George Welcome

Fish four lakes - know intimately every rock and stick, stump and hump. Heck, I even know the fish by name. Seriously, you can't fish Conroe too often. Keep a good log because once a week allows for a lot of change from week to week. The tough thing with that schedule is you have to go and find the fish all over again from week to week. A good log will give you a history - look for repeats - if the event repeats itself you have something solid.

Knew that would grab you outta the woodwork - I gave up cat skinning cause they bite. Learning the mechanics, both with equipment, (tackle) and bait usage is integral to this whole catching game. Obviously, there is a right tool for any job.

Said it before - It does no good to give Texas waters advice to someone fishing New Hampshire - without the knowledge of the inquirers location most answers will be total guesswork.

1101 bass during May - we caught them on two baits - Chug Bugs and Senkos It was a mistake - lack of versatility 6700 acre lake - caught all the fish out of a five acre area - probably should have run and gunned the lake and used some spinner baits - jigs - drop shot - hard jerk baits so that we wouldn't have gotten so bored. I'm sorry, but the name of this game is fishing(supposedly converting to catching), not casting. If the bait you are using is producing and producing well than you have the right pattern and bait. Of course, if in the same area they will hit a trap or spinner bait as well, then it would be foolish to waste the Senkos.

April - September 3 rods rigged - Chug Bug - Rattle trap - weightless Senko: on the deck - spinner bait & C-rig in the box October - March - Rattle trap - C-rigged Senko - spinner bait: on the deck - Chug Bug and weightless Senko in the box First cast is always what the last one was caught on yesterday.

3 acres - two otters - you should see evidence if they are eating fish of any size as they will bring them to shore. Yes the otters can put a hurt on your pond.

Steering tension on the foot pedal: Check for a bent shaft. If it's new take it back.

Roger: pick a guide for an area and put his name up on the internet. That will get you some answers. Check his internet pages - look for references that you can contact - contact the references. Look for longevity - lots of guys out there that are "have boat am guide" types. Look for a guide that works the lake you wish to fish - not a guide that advertises half the state. It won't take that much homework to find out what you want to know. *Edited...roadwarrior

A funny thing about bad decisions: they are in the eye of the beholder. I've see toddlers riding motorbikes - to me, bad decision: to the parent normalcy of life. The violation of tresspass law: tough call -

ok

Beginners advice: Find someone to fish with that truly enjoys fishing. Find someone that keeps it simple. If that someone presents a picture of fishing that resembles taking a course in human genetics, find someone else, because the first thing to know about fishing is it is supposed to be a relaxing experience. Keep it simple!

Yep, some real sound advice given in this thread - some real logical thinking and statements being made. Change a bait if it is working for something else: makes a lot of sense. If you get on fish, and the bait you are using is producing the fish you want, to change to another bait just for the sake of doing it is insane. Anyone that suggests such a switch in the name of versatility has no clue what they are talking about. You change a bait when you aren't getting the results that you want, not when everything is going well. One of the given facts about fishing: everyone knows more that the next and you know more than them all. If someone is fishing with you and you are catching but they aren't, simply keep showing them your fish. If they don't switch to your bait than they are not too bright. However, bass being the ornery critters that they are, just as the switch is made, the bite stops.

For your info: BASS rule #4 (ii) Tournament officials have the right to delay, shorten or cancel the start of an official tournament day because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors. Tournament waters may also be restricted at any time because of bad weather. If there is a thunder storm, seek safe shelter until it passes. The club should have an exact rule pertaining to this.

I don't know why Mike. The spurts have spoken. ROTFLMAO

If you are spending lots of money on tackle you are not out fishing. Keep your money, stay out of the tackle stores, off the internet sales, and go fishing. If you feel you have money to burn, I have a money incinerator: send me the money and I will dispose of it for you.

Amazing statement Craig.

I agree with Brad except for one small detail: prior to sending them to the removal/disposal center you must send them through the general processing center - send e-mail to get proper address.

"While I like soft stickbaits, I buy Wave Worm Tikis instead of those overpriced things from Yamamoto. Besides, he's never apologized for bombing Pearl Harbor! " Was that supposed to be funny?

CURE: Send all your senkos to me - (absolutely no knock-offs please as my garbage pail is a small one).

Weather will affect the fishing: However, differently based on where you are; differently from one time to the other; differently from one bait to the other. In other words: bass live by no rules and what applies this minute may not apply the next. The only rule that applies to weather is: It will affect you!

This thread is amazing! It appears that it is the blind leading the blind, as each person seeks to outdo the next with their knowledge of the bass fishing industry. Realistically, no industry is going to hire a youngster to represent them, where that representation is going to have meaningful compensation. It takes far more than catching a lunker out of a local farm pond to obtain notice in this world of bass fishing. There is no fast track to becoming recognized as a contributing member of the professional ranks of fishing. Before you can obtain a real sponsorship you will first need to obtain that status. The real deal for you youngsters is to continue on with your education. As you grow and learn stay involved with fishing and increase your knowledge in this tremendous sport of ours. Understand, that if you do stay with fishing for bass, that sponsors come in many forms, and many levels of involvement. They have one thing in common no matter what their level of involvement: intelligent representation from those they sponsor. Writing is an intricate part of this industry. Your ability to place on paper those words that wander about in your mind is as important, if not more important than your fishing skills. Spelling accuracy is but a small part of the writing skills that you will need to properly represent yourself or any potential sponsors. Real sponsorship involves money, and lots of it. Get the education; learn the needed fishing skills, then think about moving up. Real tournament fishing involves tremendous amounts of money. Initially in this world of reality, you will be entering into the tournament scene with most of the contributing money coming from your own pocket. Do you have the money? A final thought: Real sponsorship is not a few bags of worms or a discounted rod. Real sponsorship is full financial backing into the tournament scene. If all your seeking is a few bags of worms or a discounted rod, than you are not seeking sponsorship, you are seeking a handout.

Doodling or dapping is done with a long pole, (cane or fly rod) using a multitude of different baits, primarily fishing for gills and such. However it can be successful fishing for bass with a stout enough rod. It is a very common method of fishing from an air boat. Flipping is quite different. With a little practise it can be a very effective method for removing bass from brush and laydowns.

You might not have to cover quite the amount of ground that you think you do. For one thing, slow presentations are probably going to work best until the spawners are up and active. A female post spawn spends a day or two hanging near the nest and then moves off to recover. Seven to ten days after spawning she starts feeding to recover strength and vitality, and in many cases that is right next to the spawn areas.

Just a thought - a contour map is great if you can get one, but doesn't apply to many ponds and lakes. That leaves you with experience to tell you the habits of the fish in your lake. Don't be afraid to ask others: you would be supprised at how helpful some can be. Another thought - 200 fishermen fishing at the same time does not mean the lake or fish are being pressured. 199 of them could be trying to figure it out just like you are. Too many worry about "pressure". Think positive, those guys can't fish. The other thing to bear in mind is most will be water wasters: a person that places feet instead of inches between their casts. Start with a slow bait. Senkos would be perfect. Once you catch a fish see if some of the reactive baits work. They are a lot cheaper to use. There is nothing like catching a bunch on rattle traps or spinner baits. I never pay attention to someone who is fishing the area in front of me unless I see that person catch a fish. No matter the bait the fish is caught on, I will change instantly to see if it's a winner.

To go with Chris's suggestion: a Carolina rig will also tell you.