A-Jay

Those Numbers are just outrageous. The only thing that might be more impressive is the sheer size & frame of the bass themselves - just Massive. And btw - was 2012 the first year you and I fished together ? I'm not saying, I'm just saying . . . . Here's to popping a 7 plus next season my friend. A-Jay

My Fishing Season started out with quite a bit of excitement and anticipation. Traveled to catch both a PB LMB and SMB while sharing some fond memories with a couple of good friends. As the spring turned into summer the reality of a very slow year as far as local results were concerned set in. Then my normally abundant fishing opportunities reduced drastically. I was fortunate to get out a few times during the summer for an excellent late night spinner bait bite and did OK. But that was about it until the last month or so. Closed out the year with a Bang; Locally landing a couple of fine SMB in early November. Then traveled once again. Shared some good times on what turned out to be a mutli-species trip and then in a friends PB and first Double Digit LMB. This same trip ended with what could very well be the biggest LMB I may ever catch. So despite some highs & lows, this will go down as a fishing season like no other I've ever had. I certainly appreciate it, I'll never forget it and I have no right to ever expect anything more . . . . . . A-Jay

A fair point - I'm going to take the role of the "see no evil, hear no evil & speak no evil " Fan and simply believe that these competitors are conducting themselves ethically until proven otherwise. A-Jay

This has been and will most likely always be a highly contested topic. I can see both sides of it but as a fisherman / outdoorsman and not a water front property owner, I'll admit that it wouldn't hurt my feelings any if more of these areas were opened up to the public. Often times we (Joe Public) are our own worst enemy by not leaving the areas in and around private property better than we found them. Users who leave trash, discarded tackle, and all kinds of waste are the fuel that keeps this firey topic burning. A-Jay

I really have no idea. However, a brief review of the official rules on the Bassmaster Elite Series web page certainly leads one to believe that is the case. A-Jay

First off, I would respect your decision regardless of what you choose to do; I'd imagine you'll do whatever you can live best with. Anyway I look at this, and regardless of the actual rules, there is a certain shady aspect to it all. I guess you have to decide whether you / Megastrike want to be associated with it at all. A-Jay

Before you commit to the Go Pro, you may want to check out the Drift HD Ghost. I will tell you that I do not own one, however the list of standard features, the price and the majority of the reviews (from go pro owners) are quite favorable. My personal purchase plan revolves around a Black Friday sale. A-Jay http://store.driftinnovation.com/cameras/drift-hd-ghost

Congrats ~ Several very respectable bass right there - especially for that region and the time of year. Nice job. A-Jay

Been using them in both salt & fresh water for a while. As mentioned this is a valuable tool for controlling and weighing your catch; especially nice on the more toothy critters; the smaller ones. However beyond the convenience factor, a boga grip provides a very safe way of handling a fish landed with a face full if treble hooks. By either clipping it up while in the water or removing the fish from the net (my preferred method shown to me by Dwight Hottle, thank you sir) one can seriously reduce the chances of being hooked. Lift the fish with the Boga Grip, remove the hooks with the tool of your choice (usually long nose pliers) weigh, photo & release. Additionally, I highly encourage the use of a float connected to the boga. Needs to be of sufficient size to float the tool and a decent fish. You don't want to find out the hard way why . . . . . A-Jay

I have two and love them both. A-Jay

I like 10 or 20 lb Braid & a good old Monofilament Leader. Not a Fluorocarbon fan. A-Jay

Thanks guys. It should be noted that I never said that I was in this category. I strive daily to make a conscious and honest effort in these areas by controlling my mind. A-Jay

Me too. Glenn should get a commission for the sudden spike in business. A-Jay

Thank you for the update Glenn. My day is just not the same with several Bass Recourse fixes. A-Jay

Something to think about. Additionally, I believe quite a bit of this can be applied to one's angling. A-Jay 13 Things The Mentally Strong Don’t Do ~ 1. They Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves Mentally strong people don’t sit around feeling sorry about their circumstances or how others have treated them. Instead, they take responsibility for their role in life and understand that life isn’t always easy or fair. 2. They Don’t Give Away Their Power They don’t allow others to control them, and they don’t give someone else power over them. They don’t say things like, “My boss makes me feel bad,” because they understand that they are in control over their own emotions and they have a choice in how they respond. 3. They Don’t Shy Away from Change Mentally strong people don’t try to avoid change. Instead, they welcome positive change and are willing to be flexible. They understand that change is inevitable and believe in their abilities to adapt. 4. They Don’t Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control You won’t hear a mentally strong person complaining over lost luggage or traffic jams. Instead, they focus on what they can control in their lives. They recognize that sometimes, the only thing they can control is their attitude. 5. Don’t Worry About Pleasing Everyone Mentally strong people recognize that they don’t need to please everyone all the time. They’re not afraid to say no or speak up when necessary. They strive to be kind and fair, but can handle other people being upset if they didn’t make them happy. 6. They Don’t Fear Taking Calculated Risks They don’t take reckless or foolish risks, but don’t mind taking calculated risks. Mentally strong people spend time weighing the risks and benefits before making a big decision, and they’re fully informed of the potential downsides before they take action. 7. They Don’t Dwell on the Past Mentally strong people don’t waste time dwelling on the past and wishing things could be different. They acknowledge their past and can say what they’ve learned from it. However, they don’t constantly relive bad experiences or fantasize about the glory days. Instead, they live for the present and plan for the future. 8. They Don’t Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over Mentally strong people accept responsibility for their behavior and learn from their past mistakes. As a result, they don’t keep repeating those mistakes over and over. Instead, they move on and make better decisions in the future. 9. They Don’t Resent Other People’s Success Mentally strong people can appreciate and celebrate other people's success in life. They don’t grow jealous or feel cheated when others surpass them. Instead, they recognize that success comes with hard work, and they are willing to work hard for their own chance at success. 10. They Don’t Give Up After the First Failure Mentally strong people don’t view failure as a reason to give up. Instead, they use failure as an opportunity to grow and improve. They are willing to keep trying until they get it right. 11. They Don’t Fear Alone Time Mentally strong people can tolerate being alone and they don’t fear silence. They aren’t afraid to be alone with their thoughts and they can use downtime to be productive. They enjoy their own company and aren’t dependent on others for companionship and entertainment all the time but instead can be happy alone. 12. They Don’t Feel the World Owes Them Anything Mentally strong people don’t feel entitled to things in life. They weren’t born with a mentality that others would take care of them or that the world must give them something. Instead, they look for opportunities based on their own merits. 13. They Don’t Expect Immediate Results Whether they are working on improving their health or getting a new business off the ground, mentally strong people don’t expect immediate results. Instead, they apply their skills and time to the best of their ability and understand that real change takes time.

Nice fish Mr Deeds . . . A-Jay

Thanks Boats - must have been the 2 tours as a CC in Cape May. A-Jay

As promised, I've attached a brief video narrative where I talk about the rods, baits, line and terminal tackle we utilized last week in Mexico. A-Jay

Here a short list of a few overweight & fairly successful "Athletes" who you might know. For the record I'd say fishing is a sport but not all it's participants are Athletes. CC Sabathia ~ 290 Cecil & Price Fielder 240 / 270 Sebastian Janikowski 250 David Wells Just Fat George Foreman 267 John Daly 290 Charles Barkley 252 Babe Ruth - No one really remembers . . . A-Jay

Nice Bass Boats ~ I'm going with 4-6 in your hand & 5-4 on the ground. A-Jay

Yes Sir - get with BR member & moderator 00 mod (Jeff) he is the man who Dwight and I first hooked up with to go there. I'll let him know you are interested. Jeff will have the answers to your questions - also I think you find that these trips are worth every penny. A-Jay

Thank you for the kind words and you know it's kind of funny you mentioned that. I spent the last week or so trying real hard to convince my 2 fishing buddies of that. But they insisted that I had a big horse shoe hidden where the sun don't ever shine . . . . . . A-Jay