A-Jay

I fish waters that are often full of overly co-operative pike. The ONLY hooks that have ended up in me - started out hooked into a pike first - never a bass. So I handle these fish carefully - every one. For me, pike over say 30 inches or so, I don't mess around with the boga - they are just too big and even though the boga affords you a little distance between the hooks and your hand, aside from the fishes brute strength and generally bad attitude, that length is such that I can't really get them high enough off the deck to handle them safely with a boga. These fish go in the net and rarely come over the side into the boat. I prefer to conduct all necessary hook removal procedures with the fish in the net. As I fish from a canoe, there are times when it's best for the fish and I take a little trip to the shore where all of this can be conducted with the benefit of stable footing. Once the fish is hook free - there might be a photo or two. Smaller pike I can and do handle using a net/boga process mentioned If you've never had a hook in your hand you might consider most of this as "excessive" but if you have . . . . . . A-Jay

I hope you're right. A-Jay

Well, I'm on the other end of this debate - I want the vendor to see my ID. In fact, I do not sign my cards with my name - I write "See ID" in that space on the cards. If my cards some how end up in the wrong hands, Joe Shmoe might get my ID as well, but what are the chances he's a handsome as me . . . . A-Jay

I don't like hearing that noise ~ . . . . Do you have Terry's home address ? A-Jay

The Net / boga combo approach noted above by Dwight is a very safe and effective method. After seeing it in action, it's one I've adopted as well. Keep in mind, we're talking about the 15lb Boga. This is not meant for plus 15lb fish and is especially not for long fish like big pike and musky. But for most of the bass us mortals routinely catch (Big O excluded) this works well. Previously I used the boga to initially grasp / land the fish while it was still in the water. This usually required a couple of attempts while all the while playing chicken with triple treble hooks, as in the cast of a jerkbait. Scooping a fish with a face full of trebles in a net is pretty safe for all involved. Then using the boga, grasp the fish with one hand while using pliers to remove the hooks. This is a high percentage way of keeping your trips to the emergency room down to a minimum. You can then lift the hook-less fish clear of the net, get a quick weight, a photo if you like and then the release; with very little additional trauma to the fish. The lure can then be extracted from the net Without the unpredictable complication of a wildly flopping bass involved in the process. I've only used a Boga, but there very well could be other models, with and without scales that would work well. A-Jay

I hear that - I am willing to be patient here - this whole deal is still fairly new, especially when compared to how long the standard tournament format has been used. So I think they'll massage it a little with each season. A-Jay

Thanks ~ A-Jay

I haven't heard much about these - and there doesn't seem to be allot of info out there on them . . . What the the benefits of this hook verse other after market trebles ? And what's the deal with the Barb-out principle ? A-Jay

Now That's a Blast From the Past ~ ! The Bass are - as usual Big O - Outrageous. And although the hair screams of Art Garfunkel, I never realized how much you look like Hall of Fame Pitcher Dennis Erkersley . . . A-Jay

My leader length is 10 - 12 ft. btw- my last trip to Lake Erie in November, the water levels were Way down. So low in fact that the choice of which marina to launch from was predicated on the wind direction as some of the boat ramps lacked sufficient water to launch safely. Might also be why the water temps could raise a bit quicker. A-Jay

Do you leave the line on the reels you carry on ? I've heard a few stories regarding the TSA's humans sometimes require the line to be removed from the reels for carry on . . . A-Jay

I use it all - cash, debit and credit cards. The cash back programs on cards, though not really that much, are OK. There is a convenience factor using cards that the users ends up paying for one way or another. A-Jay

Nice job guys ~ So what's your bass fishing handicap ? A-Jay

Your leader length might not have been as much of a problems as the water temps. Mid 50's water temps could lead to a more favorable jerkbait bite though you can get them to go when it's 10-15 degrees cooler and warmer. But 70's is not usually considered Jerkbait water. Perhaps you could get on Erie a little earlier in the spring. A-Jay

I didn't read that - The only mention of electronics I found was this : "GPS STORED WAYPOINTS: No pre-determined, user-generated GPS waypoints will be allowed. Waypoints may only be marked during competition hours." and this ~ "GRAPHING: Graphing between periods in order to locate fish is not allowed." A-Jay http://www.majorleaguefishing.com/news_details.aspx?id=1244

Ok - I just finished watching this latest Extended Cast broadcast. I did enjoy it. But now that all the competitors have fished and the first round of eliminations to chop down the field of 24 has been completed, here's a few thoughts . . . . . I've had enough of the dock fishing dink fest. I hope that at least one of these holes is dock-less and will require the anglers to look for and find fish that are not all drawn to obvious man made shore line cover. Maybe fire up that side imaging or the down scan and even put the Hydro wave to work. I was looking forward to seeing someone use their electronics to find fish and put together a couple of different patterns. Those of us who fish northern lakes know so many are often void of docks or have very few, so you have to come up with something else; especially if you want something other than a 15 ounce bass. I do realize that because of the format and the brief period that the anglers have to actually find/catch bass, they'll go with whatever is available, and a show where no one catches wouldn't work but these guys have skills - so lets see them . . . . A-Jay

Nice Job Man ~ ! What'd she eat ? A-Jay

I did - I even doubled up on them ~ A-Jay

Over the years I have Not been a fan of using snaps on crankbaits - But Over this past season, I have been converted. A fellow angler (who shall remain nameless) has shown me the light - they work and if the correct model is used - there are few negatives to be had. Every Jerkbait the man uses goes over the side on a snap - (that probably gave it away). Recently, I've been testing a new version snap; one put out by Spro - Check out the attached link below . . . . A-Jay http://www.spro.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SSPSB%2DALL

Congrats Jeff to you and the Misses ~ ! What a Dynamite collection of Trophies right there . . . . Please bring as much of that Good Mojo as you can with you in March . . . . . And how is it you're obviously angling savvy wife is letting you head south alone ? ? ? A-Jay

This may be one of the few (if not the only) square bill bait designed to run at these depths. I was immediately intrigued by the idea and did pick up a few. Unfortunately, open water season is still a ways off for me . . . . . . Have any of you Bomber Bait Fans and / or other crankbait aficionados had a chance to work this bait enough to be able to form an opinion as to when and where this lure would be at it's best ? A-Jay

Hey Look at that - Things are looking up ~ ! The Philadelphia Eagles will name Oregon coach Chip Kelly as their new head coach, reports ESPN’s Chris Mortensen on Twitter. A-Jay

I usually fish spinnerbaits one of two ways - 1). Burning just under the surface - and I do meaning smoking fast - small double willow white blades and bait - always use a trailer hook here but never a trailer. 2). Slow rolling a larger / heavier spinnerbait deep - always use a trailer here (recently a mid-size swimbait) but never a trailer hook. A-Jay

Silent / non-rattling DD crankbaits work - even in less than clear water conditions. I found that little longer handle on a cranking rod (behind the reel seat) helps reduce the angler wear & tear on an all day crankbait trip. Distance casting requires less effort and I find the under arm tuck of the rod during the retrieve is quite comfortable. I added 5 inches or so to my Lamiglas rods. And finally I love glass rods and thin braid for cranking. A-Jay

Oh yes - I had to re-arrange my entire Man cave / sports bar area repeatedly so to make enough wall space for all the Championship memorabilia . . . . . .very disappointing. A-Jay