thetr20one

You can't polish a turd! If my sponsors told me to stay all week I would. Sponsors=Money

when ta put yourself out there on national t.v. and act like a fool you are a fool. Swindle is a very likeable goofball. KVD is a winner acts like a winner and doesn't need to be "passionate" I am not judging him on his accomplishments just on his actions. I am one goofy actin fool but I am not a public figure. Yet!

Have met him and he reminded me of myself when I was 15. I am 33 now and have grown fishing and family matured me. Hopefully he grows up soon I would like to like him.

Kilos? Whats up with that? I have two scales one weighs pounds and onces the other pounds and tenths. Kilos? 9.04 pounds!

my mistake. My relatives in Fall River, Mass would be upset. Take two. Hi I am Cholley Muoooowwwa. Was that it?

Hi! I am Cholley Moooore.

Sorry to all the Ike fans in advance! If you have a look at the April 2008 Bassmaster magazine page 14 you will see what I mean. Why does a world class bass fisherman like Mike think he needs to take such photos? Who is he exactly trying to intimidate? Me, you or the fish he is throttling? I definitely respect his climb to the top but my 7 year old daughter has more intimidation factor. She is sugar and spice and everything nice. We are close in age but his maturity is on the level of a 3 grader. Whereas you might relate a KVD to a Tiger Woods you could compare Mike to a Terrel Owens or Ocho Cinco. Intimidating he is not - a poor sport he is. I would really like to take that fish and smack the s__t out of the 135 pound soaking wet punk . All the articles on the nice things he does or has done are a moot point when I look at him from a "passionate" bass anglers view! I have lost fish that cost me thousands of dollars but have never had the urge to headbutt my boat, scream like a girl or show any unsportsmanlike conduct. That's not passion it is a selling point that has backfired a time or two (didn't Ranger drop him or something?). Why do people think he is more passionate than the other ELITE members? Because thats what he says he is and would like people say! It is an excuse to try and cover his tail. I met him at a sportsmans show awhile ago and kinda liked him but he wasn't running around screaming he was more on sponsor please don't drop me mode. I would like for him to have an excuse like tourettes syndrome. He doesn't. I know I am new to the site and don't mean to ruffle to many feathers but I got the mag today saw the pic and was irked. I do plan on taking my fishing to the next level once my future is financially secure (soon I hope) but I guess I will never be as "passionate" as Ike.

DONE!

At the club level here I found there to be more frontending than partner or open formats. Reasons here were the older gentlemen that lacked the skillset still had a competitive drive that refused to accept a hostile takeover by younger, more knowledgeble (YES, SORRY.) "kids". I was forced to non-boat for 5 tourneys when I started club fishing and about quit before I went on to win "MR. BASS" TOP TEN CHAMP and large and smallmouth lunker of the year 5 consecutive years. Plus the largest limit ever recorded in the club, largest yearly total and every other record in their book. Literally! (Another member that fished with me has the second largest total on their books) I always made sure my non boaters were on fish. Everyone knew the frontenders and dreaded to fish with them. I left and never looked back. My father still fishes with them and I still talk to some, but They didn't make any adjustments to keep younger guys and non-boaters comfortable. Now my prob is keeping my partner out of the trees. I dont care if he cast under my arm as long as he keeps his lure in action!

KVD, Hackney & the Gman

Man I just read the article and became ill. Ohio bretheren too! Nevermind karma or a little security, a good beating would be more fitting. >

Supposed to be 60 and cloudy was 85 and bluebird sky. Forgot boat key! Partner hung over. Skunked. It happens!

Yea the bay gets nasty whenever all those douchebags in their offshore powerboats start using it for a racecourse too. The big lake outside the channel can get really congested in the summer with pleasure boaters tying to get out of the west wind.

WORST:1. ROLAND MARTIN AND HIS WIFE PERIOD!!! 2. SHAW: 5 minutes of fishing 25 minutes of commecials 3. FLW: They even did a long segment on a co-angler. I have alot of family in the south but I don't understand the mumble that the one host speaks!! 4. BASS TECH: why is this on T.V. ? 5. Anything Clunn: I have never learned ANYTHING from the "GREATEST ANGLER" EVER!! Sorry. BEST: 1: Bill Dance: Been teaching me since I was born!! Teacher and entertainer. 2: In Fisherman: Teach a great deal on every species. Dull sometimes though! 3: Anything KVD: All you need is 5 minutes really! That didn't sound right did it? 4: Anything Linder: Once again teaching me since I was able to cast. Are you watching to learn or be entertained? 5: B.A.S.S : Still better than FLW. I still watch most shows. This is Ohio and we still have ice on the lakes so other than watching it melt there is not a whole lot to do late winter.

Bassnleo is right the bigger waves are softer. But I wouln't recommend letting off or trimming down or "in". You gotta keep up the bow or your bass boat will become a Torpedo. We are trying to navigate not sink U-boats out there LOL !!!!! I enjoy the 3 footers, they can be fun if your not in a tourney. I can usually run 50+ in them and other than the rogue wave every 10 seconds beatin up the kidneys and transom they aren't so bad. Also it's much easier to run against the waves than with them, when they are at your back navigation becomes very hazardous. One thing though-sometimes the h2o can really disappear from under your boat and drop you right in a trough, it can literally be a 10 foot drop. Those are really painful and not fun or funny. The "BIG LAKE" is not for the new boater in rough weather people die here from supidity every year.

To me it seems much easier to find the smallies than the Walleye in lake Erie. I don't fish for walleye but I have caught some big ones while smallie fishing. 9-6 8-8 6-4 and a few over 5 pound walleyes. I would think that you are more of an open water guy and need to find more structure than bait on the big lake. Look for bass boats then go back when they are gone and see what the were fishing over you will see what I meen!!! I fish Ashtabula and Conneaut alot too! Good areas are there, you have to look but it is rather easy to find them..

Clearer,deeper,rockier and more offshore here for the most part here.

To me dragging tubes at Erie means losing tubes at Erie. That said I used the Ohio Pro Lure with the 90 degree Eagle Claw hooks. There are many tricks to use at Erie but, I only use the Gamakatsu jigheads while casting tubes. Seeing how I live close to and fish in many of the same tourneys with the owner of the company I may be biased but, he makes quality tackle for sure. Reason for using the Claws are they are very sharp and rather cheap. If I blunt the hook I can replace the entire jig n tube in seconds and I haven't noticed ANY difference in hook-ups while dragging. The fatter Gamakatsu hooks have a poorer hook up percentage if your hookset is not good also in my opinion. I really only use Pro Max jigheads and have little use for any other manufacturer. (I am not sponsored by him) Like I said he is local and I support a local over a national company here! I fish Erie at least 20 times a season for like the past 9 years and have my own system for draggin that really works well for me. Sorry these were the only tackle tips I can divulge or it wont be MY OWN SYSTEM anymore! Maybe my ex partner will let my tricks out who knows? lol !!!

AWESOME!!! Beautiful smallies!!!

The problem I think is TRUTH! I don't believe for one minute ANY tournament angler would pass a huge fish on a bed without casting to it. Who is any angler who pays his license fees and follows the law going to be deterred by a bleeding heart. Not only do my dollars that I spend on licensing used for conservation and rescoures in my state but, every dollar I spend on tackle gets taxed federally for the same nationwide! I am first and foremost a conservationist by paying for my right to fish! I choose to be good at every aspect and technique in bass fishing by practicing ALOT (MEANING ALSO PAYING ALOT OF MONEY TOWARDS FISHING CONSERVATION). If this means bed fishing (WHEN I COME ACROSS A BEDDING FISH), than by all means I am going to try and hone my BEDFISHING skills. I hunt the rut too! Last time I read the Ohio hunting laws it was legal. I have three very nice deer mounts ONE taken during the rut, two taken during our gun season. Like someone said earlier no catch and release in hunting!! Personal bests are 6-3 smallie, 5-15 largemouth, and a 2-7 spot. We dont have alot of large spotted bass here! NO MOUNTS even though I have caught HUNDREDS of 5 pound+ large and smallmouth bass I dont have a single mount. Yet I would think these anglers who say they would not fish for spawning fish would have a very large for their area fish mounted! Who am I or anyone to tell another legal angler how or what we should fish for? I didn't read where the gentleman who heard the other fisherman flinging the fish into the lake say that he did anything to make his feelings known to the other angler. I would have! There is ethical and rediculous. Is there really a difference in me catching a spawning fish and treating it like gold, and some other fisherman catching a large fish and keeping it out of the water while he grabs his scale takes pics and lets it's slime layer turn to a crust? YES I treat my fish with respect, he doesn't! I don't eat any fish I catch or harm them intentionally in anyway (other than putting hooks through their face) I catch and release all bass. Every one!!! Read more before you talk. Bass fishing pressure is at a low. Biologists often disagree with each other on this subject and, it is legal. There are closed seasons where it is not. Trying to make me or any other concious angler feel bad will not work here. Do your best and do what you think is right for yourself. Bass fishing is very expensive and if you cannot afford to pay the cost for everything that goes along with it there are plenty of bluegill and crappie to be had. I find people who are against bedfishing in general are not good at it and have problems with getting smoked by those who are! If everyone agreed on this subject it wouldn't be a subject I guess so lets agree to disagree for now and let our state resource managers decide what is ethical!

Please let me explain that did not make that run in my Ranger. It was in my Triton tr20 and the problem was the waves came up forcing us to use more fuel than expected so we had to pit stop for some more fuel. I have however had the r-17 out in 5+s and had no problems. You need to be able to understand your bouts characteristics and limitations!!! Rangers don't sink neither do Tritons!!!

I dont think you guys in the 17ft v bottoms have alot to worry about! I fished out of a ranger-17 for 4 years and never hesitated to go out into the big lake!!! you must be prepared though Really prepared!!! Watch for waves bigger than 5-6 feet you must take caution and dont get to confident. Take it slow and easy. I went from presque is to buffalo in 3-4 footers no problem except having to fuel up!!!

I love the smell of a spring morning especially after a rain!! BUT WHAT I REALLY LOVE IS SMELLING ALL THE DIFFERENT BRANDS OF OIL AS I FLY PAST MY FELLOW COMPETITORS EVERY BRAND HAS A DISTINCT SMELL EVER NOTICE THAT? When i get a low draw # its nothing but spring breeze all the smeel of spring!!! My OPTI doesn't have a whole lot of smell. I kind of miss the old smoky EFI, but not the gas milage. besides that i really like to get a little taste of salt when i tie my soft baits. I GUESS I AM WEIRD LIKE THAT

I am like an OCD freak too!!! Check livewells every 10 minutes (had 1 fish die in my tournament fishing so far and it cost me $700. Never again!!!!) Hung up.Retie.Fish on.Retie.Catch fish.Retie.Rod on deck too long.Retie.Partner catches fish.Retie.Retie.Retie.Retie. I TIE ALOT OF KNOTS!!!!! I usually run as fast as my boat will go(somebody might beat me there if i dont. Even in the middle of the day) I put culling tags on every fish, even though I dont see culling 5 pounders here. If my bait dont lie strait the fist rigging it's ruined, time for a new one! Anything I can watch on I do (batteries,trolling motor,partner,partners knots, livewell,GPS,depthand so on). Somehow I still manage to fish around this. I guess to a tourney angler these thing are second nature though!

In late april early may, even sooner if you want you can go offshore out of the rivers. Find hard bottom or changes in the topography of the lake bottom, transition areas (rock2mud,mud2sand,sand2rock whatever!) wait till you have a day when a drift will take you from deep to shallow water. Drag tubes on the bottom from 40+ feet down to 8 feet or so when you find a concentration of fish focus on that depth, more than likely you will find many more fish in that depth. Then you can change your presentation to suit that depth or not change presentation at all (Expieriment!!!!) look for other bass boats or get good maps to get you started. DO NOT GET ON SOMEBODY ELSES DRIFT!!!!! You can cover alot of water drifting and the lake can be deceiving so watch your GPS.