GobbleDog

Good one. Wind. When I'm off-shore fishing, I usually anchor up and position the boat so I'll be casting with the wind for that very reason. I know a lot of bass fisherman don't even bring a small anchor, but I think that's a mistake.

In other threads, I've read where some posters say they are having a hard time getting good casting distance with certain baits or situations. After 10+ years of serious bass fishing, I consider myself a pretty good long-distrance caster. It might help that I'm using a spinning reel and a lot of the time I'm fishing off-shore hydrilla just casting it out as far as possible into the briney deep and working back through the grass. In any case, I figured a thread devoted to casting distance might help some folks. So, some (not all) factors effecting casting distance: 1. Weight of the bait ... this one is obvious. 2. Rod length... generally longer rods equal longer casts. (I use 7' to 8' spinning rods.) 3. Line type.... the lighter the line, the longer the cast. Braided line casts even further. 4. How much line on spool... after cutting off line due to knotts and whatnot, you're line gets low on the spool, making it harder to cast. I'm not sure if this really applies to baitcasters. 5. Prior to cast, you have to leave a foot or two of line at the end of the poll. If you reel it all the way to the rod, you get no whipping action. 6. Form. Most of the cast comes from the wrist. Like snapping a bullwhip. Anyone have any other factors I missed or thoughts?

I wouldn't even try it without 4 wheel drive.

I feel the same way about Hank Parker and his "aw shucks" dribble.

Shad was my initial thought, but I doubt that's what it is. :-?

On my non-scented worms, I don't use nutin. I tried scents a few years back, but quit using them because I didn't notice a difference and it was a pain to keep dousing them with juice which appeared to wash off as soon as it hit the water anyway. The scented worms I use are Chompers (a senko style worm) which absolutely reeks of garlic right out of the bag and will stink up your whole house if you don't remove it, even after use. I'm not exagerating... they really smell that potent. But they definately work extremely well.

It's scientific name is habius corpus... or something like that.

The Peddler of Peddlers?

I really don't care how he holds the fish. I just enjoy watching him catch fish. But you don't really learn anything from watching Dance fish private ponds other than how to work whatever bait he's pushing that month. In my opinion, any fishing show beats 99% of everything else on tv.

Ok, reading might help a little bit. Maybe. But it sure makes a whole lot more sense once you've already been on the water.

I was talking with my fishing partner about that recently. Exactly one week ago, we were fishing a small night tourney working some off-shore hydrilla grass in about 11+ feet of water and we were tearing it up! We were reeling in a mess of legal fish up to 3.5 lbers. The thing is, we were fishing the exact same spot about two months earlier with the exact same results. So I asked him, "What's up the pre-spawn and the post-spawn and the staging areas and all that stuff? Why aren't the fish moving around like it says they should in all those magazines? The bass seem to be here no matter what." He just looked at me and shrugged (like me, he ain't too bright).

Reading sucks! Tie on a plastic worm and go catch some fish!

I have a 7 lber mounted. I actually didn't want to keep it, but it was badly gut hooked and after a half hour of unsuccesfully trying to revive it, I gave up and decided to mount it even though I've caught a few bass that were bigger... (8.5 lbers are my PB). I don't remember exactly how much it was, but I think it was around $200. I remember they charged by the inch. Like $10 per inch, or something like that

I don't keep fish. Ever. But honestly, when I finally do land that double digit monster.... he's probably coming home with me. Especially if we're talking well over 10 lbs. A replica just ain't the same.

When I first started getting into bass fishing, I remember reading in a fishing book that said "The number one thing nearly all people do wrong with topwater lures.... they work them too quickly". It talked about using more patience and waiting for the ripples go away and not just reeling it in, but making it sputter here and there and really try to imitate a dying baitfish. For some reason that stuck with me and I've since gotten pretty good with topwater lures.

I think you should get the pink embroydered shirt with the matching pink hat. And get a little poodle dog too. That would be fabulous.

I once heard the PEAK spawn in Florida happens when the water temp is around 70 degrees. But I don't know for sure how true that is. Currently, I think most Central Florida lakes have a water temp in the high 60's.

I agree 100%. You're bound to lose a few bass with crankbaits and such. You know that going in. But with worm hooks, they can't shake off as easily.

That doesn't sound good. It does appear to be tournament cheaters. Personally, I wouldn't have touched the jug to begin with. And I definately wouldn't steal somebody's fish and cage. Stealing is stealing... you can't justify it by assuming the owner was a cheater. For one thing, you might be wrong. And even if you're right, you're still taking property that doesn't belong to you. If you're all that upset about it, report it.

There's a good reason that men don't think women know anything about fishing. Because most of them don't.

Generally speaking, women and kids stink at fishing and they cry a lot. I think a family fishing club is a fantastic idea!

1 14' Alumacraft 3 Person Jon Boat.......586 586 what? Sexual favors?

RIP Avid Avid's tombstone: "I'd rather be fishing." :'(

Once I put a fish in my livewell, I never turn it off. Some anglers are worried that other fish might hear it running, but it doesn't bother me in the least. It's relatively quiet and I never turn in dead fish at the weigh in, with the rare exception of a fataly gut-hooked bass.

When I went by the baitshop today to ask if they sold a worm called a Fat Ika, Mr. witty baitshop dude replied, "A what? A Fat Ika!?!?!? Uhhh yeah! I got yer Fat Ika right here!!! If you want you can meet me out back and I'll let you hold it!" Everyone's a comedian. : ;D