paparock

Hey, Roadwarrior. I finally tracked down some Mizmo Kent Classics to go with my new Lucky Crafts. Now if the weather will cooperate I will be all set but then the bait monkey took control, idle hands you know, a local tackle shop had GYCB Hula Grubs on sale from 20% to 40% off. You know what happened! Now I will have to help toting my plastics' bag. ;D

I guess I'm the oddball because I learned to cast on saltwater flats and I can overhand cast easily. It's the others that give me fits.

Glad to have you aboard!

I have been surfing the web for several years and compiling all the data I can find on bass fishing into one huge binder. It's now about eight inches thick and it's a load to pick up. :

Now that genetic engineering is so advanced, what do you think about some scientist taking the growth genes from a Striped Bass and putting them into a Smallmouth. Now that would be a rush anytime of year!

Who else here are smallmouth addicts? Also what is your favorite time of year and your favorite technique plus lure rigging to fish for them? Do you have any tips for targeting the larger smallies (like Roadwarriors LC 128 Pointers)???

Well I am just west of Roadwarrior in north Arkansas. I am living in Lakeview, Arkansas right on Bull Shoals Lake. Mountain Home, Arkansas is about six miles to the southeast. Mountain Home sits between to very large manmade reservoirs Norfork(known for big striped bass up to 50lbs.) and Bull Shoals (with over a 1000 miles of shoreline) where the state record smallmouth came from and where the experts say the next world record walleye is going to come from. The White River flows out of the tailrace of Bull Shoals and the tailrace of Norfork meets it south of the town. The White is known as the worlds best Brown Trout fishery. If you look at the record book the White dominates. Brown Trout over 39 pounds come from these tailrace flows. There are also large Rainbows, Cutthroat, and Brookies. None of the lakes or streams freeze so you have year round fishing. The United States only National River, the Buffalo River offers canoe fishing for smallmouth in beautiful scenic bluff terrain. I chose this area to retire in because Arkansas (my native State) has the overall lowest tax rate in the US, houses are reasonable, the cost of living is cheap and you can get to all the best fishing and hunting with a 20 minute drive. You are about and hour and a half from Branson if you want top notch entertainment. Check out the area online. http://www.mtnhome.net/index.asp That will give you a general overview.

The factory picture with my post is exactly identical to my new boat. I will have to learn how to use my new digital camera and then how to post them. By the time I have used it some I plan to post the results and pictures.

I have an Old Town Predator 160 and it works great. Here is a link. http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/canoes_sporting.php#predatorC160

Years back the pastor of the church I attended and a friend went fishing on my grandfathers pond in south Arkansas. The cottonmouths can be big and aggressive and the pastor had a big phobia of snakes so he took along his 20 gauge auto. They were fishing in and old wooden flatbottom when a snake came over the side of the boat onto the floor. The pastor jumped up on his seat with his 20 gauge with his buddy yelling NOOOOO but to late the pastor emptied the 20 at the snake. As the boat slowly sank the pastors friend looked at him saying "great, now we are standing in the water with them." It just goes to show you even if you have a gun you need a cool head too. Me, I have one of these.

GREAT!!! I hope you have a blast; billfish are so beautiful in the water. Thier very skin seems to come alive in colors that swirl and flash like neon signs. Those Bluegin Tuna are some of the best tasting fish that swim. I have never hooked much less caught one but I would love to have done it. Let us know how it goes and we all will be cheering for you.

Since I just went through this exact choice comparison I will tell you my thought process. As to the Honda vs Yamaha I think either is great. I went Yamaha for the reason that the closest service along with the best service reputation belongs to the Yamaha dealer nearest me. As to the four stroke vs. two stroke I went with the four stroke. My reasons were. I have owned most of the major brands and while I have experienced few problems, my friends have experienced up to and including VRO failure with destruction of the motor as a result. I simply do not trust the VRO system for lubing the engine. I just like the idea of being able to change the oil in my motor when I want to. Two strokes are more prone to carbon fouling their plugs if slow trolling. Maybe the newer ones have solved this problem but I have had it happen on several occasions. I just picked up my first four stroke this weekend and so far I love it. I can see why someone may choose a two stroke over a four for their personal needs and the way they use their boat. I myself don't need speed but the quite slow speed operation of a four to me is more important. While I have no proof the people and dealers I know all say the four strokes last almost twice as long as the two strokes. Of course with the new two stroke systems this could have changed. I think in a lot of ways choosing your motor today is much like choosing your favorite lures. It is what you have confidence in and have experienced success with. I am not a Yamaha die hard as the worst motorcycle I ever owned was a Yamaha. The dealership's service where you have work done is just as important as the brand. Those needing a super fast hole shot to get on plane fast in shallow water don't need the same engine as those fishing deep clear water reservoirs. I say do the research and make an informed decision based on your wants, needs, and your confidence level.

The "Sick Feeling" post made me think! What has been the best Insurance Companies to get for boat insurance. Best coverage, price, ease to deal with etc.? Such information can help others from making some very expensive mistakes. Let's hear your experience to help our fellow fishermen and boat owners especially first time boat buyers. I'll start off. Since I have State Farm insurance on my house and autos it was natural to check them out for my boat insurance,. For my new 20ft. fishing pontoon it was $206 for a year with a $250 deductible. I have never had to use my boat insurances but would like to hear form those that have.

Glad to hear everyone is ok!!! That's what counts most! Things are replaceable people aren't. It is just such stories that were going through my mind as I was driving back with my new (to me) boat I went to pick up in southern Florida this weekend. First came the idiots driving 20+ over the speed limit, then the rain, then snow in Atlanta GA of all places. The 1100 miles,one way, offered many occasions for the fear factor not to mention my life to flash before my eyes. Man what was I thinking? Driving from northern Arkansas to southern Florida for a boat in the first couple of weeks in February was a real adventure. One I will not repeat in this lifetime I hope.

Often you will find the jobs like game warden and fish biologist do not pay much. It may be because so many people think they want the job that the government agencies don't have to pay much. College is the key though and the higher the degree the more you can expect to make. I too, when I was in college, looked at the biologist route but to a large extent the policies are set way above that pay grade and for a career some supervisors demand you to be a "yes" man agreeing with their views even if counter to everything you think is right. I couldn't hack the political correctness back in the 60's much less in today's world. Too many PETA types. I have enjoyed hunting and fishing for over 50 years. I was fortunate in that I had a relatively high paying job that allowed me a lot of time off during the week and also one full week each month allowing me to enjoy the sports during the times most others were at their work. That made things rather nice in that my buddies and I did not have to fight the crowds of other weekend fisherman and party animals. It's not working in the industry but it is another way to go if your other plans don't work out. My buddies and I worked to fish. The planning of the next big trip or fishing tournament occupied our off time while working supplied the funds. We only fished the small saltwater tournaments that either fell on our time off or when we all could get vacations. You could also go for the big tourneys if you get a degree that would allow you to have a flexible work schedule. I wish you great success what ever path you choose but plan carefully and get as much schooling as you can. It is the cheapest and best time you can spend. Then when you get to be my age you will have the finances to enjoy a real "reeltirement plan."

Fishing a falling tide can also be very good. Look for areas that drain out as the tide goes out. Then find the channel areas where several of these areas drain into. If you find these areas that still hold water as the tide lowers look for ambush areas that offer a current break. Bass are ambush feeders and will wait for the falling tide to force forage such as minnows, crawfish, etc. to come past drawn by the outgoing tidal flow. Sort of like standing by a conveyer belt of food choosing what you want to eat. Fishing tides is a subject I know though it was for channel bass and spotted sea-trout. Just be careful how far you get away from the main channel unless you want to spend time stuck high and dry until the tide comes back in.

The bait monkey says I will have to buy a second drift sock for the new pontoon boat to slow that baby down in the wind. Try one and then you can adjust by getting a larger or smaller one depending on the wind.

Thanks, Low_Budget_Hookers!!!! I had always used those die hards in my boats but was thinking of going to the new Optima batteries for the new fishing pontoon I am leaving to pick up tomorrow morning. You saved me from making an expensive mistake. Now I will have some extra money to feed the bait monkey.

I'm leaving in the morning heading to Florida for the new boat. It's funny that my wife had a craving for Chinese food yesterday and guess what her fortune cookie said. "You will be taking a trip to the seaside soon." We just got the call this morning that our offer was accepted. I hope it's a good *** for great fishing ahead!!!

Nice bass!!! I may never get to see a live one that size. I would sure be fun trying to land it though.

JT, when I clicked on <http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/bagwell/bagwells_bass_tactics_22.html> on your email I was sent to the " Bad Cast - Sorry! The page you have requested does not exist or has moved." Do I need to do something to access your bass tactics page?

Just because someone famous did something really stupid in any sport we need to be careful in the way we present it to others. Outdoor participation such as fishing and hunting are becoming an ever smaller percentage of the population and as a result our continued enjoyment can rest in the hands of our fellow citizens that have no understanding of what we do and why. When the law is broken then the law needs to be enforced and those guilty punished. Ethics is a choice we all face be it a pen hunt, staking out fish before a tournament, or using illegal means to harvest fish, foul, or other game. The actions need condemnation as policing ourselves strengthens our cause. There are unscrupulous fishermen and hunters and I wish I could say I have never known any but I have. I have also turned in those that choose not to follow the law and see nothing wrong in breaking it. But just as important is challenging fellow sportsmen when the line of ethical actions is crossed. I have seen way too many turn a blind eye towards others lapses including myself. We can point out actions that are questionable in a way that states our displeasure without personal attacks. We are all human and have done things we later regretted. Jimmy Houston should face the consequences of his actions but please leave enough room for repentance by him. If it's a pattern then it's different than a lapse of judgment; I just think it's a little too early too condemn the man's whole life but condemning his action can not be made strong enough. Just my thoughts. :'(

Try to find a round livewell because it will keep your livebait health longer. It will allow them to swim and not bunch up in corners. BPS and Cabela's offer round livewells but you can make one yourself using one of the plastic barrels around today. Cut it to size, put in an inlet in the bottom and an outlet near the top. Put some screens over the inlet and outlet to prevent any bait from getting into them and you will have a cheap livewell.

I also have a drift sock and Cabela's makes a good one. They are great in the wind and can even be used off both ends of your boat to drift sideways. Just don't forget to secure your line to collapse the sock when you get ready to leave or it will be a bad thing. Been there done that.

Thanks JT for helping us bass challenged!