bassnleo

Bass Hole summed up the insurance deal. Also, regarding each organization, I forget to metion that you absolutely HAVE to examine your state and which is stronger there. Which one has stronger leadership, monies, tournaments, etc.... Seriously.....if you need more info on TBF I will put you in contact with one of it's national board members, all you have to do is PM me. He will candidly answer any questions you may have.

Being a tournament angler does not make you better IMHO. Being around good tournament anglers MAY make you better. Like Catt said, an angler that has the basic skills can learn vast amounts from more seasoned anglers, but that too works in reverse. Sticking with one or two techniques all the time, no matter the conditions, will almost certainly lead to overall failure. Branching out and learning new techniques, learning how to FIND fish, then how to present a bait to them so they will eat it, those are the key.

Nope, but we see them frequently here to, note the tail on the fish in the pic.

IMHO, you have to look at which organization is going to support you and offer opportunities for advancing. Which organization will suit your clubs needs? Personally, to me it seems that B.A.S.S. is going in the opposite direction, eliminating amateurs from the Elite Series and cancelling the federation team series are examples. It would not suprise me if eliminating the federation classic spots were next on the chopping block. The FLW/TBF seems to be gaining speed and currently offers quite a bit of advancement opportunity. The All American, Living the Dream, etc......Next year will be our clubs 3rd TBF year and we have been very happy. Just curious, why is your club thinking of going back?

Long as the water level stays good, we'll be fishing until December. Give me a yell if you have a free Sunday. It's definately a beautiful river. It is pretty cool to look into the water and see a boulder that dwarfs the boat

E, depending on what your water temp is there, try a jerkbait. When water hit 50 here the jerkbait bite really turned on. I'm fishing the bait with 2 erratic jerks then killing it for about 3-5 seconds, then repeat. Still finding some fish on flats in about 5 fow but close to deeper edges. Make a long cast, real the bait down to it's running depth, then start the jerks. FYI, I also saw fish busting bait and went to the jerkbait, worked like a charm.

When I bought my first bass boat I just looked around until I found one I liked and was in my price range. That was 5 years ago and I'm now going to upgrade. By the way, mine's for sale and right in your price range, $5500. PM me if you want any info about it.

LOL, sure beats the Lower Allegheny, huh? 8-)

Few more things to add........ It's cool to have friends on the water also. We all talk and compare notes on how we're catching them and on what. It helps all of us get on 'em. It's also fun to keep your lunker in the livewell then compare 'em all at the end of the day. Great fall smallmouth fishing and this will continue till December if the water does not rise too much or get muddy!

Big fish of the day (right hand). Another friend Jeff landed this beaut on a tube 8-) Weighed 4lbs 12 ounces

My friend Henry with a toad, 4lbs 6 ounces! This one ate a 10 inch power worm on a drop shot Henry is thinking outside the box!

Nice one that ate my X-Rap, shoulda seen the one that I missed at the boat on my prior cast >

Hooking up again!

This one bit a GP tube w/ tail dipped chartruese.

Nice one for Bob, and he didn't believe me and that we could load the boat in colder water

another

Spent the afternoon on the Upper Allegheny River. Water temp ranged from 45-48 degrees and water level is up slightly from last time I was out a week ago. We had 4 inches of snow just a few days ago but it has melted off and air temps were in the high 50's today. We caught most of our fish in deeper water, 12-19 feet. I was convinced I could find a shallow jerkbait bite also, and we did. Deep fish caught on tubes and drop shot. Caught about 25 total between me and my partner. Couple of my friends were out also and they caught fish the same way. Nothing better than smallmouths this time of year! Enjoy!

Nothing special...... The pool I'm fishing is deep and slow and is a wintering area. I usually begin by fishing relatively shallow (6 feet of less) with a jerkbait. That has produced my largest fish. I then move deeper and drag tubes slowly and fish a drop shot slowly. These techniques have produced numbers. I have been fishing this area for quite a few years and can usually hit a few spots till I locate schools. The key is to cover water and find them, then use different techniques and see what works. It's been about a week since I've been out. We had a cold snap the last 3-4 days. It forecasted to warm back up, into the high 50's and low 60's again. I'm sure the water has fallen 3-4 degrees so things may change again, won't know till I head out Sunday

48 degree water last time I was out and smallies still ON FIRE! If this year is like the last few, the smallies will bite till around the begining of December. Just gotta stand the cloder air, cover alot of water to find the schooled up fish, then whack 'em! I love this time of year for river smallies

X-Rap for me!

Would I do it? Heck YES. Here's a ture story.....Early Oct I fished the PA Bass Federation Classic. In my pre-tournament studies I learned that the body of water had matted grass. I had tungsten up to 3/4 oz but needed a 1 ouncer to punch hydrilla mats. Caught 1 pretty nice fish doing it in practice and had a few other bites I shook off. I end up in 5th after day 1 but couldn't go to my fish due to rough water. Day 2 I get a limit and make a long run to my mat fish. On my FIRST pitch I zap a 3 pounder with my 1 ounce tungsten weight. I end up in 6th place and I'm on my way to the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Divisional. That one $6 tungsten weight.....

I have been fishing the Upper Alleghney, water temp was 49 degrees last evening and the fishin was AWESOME. This river is also shallow, Remember, this time of year the smallmouth will migrate toward their wintering areas which are usually deep, slow, pools. Cover alot of water with fast moving baits. Once you get a few strikes, slow down with tubes or jigs. My larger fish have been coming shallow but in or near a wintering area. I've been catching larger fish on jerkbaits. Numbers on tubes and drop shot worms.

Catt is right on. Bottom width adds stability but does not do much for rough water. A modified V will allow the bow to slice through waves and provide you a smoother ride and better handling.

IDbasser, I ask a favor......... KEEP THE SNOW UP THERE ;D

In rivers here, fall smallies really go on the move. They tend to gang up and travel toward their wintering haunts. Cover alot of water. Once you find them you will usually load the boat.