A-Jay

X2 - And the new smaller 3/8 size might be even better on smb. A-Jay

I've had that happen to me here (BR) a few times. I think it's a type of copyright block. Certain brand name products when typed, will appear in the box prior to posting, but once posted they are mysteriously gone. Purposely misspelling the word worked. A-Jay

That is a great reel. Here is a link for parts and service from Quantum and a review from Tackle Tour. A-Jay http://www.quantumfishing.com/CustomerService/ReplacementParts.aspx?ProductID=2362 http://www.tackletour.com/reviewquant06ept.html

Strike King now makes a Burner model with down sized blades. http://www.***.com/Strike_King_Burner_Spinnerbait/descpage-SKBS.html They also make a Bottom Dweller - heavier bait - same down sized blades. http://www.***.com/Strike_King_Bottom_Dweller_Spinnerbait/descpage-SKBD.html#pImage I do not have these baits - I made my own. A-Jay

Fantastic Post ! A-Jay

Neck Brace ? ! Ahhh. Hope you heal soon. A-Jay

This is a real story and it happened to a man who needed to be rescued . . . . . . The incident began at the fuel dock. After refueling, this man realized that he had spilled a considerable amount of gas which had formed a sizable puddle on the aft deck of his boat. He then started his boat and moored at his normal slip in the marina. Next he went to his truck, got an electric wet/dry vac, plugged it into an outlet on the dock and started to Vacuum up the gasoline. You got to see where this is going. It didn't take long for the gas fumes to collect in the metal vac can. Within minutes - BOOM ! The vac exploded launching shrapnel into the guy and blasting him off the boat and into the water. His boat caught fire and exploded which in turn caught 5 other vessels tied up next to him on fire too. When we arrived on scene (USCG) the marina personnel had managed to pull the man to safety, then they cut all the boats on fire free. The burning vessels were drifting around and taking turns blowing up, all of them eventually burned to the waterline. I later found out this fine mariner was employed as a family physician. A-Jay

Nice ! Was he wearing a tank top and sandals ? That's the way we see'm up here. A-Jay

x2 A-Jay

Lund Explorer, - I hear you, - you made some good points and I do not want to make a big deal out of this. I have the highest respect for tournament fisherman's ability to travel to vastly different locations and still locate and catch quality bass day in and day out. I really like KVD and even picked him to win in the BR contest. There's no doubt that he still had to make all the right decisions regarding where how and when to fish to win. The other anglers in the same area did not have the same success KVD had. I wish that Timmy Horton had not even mentioned the information regarding where the previous 10 years worth of tournament bass were released, whether it's true or not. As for the idea that the practice of tournament fishing in the immediate area where tournament caught bass are released, goes on all the time does not change my opinion that the practice undermines the spirit of the competition and good sportsmanship. As for rec fisherman going to the release site and loading up, well that might be the same as taking fish off beds. We can debate this from a couple of different perspectives, and we may not ever agree and that's OK. A-Jay

Me too. Is it a coincidence that the winning bags came from the spot where they release fish to ? I'm going to be watching where the competitors fish this season and ask BR member who might know where the fish are released on that body of water. Someone will know. Either way, this is not discussed openly as part of any one's "Tournament Strategy". One man's opinion, these waters should be off limits during a contest with includes the anglers at the highest level. They already fish the best lakes, at the best times and now we are bring the fish to them, and in the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing ? I'm hoping they change the rule where if a release boat is not regularly utilized on that body of water, a large portion of that area is Off Limits during the tournament. A-Jay

Makes sense to me. A-Jay

While watching the day 1 Classic coverage Friday Night with T Sanders and M Zona, they brought in Timmy Horton for some Classic in sight and he had some interest points. One in particular that I hadn't heard or considered before. He said that ALL the fish caught during the many many tournaments held on these lakes are released right there in Beeswax Creek. This is a standard procedure and it's been going on for years. So do you guys think this comes into play when choosing where to fish ? After being released, does a good portion of the bass make that area their new home? If there is ample food and the environment there is suitable, wouldn't this area have a higher concentration of fish than the rest of the lake, considering Bass are being removed from all over the lake and being relocated in this area on a fairly regular basis ? I would seriously consider fishing for the "Retreads" (as Timmy Horton called them) at every tournament. A-Jay

First I'd like to preface this response with this - Disagreement is not the same as disrespect. Is it dangerous to take a small boat on a big lake? This is something you have to decide. There is no set rule as to what size boat should be on what size body of water. Knowledge and experience dictates that decision for each boater. Just like any new venture, learn as much as you can and seek Professional advice. When people tell you over and over how they take a very small vessel out onto a large body of water all the time and they are fine so you'll be ok - I say check the statistics. You don't want to be one of them. What people are really saying is that "I have been beating the odds so far." During a career in the US Coast Guard with Search and Rescue as my primary responsibility and teaching boating safety to people from all walks of life, it always amazed me how intelligent, successful people were willing to routinely risk their lives and the lives of their families and friends day after day, trip after trip, for some fun in the sun. The question is - do you want to? I look at it this way ~ "Is it a good idea to drive much faster than the road conditions actually allow or much faster than the vehicle is designed to go" ? Yes you can do it and often times you will be ok but there are many who have not been ok - they're just not here to talk about it. Rhino provided the link to a site loaded with info. One portion of the site includes Boating statistics of every type. It's allot to digest but this portion is applicable to you. Year after year the number 1 reason for marine fatalities is capsizing. The class of vessel that capsizes the most are vessels less than 16 ft. That's not to say smaller boats are unsafe, or that larger boats are safer, they are not - it means people are making the choice to navigate their boat into a situation that either exceeds the limitations of the craft, their own skills or both. And it's done more by people who own smaller boats. But it's not the boats fault. People in larger vessels have made the same decision with similar results. Right job needs the right tool. So the question you should ask yourself every time you go out is "Am I making a Safe and Smart decision and am I putting myself (and my passengers) in harms way voluntarily?" Fishing is fun but not worth a life. Every time we go on the water it's a potentially life threatening situation, but as others have mentioned we just have to be safe and smart about it so we can live to catch another day. A-Jay

Good for you - If you haven't been participating in a regular exercise program recently there will always be an adjustment (soreness). Start out slow - if you pull a hammy that will set you back. P90x and all the programs like it, require a lifestyle change in order to get any but especially the full benefit of the program. So the program itself is a very short, but intense, life style change. More importantly, if you do not continue the "lifestyle" change there is a distinct possibility that you will eventually be right back where you started. The great thing is it's allot easier to maintain it once you get there. A fellow Drill Instructor used to tell his recruits "Your physical appearance is a direct reflection of your lifestyle." It made me think. Good Luck A-Jay

A damp micro fiber cloth does a nice job - Man this has been a long winter. A-Jay

Nice fish and GREAT SHIRT ! A-Jay

Nice job Glenn, especially being on the other end of the questions for a change. I really enjoy Mark's type of wacky humor - I just never know what to expect. A-Jay

Serving in the Coast Guard for 28 years taught me many things, this is one of them. Every trip on the water is a potentially life threatening situation and it must be treated accordingly. A-Jay

I used braid on all but a few reels that are technique specific (cranking, topwater). I actually prefer the qualities of braid after it's got at least 1 season on it. After several seasons I'll end for end it and the process starts all over again. Moral of the story ~ Braid gets better with age - like us. A-Jay

As the weather warm (and that sure ain't today) I'll start making my daily rounds to check for access to the lakes and to see if there is sufficient open water to make a launch. I know that I'm not alone when I say - I've been know to carry a maul to assist with the launching evolution. A-Jay

That's a wacky little bait if there ever was one. Looks like it's given us "the stink eye". A-Jay

This should cover it. Media coverage is at the bottom of the page in the link below. http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/news/story?page=b_news_2010classic_media_schedule A-Jay

I am not a fan of the bright colored gear- ie. orange, gold. It's like I'm fishing with a toy (regardless of the cost). I am sure that the gear is high quality and performs well but I'm more inclined to go for the camouflage or even better fishouflage. A-Jay