gulfcaptain

Hey guys, I haven't had much time to jump in the forums as of the last few months since taking a guide job up in SE Alaska. First let me say it's an amazing area. As a bass fisherman I have to admit I'm having fun finding and having my guests catch Kings and Silvers as well as the Halibut. The chance to learn new techniques, pattern a fish I've never fished for and learn what to look for and areas to fish, as well as learn about this fishery from a great group of guys willing to share their knowledge. I really should be taking more pictures as so I can share them when I get back home. But as for now, no green or brown bass to chase, just salmon. But enjoying the chance to learn another fishery that many never get the chance to experience and taking it all in. Looking forward to Late Summer and Fall bass fishing though and hopefully be out of the rain when I return to S.Cal the middle of next month.

First off, you don't need to make hard casts with larger baits. Big baits can be a little overwelming until you catch that first fish on it and then the whole it's really big idea goes right out the window. If you want to fish a big bait here's the deal. Leave everything else and only take that one bait and fish it all day. I throw Hudds and Triple Trouts at certain times and only take my swimbait setup so I can't fall back onto something smaller. Go fish the rat and let have fun. Make a lob cast opposed to trying to cast too hard. Use 25lb leader on there as well opposed to going straight braid.

Welcome to boat ownership. You're going to have to take the prop in and either get it repaired or have them look up what prop you need and what pitch. No idea what size boat your pushing with that 75hp and when you take it in I'd get a new tac so you know what rpm's you're running as well.

Only if you get a new rod. Not any way to really change the action of the rod or make the tip softer. Get a new one and sell that one or use it for something else. Part of our great sport is finding new rods that fit the application you're wanting to use them for.

I get about 75% of the fish as well. But I will not bend hooks out. Sorry not going to do it. Fishing reeds and brush there is already enough for them to get hung up in let alone bending the hook out more. Fast taper heavy action is probably your best bet. Too soft of a rod you're going to miss more and loose a greater amount. I don't mind the drag slipping when I set the hook with braid as my thumb works great as a brake and once they are up and skipping across the surface they are caught. Another thing to pay attention to is how they are eating the frog. If they aren't eating it really good and missing a bunch, try a different color. If they are choking it stay with that frog and retrieve. Each day can be different.

FLW only removed the co's from the Forest Wood Cup. I don't know about tensions between tours and anglers. Many of the pro's fish both curcuits. I know that the Elites must have their boats wrapped and must fish in a sponsor jersey and follow the dress code set forth where FLW isn't as strick. The co's on the FLW side other then championship day fill in the role a Marshall does on the Elite series as to keep everyone honest. And yes both curcuits change lakes but frequent the same bodies of water more or less and the Forest Wood Cup is held in August where the Classic is held in early spring (dates pending where they decide to have it).

Monroe is in both curcuits. Wheeler is trying but only made it in to that one classic due to BASSFEST, Still working to qualify for the Elites (yes each year the Elite series anglers HAVE to qualify to continue to fish). Ehler moved over last year as well as Tharp a few years ago. There are still quality anglers fishing the FLW. Myers, Wheeler, Martin, Morgan, Daniels, Blaylock....etc. I've seen Wheeler and Blaylock trying to qualify through the BASS Opens to make the Elite series but Morgan, Martin, Daniels, Myers, almost forgot Larry Nixion still with FLW. There are quality anglers on both tours, but it's all about making it to the bigger stage for some and like Monroe some are willing to fish both tours to make themselves as viable to their sponsors as well as make a living. I believe Hackney even won an FLW event a few years ago so the FLW stage is $$$ to fish, the Elite are $$$ but you have to qualify to make it so those that do more then often stick with that tour and keep their focus on one instead of two.

I have.....lol watched a Penn spinning reel back in 95 do that when he accidently hooked a 100+lb Bluefin. Spool spun so fast it flew off the reel, took out the first two guides before the line snapped. Yep it was quite entertaining for most execpt the gentleman that was holding the rod.

Charge them before you leave and then disconnect them and leave them in the boat. As long as they are disconnected there really isn't a way for them to loose their charge (maybe a small amount) unless they are bad. If you come back and they are dead, well you got that great deal on a boat and saved enough to purchase that new set of batteries for the boat when you get back. Consider this a test to see if they are any good or not.

Pretty clean boat and great find.

I did this just to have the extra 4ft of pole in a 4ft housing. Yes spent the money on a fold down bracket as well and WILL be purchasing another one hopefully next year. I use it shallow, I use in in 11ft of water. Makes life easy when you're fishing a hump or offshore point sitting in 10ft of water and able to work the edges without having to worry about constantly keeping your boat in position. Also all contained so no extra equipment to figure out where to store, just plug and go. Fished a tournament last weekend and I used them A LOT. Makes windy days and current less of a hassle to fish as well and makes getting out of tight spots really easy when you drop the Talon and spin the bow with the trolling motor as well.

Just looking at your pics, that zinc tab that hangs down I'd replace with a flat zinc. It may not make a difference but with the prop cutting through the water that may make a cavitation hole on the back side of the tab/side on the down spin from the prop. It might be causing an issue where it sucks air slightly which could lead to that issue you're having. It's just a thought but it's an easy thing to rule out by just taking it off and seeing what happens.

You will have fish that live in both areas. Some are resident shallow shore fish, others are deep water fish. More often find schools deeper and loan fish shallow (but not always). Catt's idea of fishing feeder creeks is a simple start. Each creek arm will hold it's resident fish population as well as the fish that roam. Pick an arm that you like best and look around in there. You may spend time just looking without fishing as to see what is available (do a ride through). Now here's another aspect of fishing popular water. Fisherman normally hate water skiers and jet skies.......fish do not. They live there and learn to deal with it. Look at marina's, lots of boats and lots of bass. So some areas that have lots of boat traffic may be tough to fish with the wakes, but then it may be worth looking at as most fisherman will avoid these areas in lew of quieter waters.

Also, DON'T TRY AND FISH THE WHOLE LAKE!!! Find a few areas on a map that have what you're looking for and go fish them. Then once you get a few fish off of that kind of structure/area, look for other area's in the lake that have those key features you found and go try there. But remember, fish move with conditions so one day an area may be hot and the next a desert.

Simple answer, Quantum EXO 200 5:4.1 or a Smoke 150 (same gear ratio) and for say 5XD/6XD's I use a 7'11" MH Quantum Tour KVD Cranking rod, but if you're looking to go with the 8XD/10XD size, well better bump up to the Heavier version. You want a composite rod and these are actually quite light. Also crank with a EXO 100 5:4 on a KVD Tour 7'4"MH which will also throw the 5XD's as well as smaller cranks like a 3XD. Line, well I fish braid on everything so I use 30lb flourobraid on the 200 size reel with 12lb FC leader and then normally 20-30lb regular braid on the 100 size with 10-12lb FC or mono depending on what I want. if I want to fish a deeper crankbait shallower, then I bump my line up to 20lb mono which keeps them a little higher in the water. Can result in using a 5XD which will run 15ft on 12lb up to 10ft on 20lb.

Look on Ebay and you can find some deals.

I use one of these. Normally have SPF 50-80 on my face anyways so many use the buff to keep my neck from becoming sunburn and my lips becoming wind burnt running down the lake full speed. No issues with fogging when you're moving. But these have the vents in the front that keep your glasses from fogging up and are a bit cooler then a couple other buffs I use as well.

If I've fished a lake and have a good idea of what I'm going to need, then I have fewer rods. If I'm traveling to a new lake I've never fished and have no idea what I'll be fishing then that's another story. So my rod lockers might have 5-8 rods in it on a dialed in bite with 4-5 on deck or I may have 20+ rods in the locker and 10 on deck trying to figure out a new body of water.

I own a Talon and hopefully by next summer I'll own two. Pick which side, see if you need any of the brackets for your boat and if not put it on and wire it up.

You may have gotten the line wrapped on the rod, or possibly missed the guide and had it in the guide frame which would cause undue pressure on the reel which then with no lure would then feel fine since there isn't any weight to cause it to pinch or bind. Try swapping to a different rod and see if it does the same thing. If it doesn't then odds are maybe you just strung up the rod and missed something. If you have a chipped guide you'd know it with the flouro as it would probably have some frays from where it was rubbing and causing the friction. I'd also make sure that your roller on the bail isn't causing a pinch (just a thought but probably not the issue). No Quantum bashing from me, I'm a proud Quantum supporter. Hope this helps.

Never thought about that.....have a couple that I may have to bring back from the dead.

You should split the pack and send half to me and half to Bluebasser, we will make sure you didn't get a bad pack and let you know what we find out fishing with them. But yes, ALL Keitech baits smell that way.

Have quite a few (8 total) No issues, and yes they are all micro guides as well. Nice rods, very durable. I'm thinking if the people that have had issues with this line and Falcon didn't follow the registration policy to cover their rods. And yes the micro guides will bend, but still haven't had an issue with the Fuji Micro's as seems they ALL bend. If you don't like micro's go regular just harder to find the selection of rods in the standard guide size.

First off, look at the blades. You can almost make any spinnerbait the way you want it once you know what blade configuration you're wanting. Only ones that are hard to modify are the double willow baits. Look at Siebert's webisite as he has some nice spinnerbaits as well and I'm sure if you sent him a PM he'd make them the way you asked as long as you asked nicely.

So does this mean you may be looking for fishing partners? I'm sure there are quite a few that would jump at the chance to fish with you and walk that 1/4mi up and back to park and retrieve the truck. I'd fish there, just can't get past the waiting period to use my boat there.