CWB

In reeds like that, I learned from watching an old In-Fisherman show that you need to fire your bait horizontally into the cover so your line does not lay over the tops of the reeds, but goes straight through them making for a retrieve where your bait stays in the water, not hopping in and out as you pull it over the reed tops. Good baits are Rage Shads of course, frogs but with this big an area I would choose a faster moving bait, and spinnerbaits and even buzzbaits. The key is a good hard sidearm cast straight into the stuff so your bait works out through the reeds, not over them. You'd be surprised how many fish are actually using this kind of cover if its the only shallow cover around. I cried when about 5 years ago a few homeowners on my lake killed off the only major reedbed on the lake. Always held fish. Great cover in spring also as reeds require a harder bottom to grow in and that means good spawning area for bass.

We drown the guys standing on the bank and call it an accident. If you don't bring your boat, I got dibs on the shirt. If you do, I could be bribed to keep quiet with the cops.

Gotcha. But when can I expect my shirt?

I would have spent more time in the reeds, clear skies or not. Was there a deep weededge or an inside weededge. Any docks or moored boats, rafts etc. You'll be experiencing some clearwater fishing in a couple weeks and although alot of people automatically think deep, that could be a big mistake. I routinely see monsters cruising the shorelines in a couple feet of water, some are just catching rays, others are feeding. Docks, boats and reeds, stumps etc. make shade which will hold bait and in turn hold bass shallow in the clearest water.

Too bad you got that horse a day early! Nice work.

Most t-rigged baits will come through some pretty thick stuff. As Raul said, use the lightest weight you can get away with. On my home lake it's not the weeds, which are pretty thick in the summer, it's the muck or algae that I get fouled in more. When that is the case I throw a frog over the top as J Francho suggested, or a Rage Tail Shad. That bait seems to pull fish out of some pretty thick crap also. Not too many bass have seen a buzzbait in the slop.

States- Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Florida, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Nevada, California, Minnesota, Iowa, Mississippi and Alaska. Countries - Texas, Canada, Cost Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Mexico, France and Germany.

I prefer Senkos and now Fat Ikas, thanks to RoadWarrior, over jigs around docks and pontoons, which line the shore of my home lake. Skip 'em as far under as you can and set the hook hard and get 'em coming out toward you - fast. If you can shoot your lure under a Pontoon boat from the back side of it you will be fishing where no one else even tries to put a lure.

Couldn't agree more. I think you have to look at each in his prime. First there were the Bill Dances and Roland Martins. Then you had the Larry Nixons and Hank Parkers and Rick Clunns. Now you have KVD, Skeet Reese and so on who are making their names for themselves. I think I learned more from Al Lindner than any of them though. He was (and still is) more about educating others than winning himself.

Can bass boats be rented at Pickwick? If so, anyone know the details or have a contact number? You probably won't need one but here is where we're staying: http://tn.gov/environment/parks/PickwickLanding/

Mike Deb has been searching Ebay for a gas mask .... seems she is concerned about flatulation So I guess there is a MOOKS only cabin. #2 on your list. Pancakes every morning baby! I've got a homemade mix that's great. Kelleys boat will now top 100 MPH!!! ;D

WTG man!

I'm not a hater. I'm a lover. Just ask my wife. She might remember.

Bobby- I think I had this conversation with you a while back after buying a bunch of the jigs. The keeper and head are powdercoated which adds to the durability of the bait but does increase the size of the keeper which is what Muddy is referring to as tearing up the trailers. I trim some off the keeper with a knife and it seems to work for me. Thinner will not affect the powdercoating. Not a big deal. Gives me something to do while at dinner with the wife. ;D

Run support helps. How would you like to go 7 innings, give up 3 hits, one unearned run, and lose. P.U.

I'm really starting to worry about you dude. Ever since the Big 50, you seem to have changed. I'm not so sure for the better. Pickwick? Be afraid so very afraid. I don't know. Maybe after a week you'll start to look pretty good. Not! ;D

Motorhead. The Who ZZ top Pre-Sober Aerosmith Black Sabbath/ACDC Tie.

He's had more lives than most cats! One of the Bears D-lineman is going to flatten him and that will put an end to it.

Latka Gravas Loved to hear him say "Thank you very much" first time I saw him he was doing his Mighty Mouse skit. I almost fell out of my chair. I guess you had to be as warped as he was to enjoy his sense of humor.

I'm really starting to worry about you dude. Ever since the Big 50, you seem to have changed. I'm not so sure for the better.

Not bad for a guy your age!

Hey Mike- I won the shirt on ebay. When is it shipping? Is there going to be a MOOKs only cabin?

R.W. hit it right on the head with the Evo jigs. 3/8 oz. is great all around weight and these are IMO the best designed and made jigs around. Good trailer choices also and I would add the Chigger Craw. Can't help with the Buzzbaits as I prefer double bladed models. I've heard nothing but good about Cavitrons. As you can already see, Bobby is great with helping out and answering questions. Muddy- I know it might be a pain, but if you scrape off the paint with a knife, your tearing problem might get better.

Tha'ts why I have found this is by far the best forum out there. You exchange thought and ideas and come to your own conclusions. Remember, Owners are a different breed. I'm talking about dull points, not rolled over or broken off tips. If you want I'll show you at Pickwick.

IMO these are the best as far as out of package sharpness. But I have done a few. I use a Medium India diemakers stone. As you can see, there is not much to work with due to their innovative design, but it can and has been done. They are like todays rotors on cars. One fix and thats about it.