Ellesar

Don't forget the Senko's. I caught 12 last night on the TN river, averaging about 1.5 lb, largest going 3.5 all using the Senko magic. After trying these baits, and getting up on the learning curve, I am now drinking the Senko koolaid. In fact, I'm fixing to run to Gander Mtn to restock!

Thats the funniest thing I've read in a while actually. It almost makes me want to create a hat for you to wear so I could sponsor you. Ofcourse you may not want to wear it, my company would be something like "Ell's Stinky Pinkies" or something sure to cause embarassment! ;D

I live in Huntsville and primarily fish out in Guntersville or the TN river for quick evening trips. I would say I average 10-13 largemouth in Guntersville around this time of year and 5-10 on the TN river (obviously depending on conditions). In Guntersville I think you can get by without a fish finder by fishing grass lines. Lake Guntersville is one big hydrilla/milfoil farm this time of year and fishing the grass lines will usually result in a few fish, even if you aren't able to determine the bottom composition and terrain. There are a few areas south of Goosepond that are dynamite for largemouth, that being the Mink Creek area and South Sauty Creek area. There are a number of really good guides that work Lake Guntersville and they have very reasonable rates. As others have stated, they are your best bet for learning how to and where to find fish on Lake Guntersville. The TN river hasn't produced as many, or as large of fish as Guntersville. But you can launch around Ditto Landing and there is some decent fishing in that area. I like heading down there after work sometimes when I don't have the time to head out to Guntersville. And lately I head that way because its a lot cheaper in gas.

Its the Mod V Hull 1710. http://www.fisherboats.com/boat/specs.cfm?boat=2730

Not off of the top of my head. Its the stock prop that came on the boat.

Not really. A lot of "phising" attempts do similiar things and hope to get lucky. They will often call and ask about something just hoping that you might have whatever they are contacting you about. If not, then they hang up and try someone else.

Could it be that the entry level version is lighter since it doesn't have the bling, and the manufacturer feels that the speeds you could get from a 175 aren't safe. But for the elite version, given the added weight, the 175 is stable. That's just a guess but I don't think its unreasonable.

I have a 2008 Fisher that's 17.5' with a 2008 60 hp Merc 4 stroke. Its got 13 gal fuel tank, aerated baitwells, aerated livewell, etc. Think it weights around 1800 loaded, atleast in that area. Hole shot is fine, gets on the plane pretty quick. GPS speed is 39 mph.

But understanding how that effects fish can help you determine how to adapt your baits and fishing techniques to those conditions. And, based on your understanding of those things that you do know, it will determine your success or not. Ultimately you go out fishing and try various things. The things that work, you stick with. And those things that you try were initially concienved by understanding how fish act under different circumstances. Much of this initially came from fisherman, not necessarily scientists, but the principles are the same. Having knowledge, and the ability to apply that knowledge is never a bad thing.

If its been proven wrong then its not science. Thats what the scientific method is all about. I don't agree that fishing is based on faith. Its based on empirical evidence. You do what works for you and you don't do things that don't. When you see something that works, you will continue to do that. Thats not a "belief" or is it based on "faith". Its based on 100% empirical evidence, and that's what science is all about.

Whlie I agree that it all can be a bit confusing, science is what got you to the point of knowing what to do. Throughout your bass fishing career you've developed various theories, tested them, and stuck with what has empirically worked while abandoning that which doesn't. IT may seem like there are a few simple things to focus on, but what I think is getting lost here is that science, or atleats the application of the scientific method is what derived this list of specific things that matter. All sorts of things have been posited and discarded after "testing/expirimentation" has shown them to not be true. If the science was never applied, we wouldn't have this nice concise list of things that matter. Ultimately, making something simple is often the most complicated thing that you can do, if for no other reason than the fact that you have to remove many of the possibilities to distil something down to the basics. So further scientific study made lead to a few more "gems" of fishing knowledge that are easy to understand and can help you catch fish.

I also fish Guntersville. In addition to what you said, I've found using a Pop'r where the grass comes close to the surface is deadly this time of year. I actually saw 2 bass collide trying to get to my bait the other day.

Not so sure about your livewell, but mine has recirculation pumps and aeration pumps that adds new water on a timer and pushes out the old water to keep the water clean, cool, and oxygenated.

Science may make you overthink but application of the scientific method to your fishing is a good approach IMO.

One of the lakes I fish regularly has lots of grass. I've found that I catch the most fish in the holes in the grass (as mentioned above). But I also find that if I don't get a bite while the lure is in the hole, I will pick up grass in the thicker areas the bait has to move through in order to back to the boat. So, I tend to target the far side of these holes and bring the bait through it, and its not got grass on it at that point. But by the time I get it back to the boat it usually has a bit. I felt the same way you did at first, "weedless" hardly seemed "weedless". I guess its like a lot of things that claim to be "waterproof" or "fat free"!

I thought about that and paid close attention on Sat. I had it happen 3 times and never had a birds nest. The only thing I thought was that somehow it got kinked down in the spool without it appearing like it was an overrun, thus I didn't see that it needed clearing out. But I can't say that I've ever heard of or seen that happen. That's kind of what I meant. Not a massive birdsnest but just enough to where the line gets "loose" on the spool. With you using different lines and reels and it still happening the only other option like Hawghunter was saying is that it could be your guides. But it being down in the spool so far that is not likely. Tighten up your cast control a bit and see if that helps. Thanks for the reply. I am bit suspicious that what you are talking abuot is the case. I'm just a tad bit concerned because on Sat I was checking the spool and saw no signs of kinking before it happened. That was my initial suspicion. One thing I just remembered though makes me think you may be right. It seems like there was an odd buzzing sound when the line was coming off of the spool, like the line was kinked or something. Maybe I'm hearing things though. I guess I need to revisit the Trilene 100% fluoro then. I had sworn off the use of it because I thought it was just too fragile for someone who still gets a few birds nests during a day of fishing. I was think it was breaking too easily. Maybe its not the line, its the caster! (You would think I should know that! ;D )

I thought about that and paid close attention on Sat. I had it happen 3 times and never had a birds nest. The only thing I thought was that somehow it got kinked down in the spool without it appearing like it was an overrun, thus I didn't see that it needed clearing out. But I can't say that I've ever heard of or seen that happen.

Its happened on 2 seperate baitcasting reels. I've had it happen using Mono, 100% fluoro, and polymer.

I've been having a strange problem with my fishing line. For some reason after a bit of fishing, I go and make a cast and my line is broken. It's strange because its breaking down in the spool. At the end of the cast I look down and my line is broken. Luckily I can pull the lure back by hand so that I don't lose that too. What makes it even more odd is that often there are a couple of small sections of broken off line in that same area. So its more than just a single break, its like its breaking in several places. At first I thought it was the reel I was using. It seems to happen on my Quantum more than others. But I had it happen on a different reel as well. Anyone ever had anything like that happen? I've respooled the reels, I've tried different brands/types of lines. The only type I haven't had it happen on is braid. Am I casting "too hard"? Thanks...

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who gave me advice on fishing crankbaits in grass. I went out Saturday and gave it another go. In addition to tiring out my arms by constantly ripping the bait out of the grass, my arms also tired out from reeling in a lot of fish, including a new PB of 9.2 lbs. I do have to say I think I was lucky on that one, had I been using the fluorocarbon lined rod I think I would've lost her.

I'm probably gonna head back out to the Tennessee River again soon and I've wondered something when I've been out there in the past. At times the current is fairly strong which makes fishing difficult at times. Should I be compensating for the current? Are bass less likely to hit something going with the current or against it? I've wondered if I'm using something that looks like a minnow should it be worked with the current or against it? And what about things like jigs and worms. I've been trying to fish them by throwing them close to the shore and then slowly pulling them out. Once you get about 10-15 ft from the shore, there is a drop off of 20 or so feet. I've been trying to work the jig or worm down that slope, but often have problems because the current makes it hard for the bait to stay on the ground. Once I get a few feet from the shore the current starts ripping it down stream, which takes up the slack and keeps it from hitting the ground. Should I add more weight or use a heavier bait so that it falls faster? Thanks for the advice!

Money.

Well it depends on the lure you use. If there is something patented about the lure design, and you just change the paint scheme, you could be sued for patent infringement. It would be the same as creating your own lure using a patented design without paying for rights to use said design. Even if you just change the color, a lure company could argue that you are violating the reasonable facsimile precedent in that the lure you are selling as your own doesn't differ enough from their design. But with something like fishing lures, given how many look the same for all intents and purposes, that would be a tough sell and a company would be unlikely to come after you. But if some aspect of their lure is patented, you can bet they will, and you will lose.

Thank you all for your responses. I'm ready to go give the old grass another go. I had success using some Rapala X-Raps but not my fat crankbaits. I hate it when I don't know how to do something correctly that might help me catch fish, I get compelled to "figure it out" even if other approaches are working. I think I'm OCD when it comes to fishing!

I've been trying to follow the advice of more seasoned (and more successful) anglers and using crankbaits in my local lake where there is a lot of grass. Problem is that most of the time all I seem to do is create a "grass monster" when I try and rip it through the grass. Even a novice like me can see that a bass isn't going to attack a giant wad of milfoil moving through the water. So what am I missing here? From what I've been told Im supposed to "rip" it through the grass but that doesn't seem to work. Am I fishing a crankbait that is diving too deep? If so, do I need tons of different crankbaits to handle different depths? The area I fish has submerged grass with anywhere from a few inches to a few feet of open water above it. Is the bait supposed to stay in that area and not get down into the grass? Thanks for the help!