NinjaFishin

this is how I rig mine. Not everyone does it like this! Also Wide gap hooks will work just as well if not better. (click me)

you were not out of line there at all. One fisherman destroying the population of any small pond is un acceptable. I cannot see the rational behind "fishing until there is nothing left". Kills the fish and the sport all in one go. I also have a hard time believing this guy eats all that fish. I mean d**n. Also how does he make income off that? :-?

I'll second that! The current will really get flukes wiggling and smallies love it! Tubes are also a solid choice and work best around heavy cover and rocks. Give em a try and see what works best for your area

I've met some VERY strange customers in fishing departments I can tell ya. ;D I hate when they make weird recommendations for items I would either never use or see no purpose in. :-? It's also very easy for them to go into weird rants or fishing stories that usually ends with me slowly but steadily walking away

Close call I'd say! Do you have any pictures of the snake and/or bite? :-?

I've been considering a kayak myself and I see it more as an ease of use and portablity over a canoe. A kayak is easier for one person to pick up and go. Most canoes are more of a 2 person deal and I am more looking for just a personal craft. My friends have boats for when there are more of us. To me it all boils down to just pickin up a yak, throwin' it on top of my jeep and going. 8-) it's really all about the person who uses it in the end. Some (like snowbass) have other people to account into the equation and a canoe will be much better choice, but those looking for just a singular ride a yak is that happy "just right" spot.

In my opinion a new SI sonar unit will help you catch more fish NOW. A new engine will help get you around faster but I dont think it will be as big an improvement as finding spots you wouldnt even consider w/o knowing exactly whats down there. Just my 2 cents feel free to disagree

I'd agree. I would recommend upping your hook size and trimming off an inch or two off your worm. That should help. I'm gonna assume you've been keeping your line tight and all that too

great smallie 8-) Looks very healthy too.

What conditions and time did you fish? :-?

I bought a plano bag from walmart awhile back that holds 4 boxes w/ some room to spare on the inside, also has two cargo pants sized pockets on either side for extras. Not sure if this is the kind of thing you have in mind, but it works very well for me. Hold 4 boxes of lures + pliers, camera, flashlights, extra line and a few others. It is still small enough to be very portable though. *grabs camera to take a shot* i'll be back to edit in a photo later you can see it in this photo in the background. I'm bein abit lazy by not just taking a pic of it :-[

there was another thread earlier on these baits and I have yet to see any feed back on their field performance. Go try em and tell us how they are!

X2. I'm with ya amigo. W/ just a few different jigs and plastics you can come up w/ many dependable set ups. T-rigs for life

that is true! forgot to mention earlier that slideshow is of super flukes. Not the smaller flukes. Dunno if that makes a difference for you or no.

someone say flukes?! :-? Make sure you are rigging them well! I'm gonna be copying and pasting this until I die i think: (click picture for slides) I'm seeing other people are running larger hooks than mine so I may try upping it in the future. The ones pictured in those slides are eagle claw razor sharp off-set hooks, size 1.

I can relate, my pb smallie didnt put up much of a fight either! (posted under big smallie in SE ohio) Kinda weird :-? Congrats on a beauty

Fluke why do you have to be right all the time?! ;D I'd recommend a Rapala jointed shad rap. It is one of the most dependable and versatile baits I've ever used. (in my humble opinion.)

Very well said! That is why we do what we do! The rush of excitement when your pole bends, your drag screams, and your heart pounds, that is what it's all about! Then there's mans commune w/ nature too. A relaxing and deep calm that comes with getting away from our daily routine and from the stress of life. It is a therapeutic relaxation time meeting a roller coaster adrenaline rush, all in one day. 8-)

I agree! Among my fishing friends I am the only one that uses sunglasses on most outings and I cannot tell you how many times I've seen things my friends never could. It usually goes something like this : "Holy crap do you see that!?" ".... see what?" :-? "That HUGE BASS... RIGHT THERE!" ".... I dont see it" Happens to me all the time.

It's tail seems abit messed up. A buddy of mine caught a bass w/ that same sort of reddish spots on it's tail. Anyone know what thats all about?

X2! I actually mentioned it earlier. Seems we are in the minority there!

I <3 your avatar! ;D

I've had good luck so far with it. I have missed a few hook sets but I feel they were due to where the fish bit and held the lure more so then the hook. Every bass i've caught so far has been through the lip, (with these hooks) just where I want it, so no complaints here. I do have some wider gap style hooks but I gravitate more to a regular off-set. *edit* i've gone and rigged up some flukes w/ the wide gap for comparison. Now I just need some good weather! >

I once bought a bait caster pole for a spinning rod. Didnt even think about that funny trigger part until it was in my way! ;D That pole is now sitting in a corner somewhere, probably wont ever use it :-/ *disclaimer* this was quite awhile ago!

Finatic said it best! We all need to be aware and make sure our friends dont make the mistake of throwing out plastics! >