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Unweighted Zoom trick worms in pink or white fished like a snake in the water Wake baits in shad or chartreuse colors Shaky head with Zoom trick worms in green pumpkin or watermelon Drop Shot Texas rigged finesse worms Rat-L-Traps with rear hook removed Senkos, wacky rigged Chatterbaits Cavitron buzz baits Topwater poppers Frogs/Toads Use a spinning rig for finesse techniques. Baits you are throwing: Jigs - for big bass and slow fishing Crankbaits - 1 to 3 feet or wake baits best in your pond Spinnerbaits - windy conditions with chop on the top of the water Swim Baits - for big bass You need to throw plastics by flipping and pitching next to the clumps of grass or swim a trick worm. I would walk around the pond and throw one presentation at a time using the "fan" pattern, going from left to right and then left to right two or three times for each bait. If the water is clear than the bass can see you so stay off the bank and don't throw a shadow on the water. Hit the pond before sunrise with Cavitrons, walk a frog, buzz a toad and poppers. Do the same as the sun goes down. You can also fish deep with a shaky head, drop shot, Senko or Texas rigged presentation. Remember your needle nose pliers and to let everyone in your family know where you will be and what time you expect to be home. This is called a "float plan" and even if you fish ponds it is important that family members and friends know where you are fishing. Try the finesse fishing attack along with the topwaters and let us know if your luck changes.

It probably means most of us are pigs & women just don't like us.

Well, here's the good news. There is only going up after using Berkley Vanish. Anything will be an improvement.

Went out with my BIL, to a canal out in WEST MIAMI that he came across 2 yrs ago that holds some very nice bass. Yesterday was no exception. I caught both of these beauties throwing a LT hollow body frog. The smaller bass came in at 22" and the bigger one came in at 22.75" and an even 6lbs. Enjoy!!

Hey guys, I haven't been on here in awhile due to being hard at work on the tracker! I posted a lot of questions and many helpful people responded with great insight! Just thought I would share the transformation to the final stages of my bass tracker rebuild! Hope you enjoy! Here are some of the pictures of when I first purchased the boat last fall. Originally the boat ran fine, but as time went on the boat began to break dow. First the pedestals came up, then we discovered unsealed exterior grade plywood was rotted with the foam molded underneath that. So, we completely gutted the boat and rebuilt it...the right way! <iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/MattyMillz12/embed/The%20start/story"></iframe> The actual breakdown was hell. The more we took apart, the more that we found wrong. The wiring was unsafe, no stainless steel was used, and cheap carpet glue didn't pose much of a fight. Completely gutting the boat took about 5 months, but we didn't work everyday. <iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/MattyMillz12/embed/Tracker%20rebuild/story"></iframe> Now, were finally rounding the homestretch. The carpet is completely installed, wiring is complete, and redesign of hatches is also done. Just adding the small accessories now....but thats the fun part! <iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/MattyMillz12/embed/The%20finished%20product/story"></iframe>

i love them and think they are beautiful, but few things in life are as enjoyable as beating one to death with an axe handle

Well, it depends......

Fishing 3 of my dream combos... Have the aldebaran hg on the list to go with my expride. This is going to be a fun year of fishing

I couldn't afford to own my dream combo, but I've good lots of nice stuff that keeps me happy.

A picture would help a ton or at least a little bit of a description of the bait. There's a few different craw baits out there.

The only good snake is a dead snake, and even those creep me out. I've been that way since I was a little kid. My body is moving before my brain even realizes what is going on. My wife and kids know to not get between me and the exit if there is a snake. Seriously... I'm so bad about snakes, that when I'm driving and see one crossing the road, I lift my feet up (inside the freaking car) as I hit it. Dead serious....

I was fishing in a super quiet slough on Wilson Lake yesterday, using a popping frog. At the very beginning of a long cast, I see an owl swoop down from a tree (didn't notice the owl before), and immediately see that it's making a b-line for my frog. I figured it would see that it ain't a real frog before it went in for the grab, but it was committed and went for it. Untangling or unhooking an owl from my kayak didn't appeal to me, so I jerked the frog out of reach at the very last second before the owl could grab it. The owl then perched on a branch right above me. I kept fishing, and the owl would look at the frog intently, look at me, then back at the frog. I had my iPhone set to record video in case it went in for another swoop, but it was content just watching and looking confused. I've seen osprey and other bird go for lures, but was surprised to see an elusive Barred Owl go for the frog, and then hang out while I continued to fish. You don't normally think of owls attacking aquatic prey. Here's some shots of the owl I took...

I think I finally did it. I finally filled this tackle bag to it's absolute limit. I think if I slide one more EWG in there I'll be picking Elaztech fragments off my neighbor's roof.

Meh, just put a fish on it and I'm happy.

Okay, punching is a way to get thru heavy cover. You use bobbler stops to hold the heavy weight (3/4-2oz) up against the bait. This is important because you want the bait to fall with the weight. Now you use the weight to get thru mats of vegatation and instead of your bait hitting nice and soft, you underhand/or side arm it high enough so when it hits the water you brake thru. Of course you only use enough weight to get thru the mat and then work it like a yo-yo. Don't get bit wind in and repeat. Heavy line (most use 50lb braid or better) heavy flipping stick, and a fast reel with a high IPT pick up. This is true combat fishing and once you understand how it works, it can be extremely productive although it isn't for everyone.

While fishing rip rap last year with a buddy I had one get in my boat. My friend who is a large man, six foot five two hundred sixty pounds, screamed like a little school girl. I noticed the snake coming towards us, the water snake (non venomous) came in through the transom just climbed on the motor and wiring and came right in. My friend was on the absolute very tip of the bow haha, I grabbed my flipping stick (pun intended) and flipped his ass back in the water. He came right back in, same way, I flipped him back in, but since my friend threatened bodily harm to me, we had to leave, and not give the snake a third chance lol.

Leave it on your transom saver and don't think twice about it. There are so many more stresses on a transom than sitting stationary in a garage.

My next trip out.

Thanks Roger. I had to put in a lot of time to get on patterns that produce stringers like that. Time effort and dedication. Keeping a detailed fishing log helps a lot as well.

I have finally found a summer job. I'm going to be working for a man who does professional lawn care in my area. He wants partime help (three days a week) through November. It's taken me a while to find a real job. I'm an entrepreneur to the core, and I've always gotten the little lawn, driveway, and car jobs but I've been looking for real work. Funny thing is, the job sorta found me, I didn't contact the guy but I found out about the opportunity via online. Anyway, we all know what this means . Lots of college money saved up and I need to sit down with the Bait Monkey and have a long, overdue talk............

So when does Eric Snowden get here? Aint heard no secret yet! What paul & Roger said should be basic knowledge; I'd copy & paste that to Micro Soft Word for future reference. Secret bed fishing lure! Roboworm 4" FX Sculpin; color Ayu - 8Z30 1/0 straight shank round bend hook 1/32 oz bullet weight un-pegged! Optional 1/16 oz Reffering back to paul, ya don't wanna get in a staring contest with the female, ya want play "freeze" with em! Hotspot within the nest; cast beyond it & agressively move into it. Agressive but short movements! I want more than a shake in place kinda thing but I don't want 1 or 2 movements to take me out.

Mine have almost always been in the early months from January through May with my biggest 5 fish stringer (other than Mexico), coming in February at one of the local power plant lakes at 30lbs 2ozs. I was literally dink dropping 5 pounders that day

1983 my first tournament. It was cold in March and not knowing better my friend and I camped out. We froze. I drew an older gentleman who was blind in one eye. All the boats were bobbing around just outside the marina wake less area. Shotgun start. The signal to go comes. He puts the throttle all the way down. Unfortunately he had the steering wheel turned all the way to the right. Front end of boat swings up and hard turn and we missed the boat to our right by a frog's hair. I had never even been on the lake. He didn't practice either. We both blanked. Next day I drew a veteran who limited and I got two. But I didn't feel good. The flu was coming on. I barfed all the way home on the 5-hr. drive that took 8 hrs because we had to stop for me to jump out and spill my guts multiple times.

The rain helped the bite here for me. I caught a few fish pitching a black and blue terminator jig this evening. Caught two almost identical fish on back to back pitches, one was 15" and the other was 16", 2-2.5lbs roughly, nice fat fish, I'm assuming they were females. Caught a couple little guys as well. First "decent" pre spawn fish I have caught this year, it's been tuff! Did my best Deep impression:

There are many species of snakes that ball up like that but cottonmouths aren't one of them. That scene from Lonesome Dove is pure fantasy. I can't find one news story of that ever happening but I can find many from herpetologists saying it doesn't happen. It's even on snopes. http://www.snopes.com/critters/snakes/waterski.asp

Here are some tips I would suggest: 1. Use a decently heavy weight for the given depth you are fishing. This helps maintain bottom contact which will help you feel the bite easier. For shallow rigging during the spawn and postspawn I use a 1/2 oz weight for fishing 1-8 foot of water. 8-15 foot I use a 3/4 and any deeper a 1 oz weight during the summer fishing ledges and points. If the wind is blowing hard go up one size. 2. 17 pound fluoro main line is the heaviest I will go. The thicker diameter line you use the harder it will be to keep bottom contact. Especially with a stiff wind that puts a lot of bow in your line. 3. Do yourself a favor and buy a decent rod ($100-200). A good rod will have the sensitivity you need. 4. Instead of hopping your bait like a jig and tx rig up over your head, pull the rod sideways parallel to the water at hip level. Once again helps keep your weight on the bottom and makes feeling bites easier and helps if the wind is blowing keeping the bow out of your line. Set the hook to the side and not over your head. Most strikes that I get are actually pretty easy to detect. You will go to move the bait and a lot of times you will actually feel the fish swimming with the bait. Once you have a few bites and catch a few fish on it you will know what it feels like and gain confidence. Like someone posted above I really do not fish a carolina rig a lot early in the year. I will start fishing one during the spawn to show them something different than a senko or tx rig that everyone else on the lake is throwing. I fish one up through the postspawn and summertime ledge fishing is where it really shines for me.

My five biggest largemouth in one day was 43+ lbs. March 2012 late pre spawn at lake Baccarac Mexico. Largest five smallmouth was 30+ lbs April 2008 pre spawn on Lake Erie.

Have her use the Ned Rig. It is fool proof and she will catch bass.

I'm very disappointed in you guys. I go after snakes when I fish, and when I'm driving around. I love to rescue the road-crossers from folks like you Unless it is venomous - Cottonmouths/Moccasin. They are easier to identify because they're quite belligerent and put off by your presence. Flee from them. Now in Florida, there are a few more out to get you, so some leeway for y'all. Just remember, snakes keep our rodent population in check!!

The Team Daiwa starting lineup. Back row: five Fuegos and an SS SV Middle row: five Alphas and a Viento Front row: four Zillions and two TD-Zs

The customs can get pretty ridiculous...

Absolutely right, guys. My practice has been 10% tithed, 10% spent, 80% saved, with a little variable for extra. I could suck in a lot of money spending stuff but I've been able to practice good self control. Had a great day my first day. REALLY like the guy who owns the business. Hardcore outdoorsman. He hunts, fishes, and traps. I can tell I'm gonna be spending a lot of time with this guy. His grandpa had some stock in a semi-private pond, he gave the stock and a small boat and boathouse to this guy. He says there's big bass in that pond, with an average size being 2 1/2 to 3 1/2. Yeah, baby! Sounds like a perfect boss. We got along great.

Great. Remember the rule we all have forgotten - "Pay Yourself First." 10% or 15% out of each pay check off the top and into a savings account. More if you can do it. And remember two of the things that can eat up your savings: Girls and cars. Yep, when you start to date you will find out how expensive girls and cars can be. So be careful with your money; pay yourself first; and be cognizent of girls and cars and their associated costs.

Lol, that's a much better selfie. Job well done!

Breaking Benjamins new Album is going to be solid.. The two new singles are real good..

I hate to break it to you guys but Cottonmouths don't breed in balls. All those stories are just that, stories. There isn't one verified account of that ever happening. It's an urban legend, or a rural legend, as it were.

One sentence: Bill Dance Bloopers.

While fishing in Maine I catch my heaviest stringers in early spring and later in the fall. Late fall is my favorite time of the year to fish. My chances for catching fish over 8 lbs seems to increase in the fall. Spring and fall are when the patterns I fish work the best. I have had some excellent days during the summer as well. Basically you can catch a big stringer any time of the year but on average spring and fall the 5 fish bags are bigger on average. 5 bass @ 32 lbs 6 oz. April 27th 2012 5 bass @ 30 lbs 6 oz May 10th 2014 5 bass @ 29 lbs 0 oz Oct 26th 2013

? Um..... What was the problem again?

Really. Thats cool . Now I'll be smashing all my tails .

Junebug or black for dark water- watermelon red or green pumpkin for stained/clear water. Start there. Tip- if you gently mash the tail of your green pumpkin lizard on the side of your boat- you now have a chartreuse tail.

Go to Home Depot and they have a strong insecticide that will kill them. Or... Save time and take a boot and smash them. DOA on tarantulas.. Airmail your lizard to the Amazon Jungle. That is all...

The previous thread posted (copied) above covers this topic well and I enjoyed reading it. I'll offer this; if an angler believes in the "invisible" properties of Fluorocarbon line / leader & using Baits that "Mimic" something that the fish feed on to at the very least illicit a strike, adding unnatural sounds to the environment one is obviously trying so hard imitate, seems counter productive. We've all caught our fair share of suicidal bass, but if your objective is locate & land the bigger fish - you really can't go wrong with keeping "the Noise" down to a minimum. Each angler may have his/her own idea what that means and how far they prefer to take it. I fish some small waters where I seem to have better results on the above average bass by disturbing the environment a little as possible. A-Jay

Stick your head underwater and listen to a trolling motor operate - another is listen to a "silent" crankbait - a bagley balsa bait sounds like a mariachi band - we make a lot of noise - the bass hear it - really giant trophy bass (for a given area) are much more easily spooked by noise than the average bass, that said I like to be quiet - very quiet - But years of guiding taught me some folks are incapable of being quiet yet still catch some fish..

Green pumpkin and black are the only 2 lizard colors I carry.

gourd green kills them here

Vibrax $1 Storm firetiger lure $1.50 Storm ot-n-tot $3 The loose items were thrown in for free

Finally got around to ordering a few baits I have been wanting to try out. I'm real excited about the Siebert jigs and punch rigs. There are 14 of them in those 6 bags. And the D-bombs are for the punch rigs when head to Reelfoot lake next month. Its like x-mas in April!!