all bass anglers. Keeping an open mind, not necessarily adopting Bill's fishing techniques, anchoring and live bait fishing, instead excepting his strategy that adult size bass behavior differs from juvenile bass and knowing the prey bass prefer will improve your basing fishing success. Tom

I started keeping track of all 5lbers & 6lbers caught out of my boat for spring pre spawn which is April & May and a limited few fall days from Oct & Nov. There would a category for 7lbers but nobody wants to contribute to that statistic the last four years. Maybe I need to get LuckyCraftMan to fish out my boat instead of his. Anyhow here is the breakdown for 2010 through 2013. That's 145 smallies over 5lbs and 26 smallies over 6lbs for the last 4 years. That means on a four year average you need to catch 5.5 five pounders before you are going to get a six. I have no idea why 2012 was such a good year for five pounders caught. Average fishing days for each year probably totaled 45-50 days per year for pre spawn & a few fall days. All fish complied were caught on jerkbaits. 2010 Results 33 smallies over 5lbs 4 smallies over 6lbs Biggest was 6-12 2011 Results 30 smallies over 5lbs 7 smallies over 6lbs Biggest was 6-9 2012 Results 60 smallies over 5lbs 8 smallies over 6lbs Biggest fish was 6-15 2013 Results 22 smallies over 5lbs 7 smallies over 6lbs Biggest fish was 6-8

So Im not much of a Boston Red Sox fan - Im a Yankees -Mets- fan-BUT let me tell you who I am a fan of John Farrell- let me tell ya something!!!(fire marshal Bill Voice) This gentleman grew up a few doors away from my buddy. He grew up down the shore at Monmouth Beach went to high school at Shore Regional and was a pitcher there as well. Got drafted right out of high school by the A's and opted to go to college instead After college at Oklahoma he got drafted -started playing for the Indians. We all know the story from there ' The guy goes and gets the job as Manager of the Red Sox and leads the worst team in the league to win The 2013 World series. ... So to get on with the story-My buddy Ernie says "hey you and Eddie want to meet john- I said "quit messin with me " He said serious . Meet Saturday at noon . So my son and I go and sure as hell there he is at some school down the shore signing autographs and taking pictures. My son and I sat with him for a while and talked -Hes a fisherman as well. He signed balls -gloves some Christmas stuff for my friends. He was as good as it gets.He stayed til everyone was finished. Had to say I became a fan of this guy that day -It was the way he carried himself around the fans. GOOD FOR YOU JOHN A class act Congrats of winning The 2013 world Series

Received an invitation to a kayak only private tournament for PowerTeam Lures a short while back. Tough conditions: 22 acre lake Average depth 4-5' with deepest part of 8-9' Kayaks only No electronics allowed (I had mine installed but not plugged in) Provided lures 2 rods (1 casting, 1 spinning) 3 fish limit Catch Photo Release Post cold front Full moon cycle I knew the bite would be tough, of the anglers invited only three caught a limit. First place was a total of 48", Second place was 38", Third place was 36". I came in fourth with a length of 30" but that was with only 2 fish with the one below being the best at 17 3/4". Got him on a PTL Hammershad slow rolled. The other came on a 7" PTL Finicky Tickler on a shakey head. I knew the day would be tough, but I know if could have dialed the bite in sooner I could have won it easily. Oh well. Still a great day on the water.

I am new to the forum and became a member to learn more about fishing. I wanted to get back into bass fishing heavy and wanted to see the reviews on different rods and reels. We'll after searching over the forum a little bit I went to bass pro to get my set-up. I had my mind on bps pq and the carbonlite rod. Once I got there the didn't have the rods, and there was 100 rain checks. So I begin to look around and found out they had the ducket rods. I had read on here how they were also a good rod,but I haven't ever heard of them until I became a member on here. Needless to say I left with a 7 mh with the pq reel, I'm very happy with my new setup and can't wait to start fishin with it. Thanks for all the insight guys will continue to read because I have a lot if baits to get as we'll

Securely tie the ring onto the line of a fishing pole. When you feel the time is right, dangle the ring in front of her and ask her if she'll be your personal best catch for life.

i like using a strike king tour grade swim jig with a netbait pacachunk trailer in rootbeer pepper green

Pit boss is a good pitching bait and the sub woofer makes a great jig trailer.

First off, congrats Maybe it's just me, but I'd be REALLY careful with an expensive ring, on a boat, in the cold. Surprised girl + nervous guy + cold + lots of water . Just be careful with that rock!

I almost did! Son my BIL and me were having a family iron bowl party for it. The radio announcement was 7 seconds faster than the tv. So we were taking turns liatening to the radio outside while watching through the window. I let out a war cry and thr house ecploded in cheers as I came sprinting through the door!

The rage craw chunk worked pretty well on the back of my jig.

yes indeed and t rigged with a bullet weight.

Got em both out for a little while today. Love the fact that I opened both reels up and there wasn't excessive grease everywhere. Put bocas in the mg and its smooth as butter. Will make a great crankin reel. I don't have the hedgehog tool so I couldn't put bocas in the bfs. But I spooled it with 10lb braid, turned off two brakes and left two of the eight on. Very smooth and very lightweight. Combo is under 8oz's with the cumulus rod. Will be a great topwater/jerkbait reel and for all finesse tactics. Can't wait to burn some 1/4oz buzzbaits in the spring with the 8:0 gear ratio.

I love using a strike king tour grade swim jig in bluegill it has caught many fish

i wear pants...sometimes.

Advice on using the Gene Larew Biffle Bug. What's the best way to rig the Biffle Bug and be successful? Color preference and size? I'll be using it mostly in the river.

I only got out once in November but I have 16 days off in December starting tomorrow. Watch out.

I have caught fish on senkos in water as deep as 30 feet. It takes an incredible amount of patience to wait for them to it bottom. I am usually fishing it weightless texas style. If I am fishing a senko that deep it is usually during the hottest time of the year. As someone who does like to fish senkos quite a bit that hurt deaknh...It does take some skill... I like catching bass and love to catch big bass. My two favorite lures are a senko and a jig. I have caught big bass on both. In the past 5 years I have caught 22 bass 7 lbs or bigger. The senko caught 8 of those fish including a 8-10 and a 8-9. The jig has accounted for 5 of those fish including the biggest bass I have ever caught a 9-1. Everyone is fish senkos and jigs. They both catch fish. As far as fishing senkos goes I like to fish specific colors that have a subtle differences then the more popular colors. Senkos do catch more fish then a jig.The average size bass on a jig is bigger though. I have fished a few open tournaments and done well with both. I have got lunker in a tourney on a senko and on a jig. When it comes down to it its all about preference and having confidence in what your throwing.

CONGRATULATIONS!

I have the shallow diving matte finish Live Target Bluegill crankbait, and when the summer hits and the bluegill spawn, the Koppers bluegill is awesome!!!! I'm talking the crank and not the square bill which I bet is good as well but the crank, it has a round bill and what I do is throw it around the first break off of a flat where I see bluegill beds, the bass can't help but kill it!!!

I'm looking to try one out in the spring...

went out a couple times this weekend and got some good ones. this one near my house and the following one punching in lox... the wind was baaad yesterday. only managed to get like 15 fish in the boat all day. My GF and I are goin back out tomorrow hopefully to load some good ones. Don't remember what the first one was caught on, the second was a 1.25oz/rage craw bluebug/5/0 flip hook. No tape measure. Only had my 12" ruler on the floor lol. Oh well.

Yup anything Mattlures. The u2 is an awesome bait, I just grabbed 2 more during Black Friday. I'll add the Black Dog Shellcracker g2 since no one's mentioned it.

live target makes a great bluegill crankbait. I got a few during a black Friday sale for 4.00 each. always liked koppers stuff but not the full retail price.

I agree with Mattlure's bluegill baits, the most realistic on the market. Another really good bluegill imitating bait is the deep bodied prop bait. The Lucky Craft Kelly J, Brian's Prop Bee and Stanford Lures Turbo Shad are good examples. These baits are great worked around bluegill beds and anywhere else bluegill are present.

My homemade swimjigs with a rage grub trailer.

if I cant shop naked, I rarely buy it. HA! thanks for the link though. My luck even still is I don't have a cabela around.

You only need two, max. Right Dwight? LOL I've had the pleasure of fishing with Dwight on his rig. "Dialed In" is not quite the most accuate way to describe his efforts up there. I thought I heard a couple smallmouth yelling "DWIGHT!" as we rolled up to the spots.

If one reads Shane's complete comment, I think he may have provided the answer to your question already... And I'm not sure that anything in his comment was limiting him to craw imitations... Here are a couple of illustrations demonstrating one that he noted (TwinTail Menace) and another that I've seen photos of his catches with, the RAGE Shellcracker as a SwimJig trailer. You'll notice they are mounted in the upright position and not horizontal as a Craw imitator would be... A good Jig Fisherman AND THE BASS relate to them quickly as a Brim/Shad profile and this set up provides a faster fall rate as well as maneuvering through grass and trash easier... Hope this Helps IMO, there are trailers for any and all jigs that can improve their performance. It's up to the fisherman to figure this out