Snakehead Whisperer

Glad you figured it out.

Fixed that for you.

It's awesome that you and your son have something that you're both passionate about that you can do together. I hope that you can top your recent catch during the tournament and win big fish.

Drinking water will probably not be effected as it's collected above the fall line, but limited impact on the environment? It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

This just happened right down river from the boat launch that I use. What a tragedy. Current reports estimate that 7500-9000 gallons of jet fuel were spilled into the Potomac river just south of National (Reagan) Airport. Only time will tell what effect this will have on the fishery and environment in general. It can't be good, though. It's a sad day for Washington, DC. The river is tidal in this stretch, so the water goes both ways. Last night when I was pulling my boat out at the ramp I could smell gas. Had no idea what it was at the time, but now it all makes sense. I just hope that if this was due to negligence that the responsible parties will be held liable in some way. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/fuel-spills-into-potomac-river-at-area-south-of-reagan-national-airport/2015/10/30/e5180c96-7f12-11e5-afce-2afd1d3eb896_story.html Does anybody have experience with this type of spill in the waters they fish? What was the consequence?

I have no experience with Johnsons from that era, but I have experience with the older Evinrudes. I am pretty sure that this is not how the kill switch is supposed to function. This would've been helpful to me earlier this spring. I got up and started walking around the boat with the kill switch lanyard still connected to me, and the stupid key snapped in 2. I was about 3 miles from the ramp and had to drive the boat back with my thumb holding the kill switch button down. It was not easy. I need to get some spare kill switch keys to keep in the tool box, but I haven't found them for sale separately, and the lanyards with 10 different keys on them are ridiculously expensive.

No mercy! Pretty sure those cards are still valuable, if they're in decent shape. I collected baseball cards from the time I was 5 until I was probably 14-15, and somehow amassed a stash of 500+ Nolan Ryan cards. Still have them all in excellent shape. The cards peaked in value after he threw his 7th no hitter, and was inducted in to the hall of fame; but they're still valuable. I don't know if I could ever bring myself to sell them, though. Beckett has an online price guide now, but you need to buy a subscription to use it. I used to love the printed version.

Awesome line up. On a side note, Jimmy Houston owns a marine/tackle store/shop and gas station in Cookson, OK. Great little spot with the best tackle selection around. Veggie-free gas too. I highly recommend checking it out, if ever in the Tahlequah area. I grew up in San Francisco, and once Jerry Rice put a quarter into the Street Fighter (original with the giant buttons, not Street Fighter II) machine that I was dominating. I then proceeded to commence the beat down. He was a good sport and signed a mini football that I bought at the sporting goods store next door to the arcade. Good guy.

No hatred intended in my post (can't speak for others.) For me it's a matter of preference and feel. I tend to finesse fish, as opposed to power fishing (even with stuff like crankbaits and spinnerbaits I'm slow and methodical.) For me, snap swivels kill my feel. It's similar to how I could throw a crank bait on a fast action rod, but I never do. I know lots of anglers who do things that I'd never imagine doing, and many do really well. I'm one of those people, though, who uses different knots for different presentations and different line types. It may be out of stubbornness, or it may be that I'm on to something. The world may never know.

I'm going to venture out on a limb and guess that it's not late fall yet down there in the fishing sense. Up here in DC, water temperatures are hovering in the high 50's, which I consider early-mid fall. Once the water temp falls below 55 things will slow down a bit. You're a ways south of here, and judging by the weather down there over the last month you're a little behind us with the cool down. This year has been tricky though, as the slow onset of autumn is contrary to the reduced daylight hours. Fish react to many environmental factors, not just water temp. But water temp is a big one. My guess is that you should be throwing lures that imitate bait fish and fish them higher in the water column. Possibly with a faster cadence than what you're currently doing. Think swimbaits, swim jigs, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, shallow/mid crankbaits, etc. Maybe even topwaters early and late in the day, and when there are overcast conditions. Fish are probably still up shallow. Try to locate bait fish and throw something that imitates them, or something that evokes a reaction strike from the bass. I'm not really into power fishing myself. At this time of year I like to throw jerkbaits and work them quickly, or swim a regular old 3-4" grub on a ball head jig. I most likely won't break out the blade baits for another couple of weeks (last year it was several weeks earlier.) Blade baits really excel once water is below 50, but also when it's in the mid 50's and you're facing frontal conditions that slow down the bite. They'll catch fish all year, but anything warmer than that and there's a better tool for the job. I'm guessing it's already that time up in Jersey. Fall fishing can be feast or famine, though.

The blue cats up here in DC love to eat just about anything on a drop shot; but they also love jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, topwaters, jigs and pretty much anything else I throw near them.

Those are some real nice perch for this region. Keep at it. I've caught just about every species of fish available in my water on a drop shot.

What car alarm did you use? I'd like to try building something similar.

Not that I recommend it, but I've seen people modify spinnerbaits/buzzbaits to accommodate the use of a snap. Usually they add some heat shrink tubing or aquarium tubing to the wire so that the snap doesn't slide down.

Snap, yes. Swivel, yes. Snap swivel, no. I use snaps all the time for crankbaits (although depending on the lure it may work better without the front split ring.) I also use swivels quite a bit for things like a Carolina rig, etc. I have yet to have found a good use for a snap swivel in bass fishing (or any of my own fishing, for that matter.) A swivel on a crankbait or topwater will ruin the action, imho. The only lure I would think of using a snap swivel on is an inline spinner.

Great advice. Turtle135 knows what he's talking about.

Such a senseless act. I'm truly at a loss for words. I'd also like to know about any updates as far as law enforcement catching the coward who did this, or ways to help his family.

I totally agree. The other pic doesn't do the fish justice either. It actually looks like a 9.32lb fish in this photo.

A friend sent me this one today.

Unfortunately that's not always the case. I've always heard it as "You don't always get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get." More expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. I'm after good value for my hard earned money. I too buy mid/upper-mid range reels. Most of my spinning reels are Shimano Saros, or Pflueger Presidents. I can't tell much of a difference between the Saros and the Stradic Ci4 from feel. They're both great reels, but the Saros happens to be much less expensive. Welcome to the site, by the way.

x2. An all welded 1248 will run almost $2K. Not many boat builders make them either. When I hear anybody talk about a 12' jon boat, I usually assume they are talking about a riveted 1236. I've been around a lot of jon boats. My recommendation to you would be to keep it simple. The deck sounds cool, but it adds a lot of weight and raises the center of gravity to an unsafe level. The boat will be wobbly and slow. On my last jon boat I just used anti-fatigue floor material and stood on that. You can cut it to fit around the ribs. If I had to do it all over again I'd do the same. It weighs next to nothing, and it works well. I wouldn't even think about adding a deck to a jon boat that wasn't built that way from the factory... even the all welded ones that are 16' or larger. Same with a v-hull. It's just not worth the trouble, and it's unsafe. A mod-v welded jon boat with a deck would be the happy medium, but for the price of one you could probably buy a used glass bass boat. Don't read this as I'm trying to discourage you. A 12' jon is a great little boat, and it'll get you to the fish. It's just that it's an extremely small craft and safety should be your first concern with it. Some of my best fishing memories are out of a jon boat, but I've also almost killed myself on one. For what it's worth, a 14' jon boat on a trailer will take up about the same space as the 12' and will still be well below the 1000lb. towing capacity. If it were me I'd just go for the 14' unless you have some particular reason to get a 12'.

Absolutely incredible fish. I'm jealous (but not as much as the guy in the background.) I looked it up. Article said the length was 24". I think A-Jay meant to write "state record."

Welcome to the site. Glad you've finally come around to the light . You can most likely apply a lot of what you know to bass fishing, and vice-versa. Filling out your profile information might help other members to help you (in particular the region/lake/rivers you fish.)