Leaderboard

Hate it. Never did like it. Let me qualify that by saying, that my opinion is only because I'm old fashioned. Line holes are supposed to be round or oval, up and down. Old guys can be very opinionated for NO sensible reason. Hootie

I was never really good at art so....

Well i am guessing you meant college and not collage so i will answer accordingly. It is ultimately up to you to make that decision but a professional fishing career is something worth striving for but as in any career, it is nice to have a fall back plan and finding one that is complimentary as to being a pro fisherman like marketing or something else. I know of a few pros who are day traders which helps to supplement their income.

The discussions revolving around the characteristics and benefits (or lack there of) of Fluorocarbon line have gone round & round and will no doubt continue to do so. The proponents of the line often relay information describing how having one of the better / higher quality fluorocarbons is a good way to help ensure an angler actually gets the best it has to offer; Getting what you pay for. Detractors, which I am one, are not impressed with what the line has to offer. Being able to get the same or better results with a good mono offers little reason to "Upgrade" to Fluorocarbon. That's my story & I'm sticking to it. A-Jay .

Just putting it out there, I don't have a bass boat either.

... Is top notch!!! I figured I would share my experience with them. I had a slight issue with one of my rods and this was the first time I ever had to send one back so I was a bit apprehensive. After speaking with them I felt like they really looked at my case on an individual basis and didn't give me a canned response where they were just trying to get me off the phone. Everything was resolved in 2 phone calls exactly as I hoped for and it couldn't have been a more pleasant experience. Just received my new rod today and am super excited to try it out =) I hope this helps anyone considering a future rod purchase knowing they stand behind their products with excellent customer support.

I figured I would share some pretty interesting information. Back in 2012 I took a dorsal spine sample from several bass that I had caught. All fish were released alive and well. I sent the samples away to get aged. I just got them back in. 4/27/2012 7 lbs 1 oz 11 years old 4/27/2012 6 lbs 8 oz 10 years old 4/27/2012 7 lbs 6 oz 15 years old 4/29/2012 7 lbs 13 oz 12 years old. A couple years ago I took a scale sample of a huge largemouth I caught in Nov 7th 2013, a 9 lb 1 oz lunker. That fish turned out to be 16+ years old. All fish were caught in Maine.

Patrick, it depends. Depends on.....age, sex and interest in fishing. Age Younger the harder as their attention span is so short. Use live bait to make fishing fun. Teenagers can do well but they, too, need some action or they will board. Young adults can do best and learn what you tell them. Older folks will do the best. Sex Girls do better than boys at younger ages. Then boys catch up around age 12 to 14 with the girls. After age 15, the boys can do great until the find girls, cars and money. And the girls will, too, but their interests seem to change faster to clothes, makeup, nails, beauty parlors, dating and school work. Interest Depends on the type of fishing. Saltwater is fun as you can catch something on almost every cast and every fish can be different. Freshwater can be a challenge due to the time between strikes if they are not really interested. Anyone can say they want to bass fish but since it is not as easy as it looks they can lose interest, fast. It takes a special person, male or female, to bass fish due to the hunting that goes on and the frustration that can follow.

Every time I hear somebody claim fluorocarbon line has less stretch than mono, one thought comes to mind. Behold the power of propaganda. Uh, excuse me, I meant to say marketing.

Pretty sure no one in this thread is a professional angler. I'm not sure there have been enough professional anglers to clearly define a career path along with all the prerequisites - like education - that go with it. It's like asking if you need guitar lessons to become a professional musician. Yes, but maybe no. Or maybe yes. Just fish, pro angler is not a reasonable goal, so you'll want a fall backin case that doesn't happen.

If you've you seen my post in the "Show off your stuff" thread, you know I'm a Daiwa fanboy. I din't have a Tatula, and after fishing with one for about 30 minutes, I won't be buying one. Don't care for the hollow, geary feel of the thing. As far as the T-wing systems goes, I'd call it more gimmick than innovation. On par with their twitchin bar thing from a few years back. Just another old guy's opinion, if you will. ( a nod and a tip o' the hat to Hootie)

I have a new job as a manager in the fishing department at the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid in Memphis. This will be the largest outdoors store in the world. Our Grand Opening is Friday, May 1st. Being a part of building the new store has been fun. https://vimeo.com/bassprovideo/review/119460678/63245d0b7d

Sometimes Hootie's pictures are like,

Any time I talk rods with someone. Even fishermen, I get the deer-in-headlights stare.

Anyone else look at the amount of tournament pressure our NH lakes are getting? 55 on Winni, 11 on Northwood 10 for Sunapee, Squam (big) with over 30, 8 on great east not including maine tournaments and tournaments during spawning season? NH is killing the sport by unsustainable practices giving out permits like it's monopoly money. Some of these clubs should take the lead and start talking to the fisheries management and start limiting permits to spread out to more lakes instead of fishing 'neighborhood lakes" This is one of my biggest pet peeves that I keep talking about with the local fish & game in my area. I have been a tournament director for a club I used to fish in Maine and even the biggest lake (sebago) only have 5 permits most lakes only 4 permits and no tournaments during spawn season. You want to catch consistent big bass? fish Maine lakes!. I love NH, I'm a NH resident but I would rather fish in Maine where better bass fishing practices are the norm. Want proof fish with me anytime. For people in Mass or Vermont I haven't fished your waters for bass so I wouldn't know about your fisheries. Sorry for the rant State of NH tournament schedual. http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fish_tournament_table.htm

Tale of two days....sunday, fantastic weather, poor fishing. I caught one 4lber, one 3lber, and one 12"er....Today...well...I had the best day, maybe ever on silver. Wind, sleet, hail, rain, and 50+ largemouth. Best five were a 5-6, 4-14,4-11,4-9,and a 4-6. Countless other 3.5+ to low 4lb range fish. This one will be hard to top. Might as well sell the boat now lol.

Officially got this aluminum semi-v 12'er + trailer from my brother for a measly $400. I needed a small boat so I could bring out my stepson now that he's old enough to really fish- the 8' fiberglass dinghy I've got now was just a bit too small and is super heavy for it's size. I figured 12' is big enough to spend a day in but small enough to move by hand if need be. The set is extremely solid despite being neglected for a while and the project is set to begin next week. The seats are being taken out immediately, the whole thing is getting power brushed clean as a whistle and then the fun begins. I am a custom metal fabricator, certified TIG welder and have full access to a pretty darn good sized metal shop with a host of sheet metal capabilities so I've made up my mind to create my dream 12er all in-house. The list so far: 1. Delete all seats 2. Create bracing across front to accommodate platform and bracketry for battery holder 3. Create front platform out of diamond plate aluminum that gives *just* enough room underneath for the throw arm of an adjustable shop stool and storage space. (1 lockable storage compartment) 4. Create padded combo racks on sides to hold rods and reels safely and securely (I also want to box out the top and tip end to give a "shelf" along the sides) 5. Probably recreate the rear seat as it was in stock form, but with lockable storage in the middle and seating receivers to either side of it for an adjustable/removable stool topper like the front. 6. Make a carpeted floor and make sure the floor has proper mounts and a pvc runner for battery wiring. 7. Paint the entire boat gloss grey 8. Rhino line the diamond plate surfaces and contact points of the hull 9. Run wiring and install floor 10. Install trolling motor 11. Fish like a maniac with my stepson. I already have everything except the the paint, plywood (for the floor), carpet and stools. I want this to be the cleanest meanest 12'er that ever was... And for a very small budget given that I'm doing all the custom building myself. All said and done it looks like I'll be on the water in a perfect little boat for around $600-$650 and that's if I get really nice carpets and seats. I'm really excited for a good custom project, it's been a while!

Schedules released tonight and i am kind of surprised that they have the Eagles Cowboys games being played so early in the season. It seems like usually they play in the last few weeks of the season but this year they are all done by week 9....and i think i might be taking a trip up to Foxboro to see the eagles play the pats this year

Stroker is gone ... been gone . had this one for about a year. She fishes really well . But what is best if the ride in the ruff stuff and the wind protection when its cold out . I fish year round.

I recently read...maybe here....that if you think education is expensive, try ignorance....or maybe they said "life is hard if you go to collage....but its a lot harder if you papier-mâché"

Thought I would weigh in as well, since this was my first time ever fishing LOZ. It was an absolute blast and forever changed my perception of the lake. Got in Thursday evening, and had all of Friday to pre-fish. We stayed at about the 8.5mm on the mainlake, so we had a pretty good milk run of spots marked all the way up to the Gravois arm every day. I've never gotten to sight fish to many bed fish in my life. Man was that fun. Granted, most of them weren't what we were looking for tournament-wise, but we just enjoyed catching tons of fish on a huge, new body of water. DJ's first chunky Kentucky Just over 3.5, caught outside of tournament hours on Saturday evening before 7pm. There were two fish sitting on two beds about 3 feet away from each other that we'd beat up and couldn't get either to eat. I had my buddy tie on a shaky head with a finesse worm, and within three minutes, she ate. Super nice Spot. So then, after about 5 minutes she went straight back to her bed. I pitched my shaky head up to her, and she ate AGAIN on the first try! Right as I was landing that fish, DJ had the second bed fish on. Ended up right over 3lbs. That was so much fun. Caught my new PB Spot, 2 lbs. 11 oz. I saw this fish sitting on her bed directly under a dock cable. I maneuvered in and pitched up to it, and first cast went right over the cable It was hanging perfectly right on her bed, and I saw the dark silhouette turn and go straight at my shaky head, and before I knew it she was on and thrashing around with my leader rubbing all over the cable. I hit 5 on the trolling motor and got up to her with just enough time to give her a run or two and land her before my leader (probably) would have broken. Awesome fight. This was the fish we ended up getting to go and weigh in at Alhonna on Sunday afternoon. We'd fished this bed since Friday and could not get her to eat, but knew it was a big fish. We were up in the Gravois arm on our last spot(s) of our milk run, and the cove we were fishing had a strong wind blowing right into it. I positioned the boat so that the back end was facing the deep bed (amongst 2 cables and 2 trees), and the boat was sitting perfectly up against the dock. I was retying my leader when all of the sudden DJ had her hooked. She made runs into the trees below us, so in a panic I crawled up to the trolling motor and hit 5 to get us away from all of that. When she jumped for the first time we were convinced it was a 6 lber. After a few hairy runs on light spinning tackle, I had her in the livewell and we were off to weigh in. She ended up at 4.17, which had us tied for 12th at 2pm. We stayed in and around Alhonna and kept refreshing the live results page to see where we'd end up. We knew we didn't have much hope, as after about 10 minutes our names dropped further down the list, and by 2:45 we'd been bumped out of the money. Had this been a 5 fish bag tourney, we would have had close to an 18-19lb bag on Sunday! But, it was an epic trip, and we caught so many 2-3# fish and had so much fun and have so many good stories, it was all worth it. My Kentucky was definitely a top highlight. There were definitely a few fish we should have maybe taken in for the exact weight, but it was pretty hectic. No regrets. I will definitely be back in October for the fall one. Sorry for the long post! See you guys tomorrow.

Next thing you know, they will be putting subliminal messages in the drive in theatre screens.

X2 ~ The networks have started playing a new game with the few programs I do watch. They are starting them early & running them late - meaning not on the half or full hour. So my DVR setting require a manual adjustment rather than using the automatic deal. I'm not that committed - so they just lost a viewer - A-Jay

That's funny! A-Jay.. A dear friend of mine had a haircut done, as he went to pay her, & tip her.. She said this " I'm only going to charge you half price, you hardly have any hair to cut" ouch.. Poor Danny.. He talked about that for years!

You might be "old" when your flirting w a forty something female stylist ( hair ) and she constantly refers to you as sir.. ( happened to me Saturday) lol..

If you go to college, someday someone will pay you to make collages.

Old is when you haven't even done something to yourself and you still hurt.

Pre-spawn bite is absolutely unpredictable

I would say yes. With the climate of completion and lack of jobs in our economy, it would be foolish to forgo college if you have the opportunity to attend.

Zodias 6'10" MH Curado 201HG

You do, lots of business involved that requires a good education. And if it dosent work out you have a degree.

Old is being wise enough to know the statement "the early bird gets the worm" really means the worm should have stayed in bed.

Old is what you hope to be one day, only an old person would understand that.

I'll take the blame with a smile Especially when I'm catching smallies like these on that little bait. From yesterday, one of the fattest smallies I've ever caught, 16 1/4" long and 3lbs 8ozs. It's not just smallmouth that eat it either also from yesterday.

So....you're asking a huge group of (mostly) men how long our shafts are? (Sorry Bud.....couldn't resist)

And reading the time on the watch was my attempt at humor

This is the Best Time . . . A-Jay

He is full of BS If those words were true they would outlaw marriage

I have learned to save my breath, those who don't get it, never will.... Including a lot of bass fishermen.

In the store with my wife a while back, I was looking at the fishing poles. Wife: Don't you have enough fishing poles? You can only fish with one at a time you know. Me: Do you have enough purses and shoes? You can only use them one at a time too. Wife: No, but I use them for different outfits. Me: And I use the fishing poles for different situations and baits.

I second what gulfcaptain said. It can make for a rougher outing but it's not always true. For me, it's not going to matter what direction the wind is coming from, I'm going.

We tore them up Tuesday with a straight east wind. The best time to go fishing is when you can

I have never had a Maine fishing license but after talking to a friend of mine today, I'm going to buy a Maine non-resident license. He fishes a lot of tournaments, and basically said the same as you that the NH lakes are being over fished. The lakes in Maine are not seeing the same kind of pressure, resulting in better fishing.

Last year when I cleaned my boat up after winter storage, I found a JDM Zillion I'd forgotten about.

Powell inferno 705cb with daiwa tatula hd 6:31 Stcroix mojobass 6'6 medium fast curado i 6:31 loomis e6x 843c mbr curdado i 7:2:1 And craig list new $20 camo stix medium moderate paired with free mint abu 4600c "high speed"round reel gears unknown .

This right here has saved the day MANY times on my home lake! Starting mid-summer, I have days where all I will do is move from mat to mat listening for the "popping" sound. When I find one, I sit back to let the noise calm down then start slaying them.

IMO, if an angler pays too much attention to color, he runs a high risk of missing the 'real' reason for success or failure. For example: Place the right lure, at the right depth, at the right speed, on the right retrieve line, and there is no 'wrong' color. Take away any 1 of the above 4 criteria, and there is no 'right' color. Roger

Got another TW order when will it stop!

You are so right.. I like & have drop shot jackal clones in 5 fow and they hate gills then.. Frankly, I have done well drop shotting a zoom super fluke to though.. I don't bed fish anymore, but it can be a blast to do! Also I see no harm in it myself..

Id eat it.