Rattlinrogue

Yeah,Bassresource is an excellent way to learn about the sport.Lots of great articles and tips.You'll also find many answers to your questions by browsing through the topics(even the old ones) on the forum.Time on water is extremely important.If you can find somebody to fish with that's experienced in bassin',you'll learn a lot.My father-in-law was a tournament angler back in the 70's ,and he's taught me about everything I know.

Amen!As long as it's legal,fish like you want.I do.I'm paying for my fishing ,as I'm sure everyone else is.So do it like you like to do it ,no matter what anybody else thinks.

I like BASS and like the mag.I've been a member for a while.I guess I just wanted it to remain what it had been in years past,an organization for the "regular" guy.I liked the "country boy" BASS.Not so crazy about the "Big City" BASS.

I prefer using artificials,but I don't have a problem with someone using live bait.For me the game is to try and fool a bass into biting a piece of plastic,wood,etc.I used minnows many years ago when the fishing got tough(like now).We'd drift fish using bobber and minnow over relatively shallow,stump filled,grassy flats.We'd catch white perch and yearling bass.At the time , we didn't care about how they were hooked because they were going in the frying pan anyway.I'm catch and release for the last ten years.

I'm a teacher and coach.I'm off 3 months of the year with pay on various holidays,breaks,Summer vacation.I usually bass fish 5 days a week during these breaks.

They make a heck of an accoustic guitar.I've had mine for 18 years and it still has great tone.Also have a Yamaha outboard and I love it.

I love to fish,but my limit is about 15 mph.It's just no fun fighting the wind instead of fishing.I can't imagine fishing in a jon boat in 30 mph winds.My advice would be to take a day off from it.

I just bought a bag of solid white and a bag of watermelon w/pearl belly.I'm gonna give 'em a try on Friday (Horny Toads).

Tubes still produce.I had a good outing this morning(7-23-05) Pitching a watermelonseed tube at lily pads and brushpiles.They tore it up.

I'd bring one baitcasting R&R with 10 lb test.Also,bring worm hooks,weights,5 bags of the most popular colored worms( or Senkos,if you prefer), a minnow floater diver,a prop bait,a pop-R type lure,a shad colored medium c-bait,a white spinnerbait ,a chartruse spinnerbait,and a white or chartruse buzzbait.This ought to cover you (although,someone will come up with some other things).This basic set of lures should fit in a pretty small tacklebox.

We had a 10ft gator in the state lake where I fish.Fishing from 4:30 AM-9:00 AM,I saw him , at least, a dozen times.Saw him chomp down on a few of the ducks and bite a few large bass in two.He got close a few times, but never really tried to bother us.State wildlife officials caught and relocated himlast year when he started swimming into the swimming area with swimmers present.Currently, we have two smaller gators that I've seen early in the morning.They never bother us,and you can fish at night if you want.

Floating jerkbait,white and chartruse spinnerbait,plastic worm,lizard,buzzbait,and propbait.

My lake has very clear water.Topwaters in the middle of the day would be a very frustrating day for you.Early and late or overcast conditions are the best for topwaters.I know this from 30 years of experience fishing my favorite bait.

Zoom lizard in various colors.Senko in various colors.

If you only have one R & R combo,try changing the color.They,ve followed your bait ,so there is some interest there on their part.I was taught by an old time bass tournament angler,who knew his business,to try a different color when this happens.They've shown an interest,but your color hasn't sealed the deal.

Darker colors on dark,overcast days.Lighter,more natural colors on sunny days and/or clear water.Bright colors in murky water.

Yes it does.I like to fish topwaters also.I fish them fromdawn to sunup.When the sun does come up,I go to the east side of the lake which stays shady for about another hour or so.The sun is blocked by a tall,thick stand of pine trees.Many times ,I've added several more topwater bass by seeking the shade on the east side of the lake after the sun gets up.

I'm fishing clear water with lots of grass and wood.I use a small(1/4) spinnerbait most of the time because of the clear water.I'll start with white and go to chartruse if they don't want white.Tandem blades(willow leaf w/ a smaller Colorado):Gold willowleaf w/ nickel Colorado.A little red (bleeding bait series) seems to improve things.In bright sun,I go with a fast retrieve and slow down in lowlight.

I've got it really bad.I've always fished AND hunted,but about four years ago I quit hunting and bass fish 12 months a year.Friends and family think I'm obsessed,also(they're right!).During Dec. and Jan. I have an 800 acre lake entirely to myself.

Thanks for the heads up,Chris.I'll ,for sure,use and file this info away.Where I live the fish practically quit around the second week of July.It's a real struggle to get a bite this time of year.

Well,what I mean is I love and am proud of being a member,but Bassmaster seems to be more of a Bassmaster Tour "fan" magazine than a "how to" mag.Granted,there are still some good articles.As for the Bass Insider,I agree with you .I was assuming that just being a member was good enough for me to get their"best" info.Since going corporate(ESPN=ABC=Disney),they do seem to care an awful lot about that extra dollar to be made.

I'm a BASS member.I agree with you ,to a certain extent,on this. BASS is becoming less and less appealing to me.

I was having problems keeping them buttoned when I started getting back into bassin'.I had the right rod ,sharp hooks,etc. ,but I was still losing them on the way to the boat.I tried a low stretch line,and the problem was solved.

Welcome C-lizard!Join the club!

South MS-The fishing has really slowed down the last two weeks.I'm catching 3-4 dinks in a mornings fishing.They only baits I can get bit on are soft plastics.C-rigged and t-rigged watermelon and pumpkinseed w/ chart. tail lizards.Red shad and grape shad worms.Watermelon w/red flake finese worms.