Hiram

I have a Tracker Grizzly and for the money there is no better boat on the market. If you fish small ponds and lakes most of the time a big bass boat won't suit your purpose. A 14 ft boat with a 10 or 25 hp motor will let you fish anywhere there is an access point to the water. Add to that a front mounted trolling motor and you can go just about anywhere. BPS sells and backs them, they cost @ $ 2200. Check Craig's list and ask around your area for good used equipment. 3 Grand will get you a long way.

I have 2 JM reels and like them very much. I've been bass fishing for 45 years and have tried so many different reels I can't name them all. For the price range these reel are as good as you can get.

A good pair of work boots with smooth non-slip soles, arch support and some gel inserts. Keep them treated with some water repelant and your good for any condition And remember that a man need a good pair of boots and a good bed, because your in one or the other 85% of the time

I've been useing a Jeke's Do Nothing Worn for the last 40 years. When I taught my 2 son's to fish that was the first artifical I tied on their lines. The same with my 5 year old grandson. We probably don't use them enough. The only time I use them now is when I take my wife, that is the only bait she wants to see on the end of her line. They will catch fish anytime, anywhere!!!

I read a good article on lake management in the fishing articles forum at the top of the page about the need to harvest some of those fish. It stated that you need to remove 10 to 30 pounds of fish per acre per year. If you catch and release all you fish there will become to much compatition for the baitfish. Start keeping some of the bass, they make very good filets, have a fish fry. If you can take 1 buddy at a time with you you can have alot of fun and introduce more people to fishing. My brother has access to a quarry where the fishing is also great, and he has to invite whomever he want to fish with. We all respect the rules set down by the owner and enjoy the few time we can go. It is so good a spot that none of us wants to ruin a good thing. Just be selective as to who you take.And by all means the the land owner for the privlage.

Great post, it put a smile on my face. I've had 2 reconstructive surgeries on my right shoulder, elbow, hand and can't cast yet. I've been sitting for 9 week reading the forum everyday,dreaming about the brush piles and stickups. A couple of day ago my wife got out of bed and saw me sitting in my boat learning to pitch with my left hand. I thought she felt sorry for me until she said that I need to find a new hobby. I don't want to learn a new hobby I want ot FISH!

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you need to change from the tubes to worm or craws if you are going to continue to use plastics. In my 45 years of fishing they never changed the name of the game to catching. Just keep going out there and having fun. Good luck on your move.

After reading all the articles and reviews, hearing everyones comments and deciding that you need one of each. You will fill a shopping cart and empty you bank account. I suggest you go the bass pro shop and cabalas web sites and order their catalogs. When you read about a bait you can look it up and have a visual of what it look like. This will help you determine what kind of fishing you want to do and how much it will cost you. It also helps when you go to the store that you know what you are looking for, there are so many choices that they can all start to look alike. Hope this helps in the future.

I always start the early mornings useing a top water bait, there's no better way to wake up then having a bass explode on the surface. As the sun gets higher go deeper. Plastics will always catch fish, but for me cranking is the most fun. 1 - skitter pop's, spooks, buzz baits 2 - rattle-traps, square billed cranks, spinnerbaits 3 - t-rigged plastics (whatever looks good when I reach in my bag)

Congratulations! I also retired at 3:00 PM on Tues. May 31th. I woke up at 3:30 this morning made coffee, took a cup to the garage, looked at my rods just sitting there and realized that I need new friends. Everyone I fish with still has to work. I'm going to enjoy making new friends. Enjoy and see you on the water.

I have an old Ambassadeur XLT2 - 2 speed reel. It can be adjusted from a 6.3-1/3.8-1 by the trun of a knod set behind the handle. It is missing 2 magnet on the brake, it make a whinning sound on the retrieve and does'nt cast very good anymore. I don't remember how long ago that I picked up this reel but it was at least 10 - 12 years ago. I haven't use it in probablely 5 -6 years and would like to get it fixed up as a good working keepsake. My oldest son thinks it's neat so I will probably give it to him. It has caught alot of fish over the years and I don't want it to go to waste. Any ideas where i might send it to get it refurbished. Thanks

Never let go of your spinig reels, they are good for so many applications. If you have'nt used BC's before and want to try one on for size I would suggest that you not spend $250 or more on a combo that you won't like. I have friends that never could get used to a BC and theirs are in the basement or garage collecting dust. I would suggest that you buy something like the Quantum Accurist 501 at @< $99, they are a good reel, easy to use, dependable and look good. When you learn to use a BC and realize that that is the only way to go for Bass then you can upgrade if you like.

I am a RH fisherman. With that said , last fall I was shopping on ebay and ran into a real good deal on a LH reel that I could'nt pass up. I do a lot of topwater fishing and have always liked spinning gear, so I thought I would give a LH BCer a try. I like the control I have working the lure with my RH. It has worked out great for me

I have only been able to fish once this year due to medical problems. On that trip we were catchin a lot of small bass up to 3 lbs so I switched to UL for the sheer enjoyment of the fight. I had a 6-7 lb'er to the side of the boat and when I went to lip her she shook her head no and went for a swim. I was using a jig with a Gulp minnow and the hooked striaghtened out on me, but that won't stop me for using the same setup again. Anything can happen at anytime, so keep using your UL gear and don't worry about losing a fish now and again, sometime the one that got away is a lot more fun to talk about over a beer. Unless it's a tourney, it's all fun

The Booyah and Terminators are both great spinnerbaits. I won't hesitate to tie either one on and know that I will catch fish. But don't discount the .99 cent ones you can buy at walmart, most of them are made by Strike King and unless I'm fishing a tournement i use alot of them. Tip: You can buy a dozen cheap spinnerbaits in various colors and blade size and design, then switch blade until you find what you like, then spend your money on the " good ones" in that configuration. Always have a pole with a spinnerbait tied on and enjoy Tom