your year in review

[rocknfish9001]

How did you feel you did as an angler in 06? Did you improve, have a good year, explore new water, meet new buddies, or just suck to high heavens? Personally, it was one of my worse years. What happened is i tried to expand my techniques by trying new stuff i have never used before on all sorts of lakes. Fished each lake 1-2 times, and used about 5 different lures each time just trying new stuff. Everybody outfished me using the same technique that they use every outing at every location at every lake. I didnt want to do that. A big problem was that i didnt get out as much as i wanted. Next year, a lake every day, and im definatley going by myself so nobody outfishes me, just so i can keep my confidence up. If i get skunked, i can blame it on something that they dont know about.  ;D Anyways, high hopes for next year.

[Guest JoshKeller]

I feel I had a great year, considering I moved 1600 miles, and went from a 200 acre home lake, to a 25,000 acre home lake.  77 bass over 5 lbs, and 3 over 10. I broke my PB by .5 lbs.  I didnt start fishing until March, so this year I plan on actually getting to fish the spawn, so who knows what 2007 holds.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

My story is public knowledge, we filmed just about every fish over 3 lbs.

My highlight for '06 would be getting associated with CAST (thanks Glenn)

More rewarding than if I had a 10lbr out of RI water.  Honestly, I would trade a 10 lbr to do it again in a heartbeat.

[basspro48]

'06 was probably my best year to date. I caught more 4+lb. bass this year than I have ever before, but it was also my best year for multispecies too, I caught my new pb smallmouth at 3.5lbs, my new pb crappie at 16", new pb pike at 25", and my new pb striper at 7.5lbs. which I caught yesterday. I think what really made it a great year for me was that I visited a lot of different places that I had never been to before and I put the things I've learned on here to work.

[Shad_Master]

My goal for last year was to finish in the Top 10 in my local club and I did that (by 20 points ahead of 11th place).  I also had a 3rd place finish in the calcutta series (an alternate tournament schedule that we fish) and logged a 3rd place and Big Bass one of the club tournaments.  Along the way, I landed 3 6#ers on tournament days and had only one blank for the whole year.

[senile1]

My year was good in some respects and bad in others.  I became more adept at using the Carolina Rig, and at times, it was my go-to rig in the summer.  I caught a larger number of 3 - 5 lb fish this year than I usually do, but my luck with catching a real hawg was dismal.  So, for catching numbers of decent sized fish it was a good year.  For catching monster bass, I performed poorly.

[FIN-S-R]

Spent more time, caught more, caught bigger and learned more than in my previous 27yrs on the planet. Looking for '07 to be even better.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Well,  I caught less fish then in 05 but the size difference was dramatical.  I caught more bigger fish this year then ever before.  I have also focused more on bigger fish then just catching fish.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Hmmmmmm, kind of a tough one.  I caught a lot more "qaulity" (3+) bass this year than any year previous, but the "big" fish kind of eluded me for the most part.

[Craw]

I won't go into the details, but '06 was a great year of fishing for me. I truly was blessed. You guys were a big part of it. Many thanks.

[Bass Smacker]

 2006 was not so good yaer fishing for me. I started a new job that has a lot of OT made it hard to fish

and when i did get out it was for a half day or a few hours. 2007 will be a lot better  

[Catt]

06 was on the slow side with me being on the lake only 66 days but the total numbers were good with a 16 fish daily average. Big fish bite was slightly above average with 44 fish over 6 pounds but no double digits. I did get 3 trips in that were nothing but Kentucky bass in a fast water creek that was totally awesome.

[jdw174]

I had a better year than last year, mostly because I actually found the time to get out more.  I dont keep track of size of the ones I caught, mainly because I don't really care.  Every fish I catch is a prize, and if I happen to tie into a nice one....well, that's just a bonus.

[dink]

Kinda like a roller coaster.

My all-time largest 5 (and 6) fish limits were caught this year... and I totalled my new bass boat.  I caught more fish over 5 lbs. this year than any other year... and I lost my job.  Although, I did get to fish over 230 days this year (thak you, wifey) and I found a good place to talk fishin' (BassResource.com).  Pretty good year if you ask me.

[senile1]

Kinda like a roller coaster.

My all-time largest 5 (and 6) fish limits were caught this year... and I totalled my new bass boat.  I caught more fish over 5 lbs. this year than any other year... and I lost my job.  Although, I did get to fish over 230 days this year (thak you, wifey) and I found a good place to talk fishin' (BassResource.com).  Pretty good year if you ask me.

Sweet . . . . 230 days of fishing in one year would definitely make for a very good year.  I'm jealous.  I wish I had the time to be on the water that much.  

[Rattlinrogue]

Good and bad.I caught three or four bass over seven pounds.That was good.I didn't do nearly as well as I usually do.I honestly believe Katrina had things really screwed up in my favorite lake because things that used to be money in the bank were almost bankrupt.On the good side,I learned to catch bass with a drop shot because of the all the problems I had using conventional methods.I also got pretty darned good pitchin'/flippin' for the same reason.Not a terrible year but not a great year.

[Brian_Reeves]

I really just started fishing again in 06.  I did some in 05, but not much at all.  Before that, I didn't have the money or equipment to get into it.  Last year was probably my first year of fishing freshwater.  I used to be a saltie until I moved into Central Texas.

In 06, I learned to fish one of the most complicated/versatile baits in the tacklebox.  The jig.  Not only did I start catching fish on it for the first time in my life, I broke 2 fish over 8 lbs on it and many over 5 using them.  I also exanded my knowledge and skills with them in the tuning/tinkering arts.

I also learned how to apply saltwater powerfishing tactics to bass, which has paid off tremendously, especially in the topwater department.  All in all, I'd say it was a great year for me.  This year is a fishing waste because of Iraq, but I'll make up for it in 08 when I start fishing club tournaments.

[RODBENDER]

2006 was great for quanty of fish and average size is up from previous years . Fuel prices forced me to do more crappie and bluegill fishing closer to home , and one of my home bass lakes was drained to control vegetation . It was the year of the frog for me , the topwater bite down here was unbelieveable .

Added ZOOM ULTRA VIBE SPEED WORMS to the tackle bag late in the year . awsome lure !!

LOOKING FOR A GOOD YEAR FOR 2007 !!

GOOD LUCK  IN 2007 EVERYONE ...

[BassMaster_1]

hmmm 06' Bass fishing really wasn't a step up or down, I would probably say it was a step to the side.  My early spring bass fishing water where I get my largest fish, I spend more time trying to control the boat in highwinds.  I taught a few people how to bass fish and they were very successful.  For example my wife, she never had the patients to use anything other than a spinnerbait.  I had her using Yum Dingers during our week at the 1000 Islands and she managed to catch a bunch of fish, even the biggest bass of the week.  She almost made me forget that my boat broke down for the week, the 2nd day we were there.  Lucky we had my buddy's boat also, but missed out on our annual head to head bass tourney.   I did broaden my game a little, with some different crankbait, buzz frogs and Yum Dingers.  

Outside of Bass fishing, I finally hooked and landed my first steelhead over 10#, managed 2 over 10# that day.  I also hooked and landed my first King Salmon over 20#, almost skipped the 20# club all together with a 29#.  All of these my PB'S.  

07 Im looking forward to some good fishing, a working boat and watching my son grow.  

[=Matt 5.0=]

2006 was good. I feel that I improved as an angler. Had alot of fun. We got alot of miles out of the ol' G3 Jon Boat this year! Looking forward to '07!

[Sam]

Every year is a fun year, be it up to your expectations or not.

I learn from every fishing trip.

I have made new friends; put smiles on some boys' faces; overbought a lot of tackle; had the boat's battery charger replaced with a better one; did not fall out of the boat; had fun fishing the tournaments; got elected secretary of my bass club; learned a lot, and I mean a lot; didn't sink the boat; didn't hit any other watercraft; didn't get in trouble with the game wardens; saw some beautiful sights and wild animals; finally saw the BPS guy feed the fish in the big tank at the store; and enjoyed myself while on the water.

It just doesn't get better than that!

[buzzbaitfool12]

I had a kinda of crazy year in that I moved to a 200 acre lake and within ten minutes of Varner and I did not catch one bass over ten this year..I feel that I am a better angler now in that I caught my biggest this year on a buzzbait..9.4..caught a 8.8 on methalyde trick worm on spot remover, caught two 8.2 and 8.6 on white flatmax crankbait 6 foot runner, caught one 8lber on rattletrap in green color,caught several 7lbers and bunch over 5lbs..I caught my first fish on a jig,5.7lbs..Learned a ton of different techniques..This year I am going to finish in the top five of the jonboat club I fish in..