Team9nine

...and don't ever eat anything cooked in that microwave again

wuss T9 (jk; couldn't let that one pass)

Pic is deceiving and doesn't do the fish justice. If your length measurement was right though, I'd say 6.5 pounds, plus or minus. -T9

Alan is "The Man." Totally legit

Interesting - I'll keep digging around on that one when I get the time as I honestly had never heard of it before. I like to try and keep abreast of the specifics (science) behind a lot of this stuff, mostly just because I have several studies though on the mechanics and comparisons of nylons, fluorocarbons, and braids, including knot failure analysis, and the line types are really different in that regard. Fluoro and nylon are almost polar opposites in some areas. I actually get some amusement out of the "beating" that fluorocarbon takes at times around things like its supposed knot weakness. It's pretty well documented that braid has the poorest knot strength of all line types. Fluorocarbon actually tends to fall within 5+ percent or so of nylons (but still weaker than), whereas braids tend to be another 15% or more worse performance wise than either of the other two. Of course, the variables are many if trying to compare specific brands, etc. -T9

Like many other things in fishing, there is no standard in this regard. I've weighed enough baits in my day to know that some are heavier, some are lighter, and some are actually the same as stated. This is pretty much the case no matter which classification of lures you look at. So take the printed packaging with a grain of salt. Its likely close, but also likely a little off. -T9

Have to admit I've never heard of either explanation. Compared to nylon, fluorocarbon has about 20% less bending strength. This is a big part of the difference, IMO. Because of this, it (fluoro) is more sensitive to compression and rotation, both factors that come into play when tying knots. The poorer your knot quality, the worse your fluoro knot will fare. And, since knot to knot variation in these two factors is likely highly variable, I would lean that direction as to the more likely explanation for its erratic not strength. That said, if you could point me in the direction this micro-fracture component, I'd be eager to see it. -T9

The spirit of Buck Perry is alive and well in central Indiana Snuck out after work for 2 hours. First structure spot, first pass (on the troll), this 4lb. plus largemouth engulfed the bait. Happy camper - picked up the crappie rod for the rest of the evening

Straight fluoro here. Differences between the two will in large part depend upon the diameters of the two lines compared. Can't really make any absolute statements without knowing that.

Idea has been around for a while. "Genius" is not the word I would use. To me, the negatives of this setup have always outweighed the positives...but YMMV

When I bought my Indiana lifetime license, the cost was 20X the price of a yearly. I went ahead anyway at the age of 35. Thanks in part to 2 license increases since then, I broke even in 11 years. It's always a gamble because you can't predict what will happen in life, but I knew the increases would come eventually, and I also couldn't ever see myself not fishing and not needing a license

From my experience, depending on lake and timing, the bass will do one of two things. Either they will move up shallow into the newly flooded cover, or they won't really move up, instead sitting on the old bank line. Really no way to know for certain other than to get out there and try both options. Part of the difficulty if they do move up is that you could now have thousands of acres of newly flooded cover to fish. As such, you might have to cover some water initially in order to locate good areas before slowing down and settling in with techniques like flipping or pitching. Another problem is that oftentimes you can't get to a "hard bank" due to the flooding, hard banklines being one area than can be particularly good. Edit: based on your post below, unless you are on a river system, those fish are probably going to just stay hunkered down deep where they already probably are.

Something isn't quite adding up, and I doubt if it's the "ripping." Personally, I use a Palomar for both...and I'd be careful using a loop knot. It will be weaker than most any good knot tied direct. I'd rather do a snap in that instance.

I have absolutely no idea...but since you didn't land it and barely saw it, I think the fish will get bigger and bigger each time you tell someone the story at least I would hope so. I'd probably start at "at least 6 pounds" and begin working my way up from there.

Other than the very valid point about moving out of state, it would be well worthwhile in the long run if you have the money. I bought my lifetime license 16 years ago. Back then, a single year fishing license cost 8.75. We've had two increases since, the first in 2002 to 14.25, and the most recent jump to $17. Needless to say, I've already made up the cost, and never have to worry about getting, or forgetting a license from year to year.

You'll be fine, just avoid the heavy cover and fish appropriate sized baits. I bass fish with 3# and 5# PP all the time, and a friend of mine landed a 7# bass on 6# Fireline while fishing with me last year. I would definitely add some cheap mono backing before spooling, or something else for superline to bite and lock down on...and no, living in Iowa makes no difference

Sounds like your outfit is fine. Based on the bait and what you wrote, I'm chalking this one up to inexperience and over expectations. I think things will improve with a little more time and experience.

Lol, and I was just about to say not overfilled - looks about perfect to me I like to fill them to the brim. As long as the line doesn't spool over onto the gold rim edge, you're fine. You'll know on the first few casts if you need to remove a little.

Mutual of Omaha's "Wild Kingdom." Watched the show all the time as a kid. Marlin was head of Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, which I got to visit regularly. The co-host, Jim Fowler, is still alive and well and in his 80s now.

Fantastic video work, but I can't stand to watch him (or even listen to him)...plus he has no clue what structure is I'm probably one of the few who enjoyed his show. The childish antics could get old, but buried in all of it were some fantastic tidbits of learning. Have to agree...while still edited and sponsored, I think it's the purest form of fishing entertainment on the air right now, and certainly having some influence within the industry. -T9

Pretty much this ^^ If your water has a color to it, it's because it has stuff in it, as pure water is clear. Could be plankton, suspended solids, tannins, contaminated, etc. Depending on particle size, this stuff ends up coating your line, even embedding itself into the tiny spaces between the braids and filaments comprising them, thereby eventually giving your white line the color of your water to some degree.

Only ALL-THE-TIME -T9

Good job, @S. Sass Yep, it's a prank. It was posted to a fake news website. The Inks Lake lake record is only 12.5 pounds caught back in Feb. this year. Additionally, it says it was entered into the ShareLunker program, but there is no listing of it on their website or Facebook Page. -T9

Got a picture? Many of the Tritons have a switch that opens and closes the livewell valve...no plug needed. Check to see if yours does. If so, obviously move it to the closed position to fill and hold water. Recirc auto will recirculate the water already in the well on a timed basis, sometimes on and sometime off. Recirc manual will run the recirc pumps constantly until you turn them off. This early in the year, you're probably fine running it on auto. If water temps are 70-75 degrees or less, you're good. There should also be an On/Off type switch to turn the livewell fill pumps on so you can fill them up. This is usually a manual setting. Just run them on until you have enough water. Might also check to see if you have a livewell pumpout switch - some Tritons do. That will pump all your well water out of the livewell at the end of the day. Just make sure you don't accidently do that in the middle of the tourney and leave your fish high and dry Best I can do without seeing your actual setup. After checking in and launching, yotu can take some time to play with the switches before actual blastoff to get familiar with them if you want. Never hurts to have at least one well filled with water before reaching your first spot in case you catch a keeper on the first cast