bass wrangler569

punctuation would really make this a lot easier to read. So would capitalization. Just kidding! ;D i knew it 8-)...ok yall thats how i talk i dont use punctuation or capital letters when i talk why do it on here??? Do you pause when you talk? A little punctuation can go a long way.

X2 Sometimes your boater is a real cool dude and you're on fish all day, sometimes you don't get so lucky. Don't get discouraged. You can't catch fish if you're not around fish (obvious, but true) so sometimes you really are at the mercy of your boater. Also, like others said, sometimes you learn the most when you get skunked so try to learn from your mistakes. I remember at one of my first tournaments I absolutely got stomped by my boater, he absolutely whacked fish and I got skunked, but I learned a whole lot during the process so it was worth it.

I see your point, but Carolina rigs usually have three knots (main line-swivel, swivel-leader, leader-hook) and they work out fine, granted, you're typically using heavier line with a c-rig so that may be why losing a little bit of strength with multiple knots isn't a factor. I say try it out fun fishing, if it works, great, if not, no big deal.

For flipping/pitching, go with 50lb power pro, you won't be disappointed.

Yeah, we have some of those at my school... ;D

If he believed in his product, as I'm sure the owners of Daiwa or Shimano do, then no, it wouldn't be unethical, but I find it impossible to believe that a fisherman of Roland Martin's caliber actually believes in the "helicopter lure." It's a gimmick and he knows it. Anytime that you have to outright lie to people to sell something than that's immoral IMO. As far as the rocket launcher rod goes, you're right, I'm sure there are kids who love that thing, and if it brings youth to the sport than that's great! However, some of Roland's other products are just a ploy to sell have-baked lures to the people who trust his name.

I don't begrudge anyone for trying to make some money. What I am questioning is the ethics behind how that money is earned. If I was famous on any level (which obviously, I'm not), I would only promote or represent products I believe in and use. I can't imagine Roland really believes in or uses the helicopter lure or the Rocket Fishing Pole. For example, I'm not a big fan of the Ugly Stick Rod and I don't really recommend it to people who ask my advice on it, but wouldn't you think I would be a hypocrite if all of a sudden you gave me let's say $20,000 to go around the country proclaiming how great the Ugly Stick is. That's the only point I am trying to make. I agree with you completely. Promoting terrible products that you have no faith in just for the sake of money is unethical. And yes Bass-Brat, I am begrudging him for trying to make money unethically. Crack dealers are just "trying to earn some money." Is that ethical? What about a used car dealer who tells a client that the car runs great when they know full well that the car barely runs at all? Is that ethical? There are a lot of things people could do while "trying to earn some money" but it doesn't make those things morally right. I would never begrudge somebody who makes money selling something they believe in, but to market something you know is junk just to earn a quick buck is wrong. So you are comparing what he sells to what a crack dealer sells. You are totally out of line. What he hawks will not ruin a life. Out of line? :-? : Do you honestly think I'm saying that Roland Martin is on the same level as crack dealer, I'm sure you're intelligent enough to know that that's not the point I'm trying to make. I was using that as an example to show that needing to make money isn't an excuse for unethical actions. You said "Why do some of you people begrudge others who want to earn some money?" My point is that there are a lot of people who are just trying to earn money but are going about it in unethical ways. So yeah, Roland Martin using his name to sell junky products isn't nearly as heinous as selling an addictive substance, but that doesn't make what he's doing right. So is your standard of ethics, "well, as long as it doesn't ruin a life it's okay?" I doubt it. There are lot of things that are legal and don't ruin anybody's life that aren't ethical and this is one of them. You don't tell people a product is the greatest thing to grace the earth when you know its complete crap and you wouldn't use it yourself. I'm not saying that everyone who sells a subpar product is unethical, but when you are somebody like Roland Martin, whose incredible fishing career has gained people's trust, you don't abuse that trust by selling products that you know are gimmicks designed to take people's money. There are some things that are more important than just making money, and self-respect is one of them. A nice car, a nice house, and a nice boat wouldn't mean very much to me if I knew I was paying for those things by ripping other people off.

I don't begrudge anyone for trying to make some money. What I am questioning is the ethics behind how that money is earned. If I was famous on any level (which obviously, I'm not), I would only promote or represent products I believe in and use. I can't imagine Roland really believes in or uses the helicopter lure or the Rocket Fishing Pole. For example, I'm not a big fan of the Ugly Stick Rod and I don't really recommend it to people who ask my advice on it, but wouldn't you think I would be a hypocrite if all of a sudden you gave me let's say $20,000 to go around the country proclaiming how great the Ugly Stick is. That's the only point I am trying to make. I agree with you completely. Promoting terrible products that you have no faith in just for the sake of money is unethical. And yes Bass-Brat, I am begrudging him for trying to make money unethically. Crack dealers are just "trying to earn some money." Is that ethical? What about a used car dealer who tells a client that the car runs great when they know full well that the car barely runs at all? Is that ethical? There are a lot of things people could do while "trying to earn some money" but it doesn't make those things morally right. I would never begrudge somebody who makes money selling something they believe in, but to market something you know is junk just to earn a quick buck is wrong.

Dang! That' takes some skill to land a fish like that on 4lb mono.

Nice fish! I'm heading up to raystown in a couple weeks for the state team tournament. I've never fished raystown before but I hear it's pretty tough so we'll see how it goes.

I was out on the river this past weekend and the water was like chocolate milk. About two hours into the trip we pulled up to a grass bed along the bank. I made a long cast with a spinnerbait parallel to the weed edge and as soon as the lure hit the water a fish inhaled it. At first I thought it was a huge smallie but when I saw its massive fin come out of the water I knew it wasn't a bass! I was only fishing with 12lb line and a 6'6" med. carrot stix so the fish was taking out line like crazy. Eventually I managed to get it in and netted. I had never caught a musky before so I was pretty excited. Other than that, I only landed one smallmouth and it wasn't anything special, just a little over 15". It had clearly just finished spawning as it looked like it had just been in a war zone... really skinny, fins and tail all cut up. The musky was definitely worth the trip though!

That's the only reason you need. I strictly CPR but if somebody keeps fish to help put food on the table I see no problem with it. As supportive as I am of CPR, somebody's need to put food on the table outweighs bass conservation IMO and I think gung-ho CPR people sometimes forget that. Yea I agree with you. But it doesn't make sense to me if you are fishing to put food on the table - let's think about this: He can catch 5 bass in 3 days of fishing. How many Bluegill or Crappie can you catch in 3 days of fishing? We are trying so hard to build up the smallie population in my creek here...daily bag limit is one and it has to be 20"+ to take that one True, it would be much more efficient to fish for bluegill or crappie your right and I see your point. All I'm saying is that it shouldn't be a big deal if somebody who needs to keeps a bass does.

I'd rather keep my dignity and pride than get paid to sell rocket fishing poles but that's just me...

Amen. Chartreuse/white and terminator's trout color are killer on smallmouth

LOL I like how you think

That's my goal. I'm planning on going to med school and becoming a doctor so that I can save up enough money to support myself.

I'm 17 and my ultimate goal is to be able to fish professionally. I fully 100% believe that I will be able to accomplish this for three reasons, one, I have a plan, two, I'm more than willing to work my @$$ off for it, and three, I won't quit trying until I succeed. Right now, I could care less about sponsors. I obviously would love to be sponsored for all of the benefits it would offer but now I am much more concerned with trying to get as much experience as I can before college. I'm fishing every tournament I can possibly enter this season (around 25 club, district, youth, and state team tournaments) so that I can try to get as much on the water experience as I can. I'm lucky enough to have supportive parents that are willing to pay my entry fees and gas money for all of my tournaments, so that helps me out a ton money wise. After I get enough experience under my belt that I feel that I will be marketable, then I'll look for sponsors but right now I'm more concerned with working on becoming the best fishermen I can possibly be.

That's the only reason you need. I strictly CPR but if somebody keeps fish to help put food on the table I see no problem with it. As supportive as I am of CPR, somebody's need to put food on the table outweighs bass conservation IMO and I think gung-ho CPR people sometimes forget that.

Why would he get his dad to buy a new one when he can probably get it replaced under warranty.

people saying "boo-koo" drives me nuts because people spell it "beaucoup," which is french and is pronounced "bo-koo" not "boo-koo". The "eau" forms the "o" sound. I know everybody uses "boo-koo" as slang but it grates on my nerves lol. As the kung-fu master in Kill Bill said, "It causes my ears great discomfort." Anyway, the rods do look awesome and at that price point I think they might sell better than the mojo.

Well that is really wicked cool by I'd be hesitant about getting any tattoo. Keep in mind its going to be with you for the rest of your life before you decide. As far as tattoos go though that's really cool.

x2. I've heard this works amazingly well. X3 It does

If a man is alone in a forest and he says something, and no women is present, is he still wrong? I'm not married (obviously) but I think you should pay attention to what RW said. Try to talk to her, that might be all she wants in the first place. Another thought, did you make a big deal about missing her when she came home or did you act relatively unphased? She might feel underappreciated if you gave her the impression that the week you spent apart was anything less than agonizing. Good luck with your problems...

Sweet Beaver Ugly Otter Brush Hogs

I never hear too much mention about Nichols pulsator spinerbaits on the forums. Does anybody other than me fish them? I used to be a dedicated war eagle guy, but last year a guy in my club hooked me up with a few Nichols pulsators and they are absolutely incredible! The more I fish with them the more impressed I am. I still use war eagles some but the Nichols have outproduced them in almost every situation. The only problem with Nichols is that, unless you know a dealer, they're hard to find so you have to order them on the internet. The hassle is definitely worth it though, they are hands down the best spinnerbaits I have ever fished with. The components are the best available, the paint is very resistant to chipping, the skirts are great, and the color combinations are awesome. If you haven't you should definitely try some. Here's a link http://www.nicholslures.com/pulsator_spinnerbaits.htm