Big Fish Rice

Copyright Law A copyright refers to the owner of a particular expression of an idea, but not the underlying idea or method of operation. <--Direct from my business law textbook by Beatty/Samuelson. Trademark A trademark is any combination of words and symbols that a business uses to identify its products or services and distinguish them from others. Similar to Nike's "Just Do It" and Microsoft's flyin window logo, the Poss family uses "The Alabama Rig" to distinguish themselves from other companies, hence why we see names such as "umbrella rig", "school-e rig", etc. Here is where a court would rule against the Tammy Poss and her threatening comments to kids on YouTube: "Contrary to popular belief, a trademark does not give its holder a monopoly on the word, phrase, shape or color as such. Trademark rights are typically granted on the basis of a registration. Part of the registration is an indication of the goods and services that the trademark should protect. Only commercial use of the trademark for those classes of goods and services can be restricted by the trademark holder. Non-commercial use cannot be prevented, except if that use harms the distinctiveness of the trademark." As you can see, people are free to use the trademarked phrase as long as they are identifying a particular product or service when it comes to discussion and informational reporting. What kids don't understand is that they cannot make their own umbrella rig and sell them under a trademarked name or use a copyrighted "version". By taking this battle into her own hands, I think Tammy is creating a lot of animosity towards The Alabama Rig and it is a losing battle. While I can understand that the fishing industry is a copy-cat industry by nature, unruly customer relationship management and poor communication skills will destroy a company in a blink of an eye. Seeing as I got this entire situation from a "Google Alert", I would say the process has begun.

If you want it done professionally, it takes professional knowledge and equipment. It is a project that you can do yourself, but it can be a pain when it comes to removing your current paint. The difference is usually seen in the prep work. The best thing to do is call some local marinas and find out where they get repair work done. Some do it themselves while others contract the work out to a 3rd party. I say call around and try to find out some information in your area. Labor and materials depend on your location and the overall business. You should be able to find out real quick how much the job would cost.

Thanks Jmed. We used aluminum, therefore, our price of around $1000 is obsolete. If you can measure and cut, there's no reason you can't. Of course, I say that now after watching my Dad with most of the hard work, but it's true...you can do whatever you want. If you need to keep costs down, use wood. This was really the first time I had ever worked with aluminum. If you can search scrap yards and get it at a decent price, the next step is to either rivet yourself or find someone who is willing to weld on aluminum. Other than that, let your imagination fly.

Creature bait on the JigRig. Matter of fact, I have a video on this catch too.

Smallmouth bass are wolves. People think they always have to down size for the tigers, but my best bait was a largemouth bait that I used for flipping and pitching - the Owner Yuki Bug. Like stated above, jerkbaits are killer. In my experience, smallmouth travel serious distances on resevoirs; I'm talking miles and miles a day. They are there one minute, gone the next. Cooler water temps and clean water is very important. Lipless crankbaits in early Spring are very effective, especially your red, brown and orange patterns. As summer approaches and after the spawn, try and back off your main points. You'll often find them schooled or suspending 20 foot over very deep water. My point here is that if you start exploring new water and use your tools to help you located smallmouth, your efforts will most likely be rewarded. If you take anything away from this, be sure to do (1) thing - always have chartreuse or pink colored baits on the boat when fishing for smallmouth. They can't stand bright colors

Here is my family's jon boat to bass boat project. Might spark some thought.

PM'd you again.

Navionics Mobile for the iPhone is by far the most useful app today. GPS, waypoints, depth contours and a whole lot more - all for around $15.

Simply because it's not just a matter of enforcement. Do you think that each state can effectively monitor our lakes, streams and roadways to make sure "bucket biologists" are not illegally planting fish and transporting them? The issues extend beyond "just enforcement". I'm fine with making the A-Rig illegal in tournaments, but my point is to minimally waste our time on the subject, so we can get to "real problems".

Nailed it on the head. That dam creates a great ambushing spot for fish. They'll sit towards the bottom on either side, waiting for fish to swim over their heads. Jigs and plastics for slow presentations, and crankbaits and spinnerbaits for reaction bites. If you get nothing on those (4), I would be surprised. Looks like a great spot! Just make sure there is no private property

I have done some extensive research on ALL 50 state laws. I have a list on my blog that will help anyone with looking at their specific state regulations. To give my own opinion, I listened to an interview on another site and Rick Clunn brought up a great point - why are we so concerned with the Alabama Rig when the sport of bass fishing has accepted bed fishing? I understand both sides of the fence, but this is becoming too political. Few states allow the fully rigged A-Rig, while the majority allow (2) or (3) hooked baits. A few have mandated that it is illegal. When anglers are trashing our waters with garbage, losing soft plastics that are consumed by fish (who ultimately die due to blocked digestion) and people illegally introduce fish to protected waters, the Alabama Rig doesn't seem like an urgent matter that it has become. I guess I'm trying to say that everyone has their opinion on the matter, but we have more serious worries to ponder over.

Finished. Thanks Mike!

Bass chomp under a frozen lake? Heck yes they do! Our smaller lakes are frozen already, but instead of freezing like I did as a kid while ice fishing, I would rather use this time to restock and read as much as possible...inside where it's warm Bass can be caught year round though, so if this is something you want to experiment with, grab a 3" or 4" worm and rig up a dropshot. If you know the frozen lake, target weedlines around 15-20' for largemouth and some deeper drops for smallmouth. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to find them. Good luck out there and be safe!

Thanks for the heads up again Glenn. Sounds like some great features are about to arrive!

Pro's and any other tournament angler will usually research a few basic characteristics/areas before hitting the water. First, weather and seasons can help eliminate "dead water". Seasonal patterns are all about probability. Anglers should pay attention to the season and weather currently being experienced on that particular lake or river. Second, matching the hatch is something most pro's do exceptionally well. From mimicking shad to using finesse techniques, many successful pro's know exactly when and where to throw certain kinds of baits. Researching natural prey is very important because each body of water can vary drastically from one another. Third, many pro's study past tournaments and results. From watching videos to reading articles, they are able to diagnose and interpret past experiences. Does this mean they hit the same spots or throw the same exact lures? No, but history can play a big part in trying to research successful patterns. Lastly, networking is a huge part of tournament fishing. Some pro's claim they do not communicate with other anglers, but the majority of tourney guys and gals have a "trustworthy" network of friends/acquaintances who trust each other with important information about the fishing conditions. Ultimately, on-the-water experience will always be a better instructor than any other option. The more you fish, the more your knowledge will grow. Hands down...experience is the best teacher.

I value everyone's opinions on their favorite frog rods, but I would appreciate it if this topic stuck to those who are currently fishing Lew's rods please. Quick Details I will be ordering a couple new Tournament Pro reels that I got to see at ICAST. My questions is this, which Lew's rod is a more dynamic frog rod? This will be a general purpose rod used for medium to heavy vegetation in the Pacific Northwest for both soft and hollow bodied frogs. Looking for anglers who have had the opportunity to check these models out. Options are: Tournament Pro High Modulus 85 7'6" Medium Heavy, fast taper 7'6" Heavy, extra fast taper Team Lew's Speed Stick 7'6" Heavy, extra fast taper

Jigs are my favorite, but just like any technique, more experience often leads to more success. The littlest of movements can make or break a jig bite. Watch his presentation closely...without him knowing you're taking notes and see what you're doing differently

I have a lot of experience with the Navionics App if you want to know more, but I use it for iPhone. Still, very similar.

Excellent thread and one that I will continue to watch closely. I caught many respectable fish on River2Sea's S-Waver this year, which is a 6" swimbait. Most of the fish were in the 2-3lb range, while on many occasions, I had fished the 8" Huddleston without results. I completely agree with a bass being able to eat 1/3 of its weight in a single meal because I witnessed it many times this past year. What's most interesting to me is that I have caught several 5-7lb fish on jigs, that also had a look at the 8" Huddleston. The biggest difference is that most of the time, my jigs were "soaking". Left to die for several minutes, while I usually kept the Hudd moving at a slow pace. Maybe the Hudd needs to sit in place for a bit. You guys have me thinking about some new presentations for next season.

With all the questions floating around about sponsorships, I think this should be a learning experience that doesn't involve negativity. There is a lot to learn and it can be difficult if you have absolutely no idea where to start. First, punctuation is important, just like others have said. It is a reflection of your education and your desire to present yourself to the best of your ability. Every angler should be aware of their online presence, no matter the "formal" or "informal" setting. Secondly, free gear is the last phrase you should have in the back of your mind. I work tirelessly for the amount of gear that I receive. I live by the rule that I will never promise anything to anyone that I cannot fulfill. Period. This may mean fishing in the worst conditions to get something on film. Yes, I film my trips which makes an outing much more difficult. Video editing often takes just as much time as the trip itself. Lastly, it is OK to branch out of your "comfort" zone when approaching companies. Not ONE single angler on this forum knows everything about every manufacturer. The key to approaching your sponsors is the angle you take. Be honest in your approach because a marketing manager often knows many other reps in the industry. If you have something unique to offer, cast for the stars.

I would also be willing to take a look if you need additional advice. I can also combine your files into one .PDF as well.

WordPress (Wordpress.org) is the BEST option out there period. Fully customizable, either through your own html/css knowledge or through templates, and the site is updated quickly and efficiently. Not to mention, there are plugins for everything. Along with SEO optimization on most themes, it's pretty hard to beat for a couple hundred a year. Hosting is my biggest expenditure which is had for the price of a dinner for 4. This is of course just my opinion.

Fishermantony, I can't delete "posts" because I'm not an admin. Maybe you should contact the administrator to see why your post was removed. Thanks to everyone who has congratulated me on my PB. I appreciate the kind words!

Whoaa, nice one!

Thanks for the kind words! An experience like this brings you back to the early days when you began fishing. I still can't describe it. I'll remember her for forever!