WBFishing

Every time I go into to wal mart I grab a few of those in the colors I do not have. The colors I do not like, I swtiched out the skirts and blades to something I like and fish the stew out of them. If I didn't have to add weight to the arm, they would be awesome, but I catch fish on them.

Last summer, I used that green pumpkin and the red shad finesse worm from FLW, used to whack'em on those two. Those worms have some lively action to them. I also have a package of green pumpkin flipping tubes, too. I have not been able to find the brand anymore at the local wal mart anymore though.

I am a serious fisherman and my standard preps are good. Part of my relaxation before any sporting event is to do maintenace and freshen my gear. When I played baseball, I scrubbed spikes with toothbrushes, retied and checked straps on gloves, regripped my bats. Before I play a rec game of golf, I scrub my clubs and check all the grooves. I guess it even carried over to my fishing.

I have my spinning reel for shakey head on trilene max 8#, 1 baitcaster with 12# vanish flouro for weighted worms, and 10# flouro for weightless worms.

Even if the weather says it will be a wonderful day, be prepared for the worst weather mother nature can throw at you . I learned the hard way in my first tournament this year, was expecting 60 degrees and overcast so only took a light rainsuit to wear when my boater made runs and a sweater to cut off the chill. We get a winter storm advisory the day I go to pre fish and the temps end up being in the 10s and 20s the whole weekend with 20 mph winds. 400 angler for a BFL and Weekend Series event in town at the same time made impossible to find reall good winter clothes and I live 100 miles away and the roads were icy. Something I have learned, during the week, start your gear prep when you have extra time during the days leading up to the tournament. I have been up till 12 and 1 in the morning respooling reels cause I thought, "I can just do it before bed, I got plenty of time". I am no expert by any means, this is my first year, but I have learned these 2 important lessons in preparation.

At the lake I fish, sometimes I would go down and throw around that dock to cover. Most of the time here, it might be the same way where you are, if there is a tournament that weekend the bass that were caught are gonna be released around the launch and will go to first cover they can find. If you can trick them into biting, I say go for it, as long as you are clear when someonce comes to launch.

This is my first year fishing tournaments. I fish the BFL Dixie in Alabama. I have enjoyed there tournaments and it is always a good time. I have made a few friends and learned a lot. I also fish with the ABA and the BASS Weekend Series. The BFL is fun, professional, very laid-back to be so many competitive people. It is all fun to me and am looking forward to fishing them all again as a boater next season, especially the BFL.

I started fishing tournaments this season as a co-angler. After the events, I read the write ups and have been getting blitzed by other co's throwing shakey head worms. I am really no good at a spinning/open-face reel. I also thought the whole technique was boring. So, it took me 5 events of being stubborn and donating entry fees, but I finally picked up a spinning rod and have been learning to use it and to fish the technique. So my suggestion is shakey head. Something else I taught myself this year was to learn to cast left handed. I can't cast any great distances with my left hand, but I am accurate enough for a short cast to spot the boater missed because he could not get to it because of the angle. Most of those places set up pretty well for a lefty cast once you pass it. GOOD LUCK!

I agree when it starts to appear. I have fished here in Alabama in 2 tournaments already this year. Slop fishing was a pattern in the Classic this year, and it wasn't all that warm here either.

All 3 of them look good. I would choose #3, but #1 sparks my curiosity.

I have fished them mainly on weedlines. I either just cast it and let any current do the work for me, work it with slight twitches like a plastic style jerkbait, or just a lift and let fall, like I would a a regular texas rig. I also had a draw partner that was crushing them fishing it on hydrilla. He would throw it and let it settle on top of the cover and the bass would just pick it up. Those are the ways I have seen and used myself. I guess they are about the same though.

i drilled 3 holes in the bottom of mine installing a new bilge pump. i just used a clear marine silicon and it seems to be working and it is not leaking. i will know for sure by the end of the day, today it goes in the water for the first time since i got it. i was reading where you can solder the holes or something with that plumbing solder. i guess you cut it to fit, stick in the hole and solder it.

I had something kinda like that happen. This is my year fishing ABA, I called the director the night before about signing up at the ramp the day of the event. I was a non boater and he was not gonna bring his boat. There were supposed to be 6 other members coming to fish the event. It was in Feb. Well, that morning the director is there, I show up, and 1 other member with a boat shows. No other members are there it is 25-30 degrees and we have been out there since 4:30 am. Then we talk about this being the first year for the division fishing winter events, and that this is what the district members asked for this year with scheduling. We didn't fish it, and were all kinda ill about the whole thing.

Those are some nice fish. I live in Greenpond, half way between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. Have to make my way up to Pickwick. Never fished it or caught a smallmouth. I like that they will eat a spinnerbait though. Again, nice fish and nice pictures. Willie

I have not tried it, but it sounds like it might be a good try. There is a not I read about in a book I have about Largemouths. IT is called a bowline knot. It is a knot that is supposed to allow the crankbait to swng freely on the line. I guess it would increase thw wobble if the bait is swinging freely. It is worth looking up and trying before you alter your bait. The name of the book is "Largemouth Bass" by Don Oster.

I use Lew's Speed Pencil-it is some blue/black back with a silver belly. I also throw a Zara Spook Jr in Blue Shad. I've gotten my best results on the speed pencil on around sticks ups. The only time I have thrown the spook is over submerged hydrilla in 4 ft of water 2 weeks ago.

I saw the shad and wanted to buy it, but decided on the crawfish. I haven't had a catch using it yet. I tell you what it works as strong as it smells we will be in business.

My wife got me this Okuma bag for Christmas that holds 6 large plastic containers. I keep pliers, scales, scissors, 2 scent bottles, and 2 small plastic boxes with extra rod tips and finesse plugs in the outer pouches. I also have a large worm binder with about 20 odd bags of plastics and another small worm binder that I use to carry my spinnerbaits. I just undo the shoulder strap for the Okuma and run it through the handle on both worms binders. I carry my gear this way in tournaments, as a nonboater, and when I bank fish.

I work with an insurance company in alabama. i know in alabama, the insured's protected from having the policy increased because of a single claim. here after 12 months of providing insurance to a customer you cannot non renew the policy or increase the policy based on claims activity unless there have been a certain number of claims that exceed a certain dollar amount. Not trying to sound like a know it all. Have you thought about increasing your deductible to $500? A lot of agents do not tell you but some companies give discounts on starting at a $500 deductible and increase it as the deductible goes up. Especially, if the decide to increase your premium ask at what deductible they give a discount and this might be enough to offset any increase. Will J

I have that x-tools kit that JT is talking about. I read those reviews too, unfortunately I haven't been catching enough in my tournaments to even worry about culling. 2 of the boaters I drew used those clips and didn't have any problems with it. Hopefully Saturday I will be able to cull some fish.

Congrats on your equipment. I had to learn the hardway about the quality of equipment. On all of my good rods, I can feel everything and have never missed a fish, but anytime I take some "bo-bo" cheap o with me--I want to have a foot attached to my back so I can keep kicking myself for being stupid. I guess I will tell this story in the tournament section. Congrats.

Thanks Marty. I didn't really even think about that. All these years of fishing, and you lear something new all the time. I actually messed up a spool of line today bank fishing, hit a bush that i didn't realize was behind me and heard that awful sound of slinging and flapping fishing line. Flouro is not cheap either. Thanks guys. Andrew, thanks for asking this question too.

IMO--finally learned what it means. I think it is all a matter of skill and experience. You have got to have the skill to find fish, trick'em, hook'em, and boat'em. Luck plays a percentage of it. You have to be lucky that no factors come into play that will hinder your skill. If I was fishing those major tournaments like the big boys fish, if I was to rely on my luck, I couldn't put up the money they put up in entry fees. There are some tournaments, I have heard that do immedate catch and release. Weight and measurements are taken and the fish is put back. They all run on the pure honor system. Personally, I am gonna always be more impressed with total weight and size, than I am gonna be by numbers.

I start with a Zoom Pumpkin Trickworm. If I get nothing, I go to a 1/4 white/blue willow colorado spinnerbait with Zoom Pearl Fat Albert trailer.