senile1

I am sure some fish in the study had to be caught multiple times, and since they were each tagged with an ID number it would appear the study could have noted aggressive behavior as well based on the number of times a particular fish was caught. This article doesn't mention this subject though. That is assuming the tags were left on the fish and from my reading of the article that is what I inferred.

Some people may be confusing rate with numbers. There are more small bass than big bass due to predation, genetics, and disease which thins the herd, so to speak, as they get older - a common occurrence for every animal species. Using the definition of trophy bass from the study cited by @Team9nine, let's say we have a body of water with 16 bass over 8 lbs. In addition and just pulling a number out of the sky for comparison purposes, all other bass in the lake number 1200. If these groups of bass are caught at the same rate of 1 in 8 as mentioned by the study, the following occurs: 2 of the 16 bass 8 lbs and over will be caught which is 1/8 or 12.5 percent. 150 of the 1200 bass will be caught which is also 1/8 or 12.5 percent. In the example above, the bigger fish of 8 lbs and over are caught at the same rate of 12.5 percent as the smaller bass. However, since there are so few bass that live to be that size the numbers of smaller bass far exceed the numbers of big bass caught. The FWC study is stating that if the big bass were smarter the rate at which they are caught would be lower or less than the 12.5 percent of smaller fish that are caught. And as @WRB stated, "The majority of bass angers do not target big bass and prefer catching numbers of bass each outing. This simple truth is anyone can catch a big bass but few can catch them consistently. It's about knowing big bass behavior and locations it isn't about being smarter." This doesn't mean the big bass are smarter but we have to be smarter to find them. Having said all of that, I, like the OP, am just explaining what I get from the study. You can draw your own conclusions on whether you agree with it or not.

I have been using Sufix braids for years. I started out with the Performance braid and then tried out the 832 when it came out. It is good stuff. I use it on jig and other bottom contact bait rods on which I am not using fluorocarbon.

Interesting information. On a related tangent, this really emphasizes for me how important it is to fish bodies of water with larger populations of bigger fish if I want to increase the probability of catching a trophy. Fish where they are.

@Team9nine / Brian That is a great post with very useful information. Thank you. Ed/senile1

I agree with @Bluebasser86 except I would specifically state that deep diving crankbaits are part of the list for fluoro applications. However, in the OP's particular case, I would not use 15 lb fluoro for a deep diver due to its thickness. I use 10 lb and will even drop to 8 for deep crankbaiting. Gotta give the love to Invisx. That's about all I use for fluoro. I have picked up a few odd spools now and then to try others but haven't found anything I like as well.

Ah . . . . got it. I should have known. My apologies for casting aspersions on your post.

I don't subscribe to the idea that stating an untruth and repeating it when you know it is false makes one a "normal guy."

If you stop and think about it, the number of variables you can change can become quite extensive. Assuming I have found my location, I can try multiple speeds, depths, weights, profiles, styles of lure, colors, etc. or any combination of the above. One could spend a great deal of time trying out different combinations of variables before finding the best one. This is where knowing the seasons, the forage, the weather, and the body of water play a huge role in allowing you to minimize the number of choices before you even hit the water. If you are familiar with Buck Perry, he advised concentrating on speed and depth characteristics to simplify things, because most of the other factors like the weight, profile, and style affect speed and depth of your presentation.

I just ordered 30 yesterday from Siebert Outdoors - 10 grasshopper brush jigs, 10 black/blue brush jigs, 5 grasshopper dredge jigs, and 5 black/blue dredge jigs. I typically make this size of order about half the time. I usually order every 3 to 6 months, though I sometimes need to order more often. I have one lake that I fish where the bottom is covered in wood and brush. I can easily lose 3 jigs in a half day of fishing there. If I fish it much I can go through jigs pretty quickly. My football jigs last much longer because I only occasionally have the opportunity to fish rocky lakes where I use those.

I believe it does. Thanks!

@Glenn, I love the features of this motor. Having said that, I have concerns about its support for the first generation Echomaps. I have a first generation 93sv at the bow and console. The information below is from Garmin's website regarding sonar support for the new Force motor. What does partial support for a sonar frequency mean? Sonar Frequencies supported CHIRP sonar: High-wide CHIRP (150-240 kHz) ClearVu: Ultra-high definition 800 kHz SideVu: Ultra-high definition 1200 kHz and 455 kHz Partial frequencies supported CHIRP Sonar: High-wide CHIRP (150-240 kHz) ClearVü: 800 kHz SideVü: 455 kHz Transmit power 350 W Maximum depth CHIRP sonar: 800' ClearVü: 200' Ultra-high definition SideVü: 125' to each side; 250 total at a max depth of 30' 455 kHz SideVü: 500' to each side; 1000' total Depth/speed/temperature depth and temperature Number of pins 12-pin (orange connector)

Missouri has both "MO Fishing" and "MO Hunting" apps that one can download to phones. Access the section of each app for permits and enter one's conservation number and birth date to allow the apps to display permits. Each app displays both hunting and fishing permits. If you have your phone and just one of the apps you can present your permits to anyone who asks. However, I still carry my paper copies.

Should I enhance a strength or remedy a weakness? That is a question we often have to grapple with. The idea mentioned by @Catt of learning two or three lures for each segment of the water column is a good one that achieves a balance. Learning a lure a year mentioned by @WRB is also good. Put them together and they allow an angler to steadily remedy weaknesses while continously enchancing strengths with regard to mastering lures.

Thanks, Glenn. That was an excellent question about the fit under current boat covers. I was surprised Mike didn't talk about the compatibility with Lowrance, Humminbird, and Garmin fish finders. I was set to pull the trigger on an Ultrex and then heard about all the new motors coming out at ICAST so I decided to wait and check them out. Since I have the first generation Garmin Echomap 9sv's on my boat I am looking strongly at this MotorGuide. I love its price compared to the Garmin, though the Garmin looks to be the top of the line from what I have seen.

I wish you the best, @reb67. Best wishes for it being isolated and treatable.

The mathematical layout of this joke/riddle is meant to mislead. No dollar is ever missing. 21 - 5 = 16 paid for the room. The maid has 2 dollars and each guy received a dollar back, so 16 paid, plus 2 the maid took, plus one dollar for each of the three guys to receive in return equals $21. (16 + 2 + 3 = 21) The room cost $16 dollars (see above) so the men paid 5.33 each for the room (16 divided by 3). The men also paid the 2 dollars that the maid took, so dividing the 2 dollars among 3 guys is .67 cents each added to what they paid, or 6 dollars each ($18). Then each received a dollar back for a total of 3 dollars received back. $18 + 3$ is $21 which accounts for all of the money.

Regarding Melvern and Shawnee Lake what is the population analysis of the smallmouth, and any other bass, in the lake (i.e. what percentage are above 15 inches, etc.)? Thanks for the recommendations. I see that all corp boat ramps are $5.00 a day at Melvern so that is definitely acceptable and I think I could handle no fees at Shawnee Lake. ? Perry isn't much further than an hour either. I see there are daily vehicle fees there. Is there anything I am missing about Perry regarding fees, other than a non-resident Kansas license?

@Bluebasser86, thanks for the info. There is also Stockton Lake in Missouri though it is still a pretty good drive for me.

Looking forward to your report. ?

I don't agree or disagree when people say this. Who knows what a line sticking out for as far as the bass's eye can see triggers in their little brains, as opposed to the hardware that is part of the lure. Maybe they see it as something different. Maybe not. We don't have to decide, yes or no, that fish are line shy or not. As humans, we don't know how bass see these things. We can just choose to live with uncertainty and declare that without definitive evidence we really don't know for sure.

A train station is where a train stops. A bus station is where a bus stops. On my desk, I have a workstation . . . .

Mountains and glaciers . . . . glaciers and mountains . . . . nearing the apex of the Bow pass trail in Canada.

I read the MDC Annual Prospects links for a lot of lakes off of the MDC fishing app and MDC site and that is where I found this information. While it states that most 2015 fry in those two lakes will be over 15 inches in 2019 I believe that some with better genes make it to that length in three years. The three to four year time frame covers the vast majority of the year class.

As many have stated, a number of factors play into this including warmth of the region, forage, etc. To give you an idea, in Missouri at Table Rock and Stockton Lakes, the majority of surviving 2015 largemouth fry will exceed 15 inches in 2019 based on MDC information. The further south you go the fish will obviously tend to grow faster, and vice versa for the north.