Brian Needham

only one way to find out....

since some of the tackle was just completely gone, they did suspect theft as cause/motive........ will be interested to see what shakes out. on the batteries, A-Mart was the first to use them (IIRC).... it would be a shock if the batteries were the cause as the research is LONG for that type of thing...not saying it cant happen, just would be a shock.

it's doable.......but good gosh almighty who is up for a Dale Hollow trip? 10 of the top 25, amazing.

awesome! come join us here if you would: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/117976-open-challenge-to-all-fishermen-and-women/

that is exactly what it feels like on a slack line, a nice thump.......or tick. you can watch you line sometimes you will see it.....sometimes you will feel it...... other times you just "know"

Wilson without a doubt set up different, and I struggled to really get a feel for it either in map study or the first few days I lauchned. I called it a 80 foot deep ditch, for most of the time spent there. With only fishing two days, I felt really under the gun and didnt feel comfortable. Day one, fished some ultra shallow (3-5 fow) points and such, then tried to fish some bluffs and never really liked what I saw. Day two I tried to fish some coves and outside points....and still more of the same. It was only when I went back out in the afternoon on day two did I really start thinking about it. Thinking about shallow being relative, and deep being relative...... thinking about how to relate my limited offshore Pickwick experiences to another lake. I decided on the way out I was going to fish like I did at Pickwick, but I had to realize the ledge WAS the bank instead of a 1/2 mile offshore. and sure enough, when I started to think, to use my electronics... I found a bluff that was 8-12 fow that dropped to 18-22 fow then on off into 30+. we caught some quality fish on that drop between the 12 to 18.... then I knew 15 fow WAS dirt shallow to those fish. It really hammer home the DEPTH IS REALATIVE...... then thinkning back my other quality fish that weeneknd came out of "teen water" too.... I only caught 18 fish tthat wekend but 7 were over 4. and 6 of those were caught out of 13-18 fow. being that there was a bunch of triple digit water and not so much single digit water any water in the teens was shallow it just took me a while to figure it out based on my limited experience. Without doubt I think you could have caught fish out deeper on the rock piles/humps you spoke of, so I wouldnt think you to be wrong at all. They would probablt be excellent targets... and probably used along the migration route too. as far as presentations, I dont know. I did however catch mine on a jig....... but once you get over 30 foot I would find it hard to cast, you would probably have to go verticle, BUT I dont know that , since I dont have much (any) experience fishing that deep. I dont mind sitting in 30 casting to "teen" water..... but sitting in 80 throwing to 25 plus is daunting for most anyone, else they were taught to do so IMO. It was interesting to fish the lake and see how it set up and to learn from it. The next week I went back to pickwick sought out new ledges. On new ledges, using the experience form the Roadtrip, I put fish in the boat....and that was pretty cool. SO even though we might not understood what Wilson was doing or how it fully set up, it is still something there to take back home and use going forward, something to gleam info and be better prepared for NEXT TIME! I hope this ramble helps somehow.

PapaJoe........are you talking about Wilson Lake at the roadtrip as your example?

so true.......... I have really slowed down this year and I have more fish to show for it! and good uns too. I have already caught more over 4# this year than I did all of last year, and it is all because I am SLOWING down and learning more offshore/structure everytime I launch my boat.

reels are reels......looks like you have quality ones so it is really whatever you want to do there. I would however, make sure you put one of your Cores on the 743dx. It makes a fabulous combo and makes throwing the senkos an absolute delight!

705cb-crankbait thinking up to 15ft 734c-Spinnerbaits 735c-frog/deep crank up to 25ft 743dx-Jig/senko 744dx-jig/buzzbait 745dx-heavy jig 766c-punching I think you list is pretty good, here is my opinion: 705cb....... pretty spot on here, and don't forget you can do jerkbaits too 734c...... spinnerbaits are a great choice. I would also throw buzzbaits on this one too. and trigs. I would have a buzzbait tied on in the morning and when topwater dies, tie on the spinnerbait or anything else you want. 735c.... frogs are great, but don't forget hollowbody swimbaits, jigs, 10in worms ect on this rod.... DO NOT throw deepdivers on this rod, it is going to wear you out if you do..... your 705cb is going to work , but you would really need to consider adding a deep diver stick in the future IMO 743dx....looks great and you can do rage rigs, splitshot stuff, flukes, and bunch of stuff really 744dx- anything 3/8th oz works good here... I would do the buzzbait on the 734 though 745dx....... the perfect 3/4oz jig rod..... big Trigs too! 766c..... big stick here..... punching, true flipping of grass mats, big trigs, jigs in heavy knarely cover.

that's why I buy good map cards!

I guess I have looked much, but I rarely see Elities use a scale..... they use balance beams from what I seen. if you are looking for a scale, check out the Rapala tournment scale. I use it and like it...and can save 10 fish in the "bins" pretty cool and accurate.

a flipping stick blank is totally different than a normal 5 power.......just like a normal 5 power is totally different than a cranking 5 power.] My fear for you would be, the only time you are going to "need" that Flip stick is when you go to Guntersville, and you MIGHT not have to use it then all the time. For sure, if you are going to punch a bunch of grass mats and such then get one... but at that point why not get the 805 punch flip? that's JMO......if at all possible you are going to need to try that flipping stick before you lay out of it. I am pretty sure there is a Dobyns dealer near Guntersville. I know my opinion may be different than many, but I think it is better to buy sticks you are going to use EVERY time out, then fill gaps from there, upgrading, adding to collection, ect.

Got ya, thanks Catt! I understand the numbers deal, understood.

The bolded text explains why you are having issue understanding...... "relatively shallow" is a relative term. this being if a fish LIVES in 20fow, then 12fow is SHALLOW......conversely if a fish LIVES in 3fow then 10 fow is DEEP. CATT, WRB, and scores of others.... I have even found out for myself (reading those guys stuff) that most fish DO NOT live shallow. more on my made up numbers.... some live deep and never see the bank..... some live shallow and never see the main channel... and MANY are somewhere in between. WHere do I get "many are in between"?? because during the spawn there is a concenration of fish shallow... but after the spawn they aint there anymore, other than the resident fish, that LIVE there. so where do they go? they are migratory. Hence: Some LIVE shallow Some LIVE deep and others migrate. the fish that live at the back North Saulty creek at guntersvile probably do not even know a river channel exsist..... and by the same token the ones the live on the river channel probably do not even know the back of North Saulty creek exsist.... but there are also many that live in the middle that move shallow to spawn and then move back out afterwards. and that concentration is IMO, why Catt always has his boat in +/- 15FOW. Catt. please correct me if I am wrong....... as my orginal question was posed to you, as yet somehow it turned into this, LOL

I guess the bolded text is not in plain english like I thought it was....... yes, they are made up, rounded numbers, as I thought I cleary stated. BUT I will be surprised if the numbers are not close to accurate.......as I have heard many many experience offshore guys say if you are beating the banks you are only fishing for 10-20% of the fish.

WOW Gary..... I cant say that I blame you, its just not been my experience. 100% for the money there should be no bad spools!

no other reason really...Tatsu has great strenght, arbrasion resistance, low strech all the qualities you want in a line .... but... +/- $45 for 200 yards for tatsu or +/-$90 for 1000 yards of invisx. I love Tatsu and have ran it on every thing I have for the last 2 years...... it is bar none the best line out there.... but I am testing Invisx to see if I can switch. I think Invisx is the best bang for the buck, but Tatsu is the BEST. as with most things in live it is a comprimise

tatsu is the best going, period. BUT.... I am probably going to switch to invisx for the cost benifits.

reread the ENTIRE post. who says every fish spawn every year? and who says they all spawn in 2 fow? not every fish spawns every year and some spawn deep. if you read my entire post, you will see I said "speaking in round numbers so everyone can follow"

yeap, somehow I bypassed it, sorry..... if you are going to do the BIG G a lot then get the flippin stick, if you are only going a few times a year then the 736 will get you done IMO. I know guys that go to the Big G a few times a year and they use BPS Carbonlite heavy. dont get me wrong, the 765flip is a hellva stick.... the question is how often are you going to use it. this is a tough call.

that is excellent Catt! and it speaks to a loose theory I have been thinknig about as I progress my own fishing and offshore. tell me where I am wrong Speaking in rounded number here so everyone can follow 20% of the fish always stay shallow 20% of the fish always stay deep which leaves 60% of the fish to move up in the spring then back out in the summer and winter..... so if this is true then at some point 80% of the fish are shallow up spawning BUT, after the spawn that would also make 80% of the fish out deep, POST Spawn and through out the summer. so knowing this, post spawn and summer why would any fisherman ever beat the banks if the name of the game was catching fish?

if you are only flipping dock then you dont need a flipping stick, unless that dock has a rain forrest growing around it. tell us where you live and where you fish. and weights you want to use

chupacabra!!!!!!!

aavery.......Tastu does do all that, but it gets pricey. I love tatsu and have ran it on everything for 2 years...... I think I am going to compromise and go to invisx when I run out of tatsu.