5bass

I am partial to points that extend to the main river channel.....seems they are hard to beat at times and being on the right point at the right time is critical. Humps are great fish attractors too,especially when the baitfish get around them.Humps with something (rocks,stumps) on them are the best and are the hardest to find. How many of you have a map of your lake and you see something on the map that interests you and you go check it out and its nothing but flat,barren bottom?That happens alot where I am and I also find stuff (ditches,humps,ledges) and try to locate it on the map and it shows nothing.I dont pay as much attention to maps as I used to because of that.

David Fritts THE CRANKBAIT KING is #1 in my book.I've learned a ton about deep crankbaiting from him and to this day,it's still my favorite way to catch 'em. I also like Davy Hite,he's got a great attitude and is a force to be reckoned with.

Yes,there are many different types of clubs.You have to consider travel schedules,# of tournaments,affiliations,fees etc.You really have to talk to a few different clubs to find out what they offer and then figure out what you want.You might have a good partner already and want to fish with just him.In that case you would look for a club with a team format.You may want to learn a little more so you could look for a club that has a draw format where you'd be able to fish with different people each tournament.You may like fishing by yourself,there are clubs around that have the single man format.That's what type club I'm in.....I like fishing alone,thats why I joined that particular club.We do have members that are boatless but they rotate from boat to boat each tournament so they fish with every boater at least once each season. It all boils down to WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.Contact as many clubs as you can,learn about the clubs,attend meetings if they ask and just observe how they do things.You can find what you're looking for if you just take the time to investigate a little bit. Good luck.

I would certify it.....because in circles of bass fisherman,that may be the only way anybody would believe you. ;D

Cold is okay....but I'm still kind of on the fence.Fish bite better in the summer than they do in the winter but I'd rather be cold than hot...... :-?

That's why I said "if your boater is fishing slow enough".

Well,I can tell you first hand that if your boater is fishing slow enough for you to use a texas rigged worm,do it.My co-angler this year in the club throws them all the time and catches nice fish every time we go.Most times he throws a Zoom finesse worm.

That video brings great pleasure and also great pain.It sickens me to see that a bass can totally inhale a crankbait,with 6 hooks mind you,and hold it for a split second and spit it right back out.......I knew they could because it happens sometimes,but to actually see it on video cuts me deep. ;D

I've owned 4 different Evinrude outboards in my time and the only problem I had out of any of them was a coil to go bad every now and then......the coils cost about $30 and took only a screwdriver to change,so that wasnt bad and I have no complaints about Evinrude OR Johnson for that matter.I had a Johnson GT150 that was the very best motor I ever owned.Had it for 6 years and never had one problem,it was indestructible. Now with the 2 Mercs I owned,one was an XR6 and the powerpack went bad twice in the 2 years I owned it and the other I just straight blew up. I've heard nothing but good things about Yamaha's and there will probably be one on the back of the next boat I buy.

LOL! ;D VA NC SC TN WV FLA

My guess would be a catfish.They hit hard and pull like crazy......I had one break a rod about a month ago.Hooked it on a GULP! worm on a point.Drag was too loose,tightened it a little too tight and SNAP!,I suddenly had a two piece rod. >

You got that right CJ.....and as the old saying goes,"life aint fair".Around where I am,5 fish going 18 will win a tournament just about every time.There are exceptions but 18 here is a really good bag.

Thats good advice Fly Rod.....it took a couple of ripped jackets and shirt sleeves before I started to remember to turn mine off when not in use.

-Don't "horse" it -Use heavy enough line so that you can make a hard hookset and not worry about breaking off -Have your drag set properly -Keep your rod low (if possible) to minimize jumps -Tire it out as much as you can(but if it comes close enough to the boat,net it and dont worry about how tired it is) -Keep it away from cover,dock posts etc -Keep your net real close by and in a position that you can grab it quickly

Deep cranks (DD22,Lucky Craft CBD-20,Mann's 20+) Plastics (10" Power Bait worms,Berkley Power Hawgs or ZOOM Brush Hogs) Jigs (1/2 oz,always with a trailer,color depends on water clarity)

I'd go with a Lucky Craft CBD-20 or a Mann's 20+.......or do the kneel & reel with a DD22......if they dont work,the only other thing I can think of fishing that deep on suspended fish is a spoon.I know,I know,I hate fishing them too but being that deep and staying that deep feeding,it may be the best alternative.Just count it down and start jiggin',dont let it sit still for too long though,you don't want them to get a real good look at it. After reading your post again,I get that the fish are hangin at 20 over a 25 ft bottom.You could try a drop shot with a 5 ft tag and drop it over the side of the boat.

And I dont like BASS rules. You should still have to release it. I mean you got it by luck and not skill. If the fish strikes at the bait and a hook ends up sticking him,thats his fault....he should have zeroed in on it a little better. I would bet that almost all the fish I hook on a jerkbait are foul hooked.

9 years old,camping trip,Craig Creek (Va.),dad took me wading and we were armed with the trusty nightcrawlers.Within a few minutes I had a 12" smallmouth attached to my hook.....I had never seen a fish jump that high out of the water,up until then I had just been catching perch,rock bass and bluegills.The rest is history......not much interest in catching anything BUT bass.

I notice alot of people responding "carolina rig"......to quote Gerald Swindle, "the hardest thing about fishing a carolina rig is staying awake".I believe that and its hard for me to fish "the rig" also just because it's a slower presentation.I can catch fish with the rig but I'd much rather throw something else. My thing is Rat L Traps......not much luck with them at all.Granted,I'm not fishing lakes that have vegetation like alot of people do that have success with the Rat L Trap......just not my thing I guess.

Oh yeah......as someone stated before,the places he fishes to tape his show gives the regular Joe a misrepresentation of what bass fishing is like UNLESS that regular Joe has stock tanks to fish like Bill. I fully understand that Bill is a good fisherman,he catches HAWGS every show and that his show sells lots of lures.It's pure genius......They know that he wouldnt sell as many lures or have as many viewers if he was fishing where everybody else fishes and was catching what everybody else catches......people can do that on their own. What kills me is when he's got his 21' Procraft floating around on a 4 acre stock tank,trying to look like he's on some huge reservoir.Funny thing is,you never see any jet-skiers,no other boaters and no waves rocking his big boat around. I watch the show dont get me wrong but I wish he would announce to everyone where he is fishing...you know like when he gives that days water temp,air temp,reel,rod,line,lure,attractant,trolling motor,boat company,outboard company,mosquito spray,sunglasses, etc.....

We would if we could fish his stock tanks.

Welcome to the best bass fishing website on the internet..... 1. Pitchin' and flippin' is obviously for in-close,precision presentations.I will try to find a video of that for you. 1a. You can use either for pitchin and flippin but normally it is done with a baitcast set-up that has lots of backbone and a reel that works like a winch.....you just dont get that with a spinning set-up. 2. Take the Fireline off your reel and throw it as far as you can out your back door.Be sure to throw out what's left on the filler spool also......as far as you can. With 6 lb test,no matter what kind of line it is,you cant pull off a hard hookset unless your drag is set correctly......6 lb line is not recommended for bone jarring hooksets.....and like I said,set your drag. 3. If you are using a swivel with a texas rig,you really arent using a texas rig,it sounds like a carolina rig to me.There is no leader on a texas rig. 4. I'm limited in the fly fishing info department but I'm sure there's someone here that can tell you what you need.

The perfect lure and presentation in the wrong location (no bass) has a 05 chance of catching a bass. Now put the wrong lure in the right location and at least you've got a shot. Exactly.

Location.If there are no fish to be caught,you cant catch fish.

If the water rises and gets up on the bank a little,bushes and trees that are in/underwater would be where I'd start......bait to throw would depend on water clarity.Clear would be a buzzbait or Pop-R early then senko after sun gets up.Stained would be a Pop-R or buzz early,then spinnerbait or wide wobble crankbait (wiggle wart) chartreuse around the flooded stuff.