MyKeyBe

Gear ratio will affect effective torque ratio. The Ranger probably had something like a 2.8/2.9 liter v-6 and maybe 3.53 gears tops. Most likely 2.73 or 3.08 gears. It all adds up to an engine and gear/trans combo that sucks for towing but is pretty good on fuel mileage when not towing. You want to buy something in between? Good for towing and not bad all around when not towing? Get a v-8 with a rear end ratio of 3.50-3.73 maybe 4.-10 if the rig you just bought has a tall tire on it from the factory. Any gear ratio will support towing 1,000 pounds. You want to match the engine to the trans and to the rear end for an efective combo. Huh? It all comes down to effective torque ratio. What I am trying to say is that my S-10 with a 4.3 liter and properly matched rear end will out "pull" your F-150 with a 302 and mismatched rear gear ratio all day long.

No matter what the engine, use a transmission cooler on an auto trans. Every 20 degrees you lower the temp of the transmission fluid will double the life of the trans. Also get the biggest cooler you can fit. You cannot over cool a transmission. And if Ben is speaking of the B&M mega cooler I would have to agree. The B&M mega cooler is one of the best coolers on the market. Way better than any tube in fin cooler. The stacked plate design that B&M uses is superior. Anyhow, yes you can tow with a six. However I will say some work better than others. If you have an older Ford with the 4.9 inline six you will have no problems. If it is a newer Ford with the 4.2 V-6, well you can tow with it but you may not be happy with it.

bassmaster4879, If those fish are spawning(and with the winter you all have had is entirely possible), set that hook as soon as you see the bass pick it up and keep at it. It may take 50, 60, or more try's on the same fish to get a hookset. Like others have said if you can use an exposed hook, it might help. If you cannot use an open hook, BassNut may be on the right track. Try out those Lunker City texposer hooks. I think these are the most cost effective, under appreciated, unused hooks on the market. I would be willing to bet some unused helicopter lures I have(you pay the shipping if I am proven wrong. :), that these hooks will improve darn near anyone's hook up ratio on almost any soft plastic bait! ;D

Sure can. Look for Kinami baits in a blue and white package. 5 inch cigar looking worm. Exactly the same thing as a Senko. Buy a pack and place your hook in the middle of the bait (wacky rigged) and go out there and catch those bass! Good luck.

No suggestions from me but legally, if in public water, you where in the right. I guess if you were catching fish then why not stay? It's public water right? If you where not catching then I guess you would of been better off to move on. Why stay and get both of you ticked off? Move on and forget him. You never know, the guy could be crazy and grab his shotgun and show you exactly why you should move on. :-/

You can learn a lot from a dummy! 1: Break in the new Abu Garcia/Fenwick combo. 2: Learn more than I ever wanted to know here. 3: HAVE FUN!

Are they really all together? If they are I would guess the bass are stuffed and short of dynamite, they will not be caught. Come back when they are hungry!

You know, it's funny. While I agree... If the fishing show was hosted by a Swedish bikini team model (of course sponsored by Abu Garcia) we'd all be like "What fish?";D "Awww, She finally caught one!";D "This show has to many fish and location shots."

All ice and no bass makes Mike a dull and posting boy. ;D

You really want to know what the best is? Let me tell you. The best is... Whatever works for you! Plain and simple. That's the "Golden" ticket. I have caught plenty of bass on $6.00 reel's and $8.00 rod's. Can You say "Durango combo"? I can. I can also say they suck but they will catch some fish on a budget. Fun, Huh? Spinning or casting? Makes no differance. Are you having fun and catching fish? Senko or cheap rip off? Beaver or cheap rip off? Yozuri or Cajun red? Blah, blah, blah.... Are you having fun? Thats what it is all about! You spent $45.00 on a rod and reel and all your tackle? I spent $3000.00. Am I having more fun than you? Probably not. I'm stressed, this guy/gal spent $45.00 and is having more fun than me and catching just as many as I am... > ;D I guess what I am saying is that bass fishing is fun! If you catch them, well then, great! If you miss them, well then, great! You live and learn and it's all fun. I want to catch a 15# lunker also! Will it happen? Probably not. Will I have fun trying? Darn right I will! ;D

ew77, I use stock colors. I will say though, after seeing some of your lures on e-bay, I might be using some custom colors next spring! Honestly guys, if you want some custom colors, check out earthworm77's profile on e-bay. He has some of the nicest colors I have ever seen.

Like everyone else said, if its legal, go for it. You are fishing a farm pond on private property so legality is not an issue. Look at it this way. It's a small body of water and most likely the bluegills are the bass' primary source of food. If the bass finds a bluegill, the bass will eat it. So really all your doing is making the bluegill easier to find. Actually if you catch and release, it's kind of noble the way I see it, like fast food for bass! If you gut hook a bass and he dies, well that's one of the down sides of fast food. ;D

My favorite doo-hickey? This here web site. Man, I missed you guys & gals. Thanks for getting us back online GLENN!

Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm. I love this bar. ;D

Wow Raul, THANK YOU! Very thoughtfull and well said. To add to what Raul said. I read in a book that in a "controlled study"(take it for what you will) that bass had cups placed over there eyes and where placed in a tank of water. Minnows were added to the tank and sure enough the bass ate every single one using the lateral line and sound. As for a lure creating a "fishy" sound, the rattle trap claims to recreate a bait fish almost exactly. Do they really? I have no idea. I do know that they emit sound and look like a bait fish and seem to work pretty good. :-*

"Fish" may or may not be found that deep. Depends on a lot of other factors like time of year, clarity of water, oxygen content of the water, etc... Having said that, bass most likely will never be that deep. 50 feet maybe in the middle of the day when the temps are in the 90's but most times they will be shallower. Now get out there and find out how much shallower! ;D

Bass-Brat is correct. Birds will transport fish eggs from one body of water to another, but a lot of quarries are stocked when they are full of water.

Trilene knot all day every day. It's quick and strong. Although after reading the rest of the replies I may start using the palomar more.

???Wasn't that Herb Reed?

I take it you have 10 gauge wire coming from the trolling motor? Run the 10 gauge to the breaker and the 6 gauge from there. Unless the breaker is more than 16 feet from the trolling motor the 10 gauge will handle the load fine. If you want to be extra sure mount the breaker within 4 feet of the trolling motor. Hope it helps.

Thanks for the pics, Kana. That's a craw in that pic? The japanese have some weird looking craws! ;D That rig really works, huh? I'll have to try it out sometime. Thanks again for the tip.

THIS IS THE BEST SITE YOU WILL FIND! There are no other sites. This is the one and only! Glenn has done a great job here. THE BEST BASS RESOURCE ON THE NET! Ask and you shall receive. You have a question just ask. No matter how stupid it may seem it will get answered and answered by a bunch of people who know what they are talking about and a few who don't. (Like me ) All I know is this: THIS IS THE BEST BASS FISHING SITE YOU WILL FIND!

Get a net and jump in there and grab those hawg's. Just keep trying different baits until the fish tell ya what they want. If they are in the shallows I would start out with some sub surface lures. Flukes, slug-go's, baby 1 minus. Something along those lines.

If you still have $10.00 or have scraped up another $10.00, look for the 150 piece Manns Dragin series bass combo kit. I just picked one up tonight for $9.85. This kit is sweet. 10 - 6" augertails 10 - 4" augertails 10 - 3" shadows 25 - 4' dragin finesse 5 - 5.5" dragin worms 5 - 4" jerk shads 10 - 6" jelly worms 10 - 5" mannipulators 10 - 6" lizards 10 - 4' super finnesse 10 - hooks 3 - swivels 20 - beads 1 - box : I love how they include the box. Nice kit though.

That may not be true. When was the last time you bought a pair of Tommy Hilfiger jeans and how many pair do you own? Ask that question to your local high school kids. I'll bet more than a few of those kids have way more than you. It's a status symbol. "I have designer jeans, 24 inch platinum rims, 12,000 watts of amplifiers, all in mom's Caddy". "My $h!t cost more than yours, that makes me betta and kooler (Fo shizzle my nizzle )" The kids may buy it just because it cost's more. And now...For the rest of the story. Screw GY! I don't buy em either. I do have some flashes that I bought on clearance for a buck. Poor Herb Reed is going broke because of GY. When was the last time you fished a Sluggo? I work for a living and fish for fun. I can't afford and am not willing to pay "designer" prices. I'll buy dingers and tiki's and have fun hooking bass all day long.