Fish Chris

I only have one strong piece of advice..... Go find the G Loomis rod your considering, to handle it in person, first ! I would never choose a rod, based on numbers / specs alone. That said, my favorite / only G Loomis rods are my micro-light SR 720's, 6ft, 1 piece 1-4 lb, which are actually just GL II's, and are among the cheapesat G Loomis rods on the market. However, if I had a $250 prize limit, I'd go with the 6 1/2 ft G Loomis micro-light, which is in a higher series, and run about $230. That's just me though. I have plenty of normal weight bass gear already, anyway. Peace, Fish

Thanks again guys. Yes kLuo, those look really nice too. I'm actually wearing this cheapie right now.... cold in the house this morning, yet their is no sense in cranking up the heat. I'll just wear sweats, and now, a bomber style cap But now that I see how awesome these are, I am going to have to get a really nice one ! Peace, Fish PS, On that website I posted the link for above, just out of curiosity, I started looking farther, just to see how extravagent / expensive of hats that company offered.... And Holy #$@% Check these out ! http://www.furhatworld.com/coyote-fur-mountain-man-hat-full-coyote-pelt-p-331.html Even for an over the top guy like myself, these are just a little bit more than I think I'd want / need LOL

Tipptruck, I don't even wear yellow, orange, or red.... let alone pink But I'm really liking those RealTree Camo ones I posted the link for..... Fish

Okay, so I'm thinking this is just a fad / fashion statement for young black guys in my particular area. But hypothetically, if pretty much "only" young black guys in your area wore these, would it make any difference to you, in your choice of buying / wearing one ? Oh hey, I found a whole bunch of REALLY cool ones here http://www.furhatworld.com/aviator-bomber-hats-c-42_65.html Kind of pricey.... but if I like my cheap as much as I expect too, I might have to get one of these..... http://www.furhatworld.com/rabbit-fur-aviator-hat-mossy-oak-p-1242.html Peace, Fish PS, BTW, I don't think anybody here needs to worry about talking about races or skin colors. Only racists are the ones with secrets to keep. I bring up race at any place, or any time, in any company, simply because I have no secrets to keep. Not a racist / prejudice bone in my body.

It's been colder than $%&% around here..... oh, and I started shaving my head a couple months ago {not enough hair left to bother with anyway} So I'd been thinking about what I could wear to keep my head warm. I know you can find insulated hats, but they don't do anything for your ears. I could wear a beanie, but I don't really care for polyester or whatever that stuff is.... Now, it just so happens, that one of the major fashion statements in my area, for young, black males, is these fur lined head caps (or bomber caps, or whatever you want to call them). Seriously, like every third young black guy I see is wearing one of these, and so every time I saw one, I thought, "Geeez ! What could be better to keep my bald head warm, and my ears too" ? Checked Wal-Mart. They didn't have them. Checked K-Mart and Target. Still nothing. Now I'm wondering, if 10,000 young black guys in my town are wearing them (and maybe 1 or 2 old white guys.... although I'm yet to see it) where in the heck do they get them ? Okay, so today during work, I see 3 young black guys standing in a parking lot, and not surprisingly, one of them is wearing one of these fur lined hats. I pull over by them and ask him, "Hey dude, where did you get that hat" ? They looked at me kind of funny for a second, but then opened up and started telling me... "Right down the street at that Mini Market...." Cool ! So I shot right over there and bought one Only $10.99 The entire inside of the thing is fuzzy fur (I'm sure its fake, but it feels real ) And the side flaps (also fur lined) are long enough to wrap all the way under my chin, and they can even clip together under my chin Wore it already this evening getting my boat ready, and it was super warm, and really comfoartable ! Anyway, now the question crosses my mind..... Why do I only see young black males wearing these things ? What, only young black guys care about keeping their head and ears warm ? I couldn't care less if it's fashion statement for them. For me it's just a warm, comfortable, totally logical piece of clothing ! I also wonder if any other cross sections of society (like say, old white guys) maybe wouldn't wear these, just because, they have only seen young black guys wearing them ? Again, I couldn't care less..... Your thoughts ? Hey BTW, I'm going fishing tomorrow, and I will put my new fur cap to good use ....and if I get a good fish worth photos, you will be able to see my new fur cap too Peace, Fish

I think their is a lot of great advice here...... But in the end, I also think some kids (people) were born to be fishermen, and others were not. I know my uncle took me fishing for blugills on his private pond when I was just less than 3 years old..... and my mom says, I threw a fit when it was time to stop. 43 years later, it still freaking kills me to have to stop fishing ! I'd say the best thing would be to show your son lots of different outdoor activities, and let him choose what he wants to do most. Welcome to the forums Fish

Well Biz, 89, but who's counting LOL Numbers are just that though..... So much of fishing just boils down to odds. I've always felt like anybody who had spent as much time as I have, in the places I have, using the methods I have, would almost certainly have caught as many big bass as I have.... if not more. Where I have been really lucky, is in getting to fish as much time as I have, in the places I have. And BTW, my closest inside circle never tells me, "Dude, your a stick"..... But rather, "Dude, your the luckiest freaking guy I've ever known" ! LOL ......and that, could very well be true But then again, like I always say, "I'd waaay rather be the luckiest angler on the lake, holding the new lake record, than the best angler, who got skunked" LOL Peace, Fish

Their are just so many great fishermen on this site, with so many different skill sets, it's pretty much impossible to say. But for anybody who mentioned yours truly.... Come on ! Are you kidding me ?!?! Haven't you guys heard me say, I can't even cast with a darn bait caster ! I'm flattered though. Hey edbassmaster, you mentioned one of my all time fishing idols (although I don't think he posts here) yes, Al Lindner is the man ! I remember somebody asked him once if he considered himself a great fishermen to which he laughed, and replied, "Well, I don't think that would really be a question for me to answer. If somebody thinks I'm great, well I thank them. If not, that's fine too. All I know is that I truly love to fish, and I've been very blessed to have done it as much as I have". I think that is such a great answer. Peace, Fish

Thanks very much guys. Glenn, I'm totally flattered, but now imagine this; I go to one particular wildlife photography forum, where I consider my skills to be about a 3 or 4 out of 10 ! I'm telling you, these guys (and girls) will humble just about anyone ! Granted, many of them have equipment that runs into the tens of thousands of dollars..... but none the less, the camera does not take the photo ! These people are just amazingly skilled ! The thing nowadays is, because of 1) the high tech digital equipment / software, and 2) having the entire knowledge of the photographic world right at ones fingertips (the Internet) sometimes it seems that everyone and their grandmother has become a super professional photographer ! Peace, Fish

Jake ! You are da' man ! That is totally it ! If this doesn't prove that the answer to every question on the planet, is right at our fingertips, I don't know what does ! Heck, not just some funky scientific writing, and maybe a black and white drawing, done 20 years ago, but freaking Youtube video of the darn thing ! Ha ! You have to excuse me, but being an old guy, this kind of stuff just flips me out ! I'm telling you, young guys todays (given that they have the same extreme curiosity about such things, as I did) are going to know 10 X's what I ever did ! Still amazed.... Fish

Thanks guys, JF But of course we already agree it could be juvenile (blending in with the kelp) colors..... Ya', know, I bet if I were to take a long handled net, and start scooping up a bunch of that kelp, I could find all sorts of cool little creatures to photograph That might be a fun macro-photo project. Hmmmm, Peace, Fish

And a few more.... Hope you enjoy them Peace, Fish

Had a fantastic 2 days Weather was so calm, and clear... only about 53 degrees, but it felt 70 ! Tons of cool birds too Anyway....

Okay, first off, not to brag, but just fact of the matter, if their is only one thing I know a LOT about, it's fish. I can recite the first and last Latin names of about 1000 species of fish, freshwater, saltwater, cold water, and tropical. I've worked at 4 different tropical fish stores, and on a fish farm in Arkansas. All that said, I have not even the slightest idea what this Great Egret caught here ? In fact, I was holding the camera on him, and after he hit the water, and came back up shaking his beak, I thought he had just accidentally grabbed a piece of kelp, but snapped a few out of reflex reaction. {I was about 50 feet away, using my 400mm lens..... and even so, these are 100% crops, hence the low photo quality} It wasn't until after I shot them, then used the zoom on my camera and said, "Wow ! That's some kind of plant green fish ! Anyway, I don't know if I have ever seen a fish, of any species, that was so "plant / kelp green" ! If I had to guess, this is probably only the juvenile coloration (for whatever species it is) to help it survive, while it trys to grow. I'd bet the adult looks totally different.... Oh, these were shot in Bodega Bay CA. Any guesses ? Peace, Fish

Hey much thanks again guys..... and because of me being poor, it probably will be either one of those Phlegers, ..... or a Daiwa Capricorn.... or a Abu Garcia Soron STX.... I will have another look at all of these. But I have a question about that super-sweet Japenese tackle... Even if I could afford it. If I finally managed to get it over here to the US, and then, in a year.... or 5, I had a problem with it, could / would Daiwa US fix it ? Or would it have to be shipped all the way back to Japan ? Because obviously with reels of that caliber / price, you don't just toss them and scoop up a new one..... Hmmmm. Thanks again. Time to go play Maybe Sturgeon fishing tomorrow. Peace, Fish PS, If I were to successfully land a big Sturgy on my little Sahara 1000, that might make it feel better to me

In fact, I was just going back through all of the reels on that page, and Holy $#@% ! Those things are ALL freaking bad a$$ ! But also ALL WAY expensive ! Almost makes me wish I actually worked for a living..... but then I wouldn't have much time to fish..... Oh well. http://www.bass.jp/reel.php?c=reel&mode=catlist&m=Daiwa&tcat=Spinning&cat=Spinning Unbelievable choices.... Fish

Holy #$#@$# ! Found them http://www.bass.jp/reel.php?c=reel&mode=detail&uid=4960652740142 $228 :) And if those are not sweet enough.... http://www.bass.jp/reel.php?c=reel&mode=detail&uid=4960652740173 $446 ! Why is it that Japan has all of the sweetest bass tackle ?

Wow ! I thought I'd seen them all That reel actually looks quite nice. Is that a cork crank knob ? Interesting. I wonder how durable it is ? Presso's huh ? Will look them up now. Cool. Much thanks. Fish Oh, but hey now, I think this reel looks fantastic too.... http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/products/products.php?p=44 a little out of my price range. I'm looking for $60 to $100....

{of course this pertains to spinning only.... the only reels that matter } Just as I first reported, my new Shimano Sahara feels very smooth, and precise. Solid. Tight. And I think it looks great too. In fact, I think Shimano has the best styling of pretty much any reel company out there. But their is something about this reel, and in fact, pretty much every Shimano I have ever used, that just doesn't feel right to me. It might be the heavier reel handle pressure I mentioned in that other thread.... or a shorter cranking arm... or maybe something else I just can't quite put into words. Oh, and honestly, I don't think it would be much, if any different, if it were a $700 Shimano Stella. It's just a Shimano thing in general. This is exactly why I used to be such a hard-core Daiwa guy. My old $50 Regal Z's felt like they were made for my hand. Only problem is, Daiwa has a really crappy, limited selection of spinning reels nowadays, especially in the micro-light (or 1000) series. Not to mention, the styling on most new Daiwa's is freaking aweful So this leaves me wondering, what next ? Pflueger ? Abu Garcia ? Hmmmm. Fish PS, The whole Shimano thing kind of reminds me of Porsche. I know they are very well built, perform great, and most people love them...... But I've never been a Porsche guy either.

Being rough with a fish, holding it wrong, laying it on dry boat carpet, on dirt, on concrete, bionic hooksets, etc, etc, etc, are all rough on a fish. That's why I always just say, "use common sense". It's great to be concerned about releasing a bass in a healthy state, but I also believe some people get carried away with the whole thing. It is "just a fish". If a persons sole concern in life is not to do anything that might possibly injure a fish, then why in the world are they out there trying to stick a sharp metal hook through it's flesh and bones, and drag it into a boat ? And another thing; A bass could be drop-kicked back into the lake and still stand a better chance for survival than any of the ones that get taken home and thrown into a frying pan. Peace, Fish

Ahhh man..... I'm sorry. Would you believe here in Cali, only about a 2 hour drive from me they have got a snow pack of like 12 ft or more already ! But here's the really insane / rediculous / crazy / whacked out thing..... people from down here in the valley, actually drive up there to play in that frozen crap ! Are they freaking kidding me ?!?! That's one of the things I love most about living here..... No freaking miserable arse SNOW ! Snow is just cold, wet, and lame. NOTHING fun about it. Oh, did I mention I hate snow ? LOL Perace, Fish

The best way to handle a bass is with common sense. I think it should go without saying that to torque the fish into a horizontal position, by the jaw, with one hand, has got to be hard on the fish. Personally though, I think far more bass are killed by anglers keeping them out of the water too long. Especially the big ones, where fishermen didn't have enough foresight to carry a scale and a camera..... So now, they feel like they have no choice but to drag the fish all over hell and back, trying to find somebody with a scale and camera. LOL Exactly. If it makes you feel better, support it with two hands for horizontal photos. But I don't think a verticle, one handed shot will hurt "even a big bass" as long as it's quick, smooth, and gentle. I have seen (and personally caught) too many big bass, which were held with one hand, for at least a short period before release, only to see the same fish caught again, a week, a year, or even longer than that down the road, obviously still thriving. Recap: Always be ready with a camera, scale, and suitable sized livewell. Never keep the fish out of the water for more than 30 seconds at a time.... shorter if possible. Fish PS, Another thing you can be ready with.... Go by yourself a pair of end cutters. Then, if you should hook a fish deep, you can reach down to the hook point, and quickly clip off the whole point, barb, and all. Then, even if you leave the rest of it in the fish, it can easily expel it later. I use mini-bolt cutters. But this is for fish with large enough mouths to fit both my whole hand + a pair of mini-bolt cutters, and of which to cut a heavy, 2/0 treble. I suggest long handled end cutters for smaller fish, and lighter hooks.

#1 for me, would just be, being out on the water, especially on a crisp Spring morning, water flat as glass...... Next would be the adrenalin rush of sticking a monster..... Or even, sighting a big fish (doesn't matter if it's on a bed, cruising, or just hanging out) and making a cast towards it ! That gets my blood pumping ! {if its a really big fish, sometimes I start shaking } Then, if it shows signs of interests, that brings it up to the next level. Finally, if it actually bites, and I hook it, now the adrenalin is pumping full blast ! Honestly, I think by the time I land it, the adrenalin pump is subsiding..... But that whole thing is why I fish for bass.... especially big ones. Fish

.dsaavedra. I guess those were not two of the programs I tried, because both of those worked !!! Finally ! But now, the way I'm reading jokerjp's post, he's saying I can download VLC to my iPad, so that it will play all kinds of files instead of just MP4's.... correct ? If so, that should work too. But of course now it seems I am able to convert anything I need to, to MP4's, so its all good. Much thanks again, Fish

JF I'm talking about wanting to get certain scenes, or short videos, from DVD's which I already have paid for and own. I don't feel like I should have to pay for them again. Also, most of the stuff I want to get to my DVD is really obscure stuff, which I'd highly doubt if NetFlix or Blockbuster would carry anyway. .dsaavedra. Magic DVD Ripper, and Videosoft both totally ring a bell. I think those are two I already tried.... but maybe I was not using them correctly. I will try again. CFFF 1.5, DVDFAb didn't work for me either. Now, that iSkysoft might be one to try. I saw that thing that said it was free if I "liked their facebook page" and I thought, Yea', right. I've never even looked at a facebook page in my life, and really don't care if I ever do. Next. But now maybe if they have a trial version. Again, at this point, I probably would actually pay for a program which did what I need it to do. I've just done so many trial versions which failed, that unless I tried one that really worked first I wouldn't even think of giving them any $. Their actually was this one trial version that worked really well..... but they kept it such a secret that it was a trial version until I actually spent the time converting a long video.... then I got this sweet, high quality vid, with "TRIAL VERSION" right in the middle of the screen. P'd me off so much, I quickly removed the program, and never even saved it in my favorites. Now, after trying so many programs, I don't remember where I found that one. Anyway, let me try a few of these again. Thank you guys, Fish