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Oh why not. Who doesn't like Spider-Man.

Got a personal best that I won't beat easily. After throwing everything but the kitchen sink, I went to a Senko and got this hog. Healthy 6.9 bass. Still can't believe it.

My son said he could fish the Tuesday nighter's with me this year and I thought this was so awesome as his life is very busy. We usually only get to fish a couple times a year. There were 25 boats which was pretty big for this local lake and to make a long story short we WON. Almost had big fish too. Went into it feeling a tube and a brush hog may do it and it did. Nice way to start the year.

With all the hype, high pressure sales, and the desire for magical mystical lures or techniques anglers have been deceived into believing the Texas Rig is an old antiquated technique that should be shelved like Jitterbugs, Tiny Torpedoes, Johnson Spoons, and Inline Spinner baits. The lure that had the biggest impact on American fishing started in the late 1940s in a basement in Akron Ohio. That's where Nick and Cosma Creme cooked up the perfect combination of vinyl, oils and pigments to produce a molded worm that not only looked and felt soft and alive, but also stayed that way when exposed to air over time. 1949 would be the official birth year of the now famous Creme worm. But we’ve been told that today’s modern “Trick” worms bare no resemblance to this old tired chunk of plastic. We have even been convinced that the “Super Mystical” Punch Rig is not a Texas Rig because they have added a skirted bead between the weight and hook. We’ve been convinced that flipping & pitching if far more productive than casting your Texas Rig out and finessing it back to the boat along the bottom feeling for nooks-n-crannies and twig-n-limbs. We’ve even forgotten that the plastic worm is the only lure made that a BASS CANNOT REMEMBER! That is, a bass will continue to strike a worm even after repeated catches, whereas a bass will "turn off" to other lures, spinner baits and crank baits etc. after wearing them out on them. That’s why you cannot continue to catch them on your honey hole with the same lure over and over. Bass will stop eating that which will eradicate them. Not true with the plastic worm, however. Although we all know bass will prefer a different bait at different times (i.e. "the pattern") you can always go back to the worm to catch them. I guess y’all can label me Ole School since I refuse to give up on the #1 most productive lure and technique ever invented.

Found a couple on beds today, managed to catch one before a thunderstorm chased me off the lake, I didn't paddle fast enough and had to hunker down in a low spot while it passed, but made it back in one piece!

Is that heaven?

Bill Murphy's book In Pursuit of Giant Bass is based on his experiences and on the water tracking studies by a fishery biologist. First you must separate bass gender, girls get big, boys don't in the same exact environmemt and prey sources. Location, location, location is important, can't eat if the food isn't available, big bass live near abundant prey sources. Tom

Not sure why the pics are sideways. Oh well. First 3 of the season. Pumpkin seed creature bait on a jig head and a black purple creature jig.

I have a feeling that hatred for jet skis is the one thing that all people on the water can agree on, except of course for the ones that own jet skis.

Me & a buddy started discussing old fishing line brands we used growing up. It's been so long ago I can't remember what I used as a kid - whatever my Dad had & spooled on my Zebco 33. Prob ole purple Stren. But back in the mid 80s, my Dad & I stumbled upon a new high tech line called Prime made by DuPont. Anybody remember this line? It had an inner core line that was supposedly stronger with less stretch and was coated with a normal type of nylon line. It actually was pretty good stuff as I recall & it's what I fished with for most of my college years. Until it was hard to find & was discontinued I guess. I even found an old article about it from back in 1985. http://articles.mcall.com/1985-08-06/sports/2487033_1_monofilament-line-baits Thinking about this fishing line got me to feeling nostalgic. I can remember lots of days back then that my Dad & I would hit some gravel pit ponds. I'd have my trusty 5 and 1/2 ft pistol grip rods with Abu Royal Ambassador reels. I'd wear out the dinks using fire tail & tequila sunrise Culprit worms. 60 catch days were not unheard of. Times sure seemed less complicated back then. And I'm officially starting to feel old. ?

My first bait casting reel was a Langley Target, no level wind with 12 lb black Ashaway Dacron line, 5'3" Connolin hollow glass bass rod, the year was 1955. The Langley reel held 50 yards of 12 lb Dacron line and I could cast all 50 yards. No level wind, no brakes met you learned to control the line with your index finger and thumb, lessons I still use today. My second reel was a Langley Lure cast that has a level wind with Ashaway 12 lb camo dacron line on 5'6" Connolin bass rod in 1957. In 1958 Ashaway came out with Diamond Back line a hybrid braid and that became my new line! I still have the reels, the rods are gone. First spinning reel was a Zebco Cardinal 3 early 60's with 6 lb Royal Bonnyl monofilament line on Fenwick 6' trout rod. First free spool baitcaster was Abu Ambassaduer 500 red reel, also early 60's with 14 lb Royal Bonnyl mono, 5'6" Eagle Claw bass rod, still have most of my reels over the years. Tom

I made the trek up to NY last weekend to fish with my dad. We both shared a nice, giant slice of humble pie Saturday. Our normal smallmouth areas on the river were blown out from 3 straight days of rain and the fish simply weren't there. I'm sure the 30 degree weather and snow overnight didn't help much either. It was incredibly frustrating since these areas always load up with massive schools between the last week of March thru the 3rd week of April (for the previous 6-7 yrs anyway). I honestly can't remember the last time both of us got skunked, but that's exactly what happened. We regrouped Sunday and went to pond we fished once, some 5 yrs ago. It was the first time we fished out of the 12 footer in a long time. The weather was much better but there was actually a little ice still on the pond in some spots. We didn't knock their socks off but we got some good bites. Ended up with 18 bites, landing 12 between the two of us (three over 4lbs). It sure fell good to have the rod bend! My dad's two nice ones to follow.

Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, and intentions to non-human entities. I don't know what adjective one would use or if there is one but I do know "big bass" offer a different challenge then smaller bass. Ole Tom mentioned it but didn't expound on it. Genetics is the #1 factor that determines if a bass reaches double digit status. Strike Zone: the distance around a bass at which it is will to travel to catch prey. Minimum output - Maximum intake; put your lure on the outer edge of the "strike zone" & big momma may ignore it. The strike zone shrink & expands according to existing conditions. There is a point in a females life when she reaches a certain size where she becomes the top predator. Usually located on prime structure & in prime cover, she will be setup on structure & in cover that allows her to see all directions at once. Maybe not 360 but it'll be as close as they feel comfortable. Double digit bass are highly predictable because they follow a strict routine. She can however quickly detect changes to her routine like your presence. Hooking her vs landing her can be a challenge because of shear weight, strength, & cunningness! Is she smart...enough to make me wonder if I know what I'm doing!

Just saw a 3 inch bass swimming by the dock !. Bass have been bedding for MONTHS here in Fl.

Exactly.^^^ I see a lot of excuses for those who think the Doc was done wrong or that the airline was wrong. It really smells of a lot of other things going on in society that are backwards. The overbooking has been a part of flying for years now one snowflake gets what he deserves, he broke the standing rule in place for years, and some people want to blame the airline because he was not following what he agreed to so we punish the cop and the airline. Yeeeeaaahhhh If you don't like the airline or the rules don't buy a ticket. Once you buy the ticket comply with what you signed up for period! While we are bashing the airline for their conduct I felt it only right we give a shout out to DR. DAVID DAO

Wake boarders (and skiirs and jet skiirs) are my nemesis. Nearly been swamped by the massive waves from the dang wakeboarders driven by drunk idiots several times. A general term for hated watercraft users is "pleasure boaters", but I call them something different that would probably be filtered out on here.

......and skiers. don't forget the skiers.

For me, the bottom line is you agree to this when you buy the ticket. Yeah it sucks but that's life. Dude should have gotten his butt out of his seat and off the plane, like the other 3 people did. Also, it wasn't the airline that drug him off the plane, it was the local (airport) police. When you act like a child, sometimes you get treated like one.

When anglers talk of “reaction” lures I picture a worm slowly and seductively falling through the water column with its random movements, little noise, and few negative cues, making it hard for big bass not to hit. I don’t count on the Texas rig to save the day: I start the day out with it

i'm coming in to claim that spotted spot @Bluebasser86 !! i know i'd had your mark beat already Clayton, but couldn't find any photos to prove it. Last night i went out and snagged this 3.42 lb spotted beauty! I'd be surprised to find that there's not somebody on here that can smash that. A big Coosa spot, lake lanier spot or a NorCal spot could blow this one out of the water.

As I mentioned in a previous thread bank fishing is about accessibility. Some ponds I fish have well manicured lawns around them while other ponds, creeks, marshes are located in more remote areas. The areas I select to fish determine what I carry!

edit*, 3" long not 3' long! As Paul said below. Bass fry are about 1/2" to 3/4" long and look like a cloud of bait. 3" long are considered fingerlings and should be over a few months old and now are prey for bass and other predators. Tom * need to stop trying to respond using my IPhone!

Look what we snagged into this weekend Nothing to weigh officially, but right around an 8. Love this stuff.

Cut back to one rod while you're at it You simply must get over this fear of "missing" a fish. Only then will you be able to achieve true bank fishing nirvana, young grasshopper....

I used to only throw spinnerbaits in the moving jig category (chatter/spinner/swim). However, in the past few years, I have adapted the other styles and I now find myself throwing a swim jig more than a spinnerbait. Each bait has their place and I'll go over what I decide on when choosing what to throw. Swim Jig: Clearer water where the fish may get a better look at the bait. Around heavy weeds/cover. Pressured waters (namely during tournaments) where the fish might be weary of hard thumping, flashy baits. Spinnerbait: Dirtier water where the fish might not be able to see as well, so the added vibration in the water helps them locate. Around spare weeds/cover. Windy/choppy days Cloudy days. When the light is lower, the flash of that blade helps fish locate the bait easier (in my opinion).

You don't say...

Perhaps it's carma. More than ONCE have I sat in a doctor's waiting area long after my scheduled appointment time.

I completely agree that overbooking is a bad practice and should be stopped. With that said, if my number comes up I will leave the plane and then do everything I can to make it a very expensive decision by the airline. Refusing to leave the plane is not an acceptable option. Every airline has the right to do it based on our agreeing to it as part of the ticket purchase. I have no sympathy for the good doctor. He isn't any more important than anyone else. He created the situation and got what he deserved in my opinion.

The angler who abandons the Texas-rigged worm, will be strongly encouraged to compete in local bass tournaments

Majek 22 Extreme/225 Optimax Pro XS. 70# Minn Kota Maxxum, 8' Power Pole, Garmin 74SV with Bluechart G2 Vision and LakeVu HD, bose sterep, 10" Bobs Flats Jac jack plate, and a couple of other goodies

Reduced Lighting = Spinnerbait > Dingy, murky or muddy water > Windblown water surface (light refraction) > Overcast skies > Dawn, Dusk & Night Enhanced Lighting = Swim Jig > Clear water > Calm water surface > Sunny skies > High-pressured waters Roger

LOL don't we all. Might as well throw pontoons, wake boarders, tubers, water skiers, and cruisers in there too. I call them riff raff

Lots of experience with the 8" trout and haven't had a lot of success with it. For the price it's a good choice, need to change the eyes and sharpen the hooks. A slow steady retrieve doesn't work well with this lure, stop and go retrieve seems to trigger strike in lieu of followers. Tom

20 lb braid is a nightmare to undo, and i would never recommend it for a beginner. with the larger braid if you take your time you can get it out even if you have to take out the spool. The knots are larger and much easier to deal with. You may want to bring a knitting hook or scribe to help undo some of the knots. I would recommend against using a hook as some have cutting points which will damage the line and if you go to far the barb is a major ptia....

Bass tend to be close to their prey so it would be best to find out where the baitfish are holding since bass should be close by. Under a bridge is a location where baitfish might congregate,there should be bass around/under this bridge that are hunting the baitfish.

So I have gone out 3 more times. Tried some heavier lures and put 12# flouro line one. It works great and I caught my first 2 lm of the season on it. They are finally moved up and into pre spawn condition here. I'm very happy with my rod now. Thanks for the advice guys.

I agree with @A-Jay.I bring 2-3 setups with me.Depending on what time of year and what the fish are hitting determines my gear for that day.Or if i want to learn something ill bring 1 setup and just the baits ill need for that rig.If in in a slump I bring my spinning pole and 2-3 packs of worms.Use the K.I.S.S. method.Learn what baits work on your waters and most importantly WHEN they work.Its all gravy after that.

I have 2 J Dreams and 2 TD Itos. I rarely use anything larger than 1/4 oz. the Dreams are a tad smoother than the Itos. I also don't own a heavy action rod and only a couple medium/heavy. Most are medium/light with a few light. After casting extensively with these reels I actually have no trouble with 1/8 lures of course I usually use 6-8lb line. Match those reels with appropriate line and rods and you will not find them lacking. Their spools are so good you don't need to buy others. I just seem to fish with more confidence with those on deck. I would think that the SV103 is best bang for buck. Best value. There is a time for many that best value is superseded by the synergy of art.

I think most of the time decency and common sense prevail. Usually when I run into folks on the water - be it folks on docks, in boats, other fishermen, etc friendly small talk follows. Usually they ask how the fish are biting or for some advice on bait, location, etc.. I have no trouble being friendly and obliging. On the other hand, anyone on a jet ski is open game. I f'n hate jet skis.

Wow, the things that some people worry themselves with.... Now if you said you were done with United Airlines, then I could understand lol

Google is a monopoly. Use DuckDuckGo: https://duckduckgo.com

Dobyns FR 795SB, 1-5 oz lures, 7'9", swim bait rod $120 is ideal for what you stated. Tom

I usually say hello to people on their docks. You'd be surprised how many invite you to fish their docks, or they reveal some special information. There's one nut case on Conesus that's very entertaining, though harmless. One thing you want to be careful of is in a marina. Many people sleep on their boats, and even if the marina is open to fishing, you want to be quiet in the early hours.

Usually an offer is extended to anyone willing to volunteer. The $$ amount goes up, until there is a taker, or their maximum amount is reached. Then it's a random draw. That's not how this went down. United has always been the pits. This just confirms it. I haven't had to fly in YEARS. If after the TSA pat downs, baggage searches, screening, check-ins and finally getting to my seat, I'd be pretty upset if all they offered was $400 for the seat. Imagine, you're seated at a table after a 20 minute wait, you've ordered your food. It's delivered to your table, and as you're about to sink your teeth into a juicy steak. Then the manager grabs thew food, and tells you to leave, because an employee needs to eat. You resist, the guy grabs you, and attempts to forcibly remove you from your seat. Somebody slips, you smash your face on the corner of the table, knocking you out momentarily, while you are dragged out of the restaurant. Am I missing something? How is that any different? If I have a restaurant, I can refuse service to anyone, as long as it isn't discrimination (even then, I'm not sure, though it's nasty PR issue). There's no contract that says I can't throw you out. I think anyone blaming the old man for his injuries has lost sight of dignity and rights we supposed to have in this country. Violence was the wrong call here, especially so quickly.

Target pre spawn bass, they are in the same areas or nearby points. Spawn period is broken down into 3 stages; pre, post and spawning bed fish. If you avoid the spawn you are missing out on some of the best bass fish all year. Tom PS, you said this twice!

Amen! While there are times when an adult has the God given right (and even the responsibility) to be willfully disobedient in my opinion, this wasn't a stand for civil rights or social injustice. It was the behavior of a petulant child. The argument can be made that the doctors behavior serves to draw attention to the problem. He would still have had plenty of attention and airtime if he had made security show up and then walked off the plane.

Major issues with old engines are 1. they have carburetors which are very finicky, especially if they've been sitting a long time with fuel in them. They can work fine, or they can be a horror case. Fuel contamination by dirt or alcohol could really screw an engine up, too. 2. water pump impellers - most don't change them often enough. Make sure you know the situation with a prospective engine. They wear out, chunks go missing, and they simply get too stiff if very old. 3. Oil injection- If talking some of the bigger engines, Johnson/Evinrude had an oil injection system that took oil from a separate container and used a diaphragm pump in the engine to inject oil. Very unreliable, and your first indication of trouble was a scored cylinder wall. Happened to me. I would not recommend buying one of these. Merc had, if I'm not mistaken, a gear pump and integral oil reservoir- much more reliable. One thing for sure, you don't buy an engine until you've seen it run at all throttle positions, and have seen it start from cold.

I use the drop shot in a few different scenarios, the nice thing is it's very versatile. I use it fishing "deep" like 15 feet or more, to target structure or deep vegetation/rocks. I use it around docks.. it's a great dock presentation believe it or not. Just put it on the edge of a dock and wiggle wiggle wiggle.. bass will pull out and grab it. It's also a great followup bait when you do get bit on a search bait. I find that when i'm not getting bit on cranks/swim jigs/chatter/spinners I start tossing the dropshot around and usually get bit in places where fish SHOULD usually be. I'm no expert by any means, but i'm very confident in it these days. As far as baits.. man there's a TON. There's a bazillion "finesse" worms. Roboworms and zoom finesse worms seem to be the most popular. You basically want a smaller worm that will suspend and move a LOT with very little twitching. Plasma tails are great also. I've found a lot of big bites with 4" senkos on a dropshot. The funny thing is you can fish any 'minnow' profile plastic baits too.. like I do really well with Gulp minnows or little 3" swimbaits. A LOT of people don't seem to do this, almost everyone just tosses worms. Berkley makes some cool finesse twitch minnows that I like. Live leeches can be pretty deadly in the summer too. I've actually caught a bunch of crappies dropshoting little plastic minnows. Walleye will bite too.

Honestly I find braid backlashes much easier to deal with so I say fish away!