Korea_Bassin

I have to strongly disagree with this theory. From MY experinces anyway. whether it is a spinning or a baitcasting set up, I use the rod to move the fish, not the reel. To say a B/C is supposed to be used as a wench but a spinning reel isn't ,...just doesn't make sense to me. Do you just pooint the tip mof the rod at the fish if using a b/c??? I use the rod to pull or turn the fish and the reel to take up the slack. I do this regardless of the type of set up. I am also right handed. I hold the rod in my right hand, regardless of set up because, regardless of set up, I use my power arm to do the power aspect of the angling and for me, that's not "powering" a reel to crank in the lin,...it's "powering" the rod to pull the fish. The heavy work is always done by my dominant arm. The heavy work is also done with my rod more than my reel (B/c and spin). I simply match the 2 up. I THINK Gw's comments apply to saltwater, not fresh. Take a Penn 130 for example. You are in a seat, with the rod strapped onto you and set in a gimbal bracket. You use your legs to power the rod here, NOT your arms. IN THIS CASE, the reel hand would be on the dominant side (right) because AS FAR AS YOUR ARMS GO, the reeling hand needs to be stronger because reeling has now become the bulk work since we took the rod out of the equation. Wherever GW read that, I am sure it was meant to address this situation, not one where you are holding the rod completely alone, like when bass fishing. My opinion. (but it is regarding saltwater) so back to freshwater... None of these answers are wrong, it's a personal preference. I personally think there is a dangerous pause when switching hands, a pause that leaves the line somewhat unattended for a split second. Denny Braur is always persistent about KEEPING your fingers on the reel knobs because that split second reaction time can cost you a fish. I see the same scenario with having to switch hands. Is is "wrong". Nope. Does it mean you can't make it to the classic if you do this? nope. Does it mean I am better than you if I don't? certainly not. I'll weigh in here with my theory...I think it's largely an issue of "labeling". Yep. A person thinks that because they are right handed, the "right-handed" b/c is what they should use because well...just because they use right-handed everything else in the world (invert everything for you left-handers). It may seem awkward and uncomfortable at first, but because they have been led to believe that this is a "right-handed' reel, by gosh, they are gonna learn to use it like they are supposed to. Eventually, they become use to it and can't remember thinking they should use it any other way. I am one who reels with my left hand with a spinning reel, but my right hand with a b/c, but to be honest, it has become such a habit and so natural, I don't even realize that I am changing. But at the same time, I think that if you gave me an opposite handed reel of either model (spinning or b/c) it would be awkward even though I use that hand for the other. Doesn't make sense...does it?

I like your comparisons.

I just read an article that suggested that a buzz bait could be used effectively in the dead of winter in open water. I have never thought of a buzz bait (or any topwater bait) as a winter bait. Have any of you had any success with this or even tried it?

The ideal boat for those hard to reach fishing locations...

The next time you are wondering if you might have too much fishing tackle, refer back to this article and go ahead and buy that next lure...or two! http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/fishingtips/news/story?page=b_story_Organize_Tackle_2

Pretty realistic looking toy if you compare it to this: http://cgi.ebay.com/BAT-COUNT-FISHULA-BAIT-CASTING-LURE-PIKE-BASS_W0QQitemZ130177128852QQihZ003QQcategoryZ31693QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem I believe that one is made by the Nippon Clacker Jack Bait Co.

It all sounds good to me. I'm ready. Who's coming to Korea this year?

I'm waiting for both good weather and a day off to occur on the same day.

I fish for fun a lot (when the water isn't ice), but I also enter a couple of local tournaments each year. Can't say I've ever made any money at it though. Best tournament finish = 4th. Prize for 4th place = Custom rod (and not a particularly good one either). So even the tournaments are "for fun". ;D

How far from home?

1/2 oz. Bleeding Shiner Rat-L-Trap

I recently saw another "good idea" on how to keep the illegals from getting across the border. It went something like this. Subdivide the Mexican border into say 8 sectors. Put one million dollars into a bank account for each sector. Appoint a Mexican on the SOUTHERN side of the border to be in charge of each sector. Show them the bank account and tell them that every time we catch an illegal crossing the border in their sector, we deduct $50,000 from the account. After one year of duty, they get whatever remains in the account and we hire 8 new Mexicans. Problem solved for less than ten million bucks a year. 8-)

See the related thread here: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1198472518/0 I don't know about the ebay deal. I purchased my subscription from magazinepricesearch.com which has some good deals. I have received all of my issues, however the monthly billing invoice is quite annoying. I have contacted the BBB in Tulsa but haven't heard back from them yet. See the above related thread for more information and additional points of contact.

It looks like a copy of one of the hottest lures in Japan right now. The original (or at least most popular from what I've read) comes from the Imakatsu company and is called the Javallon. It is supposed to be a really good swimbait in the heavily fished waters of Japan. See more pictures here: http://www.imakatsu.co.jp/products/pro_a018.html (Japanese site) Buy the Javallon on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.it/LF-SWIMBAIT-soft-4-5-CP-JAVALLON-Imakatsu-esca-BASS-USA_W0QQitemZ350015866968QQihZ022QQcategoryZ82290QQcmdZViewItem or check out this other copy: http://www.fishingworld.com/brannansbass/Details.tmpl?ID=117583155566876048&Cart=108400775213149213 Here's a demo in a bathtub on Youtube: Hope this helps.

Something else you may want to consider is a porta-bote. I don't have any personal experience with one, but I'm currently considering getting one to replace my Sea Eagle 9. The porta-botes come in 8, 10, 12, and 14 ft. models and the price isn't that much more than what you are already looking at, depending on the size you get. www.portabote.com

Hey Alpster, I see why you were chosen as the first BR Elite member. Heck of an offer even if not accepted. Brian, Hope you are back in the fishing business soonest. If you need anything, I'm fairly certain that there'll be someone around here offering a helping hand as you already have seen. Let us know if you change your mind and decide to take up any of the generous offers. And last but not least, thanks for your service to our country.

I totally agree. Although I'm relatively new here, I found that to be hilarious after the debate over a certain post yesterday. Definitely caught my attention and I'm thinking a lot of responses are going to come to this post as the only alternative. I'm still chuckling about it. Muddy definitely needs to get on the water because I think he may have too much time on his hands. Good stuff.

Hey Redline, I see you are from Gilroy, CA. Do you use a lot of garlic baits? ;D I was stationed in Monterey twice for a total of almost 5 years when I was in the military and another year up in San Fran. I loved the Monterey area and would still be there if Uncle Sam would have let me stay. I fished about 3-4 days a week after work. I lived only 10 minutes from the ocean. Used to do a lot of surf fishing for surf perch and tried the stripers from the beach a couple of times but never was able to hook one up. I did get a couple of Leopard sharks while I was there though and some huge Rays. I wasn't able to find a good place nearby for bass fishing though. Went up to Pinto Lake a few times for some trout. I saw a dude catch one of the largest carp I've ever seen in person out of there one day too. The closest bass fishing I ever did around there was down south about 100 miles at the military recreation area near Fort Hunter Liggett. Had an excellent time, but almost roasted in the 115 degree heat. Totally different from Monterey where its foggy every day and you need a sweater almost year around. Sorry to change the subject so drastically. but it just brought back a lot of memories when I saw your location.

I retired from the military here a couple of years ago. I now work here as a DoD contractor. That's cool. And by the way, those are some awesome looking bass in your avatar. Thanks. Those were caught in a Pro-Am tourney I fished over here a couple of years ago.

I retired from the military here a couple of years ago. I now work here as a DoD contractor.

The links are still posted on the site. Attached is a copy of the webpage showing where to locate the links on that page. They work for me but then again, I'm located in Korea, so that may have something to do with it too. Let me know whether this works or not.

Nice looking fish. Why is the top portion of the first photo cropped around your head? Just wondering.

Anyone else experiencing this problem? It works for me. As an alternative, try getting it from this site which is in Korean, however, you can see two links with "FLW" mixed in among the Korean characters. It's in the second section on the left...the last two links: http://www.sportfishing.co.kr/ Hope this works for you.

When you get to the first screenshot, you should see a "play" button on the screen. Click on that and the video should play.

Here's a link to a couple of videos of the FLW tournament on the Great Lakes last year. Check out the conditions they are fishing in. 25 mph winds and 7 ft waves. I don't know how they stood on the deck, much less catch anything! Enjoy. http://www.sportfishing.co.kr/technote6/board.php?board=qaboard&command=body&no=70&&body_only=y&button_view=n http://www.sportfishing.co.kr/technote6/board.php?board=qaboard&command=body&no=71&&body_only=y&button_view=n