Alpster

This will probably get me in trouble, but I can't resist posting this because I think it is so important. When both of my girls were born, (now 24 and 16) my family has always had a very close church family. I honestly don't know how anyone faces the world without it. There was always other ladies around helping out. When my wife died with brain cancer (my youngest was 9 and oldest in high school) my oldest daughter was homeschooling and had more than a year to go. Several ladies in my church stepped up to help her finish high school. She just recently graduated from Rutgers with honors. Every Mother's day, my youngest buys flowers or cards for all the women in the church because they all became 'stand in' moms when her mom died. When I leave in the bassbuss heading to Guntersville, my youngest daughter will be staying with one or another church member every night while I'm gone, and I don't have to worry about a thing. Otherwise, I could not go, period. That's just one short story about how having a healthy church family has blessed my life. I could tell you a 1000 more. Just something to consider for a young family getting started. CONGRATULATIONS! No matter what you are thinking now, NOTHING (not even fishing) beats being a daddy! Keep on keeping on! Ronnie

Power Pro. Buy it in bulk and it's not so expensive. Amazing line. I am down to 3 lines only. I have wanted to get here for years. Power Pro (braid), Yo Zuri Ultra Soft (copolymer) and Berkley Big game (mono). Life is simple again. LOL Ronnie

Yep, it's big. I watched for the benchtop model to go on sale for almost a year. Right after Christmas, this one went up for $80 so I grabbed it. It's kind of an experiment. If i really do as much work with this one as I hope to, maybe next year I will get a better one.

Get a 'bobbin threader' from any fly tying shop or on line. I guarantee you will like it. Its a thin piece of wire shaped like an elongated diamond. Push it through the levelwind eye and push the line through the diamond and pull it back out. Ronnie

Look at it this way, you only had to get the mandatory stuff. You were very self controlled and didn't get any of the optional tackle. Ronnie

Last fall I upgraded from my homemade wrapping lathe to a new Renzetti and I just got all the parts to upgrade my homemade (hand drill) cork turning lathe to this one.....Only spent about a $110 total, the Chinese Harbor Freight lathe required an unforeseen custom machine part to attach the keyless chuck, but now she's done and I am pumped. It turns cork like a dream and now I can look into turning my own wood inserts for fly/spinning reel seats and who knows what else. Anyway, here she is.........

Looking good EJ! Just be careful, what starts out as V-blocks turns into a lot more pretty quickly. Rod building is a wonderful addiction and a ton of fun. Keep on keeping on! Ronnie

Way to go Robert, I am just a few behind you. Some of us spend so much time here, we should get a hobby. Fishing maybe.. Glad you are around, sir! Ronnie

That old Ltec (EASB) is 80 amps, 3 phase and will cut 2" plate steel like a knife. "I just love the smell of burning metal in the morning". LOL

Matt, Now what sort of lock, or even a safe, for that matter is going to keep me out of them meatballs. This is right inside of my garage......... I can open Fort Knox to get a meatball if I need to. ;D

I was thinking..... We are having Muddy's awesome meatballs on Monday, Long Mike is bringing the Garlic bread (Thanks Mike), Ghoti is making us a feast on Tuesday, a catered BBQ Buffet on Wednesday. I had an idea..... ...as long as we are at the lake, why don't we do a little bass fishing between the meals?

You obviously aren't aware of the A.S.T.M. regulations for the proper testing of meatballs. one for temperature, one for density, one for texture, one for consistency, another for purity, still another for the presence of foreign matter, I haven't reviewed the regs lately, but I am sure there are a few others. 8-) Ronnie

Just like any other family gathering, there will be a kids table. ;D Ronnie

Dom, You know me & Wayne have an obligation to the rest of the group to be sure those meatballs are not going to make them sick or anything. It would a dereliction of duty to just serve them up without properly taesting them first. God bless you for making them awesome meatballs for us. You are da man! BTW, your cousin Long Mike, is bringing the garlic bread, so now I guess we are going to have to let him eat with us. ;D Ronnie

Frogtog and Buckeye, Don't ever think it's impossible. I smoked 4 packs a day (chain smoker) for 22 years. Quit when I got the chickenpox 17 years ago. If I could do it, you can do it better! You have to get tough with yourself. All you ever have to do is, keep them out of your mouth. You won't crave them forever. After about 6 months, I couldn't stand to be around a smoker. I still don't! The addiction and habit will go away if you hang tough. God bless, Ronnie

Message for Roadwarrior and CJ.............. Sorry boys, but your money is no good for the Wednesday night BBQ dinner. Mass Hole Mike has taken care of your tickets. Mighty generous gesture, if I may say so. Atta boy Mike! You guys never cease to amaze me. 8-) Ronnie

Catt, Speechless! I will pray for all involved. SOOO SORRRYYY!! Ronnie

To all attendees of the Guntersville Road Trip, Our first two evening meals together, (Monday & Tuesday) are being furnished by BR members (MUDDY MAN'S MEATBALLS Monday and GHOTI'S CAMP DELIGHT Tuesday) and will be free for all who attend. Glenn has reserved and PAID FOR the "Earwood Pavilion" for our dinner gatherings on Monday and Tuesday. THANK YOU GLENN!! On Wednesday. however, in order to have a particularly memorable evening of fellowship and fish stories, we will be having a BBQ Feast catered by the Guntersville State Park. It is time to get paid up for the Wednesday night catered dinner. We have the "Hickory Room" reserved. It has a 'Sports Bar' atmosphere, and is on the ground floor. The cost is $18.00 for each individual who will be attending. This price is all inclusive. It covers the buffet dinner, a 20% gratuity and AL sales tax. It is important that everyone participate as there is a requirement for a minimum of 50 people to get this deal. I would like to see everyone's payment made within the next 2 weeks, if possible. If you want to make your payment via Paypal you need to follow these instructions carefully. 1. Send your paypal payment to - (removed) 2. The convenience of Paypal comes with a cost. You must add 3.5% for a total of $18.63. 3. VERY IMPORTANT! You must send a PM (personal message) to flukemaster on the forum and let him know what email address is connected to YOUR paypal account and who else , if anyone, you are paying for, so we can identify who has paid and for whom. If you prefer to send a check, mail a check in the amount of $18.00 paid to the order of "ALPS" (not alpster) to the following address: Please put your BR screen name and the first name(s) of anyone else for whom you are paying on the memo line of your check. Send it to: If you are signed up, you will recieve an address to send your check via a PM. If you do not, send a PM to Alpster and I will reply with the address. I will be noting on the website who has paid by putting a $$$ next to your name on the sign up page. If you don't make your payment within the next couple of weeks, I will begin to torment you until you do. ;)LOL Seriously, it will save your humble trip coordinator and his devoted helpers, much angst if you make your payment ASAP. I hope you are as excited as I am about this trip. If you have any questions or there is anything I can do to help you get prepared for the road trip, please send me a PM. Just 25 more days........ 8-) Ronnie

I have a to speak to the convention coordinator at Guntersville state park one more time. I have a couple of questions that need an answer. As soon as I hear from her, I will post instructions on how to pay by check and by Paypal. Thanks for bearing with me. Ronnie

Sent you a PM.

Mike, There is a covered pavilion with tables that we will be using for a fee on Monday and Tuesday evening. Glen is graciously paying for this. The food will be prepared at this site with my portable cooking equipment. Wednesday night is the catered dinner in the Lodge dinning hall. After that members are on their own for dinner. We want members to be free to take advantage of the local hospitality and get together as they see fit so as not to have to adhere to a rigid schedule every night. Here is a link to a PDF file of the rules and regulations for all state parks in AL. http://www.alapark.com/parks/Rules%20and%20Regulations.pdf I will post this on the website also. There are no specific alcohol prohibitions (except glass bottles) and there is no reference to smoking or topless dancers except that state laws must be obeyed. 8-)

JMHO, Bottom contour, depth, points, flats and channels = structure Lilly pads, docks, lay down trees, stick ups, weeds, etc. = cover Structure & cover would be my choices. Ronnie

Nice fish Cliff. BTW - We hate you in the Northeast where everything is frozen. LOL Catt won't steer you wrong. Keep on keeping on. Ronnie

from me too! You will be glad you came around. Ronnie

Well, here it is 2008 and many of the baits described in this thread are still in my box. Jitterbug Hoola Popper Original Floating Rapala Johnson's Silver Minnow Uncle Josh Pork Culprit worms Despite Lucky Craft and GCBY, all these baits still catch fish in a big way. If you get a chance to raid the "old man's" tackle box, you just might find a real bass catcher or two in there. JMHO Ronnie