A-Jay

Hello Bill and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Back in the day, a couple of friends & I actually did this many times. Before we knew Tanning would Kill us - it was sun & fun at the boat ramp - You could do a whole Reality TV show there . . . A-Jay

Go to TireRack.com http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=ORAT and read the reviews & surveys regarding the tires you're interested in - very good info there. I'm running BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO's very happy with them - Snow & off road here is a way of Life. They've Never let me down - big confidence booster out in the middle of No-Where. A-Jay

Busy boat ramps that do not have some kind of "ruling authority" on scene, will inevitably end up as a free for all at some point; especially when they are Open to the Public & FREE. So just like all of the endeavors where the general public is expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects that they understand the world doesn't actually revolve around them - there are always folks who seem to think that it does. I try very hard to avoid these places and these people but every once in a while there's a sighting and perhaps even an encounter. I have found that rather than allowing this human(s) to cause me any distress, I actually offer to assist them and often do - works well. Mostly because I can do it with a smile and it gets them out of my way without damage or incident & that much faster. A-Jay

Catt I think these are scales from fish the OP caught up on his home waters. A-Jay

# 2 or # 3 A-Jay

A standard #5 Gamakatsu round bend works well. Owner Hyper Wire split rings are fantastic - not cheap but fantastic split rings. A-Jay

Air temps above freezing here today for the first time in since before Thanksgiving . . . . And the better news is the prediction is for A/T's in the 40's next week. I'll take the Flood that's bound to accompany the warmth as it will definitely feel good after all the cold. Lakes are still waaaaaaayyyyyyy frozen and will be for several more weeks. A-Jay

Though I'll admit this might not be completely unusual, I'm a little confused Tom. Is there more to this most interesting morsel of information ? A-Jay

These bass were apparently caught some where in Maine - so I'm going to say - good chance. A-Jay

Hello Kyle and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Initially, I think it's interesting to note that once a striper attains a certain size, like many fish, it really Feeds & Fights quite differently. As a 2 pound LMB is nice and pulls a bit, it's hard to compare this to a double digit fish. Accordingly, though a 10 striper is a nice fish, a 30 lb. plus fish is a completely different deal. Living in a challenging cold water oceanic environment where strong tidal surf & river currents are ever present, creates a certain toughness that becomes readily apparent when battling the saltwater version on the appropriate tackle. So that's a nice way of saying, that I think all the sweet water models are wimps . . . . A-Jay

Superior review my Man. I like the looks of both of them. Killer photos too. Tackle Tour who ? A-Jay

For me it's not so much what - but where. A-Jay

That pretty cool and a little math indicates that ~ At 7-14 she grew at an average of just under 11.5 ounce per year And the 7-2 was a bit ahead of her at 12.6 ounces per years. A-Jay

Sounds like the boy may have some experience with that . . . . . A-Jay

Also Depends on : The water depth in relationship to what rate of fall you want to achieve and where the bass are in the water column ~ What type & size Plastic you're fishing ~ The type & size line you're fishing ~ Finally, if there are any Turtles in the area . . . . . . . . Ok, the turtle thing is BS - I made that part up. A-Jay

Interesting - I never Knew. So will I be yanking you around Lake Erie behind the StarCraft ? Right after Ice out of course. A-Jay

Depends what type of docks, any other cover that's in the environment & how "Deep" into the dock you're planning on going. Since a dock is simply another type of cover, just modify your gear (rod, line, bait and terminal tackle) to meet (or exceed) the situation you're faced with. For None to Light cover stuff I'll throw spinning gear. A-Jay

Hello Patrick and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ As for helping to "educate your thumb" you already said it, practice is key. And to really help start yourself off in the right direction, the set up of your reel is vital. Knowing how do to it is not a step that can be skipped if your truly hope for success. Mr. BassResource, (Glenn on the forums here) has some great bass fishing info and this is one of them on reel set up. Good Luck A-Jay

The man's a menace to society A-Jay

I fish an Old Town Predator Square back, transported to & from the water on a Castle Craft Aluminum Trailer (Model SUT-220-S). I can launch with or with out a boat ramp. When I need to, the rig can be transferred off the trailer and onto a hand hauled two wheel boat cart (purchased from Cabelas) and pulled right to the lake. Easy. Definitely a small water vessel but I can go anywhere I'm willing to drag it. Certainly places only a similar rig can get - which allows me to fish some remote places, by myself and with very few other anglers. A-Jay

I apologize if my response came across wrong - I wasn't doubting you at all - not my style. Your posted photo's of Huge Bass Speak for themselves. A-Jay

Sweet ~ Nice work my friend. And we know that this new stick will get a serious workout. Congrats A-Jay

Great Story Maine ~ I know it hurts, but I sincerely believe that it's the pain & heart ache we feel when we lose a fish like that, that helps drive us and also binds us together as Bass anglers. A-Jay