littlefisher

No. NEVER start or run your outboard without water circulating through the cooling water intake in the gear case. Cooling water prevents damage to the water pump (running dry) and overheating of the engine.

I agree that the best solution is picking an area apart. They are going to hold to cover more, at least I think, because that's where the most warmth is. Or they will move to deeper water where the temperature isn't affected as much and hold to structure. I like to fish shallow cover that is adjacent to deeper water so I don't have to move as much to find out what the fish are holding too.

That's shady x 100 to come in late just because your boater beat you. Instead of trying to make there catch irrelevant, maybe they should have asked you what you were doing and learned from it. Me and my father fished a club in the Northeaset part of Michigan this year. The club as dwindling numbers because the same two guys win almost every tournament and always win the point race. It would be different if these two guys were out to educate others in the club, but that's not the case. Now don't get me wrong, they were both nice guys, they never really did anything to upset me or others, they just weren't very generous fisherman. It wasn't like we were fishing for big money, it was a small club with anywhere from 10-15 boats per tournament. There were plenty of good guys though, and a 14yr old kid and his grandpa, who had just started fishing the previous year, won our classic which was really cool. I know that this year when I'm fishing a couple tournaments with them and the other ones I'm fishing, I am very willing to share information with others after the tournament is over. I'm all about educating other anglers to make their day on the water just a little bit easier. I just like to treat others like I would like to be treated. So if anyone here ever comes up north and wants to go fishing. I'm sure me and my father would gladly share the front, back, or anywhere else you want to fish from on the boat 8-).

x3! I have only been here a couple weeks and as a new poster I have never felt more welcome or accepted. I love the fact that if I have a question involving anything fishing related. I can get multiple answers within just a few minutes it seems. And like they stated, they wont poke fun at you for your lack of knowledge. Instead, they will try to share as much information as they can with you to help you improve as a fisherman. Love it here! My dad just started posting too, and I'm sure you all will treat him exactly the same way.

That's a really good picture. You must have a good camera. I need a good camera. How much did she weigh do you think?

I don't mind the chatter bait so much. I don't use it all the time but it has caught me some fish in shallow water that were chasing bait fish. I think a spinner bait or lip less crank would have done the same thing but it was what I had tied on at the moment. It just something they haven't seen before which is why I think it can be effective from time to time. I also like to skip it under docks and swim it like a swimming jig. Sometimes that can add a little noise that a jig just doesn't have.

That's in good shape for a '93. Are those the original seats because if so they are extremely clean.

Good job Alton. I'm glad a family guy won it. It looks like some of the guys struggled today. I would have liked to see an underdog like Charley Hartley win, but what happens happens.

Trixie Sweet beaver with a BMF hook, flipping it into the forest. I get my flippin stick, anything over 50lb braid, and haul the pigs out. Well pigs as far as the north goes lol.

watching it.

Being a 20 year old college student with only about 2 years of serious fishing under my belt, sponsorship really hasn't crossed my mind all that much. After listening to that link to BassFeed though, TruTungsten really does peak my interest a little bit. I have a lot of confidence in their weights and it's all I use now. I am in the process of working on website for my fishing tournaments and resume and, well just for fun, because I like to make websites. I am interested in the Tru Tungsten step program he mentioned. I really am not looking for handouts, I like to earn everything I get on my own, but a discount program would make things a lot easier on the pocketbook. I know my dad is part of Fluegers select angler program and he gets really good deals on stuff through them so I do have a hook up there. I do believe most fisherman my age are looking for sponsorship solely for free stuff and a cool shirt like someone mentioned. To me sponsorship is so much more than that. The fact that a company is allowing you to represent their product and company is a huge responsibility. The way you uphold your own, and the companies image, can reflect directly on sales. I take great pride in my confidence to promote myself and my ability to speak openly in public. I feel it's a great skill that I have and I know that some day it will work to my advantage just like it does for other fisherman. Whether I get a job working for a fishing company or become a professional fisherman myself someday, I know if I'm not the most successful fisherman, I will at least be able to generate sales for my sponsors because of the image I portray.

I agree 100%. I think they are doing a good thing for the sport by even showing it on ESPN, but they need to show a little more of what goes down on the water. I do like Zona a lot though, if it weren't for him I think the show would have hardly any entertainment factor other than the Ike highlights.

Too low is ok, too high, not ok. (signal bounces off hull if mounted too high) Way too low can be bad also. We mounted a transducer on our Crestliner FishHawk before last summer and when we took it out the water would shoot between the mount and the transducer and come flying out of the water like a jet skis rooster tail. Looked pretty ridiculous to me lol.

Well if you can do both, more power to you. I used to be really really good with a spinning rod doing almost anything I wanted. But the last two years I've been strictly using a bc to get good at it, and I've lost some of my touch with a spinning rod. I hope to get that back this summer.

On another note. What was that on the bow of KVD's boat? It looks like a Biosonics system, but I thought they were outlawed in the Classic? At least that's what KVD told me in 2006 when I met him at a University. I mean, obviously, he isn't going to cheat or anything so I'm assuming either the rules changed or it's something else.

Yea but they need all the rain they can get. I can't believe how far out the banks are on that lake. I'm glad the drought hasn't affected how many fish they are catching though.

I just watched the day one stuff on ESPN this morning and it's looking like a good race so far. My dad called me from the launch dock and I could here the guy introducing the anglers as they were driving by the dock and checking in. Made me wish I was there even more :'(. KVD looks like he is on some big fish along with Ike, whom is one of the only guys catching big spots. It's too bad Timmy Horton and Derick Remitz didn't do too hot. I would have liked to see both of them do well.

I do have to agree with you here. I love flipping and pitching a bait caster. This is where the beauty of your thumb comes in. Being able to adjust on the fly by adding or releasing pressure is almost an art form sometimes. I practiced a lot last year and I can put it silently into almost any spot I want to know. Really comes in handy placing it between pads .

Those old Cat's are awesome. I've seen some in near mint condition that still work just as good as when they were first bought. I wouldn't mind picking up an early 90's one if my Dad decides not to sell me his Ranger.

Nice work! Have fun sneakin up on those lunkers

THAT must have been fun to get the hook out of. I've hooked birds with line while casting that's about it. I've hard snappers chase after my Horny Toad a couple times but I've always gotten it away in time. My little brother took a PopR to the head once. He didn't find it as funny as me.

Welcome. I'm newer to the boards too and I can vouch that I have learned more in the last week or so than I have ever on any other forum.

Thanks guys this will help my rod selection when I buy one coming up. Do you usually go for a little oversize reel or stick with a smaller one?

Stuck up in Michigan here. I haven't lipped a Bass in months. Hopefully that will change when I go to Orlando and fish with badhabit in a couple weeks . I keep telling my parents I'm just going to get a job when I go down there and stay. Then I shall fish all year round! But seriously...I would love to move somewhere down south once I graduate and start looking for work.

I really haven't looked into these too deep but would be interested in purchasing one once I get a boat, but I just have a few questions. How the hell do you read these? lol. I realize you are viewing whats to the left and right of the boat instead of what's right below it, but how do those that use this approach fishing spots they find with it? I know with my normal fish finder, if I mark a ledge/drop off or something I'm interested in, I usually throw out a marker bouy and fish it.