North Ga Hillbilly

haha, no worries, I dont even have a sister! I'll send a PM and point you in the general direction. The cardiff has been awesome, holds plenty of 25# CXX for me, and has handled some serious fish NGaHB

Big ol head on her, shed probably go DD with a big gut. You can test a scale with a gallon of water and know pretty close how accurate it is NGaHB

Mr. Perry really set a high bar for us here in Georgia, I got a serious fish, but it still represented a low score. Ive got high hopes for everyone, itd be awesome to see some state records get seriously threatened or even broke by someone on here. Good luck to everyone! NGaHB

Thanks guys, definatly had my heart pumpin as soon as i saw what I was dealing with. Funny about the comp goin on relating to state records, shes a big ol girl, but still only gives me a score of ~60! NGaHB

Different people have different definitions of what constitutes a big fish. I love fishing a buzzbait, I dont think I have fished anything other than a 6" rubber worm more. And I caught my first several fish over 5 with buzzbaits, but later these same fish weren't considered "big" anymore. All a matter of perspective. NGaHB

It takes a real diffrent mindset, thats for sure. Took me a long time to get into it. Payed off again this weekend tho, at times it is worth the wait. But I have to admit, I regularly go to my closest pond and use the ultralite to relieve some stress and actually remember what a fish looks like! NGaHB

Using a Huddleston 8", same bait as with the other bait in fact. I've decided that when I can manage to not loose a bait in the first 5 hours, it builds up some mojo pretty quick. NGaHB

That striper is a SLOB! Good stuff man, always good to focus on a diff style... almost have to make yourself alot of the times. NGaHB

Thanks Jeff, I'm hoping it holds up She might be getting started on em, but the eleveation and spring fed water temps at this place put it several weeks behind everywhere else. Last weekend there wernt any males movin around, just started this weekend. I think the spawn is still a month off up there. NGaHB

Headed out again this weekend with my main fishin buddy. Went to two different public lakes, one of which was mainly a scouting trip, the other was to get to some fishing. Scouting lake looks pretty good, looking forward to getting in there soon. Now it was time to start fishin, several hours in and he had snagged a real pretty 9# and I had missed two bites, same fish I think. Little while later I make a real long cast, let it sink for 30 seconds or more, then started pullin it back in. Small bump in the beginning, then about 12 ft off of the bank, which is a real quick ledge, the bait just stops. After a real brief fight, glad im comfortable and confident in my gear, I have this at my feet: She went 13.5#. 26" long and 21" around. Given a month or so she would have been slap full of eggs, and I have no doubt 15#. She is happily swimmin around again, after a pretty dramatic splashing farewell. Needless to say, this was a killer day. I think there's another bigger one in there, were going to do our best to find her before too long. NGaHB

Thanks again everyone, Keep an eye out for my thread above this one... serious pics to come. Shane, you aught to try some, you can throw alot of em on a flippin stick, tho not optimally, and they have their place. They were all on the cardiff Chris, I'll point you in the direction... but you'll have to marry my sister to get the exact lake NGaHB

Good stuff man, looong time to fish, but it sure pays off. Looks every bit of 7 to me, maybe 8. Good lookin fish no matter the weight. NGaHB

I was stoked about the 8" hudd, even tho I was about 15 hours into a dry spell that was making it hard to hold on to hope, then in hour 16 I got that thump and got my PB. I think proven baits can give you that glimmer of hope that keep you fishing, and influince those 10 hour days on the water. NGaHB

I would look into some swimbait rods if your looking for length. I'm yet to fish an A-rig for any real ammount of time, but I would assume youd want med fast action or even a medium. Either way, alot of SB rods in the $200 range NGaHB

Now thats a fish! killer fish, the top water adds to it in a real way in my book. NGaHB

If you make it up 400, then Hammonds is a solid place to hit up. NGaHB

Good fish man! NGaHB

I joined in.. but its a serious long shot! NGaHB

I'm in, but I'm going to have a hard time as a 10 only gives me a score of ~45 NGaHB

Naw I havent, Im out of the loop. point me to where I can read up on it. Thanks guys. NGaHB

It's been a long time since I've posted. Got into another forum pretty heavily, but the lack of drama here drew me back. I have been fishing swimbaits almost exclusively for the past 6 months. It took a few months to get the hang of it and get up all the gear it takes to do it right. But I can say I have been happy with the results. I went to a "to be unnamed" lake here in Ga and started fishing like always. Got a bite and was pretty surprised, I've learned that when tossing the big stuff expect to get skunked. First fish I landed went 9.25, that was a PB and I was excited. After 45 min I had 4 fish for 33lbs, the largest going 10.52 The 9 is first, real old fish, I would have loved to get her at her peak, 26"x 19". 10 is second, much younger fish, dosent look as impressive as the 9, bad pic. But went 25" x 20" Hope all is well here at BR. NGaHB

I agree with Murphys book, the guy is a legend, and its a great book. Id say a Slammer is a must have, same with a punker. If you get a rod able to handle 8" hudds, and I would def suggest you do, don't be afraid to throw it. They have produced my first fish over 8, 9 and 10 pounds, but they will also get fish 5# regularly, and lower from time to time. A ROF 5 is a good all around hudd, you can bottom bounce em even deep if your willing to fish slow. 0's are usefull from time to time, as are 12's, but a 5 is a great all around. 6" hudds will catch fish below a pound, so dont think your throwing something too big. But I have never caught anything over 5 on a 6". NGaHB

You might be alright with treble swim baits, but I wouldn't want to try and set the hook on a hollow belly with a rod that flexes enough for what I would think deep divers would need. Just my musings, as I have never dealt with a deep diving crank rod, much less that specific one. NGaHB

Every time I see those new resin finned baits of yours I start feeling my wallet burning a hole in my pocket! NGaHB

Depends on the varmint, but ive yet to have anything small move after the bang. it seems to have more knock down power than the vmax, but it could just have been the situations. I mainly use mine as a paper puncher, I'm partial to .22 mag. Ive got a .22 mag revolver and rifle I carry into the woods, which lets me carry one type of round.