Lund Explorer

Long before the advent of the current C&R craze, Michigan's DNR didn't bother to stock LM or SM Bass into our lakes or rivers. There was a very simple explanation for this. Despite former or current harvest levels, the population of both species are self sustaining renewable resources. That's right, the highly revered bass is exactly the same as the lower class bluegill, white tailed deer, or just about every kind of tree growing here. It doesn't hurt one darn bit that a certain segment of the population is removed each year, as natural procreation will maintain itself. Perhaps your state is different and requires an annual stocking program to maintain a fishable population. In Michigan, this is the practice for species such as walleye and a number of the salmon and trout that so many fish for. In this instance, the term used is "put and take" as the state stocks these fish knowing full well that anglers will harvest them for consumption. One other strange thing about our state is the fact that we have a closed season for bass that only three other states maintain. These closed seasons were established to protect spawning fish, something that many on here express as the best time of year to target the species. Other states may want to adopt this practice. At the very least, anglers who feel that bass deserve protection should begin to practice it.

From your description of the company you work for, they bid out their work based on how many production hours are involved in producing the finished item. If you provide them with proof that you have increased productivity, then a pay raise is in order. The amount of that raise should be based on the amount of increase. One other way to skin that cat. A local company up here pays quarterly bonus checks based on productivity. An employee that exceeds their quota for that time period is paid extra on a sliding scale matching that productivity.

Archeologists discovered this couple that have been buried together for 700 years! Even though many have stated how beautiful this was that they have remained together all this time, my only thought was. Spot the Wife!

Perhaps 15 or so years ago, we had a small family living just down the street. A single mother (get your minds out of the gutter) with two young boys ages 9 and 5 and a father that was completely missing. Anyhow, it was just before Halloween when the wife and I saw this young mother at the neighborhood store. When the wife asked her if the boys were getting excited about the upcoming holiday we were told that the eldest of the boys had just gotten the word that he had a rather severe case of diabetes that would require insulin shots and absolutely no candy. The mother said that both of the boys would still be going out for trick or treats, but that the oldest of the boys would be handing over his stash to his younger brother. Needless to say, it just didn't sound fair. After thinking about this for a couple of days, I went to town and purchased a small tackle box and proceeded to stock it with all kinds of tackle for both bluegills and bass That night when these two boys showed up, I handed him another bag and told him that I thought he should get something that he could enjoy even if it wasn't candy, but he couldn't get into it until he got home later that night. Well, the next day the doorbell rang and here was this kid with the biggest smile you've ever seen. Candy, Schmandy, he had his very own tackle box! A number of times the next summer he would stop by the house to tell me about his fishing exploits with his granddad, what he'd caught and on what lures. He even shared his fishing tackle with his younger brother. Before summer was over his mom got a job in a new town and they had moved away, and since his grandparents have moved to warmer climates I have seen him in years. Every fall as Halloween gets closer, I think of that night, and I realize I learned a very important lesson. People say it is better to give than it is to receive. But I think the giver gets just as much when its a smile.

Hence the reason why you see some member's here repeating the same advice that the brand name of your boat doesn't mean nearly as much as the dealership you buy it from.

Imagine how much nicer the world would be if these acts of kindness happened so often that they would no longer be called "Random".

I'm sorry, but I'm one of the old school tournament guys. Way back in the day, boaters and non-boaters were each given equal time in the front end of the boat. Unfortunately (for the non-boaters), the majority of boat owners decided that they deserved the right to control the entire day, and the guys who didn't own a boat gave it to them. Since that time, the back seat guys have been doing two things. Complaining about being short boated, and paying more entry fees. The only cure to the first one is to stop doing the second! I hope you found a way to overcome a difficult but understandable situation, however short of buying your own boat, the only permanent answer to the problem is for non-boaters to demand that tournament directors give you an equal chance to compete. If every non-boater took a year off from their tournament circuits, the TD's would have to either resolve the issue, or be faced with the potential of lone boat owners cheating. And the bottom line truth of the matter is that this the only reason you guys are sitting in the back of those boats now.

The answer is extremely relative as well. In my honest opinion, if your efforts are getting you "Lunkers" with any degree of consistency, then you need to do one or two things and perhaps both. First, you may want to redefine what makes a lunker. Secondly, you may want to consider putting your skills to the test by entering the field of competitive tournament fishing.

I have to tell you that your story was one of the most entertaining I've read in a long time. Way to get those fish in the boat without getting a case of Happy Feet.

Or bounce them off the carpet, or sprinkle them with sand/gravel/grass.

Great boat, with a so-so motor. Price sounds decent for what you've described. Definitely have the motor gone over. As far as the boat goes, the only bad thing I remember about my 300 series was those darn shut off / recirculating valves. The thin membrane would dry out and warp which would cause the water level to drop slowly. And they were a real pain to get to. Post some pics if you pull the trigger on it.

Without a doubt, Traverse Bay should be your number one priority. End of June or the first part of July would be better, but you should still find plenty of fish. Other choices if the weather turns sour should include Duck/Green Lakes, Elk/Torch/Skegemog Lakes, and many of the other smaller lakes in the area.

Lost in the forest, the voice of reason was found by some, appreciated by less.

Actually her name was Dolly Madison. You may recognize that name as her husband was the President at that time.

What did your history books have to say about the day an invading army burned down the White House, Congress, and many other government buildings in Washington DC? How many of your peers even know that it actually did happen? My point, is that the events of 9/11 will lose most of its shock value someday and new events will take center stage in our collective memories. As our country ages it will create more history and more of our history will be set aside for the sole use of the few history geeks. Let's not even consider the large segment of our population that can only remember two dates. July 4th and December 25th!

Sadly, there will come a day when we as a people will forget. It's happened many, many times before and there will come a day when the date of 9/11 carries no more weight than all of the other dates that lived in infamy. To see why this is true, you need only ask an 80-Something year old where he or she was on December 7th. Even if they didn't have 24 hour a day news, and there weren't the dozen TV Channels that replayed that day each year, those events are still alive in their minds. A lot of us know what that date signifies, but it is different when you weren't there to see or learn about the horror of the moment. Within a year or so, we will have members of this forum who weren't alive in 2001. They'll see the video of those planes tearing into the twin towers, but they will miss the real shock value those of us who lived through it will never forget. Just perhaps, that's a good thing. By the way, let's not forget that on 9/11 the word hero was spelled FDNY!

Anyone who would get angry with you for your choice of boat or any of your equipment is most likely an idiot, and the rest of the group is already going to know it long before you ever show up! Perhaps the only question that may (and perhaps should) come up would be your ability to keep a limit of fish alive for the length of the tournament. As long as you have a working livewell though, I can't think of any rule that states that you have to spend a minimum amount for a boat to compete. You may want to look into a smaller club to begin with as the more serious big spenders shy away from groups with lower entry fees and lower payouts. If you find that you are near the top of the standings within that group, then it would be up to you to see if you match up to one of the bigger circuits.

Have you been given the name or contact information of your partner yet? If he is a local in that area, he would be a valuable source of information on what's hot and what's not. You may also want to research the "regional" section of this forum to see who else has fished this lake. Other than that, the only thing I can say is thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and here's hoping your first tournament experience is a great one. Good Luck!

I'm just happy that I'm not ten years older, or I'd have a few of those fishing jumpsuits stuffed in the back of my closet!

Everything in my experience has shown me that painted blades of any color help to mute the amount of flash put off by the blade. The same can be accomplished with hammered blades, or by changing from silver to either gold or brass colored finishes. The only way to determine what the fish are looking for in your area is to try different combinations during the many types of weather or seasonal patterns you run up against. Success will tell you which choices work on the lakes you fish.

The term "Over-Thinking" should really be changed to "Directionally Challenged Thinking". With any amount of experience, an angler should know the basics of how to go about catching fish. However, if you have to spend hours trying to decide which type of rod and reel to use, what kind of line should be on it, which of a myriad of lures, and what color of who knows how many colors should get tied on, you are losing the battle before you make your first cast! You'll know you've hit rock bottom when you are following the advice for all of these choices, given to you on an internet forum from somebody 1,500 miles away from you.

After spending thousands on a boat, hundreds for rods and reels, Lord knows how much hooks, line and sinkers, the last thing I'm concerned about is the few dollars it costs me for a bag of soft plastics. I primarily use Berkley Power Baits, Ragetail Craws, and the numerous offerings from GYBC. All of them were bought for the ability of them to produce fish and not because they can last all day. Who saves money by using the least expensive line they can find?

In the vast majority of lakes I fish, I don't have the choice to fish anything but clear water. When the "dingy" lake you fish still has 10' of visibility, you learn to adapt your approach. Fish during periods of low light, going smaller on baits and lighter on line improves your odds.

I couldn't tell you how many times I've gone out with a guide or on a charter trip, but there was only once when I was tempted to not pay. When it comes to paying a tip, the amount paid is based on the service provided and never on the conditions. Of course, it goes a long ways if you actually talk to the guide/charter captain before you book your trip. When I've hired a guide, my primary purpose was to learn something at a faster pace than I would have on my own. It doesn't matter if its the first day of a week long fly-in trip to Ontario, or a day on a southern bass lake. I come right out and tell them that I'm not looking for their hotspots, and honestly tell them I will be returning to the spots we'll fish during the trip. I give them option to tell me to look somewhere else if they are afraid I'll burn their spots. When I book a charter trip such as a salmon boat on Lake Michigan, I tell the captain before we book that I want a hands-on experience. I want to learn and participate in setting the lines, netting the fish, and I may even want to sit at the helm for a short time. Most full day trips have a slow time, and that's when I want to be sitting on the bridge talking about fishing. To me, it all boils down to the experience, and not what comes over the side (or backend) of the boat or ends up as filets to take home. The better time I have, the more I'm willing to express my appreciation. But it all starts long before the day of the trip.

Imagine how much easier it would have been if your neighbor had discussed this issue with the guide when he booked his trip?