J Francho

If I was open either day, I'd be in. I've clinics Saturday at the ADK at Mendon Ponds, and Flower City is fishing Fairhaven opening day. Good luck at Keuka! Someone should hit Tuckman up on his generous offer. Two great places to fish.

If you need a rollie cart to fish from shore, you need to be less fickle in your bait selection. I carry a backpack with a couple of 3700 Plano boxes, a small FTO terminal box, spinnerbait wallet, side pocket with plastics, two combos and some basic fishing tools.

Jigs, Texas rigs, frogs, toads, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, spooks, chatterbaits, Carolina rigs, shky heads, flick shakes, wacky rigs, all excel in weeds. Find the grass, find the bass.

Here's some irony for you. I've left fish that simply would not bite a drop shot, tube, or jig. Two days later, say to myself, "Why didn't you try a shorty spoon!!!!!"

I'll take this "its just a terminal rig" philosophy further to include an answer about rods, reels, and line.... Match tackle to the cover you are fishing.

match the hook to the bait....as small as #6 split shot hooks, up to 5/0 wide gaps for bubba shotting big plastics in weeds.

Open this in PDF Reader, and zoom in: http://www.nutterrodandreel.com/pdf/Shimano/1989/bmag%201000.PDF

This is also a great knot to use with any turned up eye Circle hook. Thanks for the great link. You're welcome. Any "bent eye" hook is a very good candidate as well. It's important that you visualize how the line will pull on the hook, so you feed the line through the correct side of the eye. I first started using these with tiny mosquito hooks for steelhead, after noticing my knots were getting beaten up by current and shale.

Can't a guy just hate something? LOL. I hate deep cranking, Carolina rigs, wacky Senkos, spinning reels, fluorocarbon, Uni knots, weeds, zebes, gobies, "other species" in tournaments, and no, braid is not really my favorite even though a lot of the cover I fish predicates its use. I may hate it, but if I catch with it, I'll use it.

Man, that's good writing, about a "touchy" subject, LOL. I have a similar experience, but it involves poison ivy, and a new nickname: "Bullwinkle."

Has a lot more to do the location you fish than the terminal rig you use that determines species.

There are several species of salamander whose range extends into Maine.

The pink Power Worm is to be feared! Set yourself up with a float rig,and drift the bait in current (trotting). Little jigs, plastic worms, spikes, waxworms, red worms, and other creepy crawlies work. Also look at some flies, ESL, Wooly Buggers, stonefly, and clouser minnow patterns under a float are deadly. Here's how to rig it. Works for all species: http://www.anglersinternational.com/Shotting%20Patterns.pdf

Crap! All of my SC have Daiwas. My one Shimano rod has a Shimano reel on it, though!

An ACS seat is a big turn off for me. They get beat up bad with use, and aren't comfortable. I'll take an ECS any day. Daiwa seats are always comfy too.

Don't know if it will ever hit the market. Its US$250 from dealers in Japan.

Depends on your latitude, among other things. But most likely for you, its over: http://www.versus.com/blogs/bass-spawn-map/

1. Yes, but see answer 2. 2. I'm in NY, no clue, LOL. 3. Cheating, public perception, safety of contestants. 4. Whatever black bass spp. present, Sounds like Forida Strain LMB will win. You don't want separate divisions for spp. 5. $20, more if you want to 50-50 the payout to contestants. See HeroesOnTheWater.org!!!! Keep it simple. A qualifying digital camera that records date-time in the image file EXIF, standardized measurement device, and standard pose, i.e. lips closed, tail spread. The tournament director or safety director can inspect the cameras for clean cards in the cameras, rulers are standard, as well as check that safety regs are followed. Just like pre tx inspection for a bass boat, but different, kill switch, livewell check, insurance, PFD, etc.

My buddy has a bunch of Supercasters, and he loves them. He also fishes Daiwa Steez, along with some Ardent reels, and other assorted Bass Pro label reels, so he has a pretty good perspective.

It probably doesn't matter, tail up or tail down, but I always rig it tail up. The important thing to remember is that its a sinking bait, as opposed to something like a Roboworm, which is a floater. There is a subtle difference in the way each bait can be worked. The Cut Tail worm responds better to more rod input, where as the floating worms are a "less is more" kind of thing.

This is supposedly a long held secret. Any hook that can be snelled, gets snelled now. I've been doing it the past two years, and it works great.

Tough to tie on a offset worm hook.

There is nothing in the picture to draw reference from. most people that think they have a 3-4 lb. fish have something closer to 2. Good job getting out there, and getting bit. Now get some batteries!

ARC is well known in the VA area. At that price point, I'd also be looking at used boats. You'll have to decide SOT/SINK style, take into consideration weight capacity. And think about what water you'll be fishing, lakes river, ponds, current, etc.