Raider Nation Fisher

Thanks for all the advice guys. I really appreciate it. I can't wait to try out some of the stuff y'all have recommended.

@ Wayne P. I got those hooks you wrote about last night. They seem like they will work alot better than the circle hooks that I have. Also what is the black stuff in the picture on your avatar? And also what retrieves do you find usually work well? I've been using a sink and jerk retrieve. Kind of like hopping a jig, but slower. Anyway thanks for the advice on the hooks. I hope to try them out today or tommorow.

What are the main differences between night fishing and daytime fishing? Aside from it being dark outside. To narrow down the subject, do you use the same lures and presentations that you would during the daylight hours. I know it differs as far as location, season, clarity, and water temperature. The lake in question is a reservoir with lightly stained water,in central alabama. The air temperature is in the high seventys to low sixtys,and the water temperature is in the low to mid seventys.

That very well may solve the problem I've been having. I seem to be losing alot of them at the hookset. I just have to try an ease up on the hook set. Definately makes sense. Excellent advice on not trying to power reel the fish in too. I've lost a good few doing that also. Finesse and gentle are new concepts to me. Its like one of my old formen told one of our engineers. "These guys are welders and industrial construction electricians they don't do gentle. ;D

That is hilarious. I wish I could have seen that nurse freaking out like that! The mental image is absolutely priceless. My wife does ekg's I can't wait to tell her about this.

From what I've seen down here in Birmingham. I'd say fish the points and lilypads. Been working amazingly for me.

Good job homie. I. Still remember my first baitcaster fish. Keep up the good work.

I was fishing one of my after work ponds yesterday evening, and had a awakening if you will. The fish had stopped hitting my t-rigged lizards, ten in. worms, and jerk baits a couple of days ago. Same with my hard jerk baits and spinners. I'd been able to avoid getting skunked with some scum frogs, but that's another story for later. In shear desperation to find something to catch these fish I tried a technique that I've never used before, wacky rigging a worm. It was like I started a bass frenzy. Fish were hitting on almost every cast. I caught fourteen in an hour and a half. However I missed twelve or thirteen. :-[ Which brings me too my quesrion. What are yalls prefered hooks for wacky rigging? I had decent luck with some Mustad Demon Circle hooks that I use for red fish. Yet I was still was missing most of them, except the bigguns. I also tried using a 5/0 offset worm hook with limited sucess. Also I had another first yesterday. I was throwing a crank along the bank near the weeds. I tossed it right next to tree on the weed line and a 6lber slammed it the second it hit the water. I've never had a fish take my crank off the top like that. Coolest thing I've had happen while fishing in a while.

I had kept mine clean shaven for the better part of six years. Last October I wanted to see if I could grow it out still. About a quarter of my hair didn't grow back. I went bald while I was bald.

Every day regardless of the weather. Monday thru Friday: 5am till work at 6, 45 mins. at lunch then 3 or 4 hours after work. Saturdays anywhere between 2 to 18 hours. Sundays anywhere between 2 to 6 hours. My wife and two year old come with me on the weekends. So unless we are at the lake I usually only get about two to three hours in.

Rods: Diawa, quantum ul, bps carbonlite. Reels: Quantum, okuma, pinnacle Line: spiderwire Hard baits: h2o, bomber, strike king, revenge jigs Plastics: YUM, reaction innovations, rage tail, jackall Storage: plano cases, bps stalker bags, H20 backpack Hooks: trokar, gamakstsu, H20

I use powder free latex or nitrile gloves. They give us boxes of those things at work. The best ones are the individually sealed cleanroom gloves. Yet regular ones work just as well

I can't seem to find anymore of these reels at academy. They are by far my favorite reel that I have ever owned. And unfortunately I'm down to my last one. Is there anywhere else I can acquire some more of these reels? If not, what other reel(s) are compareable to these in weight, feel, size, and durability?

If I had cussed an adult when I was that age my grandmom would have torn me apart not to mention what my dad would have done. Heck when I was ten my grandmom and myself had gone to the mall. A 80 year old woman was coming in behind us and I didn't hold the door for her. She was a good fifteen yds from it. My grandmom slapped me so hard upside the head it crossed my eyes. Then she made me go open and hold the door for the lady and apologize. Around the time I was 12 we were visiting my grandpa and grandma. I called my mom a jerk and my grandpa busted me upside the head with his cane. I don't think I've ever been hit that hard before or since then. But I've never called my mom a jerk since then either.

Great lookin fish. And happy birthday homie.

Alligator Snapping Turtle. That definately makes sense. I hadn't even thought of that. With the amount of turtles and snapping turtles in that pond I'm gonna have to agree with yall. Thanks for the help guys. Now I wonder if I can catch it.

I thought about that but I've never seen one at this particular pond.

I believe my wife is just happy its not guns anymore. We both have money for ourselves for the week so she really doesn't care what I spend it on as long as I don't spend over what I have.

I replace both the fronts and backs on mine. On my shallow cranks I'll sometimes use a Sure Set hook like is on some of the rapala jerk baits. But that's just me.

Congrats. I learned how to cast a baitcaster last spring, and absolutely love them now. It took alot of practice but I'm accurate as all get out with them now. Again congratulations and keep practicing.

So I was fishing a pond I always fish, after work today. When the wierdest thing happened. In the middle of the flat I was fishing, the water start fizzing kind of like an alka seltzer just much bigger. The bubble or fizzy area was about three feet in diameter and started moving toward the shoreline across from me. First I thought it was fish feeding, but then it reached a giant sunken log where the turtles usually sun themselves. The high portion of the log raised about a foot out of the water and then sank back down. Once the log raised the fizzing stopped. Also while this was going on I started seeing a bunch of turtles climbing out of the water onto the sgorelines. Y'all have any idea what this could have been?

So She Who Must be Obeyed and my two year old have gone outta town for the weekend. Leaving me with 48 some odd hours of nonstop uninterruptedfishing. After work myself and my trusty dog went to our first fishing stop, a small pond. I caught a three and four pounder. Ms dog caught a sunfish. No lie she hopped in the water and came out with a four inch bluegill. I've never seen anything like it in my life. Dang dog hopped into the weeds and emerged with the fish. Might go get her some scuba gear and a spear gun and tournament fish with her.

Spinning I use 20# braid. Ultra lights I use 10# braid. On my baitcasters I use 14# flouro, 20# braid, and 50 # braid.

In my three years of experience I've been impressed with Quantum. I have five of their Xtralight rods and have absolutely loved them for UL fishing. I recently just got a PT Smoke and am loving it as well. For the let two years I habeas mainly fished the blue Okuma Aluminas and really really love those. I like the weight on the Aluminas. Personally I prefer a heavier reel to the lightweight ones. I'm just more comfortable with them. However, this smoke reel is starting ti change my mind about the lighter weight reels on the market today.

If I'm casting righty then I switch hands. I taught myself to be sufficent casting with both hands so that's the only time I need to switch. Doesn't save me much movement because I palm my reels and have to move my hands anyway.