SDoolittle

Both morning and evening are good times, but once it starts getting really hot I do most of my fishing at night. That's not because the fish won't bite in the heat, I'm just not a fan of hot weather.

Where can we find a copy?

I tried drop shotting for the first time about two months ago and I'm hooked. It's funny because I've always been a power fisherman and only resorted to finesse fishing as a last resort, but now I always keep a rod rigged for drop shot. The areas I fish get pounded by fishermen throwing shaky heads all day and I am having a lot of success following right behind them with the drop shot. I think that a lot of the drop shots appeal is that it's just something a little different from what the fish are used to seeing. I like the Zoom 4" Meathead, but I've caught fish on all kinds of other baits as well. My biggest drop shot bass was 3.25 lbs caught on the back half of a broken trick worm. I use 1/8 oz weights for shallow water and 1/4 oz for deeper. I'm using a 6'6" med action spinning rod, but I haven't found a line I really like yet. Are you having the same problem with fish tangling your rig? It seems like I have to retie after every couple of fish because they just tangle that drop line all to heck.

You know, I've traveled all over the country and fished in some of the most popular destinations, but to me the "perfect trip" would be to go back to Oklahoma and fish all those farm ponds I grew up fishing. I go home to visit every couple of years, but most of the properties are in different hands now and I don't have access.

In a large tournament they would have to send out the boats in flights and you might end up with people returning with a limit before others have even left the ramp. Also, it would have to be a partner tournament, because if one person in the boat gets a limit he's gonna have to head in even if the other guy is still on a zero. I do like the idea, but I think it would be hard to do.

I was strictly a bank fisherman for many years. I tried carrying a lot of poles and tackle, but it was a hassle. If I went with only one set up the fish always seemed to want something else. I finally narrowed it down to two rods- a med action spinning rod and a MH baitcaster. I carried a small tackle bag stocked with a couple packs of plastic worms, some hooks and sinkers and a couple of spinnerbaits. I would walk along throwing a spinnerbait and trying to get a reaction strike, then backtrack with the plastic worms. I guess I could have done that with one rod, but it would have involved a lot more tying and retying than I like to do.

Welcome!

Welcome!

ZOOM TRICK WORM

I didn't start this thread to complain. I just wanted to hear from some other non-boaters and find out if any of them have been consistently successful.

Well put! Their mono line is decent, but Vanish is crap. The various soft plastics are good, but I don't like the Frenzy hardbaits. I haven't used any of their rods, but the ones I've seen seem kinda cheap.

Look in the fishing or hunting regulation handout. It's ussually pretty easy to find.

Most states have an 800 number you can call to report poachers. I would start there and take a camera with you next time you go to the lake. If they are dumb enough to do that then they might be dumb enough to pose for some pictures with their "catch".

I'm fishing B.A.S.S. Federation Nation as well as club tournaments. Both of them use the boater/non-boater concept and that means I'm in the back of the boat all day and my success depends a lot on how and where the boater wants to fish.

Try night fishing.

Thats a really good idea! Back when I was a teenager and equipment was harder for me to come by, I had three rods stolen from my shed (Mom wouldn't let me keep fishing gear in the house). I had a summer job and saved up to get some good gear just too have it ripped off! I later found them at a pawn shop but there was no way to prove they were mine.

"Less knowledgable boater" was a nice way for me to say "a boater who doesn't know how to fish". I have been bass fishing for over 20 years, but I'm new to tournament fishing. I decided to fish as a non-boater for two years before competing as a boater in order to learn the ins and outs of tournament fishing and hopefully pick up a few new fishing techniques along the way. I really am learning a lot and have not been disappointed in that respect. But half the time I feel like I'm handicapped by boaters who want to spend all day fishing deep when we should be fishing shallow or who want to run and gun when we should be finesse fishing. Don't get me wrong, I know that everyone has bad days. I myself have been skunked more times than I care to remember. I'm just wondering how (or even if) I can be consistantly successful while drawing boaters with inconsistant fishing skills. It's really frustrating when I zero because my boater has never seen the lake before tournament day and just wants to go out there and wing it.

Is anyone ever really consistant fishing as a non-boater? This is my first year fishing tournaments. I have fished seven tounaments so far and I have finished 1st, I have zeroed, and I've finished pretty much everywhere in between. I have read the articles and tips on how to fish from the back of the boat, but it still feels like my fate is in the hands of my boater. Obviously, if I draw a good boater my chance of success improves, but how can I improve my odds when I draw a less knowledgable boater?

Dude, I have a couple of packs of zipper worms that I bought several years ago. I have fished them just about every way you can think of (texas rig, carolina rig, flipping) and I don't remember ever catching a fish on one of them. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I haven't used one in a couple of years and I don't even know why I still have them.

Rapala

CrazedL.IFisherman, you seem to be the only one who actually owns one of these things. I'm just wondering if they catch fish?

Thanks for all the responses. The reason I didn't look in the owners manual is because I can't find it. But, hey, I'd rather hear it from you guys than read it in a book anyway.

I've cuaght a ton of fish on them, but I can't remember ever catching anything big.

I bought five or six X-Raps earlier this year and haven't had much luck on them. They look good and seem to have real good action, but for some reason I just haven't caught much on them.

Ok, I have just about decided to break down and buy a full size bass boat. I have been fishing out of my 14' jon long enough! I am looking at an 18' fiberglass boat with a 150 hp motor and it suits my needs perfectly. The only problem is that I'm not sure that my truck can handle the weight (roughly 3200 lbs). I drive a 2002 F150 4.2L V6. The bumper on the truck says it will handle 5000 lbs, but thats just the bumper. I really have no idea what the truck is capable of. Of course the dealer is saying that it will pull that boat with ease, but I would really like to hear from someone who's not out to profit off my purchase. Has anyone pulled a boat this heavy with an truck engine of this size?