Ratherbfishing

Without a doubt my favorite is the Heddon Torpedo. I've caught so many bass with this bait and a fair number of bluegill. You can fish it slow with occassional twitches or fast like a buzzbait.

Don't know about the bass but, if you'll forgive the pun, geese really honk me off. There are too many of the ^&%$# things around. They're like people-fine in moderation but too many and you've got a problem.

I think it depends on my goal. Some days I'm out to try to learn a new method or bait(so I might stick with what I'm using/trying) while others I'm out to catch lots of fish. If my buddy is spanking me, you bet I'll switch. I don't see any shame in it. And I might learn something, too.

Scenario: You're out fishing with a buddy. Before too long you notice that your buddy, who is using a different bait or technique, is catching more bass than you are. How long is it before you begin to emulate them? Or do you stick with what you're using/doing?

Glad you're okay. I know just enough about electricity to be dangerous and stay far away from it.

If it's a Plano box, it's probably "worm proof". However, if you leave soft plastics in their original packages, they are less likely to become contaminated with other scents, etc. Just sayin'

Well, except for some staples (gulp worms and chiggercraws) which I buy anytime before I might run out, I purchase most of my gear in the winter months to keep from going completely out of my head.

Best way to kill a fish is with kindness.

Which lure you use is only part of the equation. There is also the matter of how you use it, when you use it, and where you use it. Additionally, it's how often you use it. I have certain lures which get a lot of use because they're what I have and also they're what I have confidence in-even though I'm sure there are other lures which could, potentially, outperform them. It doesn't take that many attempts to persuade (or disuade) me of a lures affectiveness.

I am not so smart nor can I remember things so well that a journal might not possibly help however when I did record my catches, referring back to them did not really seem all that instrumental. I'm sure my experiences have helped me but in ways that aren't so "quantifieable" as a journal. For lack of a better way of saying it, I just "learn." When I do write my catches down, it's more in the form of a diary entry so when I'm old and grey (or bald), I have something to reflect back upon.

My PB (around 7.5 lbs) came on the outside edge of a ditch in standing timber. (I won't disclose the lake because it already has too many tournaments). We'd been "chased" off the remainder of the lake by swarming flies (this spring was terrible) and we hadn't gotten so much as a bite for over an hour when "Bessie" finally grabbed hold of my bait. I knew immediately that she was a big one. I remember hollering "Get the net! Get the net!" repeatedly. What's most interesting to me is that it's only been the past few years that I've used a crankbait very much but my two largest bass (the other one weighing in at 6 lb 3 oz) came from the same model crankbait: the Rapala Shad Rap. Same size but different colors (green and white). I don't own, work for, or hold stock in Rapala but sometimes I think I should.

The problem is, there isn't any ice. It's been far too warm. If there was ice, and it was thick enough, I'd be out on it. Ice fishing isn't as comfortable as liquid water fishing but I love watching my little humminbird flasher tell me when fish are around and, especially, watching the little light bar intersect with my bait. Then watching as my spring bobber dips down. Makes it all worthwhile.

An 8 weight rod will be okay for fishing streamers and wet flies and for making long casts but isn't too great for delicately landing dry flies on the water's film. If you're not going for that, you're probably fine. For bass and bluegill (which don't typically require a delicate presentation), it'll be fine, too.

In the deep southern states, they use ugly sticks to fend off aligators, don't they? Ugly sticks are heavy and not particularly senstive. But if you're on a tight budget, in the market for something that will last, will be using it for crankbaits, and don't mind the extra weight, why not? If you want something to "grow into", however, I don't recommend them.

When you say "live bait" do you mean any live bait or just fish? I've caught a bunch of largemouth under the ice simply using a teardrop jig tipped with a wax worm. Or a swedish pimple tipped likewise. Also, a jig tipped with a small gulp minnow will work, too. Bass will eat the smallest meals when its cold and the meal is hanging right in front of them. You may catch a bunch of smaller fish along the way but here's a tip-if you suddently stop getting bites from "lesser" fare, don't leave right away. A larger predator fish will often scare off other contenders while he's eyeballing the meal. I've seen it more than once. Also, if you can, use a flasher fish finder. That will help you locate the bass and also put you in the right depth. I swear by them.

I'll have a few beers at home but most of my rounds are at the bar!

Brother, can you spare a dime?

I've tried to use Fireline Crystal as a leader with braid and it is terrible. I haven't determined exactly what happens but it pops right off at the knot. While I like most Berkley products, I, too, think fireline crystal is very pricey dental floss. Got sucked into buying it when it was on rebate but I won't buy it again.

Don't know if it's actually "plastic" or not but Gulp worms are awfully hard to beat. Just wish they were more durable.

I can testify that I have gotten frustrated when a peer is catching a lot of bass and I'm not catching anything (like 9 bass to my zero) but it's never been about trying to outcompete or best anyone. A perfect day is when everyone catches fish and when I'm positioning the boat, I usually wait until everyone is in position to cast before I will. I feel like a bad host when I take someone new out and I'm catching and they're not and often times I'll let a newby get first dibs on a choice piece of cover. While I will sometimes talk about the thrill of a catch, I don't like to talk smack.

If you want an "edge", go buy a knife. Otherwise, paying attention and gaining experience is the key. I view using fishing tackle like a tennis racquet. A good tennis player can still play reasonably well with a cheaper racquet (at least once he gets use to it) but a lousy tennis player will play lousy-regardless of the racquet uses. I will concede, however, that you shouldn't scrimp too much on gear. I do not regret the day when I moved away from cheap spincast equipment, for instance. Not because it caught less fish, necessarily, but because I had far fewer headaches when I got away from it.

My first vote is 4 lb Yozuri. It isn't quite as soft as Trilene XL but it's strong!!! My second vote is Trilene XL.

As a child, one says everything that comes to one's mind. As an adult, one learns (or should learn) to censor one's words. Late in life, we don't bother anymore and revert back to giving our full opinion on things. I can't wait until the day when I can garden in my underwear and get away with it.

I like a "sling bag" that JanSport makes which they call the "Air Cisco." http://www.rockymoun...co_/TDN9/detail By comparison to traditional backpacks, I think it's much easier to put on and take off and has a velcro strap for adjustment (and also for extricating yourself from the bag if you choose to do it this way). It has two main compartments which are nice for organizing gear . I use them to separate my creature and crawfish baits from my worms and jerkbaits but obviously one can personalize it to suit their own system. It probably doesn't hold as much as some bags or backpacks but I find it very handy. And the zippers are not prone to tearing at the seams under weight like some bags/packs. My only complaint is that it only comes in black and get's pretty warm in the summer.

A buddy and I constantly trade places where I'll catch 5 fish to his none and then vice versa. We're either gloating or scratching our heads. It seems to happen so regularly that we've come to expect it. So, unless you are constantly outfished, I wouldn't worry excessively about it. This isn't to say you can't/shouldn't modify your tactics to fit the pattern. I've known fishermen who will doggedly stick with a method or bait thinking that they can force the bass to bite. Just doesn't work that way.