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we need more information so we can give you bad advice...

So I'm in the canoe today and start cranking the approaches to a small cove. I'm tossing a Norman Deep Little N on a 7'6" medium-power Crankin' Stick with a Shimano CTE-100DC with 10lb YZ line. BAM - hook-up. Drag pulled. Big bass I'm thinking. Drag pulled twice more. REALLY BIG bass I'm thinking. Then line starts peeling off the reel, the drag is singing, and I realize...not a bass. Then I think, REALLY BIG catfish. The fish pulls the canoe around 180 degrees as it heads for deep water. I enjoy the boat ride for a while - letting the fish fight the drag. I'm getting towed at a pretty good clip right out of the cove, around a point, then starting to go into another cove. THEN, I see the fish breach and come half-way out of the water, roll, then back down deep.............and I realize it's a big honkin' grass carp. At this point, I could see I had way too much line out (over 50 yards) so I start to chase the fish down with the boat. I get close to the fish and every time I get it close to the boat it makes another run. The fish is foul-hooked in the tail so I have to tire the fish enough so I can get it on top, parallel to the hull of the canoe, so I have access to the mouth and can grab it with a "fish grip" tool. Each time I get the fish close, another short run. Finally, after about four tries, I got the mouth near the boat, lock on the fish grip, and pull it into the boat. 21 minutes from hook-up to landing. 43 inches, 38.5 pounds. Not the biggest grass carp I've caught...but they're ALWAYS fun to catch. After I get the length, weight, and photo, it's time to get it back in the water. Last look is the tiny mouth and beady eyes.. Release the fish grip and away she goes. Thanks for the fight !

Could the fish in your left hand even swim?? Good gosh that's a porker!

Name: Clayton Westgate Age: 34 City/State: Gardner, KS Occupation: Deputy Sheriff Education: High School grad with some college (Police Academy) Yrs Fishing: My parents first took me a couple weeks before my first birthday. The picture of me sitting in my diaper holding a fishing pole is one of my favorite old pictures of myself. Preferred Style (describe a typical, quality day): If I can get on a good jig bite it's a good day. I also love getting slack lined on my bladed jigs. Personal Fav food: There isn't really anything I don't like to eat other than fish oddly enough. BBQ, Italian, Mexican, and breakfast foods are my favorites. If I had to pick one thing it would be my mom's lasagna. Fav movies: Tommy Boy, Dumb and Dumber, Step Brothers, I love stupid comedies. Fav quote: "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - George Orwell Fishing Fav bait: Homemade jigs or bladed jigs Fav set up (rod/reel): Spinning: Daiwa Tatula 2500/ St. Croix LTB 6' 10" M/XF Baitcaster: Daiwa Zillion SV TWS/St.Croix LTB 7' Mh/F Fav lake: Table Rock or Melvern Fav river: Elk River in Missouri is the only river I've ever fished for bass. The White River in Arkansas is one of my favorite fishing destinations, but for brown trout on jerkbaits. 10 Questions from Members input 1. How do you find the time to work, spend time with your family, go fishing, and still be logged onto the website and patrol all the posts? I work nights and have a lot of down time that I spend on the website while nothing is going on. Evenings are time spent with my wife and sons, Lake and Finn. I'll go for an hour or two after work in the mornings a couple times a week when the weather allows it. 2. What is your fishing background/experience? We were very poor when I was young, so fishing was a means of getting food without spending much money. I always felt good when I caught a good fish because I knew I was helping my family out. I loved being around the water and trying to catch the fish and anything else in it, and that has never changed. I started fishing tournaments when I turned 16 in a local bass club. My first year I won 2 tournaments, rookie of the year, backseater of the year, and 3rd place overall in the club. I had to stop tournament fishing when I got into law enforcement due to scheduling conflicts but I have been doing it long enough now that I can get the days off and I'm hoping to get back into it. 3. What have been your best experiences when fishing? Any time I get to spend on the water with my dad is a good time. I've always enjoyed our trips together but now that I have sons of my own I think I realize that much more how special those trips are for both of us. 4. Give us a play by play of a typical, lets say, Tuesday for you? What time do you get up? Work? Fishing? Family? How do you relax at the end of a long day at work? My Tuesday starts at 6PM Monday night. That's when I wake up and go say hi to my wife and boys. Take the dogs outside to run around. I make dinner and play with my kids until it's time for them to go to bed. I leave for work around 9:20 for my shift that starts at 10PM and goes until 6AM the next day unless I'm holding over and working until 10AM, which I normally do once or twice a week. Once I get home I usually build some baits or tinker with my fishing gear until 10AM which is when I try to be in bed. Now do the same for a Saturday? Saturdays I'm off most of the day so sometimes I'll get up and go fishing for a few hours in the morning, or I might sleep in a bit and spend the day with my family. 5. What experience do you have fishing elsewhere other than home areas? I've been a bunch of different lakes fishing; Eagle Lake in Ontario, Grand Lake in Oklahoma, Beaver Lake, White River, and Bull Shoals in Arkansas, Gulf of Mexico, Minnetonka in Minnesota, and Hampton Lakes in South Carolina. Beaver, The White River, Grand, and Hampton Lakes were my favorites 6. Is it still as much fun for you as it was in the beginning of your tenors? More so I would say. I've gotten to the point where I try to understand the fish more than just trying to go out and catch them. I like to come up with a game plan before I ever get to the lake and make adjustments as I see fit while on the water. I've also gotten to where catching a bunch of fish isn't as much the goal anymore as catching better quality fish. 7. Do you guys get free stuff? Lures, line, rods, reels, etc...? Yes we do occasionally from some of our sponsors. I've been fortunate to get to try out some great gear from several different companies during my time as a Moderator here. 8. What part of being a Mod here do each of you enjoy most and least? Most: I like getting to help out with helping to keep this forum as great as it is. Least: Any time someone wants to argue is never a good time. I get plenty of confrontation at work. I try to avoid it here but it kind of comes with the territory. 9. What is your favorite besides bass? I'm an avid multispecies angler with bass being first on my list. It's impossible for me to pick a second favorite. I love fishing for big flathead and blue catfish. I spend several days each winter after wipers and white bass. I wish I had muskie and stripers closer as they're both a blast. Same goes for brown trout, I don't think I could ever get tired of chasing them. 10. Do you guys rotate as to who needs to be on line at any given time? Or does everyone just look in whenever they get time. I'm mostly on at night but also occasionally during the day. Fav hobbies other than fishing: Lure building, bow hunting, and bow fishing. I love going camping with my wife and kids. Turn ons: Fishing in the dark, Spring, sunrises on the water, getting to be a dad and husband. Turn offs: Liars, negative people, know-it-alls, anyone who is abusive to someone who is different/weaker/smaller or to animals. Aspirations: To be the best father and husband I can be while continuing to grow in and enjoy this sport that is such a major part of my life and hopefully pass my passion for it on to my kids.

Don't have a pic of my pb, but this is my best of this year (and not much smaller than my pb.) This Potomac River smallmouth weighed in at 5lb8oz.

Divorce is very liberating. It liberates you from half your stuff, and most of your money. Very liberating indeed.

Congrats Clayton! That picture of you kneeling holding that flathead looks like it should have been on the show River Monsters.

Before my dad passed he gave me the greatest advice ever. Tell them what they want to hear ad do what you want to do. It has been the happiest two years of my life. I never knew divorce could be so liberating.

If you retrieve a deep diving billed jerkbait like a crankbait what is the difference besides the baits profile?

Here's a very basic catfish rig that I use often for presenting cutbait and livebait on the bottom.

Watch this and try not to laugh.

Aaron Martins sponsored by Megabass, who in finesse bass fishing is promoting Phenix? Tom

Awesome read man! Congrats!

Bite was decent today from 1500 to 1800. I found a large school of perch, that where being followed around by some bass. Managed to get five on the day, lost a monster smallmouth, somehow it managed to toss my spro back after jumping three feet in the air!

Pike, catfish, perch, sheephead, bullhead, carp, whitefish and Panfish, I also consider walleye a sport fish ( only because I used to do walleye tournaments ) but trying to convince Minnesotans not to eat walleye would be like telling them not to drink beer( it just aint going to happen)... Mitch

I hear the pay is awesome. Congrats.

You'll soon find out It's very awkward if you ask me.

Well deserved!

Any info on the new moderator?

nice addition Clayton! who better to police the forums than the police.... nice fish pics

I am a big fan of Sunline Super Natural.

I dont own the Phenix rod you are considering just a Recon 714 which doesnt help much. I do however own the Orochi XX EMTF and the shakey head spinning rod. The sensitivity of both are very good at the price point. Build quality is great and the filler issue isnt as bad as some make it out to be. I think the shakey head rod is outstanding for drop shot rigs and finesse presentations where the drop shot rod would be more of a one trick pony. My shakey head rod fishes a touch slower than most 3 powered spinning rods. I have heard nothing but good things about Phenix UMBX rods and sure they are terrific. The Megabass would allow you the opportunity to get your feet wet in the lower end exotic market without paying a fortune. Performance wise I am sure they would be close.

Two of the best methods I've found are a Lindy rig and a Gapen's Bait Walker. The first is similar to a C-Rig and the second looks like a spinnerbait with the hook removed and a leader tied to the swivel where the blade would be.

To quote your words: " it doesn't explain why spinning reels are left handed oriented, " and I ask if you are kidding with those words, in the last 3 + decades all spinning reels from all reel manufacturers have been manufactured with reversible handles, how can they be "left hand oriented" ?

Thanks Andy! Good point on the tackle, line, and knots. Just before hooking the grass carp, I had been fishing a lipless crank across the grass on the point with a reel that had 15lb Big Game on it. When I had the carp on, my first thought was that I was still fishing with the 15 BG line and started to feel a bit more comfortable. Then I remembered, I switched to a cranking rod just a few casts before hooking the carp. While watching the action on the water, I felt the line with my fingers and immediately knew that I didn't have 15lb line. I glanced down and saw that pale green color of Yo-Zuri Ultrasoft - that meant 10lb line. So, I backed the drag off a bit (to protect the line and the hookup) and then had to trust the line and the last knot I tied (three bass before). Looks like tackle, line, knots, and angler made it through OK...

Not like it's a challenge lol

3 mountain climbers who were also rabid football fans argued all the way up the mountain about which team had the best fans. When they got to the top, the Cowboys fan said "I'll prove that Dallas fans were the best and most devoted" and he jumped off the mountain. The Chicago fan said he could prove Bears fans were the best so he pushed the Packer fan off the mountain.

Nah, it's going to be worse, she'll hunt n'fish more and gonna be better than him.

I sense a conspiracy...LOL

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/82511-getting-to-know-the-bassresource-staff/page-4

Take it back. It should be under warranty if you got it recently.

So what your saying is she fishes and hunts more then you? lol

Its a good recommendation to to stay relatively mobile, rather than spending too much time at one location - if its available for you to do so. My game plan tends to vary from one day to the next. Some days I'll be mobile, other days I'll junk fish. But I think a good rule of thumb, is to relocate about every 10-15 minutes, and stay no longer than 30 minutes in one spot. However, if youre catching fish, stay until the bite goes dead, then move on. Usually all of my fish are caught within the first 15 minutes of arriving at a location. That being said...Its been my experience so far, that nothing good has ever come from fishing from one location too long IF there is nothing biting. Sometimes our minds may trick us into thinking that if we stay in that one spot, some great fish just might coming swimming our way shortly. Dont listen to that.

That didn't work for me yesterday. I got a spook junior in my finger. I tried this method as I have heard of it for years. I finally just took pliers and ripped it out.

Looks like my ex's new apartment.

Glad to have you on the team, Clayton.

Awesome. Congrats!!

Jolly Green is correct, you have 2 "cavities": 3 larger BB's go in the front which comprises of pretty much all the weight giving the lure a nose down attitude and 5-7 smaller ones in the middle cavity pretty much making up the rattle component. The weight in the middle is pretty much negligible. This is where you can experiment and have fun with different sizes, quantity and material make-up of the BB. Here's a Cordell I cut in half. I used it to learn mold making for plastic lure builds: Here's my mold and Spot replica pieces Assembled and painted (I'm not a good painter...LOL)

I have a plan before I get to the lake and make adjustments accordingly once I start fishing.

I know a a lot of these have already been mentioned but here's a list of advantages as to why I use tungsten weights : Roughly 1/2 the size of lead which leads to a more natural presentation Smaller size equates to less hang ups around wood and grass Much more sensitive than lead steel or brass relays bottom composition much better Harder than lead which means it won't deform as easily Weights won't wear on line like lead will once deformed Won't rust or tarnish or corrode like lead, steel, or brass Weight will come through a basses mouth better as it's teeth can't grip it like they can with lead which leads to better hook up ratio Allows you to downsize presentations without loosing feel or casting distance Tungsten allows the creation of unconventional weights i.e. Eco Pro Tungsten's Pro Wacky Weight Makes punching a lot easier Tungsten is more eco friendly than lead.

Collar bone is healing up nicely! I'm going to try fishing Potanipo tonight just to get out on the water.

THE AUDIT Myron Greenberg, a wealthy L.A. businessman received a letter of Audit from the IRS. It really upsets him and he called his accountant, Saul Meyers. Myron (pleading): "Saul, what are they doing to me? Why are they doing this to me?” Saul (calming): "Myron, don't worry about it. I’ve got all the receipts, the account is up to date, it's no problem. But let me give you a bit of advice. When you go to the Audit, make a bad impression. Wear the crummiest, dirtiest clothes you’ve got. Have holes in your shoes, ripped pants and look shabby. I mean really look terrible, because if they have a little sympathy, they’ll go easy on you." Then Myron called his Lawyer, Charlie Steinberg. His Lawyer said: "Myron, it's no problem, I'm sure they got the receipts, I’m sure everything is up to date, you've got a great accountant, don’t worry about it. Let me give you a tip. When you go to the Audit, it’s very important that you make a good impression. Wear your best suit, and your shirt with a silk tie and cuff links and shine your shoes, look like somebody. Because if you look like a somebody they respect you and will go easy on you." And now he's torn. And that night he bumped into his Rabbi at the Deli. And he told the Rabbi the story. Rabbi: "Myron, it reminds me of sometimes when I perform a wedding. The bride's father will tell his daughter that on her wedding night to wear a nightgown with a high collar and long sleeves and full length robe…cover up, you know, be a little demure. And the mother says, ‘Don't be silly. Wear a low cut "negligee" with the cleavage sticking out — look a little sexy'... and, Myron, I will say to you just like I say to the bride on her wedding night, it makes no difference what you wear, you’re gonna’ get screwed".

I only use spro and they are easy to walk the slider frog is great but a loping frig u can't go wrong

Walking the frog is a learning experience. Here's a couple things I've picked up: Not all frogs will walk and the one that do require a bit of trimming on the skirt legs to reduce drag. Sometimes adding a split ring to the bait can help it to break into that beautiful wide glide walk. If your rod is a absolute broom handle then it has a tenancy to yank at the frog rather than pull at it, making walking the frog very difficult. You'd be amazed how a a rod with some give in the tip will make walking the bait easier.

Bending a hook will weaken it. Since channel cats have such strong mouths & jaws I would not try it. Just use what you got as is until you can get some more circle hooks.

I have to admit, I had a couple of bass filets the other night and they tasted just like weeds! They are what they eat. Fortunately, I had a steak in the fridge so I threw it on the grill. Dang thing tasted just like a bale of hay! They are what they eat. Still hungry, I drove to the meat market. Asked the butcher what the pigs ate where he got his pork chops from. Gave up on that idea! They are what they eat. Still not giving up, I drove to the seafood store. I was halfway to the door when I realized that anything that swam in salt water would be like biting off a chunk from a salt block! They are what they eat. Since then I've been on a strict diet of Mac & Cheese, but I leave out the cheese part. I don't need any of the dairy products that those darn grass eating give up. It's Udderly Disgusting!

When I take my nephew with me I throw a rage lobster on a circle hook for him. This way I don't have to worry about him missing fish or gut hooking them. That way he can just keep casting and reeling without much worry

You'll get a lot of opinions. Here's mine: Wacky 3" can be from a size #4 to a size #1 Wacky 4" size #2 on up to a 2/0 5" Size #1 - 2/0 and so on. Types of hooks: Gamakatsu Wide Gap Finesse and Split shot/drop shot Caught my PB on a size #1 Wide Gap Finesse rig (7 ½ pounder in thick salad slop).

Good choice going for the circle hook design. It will definitely improve chances of a healthy release. However, as you said, it they've learned to "set the hook", then they are going to hate circles! They will miss a lot of fish by crossing their eyes. If, on the other hand, they can learn to just reel the fish in and not set the hook, then the entire experience will be much better. BTW, try to select "INLINE" circles, vs. the off-set variety. They work a lot better in achieving your goal.