Thad

Just trying to find some stuff to read tonight. Figured I'd ask you guys what you're must reads are. Can be posts on here or other sites.

I read through everything again and saw what you were posting at. I deleted my post as you replied to it. Sorry

Just a couple nights ago i had something similar happen. I caught a smallmouth and as I was about to let it go I saw a piece of fishing line hanging out its rear end. I gave a little tug on it and tried to pull it out but I guess the hook was still inside the fish attached to the line. It wouldn't come out at all.

Here's you one:

Skinny Dipper

Been doing pretty good on a 5" Mission Fish lately, dark hitch.

Been meaning to try it. I've found the melting method pretty easy with no burns so far but always looking for ways to improve.

I read a lot on here about plastics that are effective yet too soft so they rip easy and this and that. This is especially for you senko guys. I'm sure some of you repair your baits and it may have been posted but from reading some of your posts a lot of you just throw your soft plastics away after fishing them. If you just put a designated bag in your boat or tackle bag and just throw all your used plastics in it then you may keep yourself busy on a rainy day or during the winter when you can't go fishing. I'm talking about repairing your baits by melting them back into shape. It would be better if you had enough money to buy a melting pot and a couple molds but this is for those who don't want to go that route. All you need is a lighter and some kind of metal. I find a knife works best but as you can see in the picture below I just used a spinnerbait wire. As you can see I'm fixing a Mission Fish. I've now used this Mission Fish on multiple trips including a 30+ trip on Guntersville and a 20+ trip at a small lake at home catching smallmouth. I've fixed this thing at least 6 or 7 times. You can see that a big hole opens up from the hook. All you have to do is heat up the end of the wire and slide it along the edges to melt the plastic then push the two halves together. Then smooth out the top a little. It may take longer then you think with a regular lighter to heat up the metal to keep it hot enough to melt the plastic. It may not come out looking exactly like it first did but do you think the fish really care?

No bass, but caught some nice hybrids on it.

Well I finally finished my paper for this survey you guys helped me with. First I have to tell you a little about the class. The class is called Research Methods, basically a class that teaches you how to do research and present it in a scholarly or business manner. At the beginning of the semester we were paired into groups of 5. My group members chose to study the effects of alcohol advertisements that target minors. Boring subject but oh well. A couple months into class one of our members dropped the class and then we had an assignment due. I was the only one to turn anything in and that got me pretty ticked. The teacher suggested I go out on my own and do the project alone. So I started from scratch on my own but the good thing was I got to choose my topic, which had to be communication related. I chose, "What forms of communication do anglers use when seeking information in the sport of fishing." To make a long story short, with your guys help. I turned in my paper last week and did a presentation for the research. I was the only one by myself, the rest had groups of 5. Also know that the teacher is a fairly tough grader. For my presentation I was given an A and the class was staying and talking to me after class, they actually seemed to really enjoy it. I did have one girl ask what an angler was. I just got an email back from my professor telling me my grade for the paper and how much she enjoyed it. I got a 98 out 100. I just want to say thanks again for you that helped out. The paper is in a pdf document below for those that want to see the results and the rest of the paper. This wasn't detailed in the way I would want it but I had to change things to make it more communication related. And Glenn, you were right. I thought about this before I asked you to do it but I didn't have enough time to get enough responses any other way. But all wasn't lost, there was still some good info found. If you guys are still reading this long thing, here it is: www.tournamentlures.com/fishingpaper3.pdf And Stripes, your lure is in the mail. Sorry it took so long, busy week. Thanks

Going out to pre-fish tomorrow. I've been talking to some locals that said there are all kinds of beds that have showed up this week and the bucks are on them. Sounds like the females are right about to come up. The air temp is suppose to stay about the same over the next couple days but there are thunder storms coming in that are suppose to last for a few days. If you're fishing tomorrow where do you fish? This is a mountainous, rocky, clear lake. Main cover is docks and lay downs, no grass.

Love the work Marty.

Finally found what I was looking for right after posting this. You guys might want to check it out if you haven't. Its a report by the ASA found here: http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/NationalSurvey/National_Survey.htm Click on "2006 National Survey"

I'm trying to find some information for the same research I'm doing with the survey I posted earlier last week, sorry no prize this time for help. I'm trying to find something that shows some kind of age breakdown of anglers. A breakdown of ages by sales of fishing license in a state would be perfect but I'm having a hard time finding any. I've heard Bill Dance break it down a couple times but I doubt if I use oh Bill in my paper it would be very creditable. :

You're talking about The Bass Shop. One of the finest local tackle shops you will find. I too like the flick shake. I've done fairly well with them focusing on docks so far this year.

I went to random.org and posted the numbers 1 to 108 and the number that was selected was 79. 1inStripes is the winner. PM me with your address. Thanks for everyone that helped out. I'll try to post the results once I finish the report. Thanks again.

Talking with a couple Alabama guides and locals it seems the Skinny Dipper is the preferred swimbait for shallow water applications or surface swimming down there. They also all suggested using a regular EWG and using the RI screw in head and to weight it just insert a nail weight in the belly.

I really don't like Frogg Toggs. They feel like a big sheet of paper on you. Both my dad's pair and mine have leaked. Also make sure not to get the pant version.

oh. bummer. i was wondering why i only got 3 questions ;D by the way Thad, this was an ingenious way to get people to take your survey Thanks, the rest of the class is having a tough time getting 100 respondents. I had 89 within 24 hours. Without this site though it would have been tougher. It didn't help that all the other groups picked boring topics that nobody cares about enough to take a survey. I'm doing this by myself, everyone else is in groups of 4 to 5 but I wanted to do this on fishing and nobody else did, oh well. I'll PM you the questions you couldn't see.

Just to let you know, I can't accept people under 18. That is why some of you are only getting the first set of questions. Sorry, it's the rules you have to follow by the IRB. Looks like I have enough people. I will be cutting it off tomorrow and will pick a winner. Thad

I really appreciate the support with this so far guys. I'll be more than glad to show the results when they are finished. And Low Budget, my professor had their way with a few of the questions, I had about 30 questions setup for this but she said they didn't pertain to communication so they had to be cut. I need a few more responses and then I will end the survey and pick a number.

OK, I have enough people for my survey. Thanks for everyone that participated. I will start a new post to name the winner of the Magic Swimmer shortly. Thanks Here's the Magic Swimmer:

Thanks Marty.

I'm looking for a picture of this pattern or at least a description.

Try rigging them backwards, like the Fat Ikas and then insert a small nail weight into the head of it. They are really good for pitching into docks, they will glide a good ways under them.