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I'm not scared...that's complete BS imo. I'd like to ask the guide one question, "Would you want your reservation, that you paid for and took vacation time from work for, bumped?" I've run a very reputable auto center for 24 years. When I take an appointment, no matter how big or small the job, I do my absolute best to get that customer in and out on time. I can't tell you how many people come in, throwing their weight around and want to get in NOW because their situation is more important than everyone else's....sorry, you will get the same great treatment as I gave the guy before you...when it is your turn.

Another Famous American converts to Islam ... It was announced today that Buckwheat, Of Our Gang fame, Has converted To The Muslim faith and changed his name to: Kareem of Wheat. I just hope he doesn't become a cereal killer!

I have been on this forum for quite some time now. This site is a great place to learn valuable information of our beloved sport. With that being said. The message I would like to convey to all the "new members" is to truly update your profiles. Just taking the time to properly fill out your profile will help all of us provide you with the best information specific to your area. More likely than not, there may be active BR member(s) living within 20 miles of you. The suggestions given by local members I find are the best "tips" than those probably living from the other side of the country (in some cases). I am at fault for having a very "blah" profile when I first became a member. My reason being, because I am a private person and to release some pieces of my info out there to the world paranoid's me. However, I have found that if you provide some pieces of information like: age, favorite fishing places, and general location of where you live, these nuggets of info will be enough to receive key advice that can help your fishing situation tremendously. Leaving out age for example I find is critical, because we assume we are interacting with an adult, and after reading some posts you realize OMG, we have been communicating with a minor the whole time. The advice given may have been completely different if that vital piece of info was provided. Lastly, I feel that a profile is a key piece for finding connections with other anglers. Just knowing a member is from your state, city, or town, can increase your chances of making a new friend, enter a new bass club, or just knowing someone that you can network with. Anyways, I just wanted to get this off my chest, so that it will help new members the same way this has helped me.

Since you are already quite proficient at fishing grubs, maybe try going to a 3-5'' grub.

my only advice for him...don't quit ur 'part time evening job'

First let me say that location, location, location, is so over used and over rated especially on this site. That's right I said it and I'll own it. I have seen many post where a guy asks for lure suggestions and at least one person chimes in with location. He didn't ask you about that did he? No and that simple answer does not help him in any way. Big bass do not live in some magical mysterious secret hole where all you have to do is find them and they will instantly turn stupid and eat what ever you throw at them. Anybody who has ever bass fished know this is absurd. Right place at the right time only gives you an opportunity. Its only a fraction of the varialbles. The entire process is extremely important. This includes, your approach, your presentation and hugely important, your lure or bait. You have to do a bunch of other things right weather you realize it or not. Catching big bass consistently is different then catching one ocasionaly. Targeting big bass is different then catching a bunch of small ones with a good one ever once in a while. Catching big bass consistently is about percentages and odds. You want to do everything you can to stack the odds. First, yes location. obviously and I emphasize OBVIOUSLY if your looking to catch the biggest bass you can, then your odds go up when you choose to fish lakes that hold more big bass. Learn the habits of big bass in your lakes and they will be easy to find. Does this mean they will also be easy to catch? Of course not! I live in possibly the most pressured fishing area in the US. I have no problem finding big bass. That's easy. Now catching them is adifferent story. Learn to stack the odds in your favor. Learn to recognize the percentages. Example. Barney catches 100 bass on Senkos. 95 are under 2lbs. 4 are between 2 and 4 lbs and 1 is an 6lber his new personal best. Now somebody posts a question asking about big baits for big bass. Well guess what Barney says? "Big baits don't wprk any better because I caught my PB on a Senko so I recommend that for big bass" WHAT?????? did he somehow forget about the 99 other bass that were not big? That senko produced 1 out of a 100. 1 percent and now he thinks that's a great big bass bait. That is absurd!!!. When I am targeting big bass I would estimate that 40% of my bites are big. You know why? because I am throwing baits with high percentages of catching big bass. Do big baits catch bigger bass?..... YES! period! They up your odds. Anybody who tells you differently does not have enough experience or they are unable to process all the info they have taken in. In other words they are "Barney" who caught the one big fish and forgot about the 99 small ones. It means nothing that a tiny percentage of big bass are caught on small fish baits. There are allways exceptions especially when they are millions of guys fishing for small bass. If you catch enough small bass, chances are you will luck into a bigger one. This is not targeting big bass. This is not upping your odds. Most guys who have caught big bass have caught them just like Barney. They look back over decades of fishing and remember the handful of big bass they have caught and then they recycle the same old bad advise on how to catch them. If you catch a small percentage of big bass then you are not doing it right. You also should not be telling others how to catch them. Its the blind leading the blind. Example. Think of the guys that consistently catch big bass. Butch Brown, Matt Allen, Oliver Ngy, Matt Peters. You can see these guys videos all over youtube. They aren't using small bass baits. They are using baits with a high percentage for catching big bass. Do you think they catch 1 big bass out of 100 dinks? You bet they don't!!! I am sure they catch a very high percentage of big bass. They do a whole lot more then just "location" and they use big baits. There small bass are Barneys good bass. My whole point to this post is help guys sift through the bad info posted on forums about how to catch big bass. If the answer is coming from a Barney then pay no attention. If the answer is simply "location" then that is so obvious it isn't helpful either. Now let me say of course location is important. There has to be big bass there to catch them ( thanks captain obvious) Figure out where they like to live in your bodies of water. You want to find them? Throw a big swimbait all day and they will reveal themselves to you. You might catch some or you just might get some followers. Pay attention to where they came from and what type of structure, cover, depth etc and find similar conditions and there is a high percentage that similar spots will also hold big bass. Trust me. it is a whole lot easier to find a big bass then it is to catch them. This is why I made this post when guys start posting the location response it takes away from all the other important factors. Don't believe me? again pay attention to what consistant big bass guys are using and how they approach a spot. Remember if a guy has caught thousands of small bass with a handful of big ones. He is not consistently catching big bass He might be a great bass fisherman but he is not a great big bass fisherman.

Honest guys, I thought the Crucial was it. When I have a birthday, my SWEET wife sees to it that I have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Hootie

Politicians.

In your own words: "I've spent hours pitching with creature baits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, spoons, etc. Nothing, ever." Don´t you think that you are not fishing those baits in the right location with the right presentation ? I´m sorry and I excuse me if I sound like an *** but you don´t need a second go-to bait, what you need is to learn how, when and where fish those baits, there´s a ton of articles in the library that you can read and dozens of videos that you can look that cover in practical terms all the situations and conditions where you can make use of those lures.

IMHO- Choosing a guide has nothing to do with price. Yeah the busier guides will boost their prices, but there is a lot more to it than that. Assuming most of the guides know where to find the fish. Some of those "big name guides" guides don't seem to take an individual new client as seriously as the lower profile guys. As long as they get one picture for the website, they know they'll be home for the 6 o'clock news. Are they going to go the extra mile to make sure that your day on the river is a special one for you? You want someone who is dependable and hard working, first and foremost. Then it's personality. Is the guide someone you could see spending a day with on a boat? What are the guide's hours? Do you want to fish with a nine to fiver? Or would you rather fish with someone who will tell you when the fishing is going to be best, and maybe stay late if need be, or even if you just feel like it? I sometimes see guides who are great at marketing working more than guides who are spending all their energy on the river. Some guides see fishing as just a job, and other guides fish on their days off too. Who would you rather fish with?

Fished the Keene Highschool Bass Open this morning. We placed 1st with 12.96 lbs and biggest largemouth bass. Biggest fish weighed was 3.75 but we accidentally chose the wrong lunker to weigh after looking in the bag lol. Next is the State Qualifier.

The guy might be a great fisherman. He may even be a great guide. If I had a date scheduled I would cancel and make sure he knew why. Smokinal explained clearly how a professional handles a full calendar. This guy has a lot to learn about how to treat people.

Junebug works in water that is wet

like everyone already said. I personally take the advantages of braid over flouro and just watch my line and the slack line sensitivity is pretty much eliminated in my experience.

Not sure it's hard to tell without knowing your height but I'm guessing 220lbs

Braid is the most sensitive. The only time floro is more sensitive is with slack line presentations.

I think your hook is too small. I use a 4/0 or 5/0 EWG hook. The larger belly of the hook, by remaining under the body of the bait, acts as a keel. I use the 4/0 hook for slow lift and drop, and a 5/0 for faster, jerkbait type retrieves. As far as line problems with spinning gear, I'm going to be no help to you. I quit fishing a fluke on spinning tackle for that very reason.

Pin breaks are easy. You can just set two breaks with most Shimanos and be done with it, especially the Core. I never been sold on magnetic breaks as a fool proof system. This does not mean that they don't work well. I just think centrifugal brakes do it better (this, of course, is just an opinion).

A young ventriloquist is touring Sweden and, one night, he's doing a show in a small fishing town. With his dummy on his knee, he starts going through his usual dumb blonde jokes. Suddenly, a blonde woman in the fourth row stands on her chair and starts shouting, "I've heard enough of your stupid blonde jokes. What makes you think you can stereotype Swedish blond women that way? What does the color of a woman's hair have to do with her worth as a human being? It's men like you who keep women like me from being respected at work and in the community, and from reaching our full potential as people. Its people like you that make others think that all Blondes are dumb! You and your kind continue to perpetuate discrimination against not only blondes, but women in general...pathetically all in the name of humor!" The embarrassed ventriloquist begins to apologize, and the blonde yells: "You stay out of this! I'm talking to that little shet on your lap."

Haven't been fishing bass for long. Stopped at a small pond today and threw around a jig. Caught 5-6 smaller ones, then this one! I don't have a scale, and didn't bring anything to measure it with because I just wasn't expecting to catch anything this big. Pretty hard to do I know, but any guesses on weight?

Someone drew on you

I'm not gonna touch this one!

Nope still got plenty of places. This is all in an effort to go from my planned partial sleeve into a full sleeve.

Curado I over the Tatula R all day long. And yes I own both. Casts farther, palms better, smoother under load. And IMO it looks better.

I tried the bow and arrow method tonight and it worked ...

What kind of business man makes an agreement with someone then trashes it because someone else pays more money. A bad one.

Rage plastics don't have the best durability but buy some mend it and the way they catch fish is more than worth it.

The question we all want to know is when will you make more?

I own 2 and really like them. They are Very well built and they cast a mile, and the SVS system works perfectly. A site sponsor here actually is trying to liquidate some to make room for new inventory so you may wanna pm him so he can quote you a very good price on one. Here's the link to the thread on here http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/144181-inventory-reduction-sale-new-models-coming/

that was my exact thought too....he then proceeded to say he had to raise prices and had a mortgage yadda yadda....two completely different things in my mind. If i make a guided trip reservation, take time off work and i get a call saying i was bumped i would be more than ticked. Honestly, he doesn't seem like much more than a dude who likes to fish and wants to get paid while doing it where most guides that are good that i have been around won't pick up a rod all day long....

I may have to get down to valdosta one of these days, Where your fishing looks unreal.

I wouldn't expect to be comp'd if I traveled to Baccarac or El Salto and the lake/s had an off day where the fish didn't bite. That's just fishing. If they gave me great customer service and tried hard, fished hard....even stayed out a little longer to try they would have my repeat business weather I caught fish or not. And I'd still tip the guide for doing his best.

Ya Buddy! When that water gets down into the low 60's and high 50's, the red craw trap will be one of my starters every time.

Nice fish,,,,,How the heck do you throw lipless cranks with all those weeds.

No fish no pay was my rule for near 20 yrs.

You can't clean something without taking it apart. When speaking of flushing,we are generally talking about spool bearings. I have a video on YouTube showing how to replace the spool bearings in a tatula. It would work for you to be able to get to them and clean them. That's if you feel comfortable trying to do it. My advice is to send it to Mike @ DVT.

Lots of good answers and some had me smiling. I'd let a friend try one of mine (and have) only if I knew he (she?) was use to handling a baitcast reel. I did let a stranger try my 50th Anniversary Zillion while I was standing there using another outfit. Told me he seldom used his because he'd make 3 or 4 good casts and then backlash it on the next cast. After using my Zillion for a while he said he guessed he had bought the wrong reel. He didn't backlash it once. No thanks to sending anyone a reel of mine that isn't a respected mechanic-reel. Did it once to an Online friend I had talked to several times over the phone for a half hour or more on each call. Seemed like a real nice guy. Gave me very helpful information via emails. I wound up having to buy a replacement Gigas spool for my Type R reel. He kept the original, and replaced it with one from a Zillion. Too many crooks in the world except for you and me, and sometimes I have my doubts about you.

Keep today's fee and offer a free trip when they can go again.

I like a real contrasting bait color in off-colored water. For instance, in green water, a black shad culprit worm just kills em and so does a citrus squarebill...or any citrus crankbait for that matter.

^ once you get the hang of it, you will be amazed at the types of things you can get a lure out of. ...

If my lure is stuck and I cannot reach it, then I pull on the line, wrapped around a stick or a rag and I snap the line. It is what it is. On a side note, I have learned not use the "the good stuff" when bank fishing because of the situations posted above. I use cheaper lures on leaders so that the $$ is minimal and I preserve my main line. A 4-6ft loss of leader is not a big deal vs 50 - 75 ft of braid.

Okay My first spotted bass, off the bank before Andy got there on a Code Black bladed jig with a sapphire blue Pit Boss trailer. My second spotted bass, also from the bank while waiting for Andy, same bait. Andy's largemouth that was just shy of 4 pounds, same bladed jig. Andy's first spotted bass was a really nice fish. It ate a Zoom Ol' Monster. My biggest largemouth of the day ate my bladed jig really deep and was bleeding as soon as I landed her. No weight or measurements, just a quick picture and back in the water. Probably in the 4 pound range though. Caught lots of fish on topwater, even a couple on the Slammer. One of my biggest spotted bass of the day ate a wacky rigged stick O. We caught fish on jigs, 10" worms, shakyheads, poppers, walkers, gunfish, buzzbaits, frogs, toads, flukes, wacky rigs, Pit Boss, sick fish, Slammer, grass pig, square bills, deep crank, craws, bladed jigs, about the only thing we fished much and didn't catch a fish on was a drop shot.

Size does matter. In fishing, that is. A 3/0 is a standard size for a Texas rigged plastic. Some plastics need heavier and longer hooks, such as your toads and large worms. I want you to try something new. When you rig your Texas plastic try to have the point of the barb facing directly up to the bait's skin. Not laying on top of it and then into the skin; but in the worm with the barb facing straight up with the barb tip right under the skin. May give you a better hook set. Just something to consider.

I use both and the Ika catches more fish. Ika falls faster a little tougher casts better. Hydra and its skirt is more fluid jellyfish like when twitched falls slower. Hydra isnt as tough where the skirt meets the body this area tears easily(ika not all that much better though), hydra body seems to hold-up better. The Hydra body doesnt degrade, start to decompose, like the Ika body does with prolonged use. The skirt of the Hydra takes the use of JJ's Magic better for coloring, Ika skirt not so much. I use both will continue to use both side by side just think the faster falling of the Ika gets it more reaction bites darts off bottom better with pop quick twitch. Hydra slight edge in attracting pike. Being the skirt lasts longer on the Ika and the body lasts longer on the Hydra I will combine these pieces to make a Hydrika A similar bait to these to also check out is the Keitech Salty Core tube more of an actual tube shape but solid like ika/hydra.

Sun line sniper hands down. Look at the line diameter of each line. Sniper 16lb has the same diameter of most 12-14lb lines. Get some 16 or 20lb sniper and have at it. I've caught 20+ fish over 7lbs this year on Toledo and most have been on 16lb sniper!

Just a little food for thought: if you're getting a lot of line twist while fluke fishing, you either have it rigged crooked, the hook is too small or you're fishing it too fast.

Carolina Rig. Big (smart) fish inherently do the most for least. Most calories taken in for least calories expended. I can verify and swear that big smallies will crush a super spook, 4.8" Keitech, or big pointer. However dragging a little craw across a hard bottom is like an M&M dish on your coffee table. They're going to be eaten even if you are not hungry.

The ability to buy guns at Walmart has nothing to do with violent crime. Gangbanger are the result of their environment. The bulk of the violent crime here in Chicago is in a select few neighborhoods. There are no Walmarts or any other gun stores in those neighborhoods.

Guns don't kill people. Any other comment I might make will break the "No politics and No religion" rules of this site.