Zach Dunham

Yeah, that is insane. I'm pretty sure a 0.4 would kill most people. I know what you mean, it does affect everyone differently. But that's up to each person to know. I didn't like the blanket statement about it being wrong coming from a guy who can't even drink yet. I still see no problem with a beer or a couple over hours if it doesn't affect that person.

I think I agree with the majority here. Rare thing, I know, haha. Drinking multiple 40s is definitely irresponsible while operating the boat. Having a couple beers over the course of the day is not irresponsible. Throwing ANYTHING in the water intentionally is not cool. I always have a plastic bag to throw any and all trash in when on the water. I won't have anything to drink during a tournament, obviously, since zero alcohol is usually a rule. If I am out and about for a few hours for fun I might have a couple beers. No big deal. I would definitely have said something to that guy if I was on his boat, though. If he was drinking as much as you say, I wouldn't tolerate anyone adding any risk to my health.

You have a lot to learn my friend. I find it interesting that someone who isn't of legal drinking age is giving advice on alcohol. Believe me, if you have had alcohol more than a few times in your life, 2 beers will not impair you one little bit.

In the Bassmaster Elite Series there are no coanglers. Instead there are marshals; you ride along and you don't fish and you basically make sure they don't break any rules. It is more a learning experience than anything.

It is pretty awesome. As far as asking questions, I would just let the pro do the talking. If they are constantly talking to you then ask all you want. If they seem like they don't want to talk or prefer it that way, then don't ask questions. You can get a feel for it pretty quick. Not sure I would take a notebook out there though, haha.

See you there! I have been a marshal two times before (Oneida, St. Lawrence River). I never had anything happen that was even close to a problem or rules violation. Most of the guys are honest and know exactly what they can and can't do. It is definitely a good learning experience. When you watch shows you only get to see the catches and maybe a few other moments. When you're on the boat you get to see the periods of struggle throughout the day and the adjustments made.

http://www.flwoutdoors.com/fishing-articles/industry-news/156270/bryans-spotted-bass-a-new-world-record/#.U71eBShcPcO 10.48 lbs and now declared by the IGFA. What a BEAST.

8# Fluoro, 3 inch tubes (not brand or color specific in this case), 3/16 oz tube jig head. Occasionally a heavier tube jig head. if the wind or current calls for it. I am currently fishing it on a 6'10" Med Fast spinning rod. Trying not to be brand specific!

It is called a hypothetical situation, and you still failed to answer it. Since you apparently have never not had a fishing license on you, lets say it is someone you know. Someone you know decided to help someone for 5 minutes without their fishing license on them. Do they deserve a ticket? Again, I will not stoop to your level of mocking.

That's exactly the kind of stuff I am talking about. I also like your solution to the OP. A little clever social engineering may actually work if anyone was doing anything sketchy.

The last two tournaments I fished, the game commission / police were at the launch and at the weigh-in and both times they pulled over the last boat to launch in the tournament for random checks, lights flashing and everything, thereby screwing over their first 15 minutes of the morning bite. When I am out practicing on weekend days when the lake is loaded with recreational boaters and fishermen, rarely an officer in sight.

My goodness. I challenge anyone else to post that many big ones for just 2014 so far!

You shouldn't mock someone's knowledge or education without actually knowing them. Since you want to portray yourself as an adult and me as a child, I would think you would know better. I see you failed to answer my question; most likely because I am right. Maybe we just need some smarter wardens. In my experience, it is pretty easy to tell what kind of person someone is with a 5 minute conversation. If I saw someone casting a rod in the scenario above, I could talk to them for 5 minutes and tell you if that story was true with about 75% accuracy. Also, since you seem to think you know so much about government, you must know it costs you even more money to defend yourself in court from a ticket you don't think you deserve, so getting written a ticket is a lose-lose situation. Even if you are legitimately innocent, government wins, and you lose.

In my experience, the large majority of tournament bass fishermen are not breaking laws/rules. Sure, there are always some, but there are FAR MORE recreational fishermen AND boaters breaking rules left and right. It seems the target is in the wrong place. If we really want to cut down on the illegal activity going on, maybe we should focus on where that activity is actually occurring and not just focus on the easiest target.

I agree with what you are saying about stories. But the LEO is another human being with bias also. I'm sure the truth is somewhere in between. The only reason I actually believe the person who posted that story is I have seen equally ridiculous things with my own eyes that didn't even involve me.

So what you're saying is, you're walking in a park and you see a kid or group of kids fishing and doing something incorrectly, and you go over and show them how to cast, you deserve a ticket if you don't have your license on you and someone saw you throw a line in the water? Seriously, I am wondering. If you can tell me right now that you deserve a ticket for that, I will not say another word on this thread. Your post will say all it needs to.

You know as well as all of us that that is ridiculous. If I saw someone that needed help with something fishing related, I would help them whether I was fishing or not and whether I had my gear and license or not. Don't pretend like that isn't a ridiculous ticket to get. Just because it is "technically" breaking the rules, although I'm not even entirely sure that casting someone's rod and showing them something qualifies as that, there is a thing called using your head which that game warden clearly did not do (or maybe he did and just wanted to take someone's money).

Yeah. And the ones that are there waste their time trying to nitpick a bass tournament weigh-in instead of finding people who are keeping every fish they catch and stealing from the system. I've even called them before and they do something 5 hours too late if at all. Come bass tournament launch or weigh-in you can be sure they will be there hawking.

http://www.***.com/another-cheater-in-fishing-tournament-arrested-in-alabama/ Another alleged cheater arrested and charged. Keep getting these jerks!

I have had much better success with largemouth because this is typically a grass/weeds oriented bait. The chatterbait is at its best ripping through grass. I catch very few fish in open water with it.

As my title says, SPINNERBAIT! I will fish it at almost any depth, speed, size, color, etc.

You have to pick your times wisely as the lake can get quite insane with boat traffic. I have done well fishing a weightless, Texas-rigged, white senko around the grass there (I'm sure any soft plastic jerkbait would work well, that is just what I happened to have on). You can also flip docks with almost anything. There is one area where you can get out of the boat traffic. If you go north of Brady bridge and to the right there are a bunch of canals that lead up to route 15. I had no luck back there when I was at the lake 6 weeks ago, though.

I bet you will now start throwing a pink fluke when all else fails!

Some people love that grueling schedule. I know I do. I love tough days, too. I want a day where I have to grind out 5 fish over 8 hours and have half the field come back with almost nothing. LOVE it. It is challenging.

Welcome! This place will make you learn fast!