bigbill

Smaller I do that too.

If I'm using a higher test line and losing some of my lure action instead of using a lighter pound test I been thinking of using a steel leader like the ones for toothy critters. I been also thinking of the spot were I constantly get lures ripped off my line using the steel leaders just may help too. I'm not sure if it's a bigger smalley, a big chain pickerel or a freshwater otter doing it. It seems to love the blue rapala F7. Using steel leaders on my topwater setup what ya think? Bb Btw, I've caught 30" chain pickerel in this place already. These are so fat and round two of my hands won't wrap around it. They look like small northern pike.

The best reels I own so far is the Finor spinning reels #200S & #400S and the Okuma spinning reels the exiptor with the ten ball bearings I own the model 20, 25, 30, 40 & 55. The Finor reels are those big gold saltwater reels. They also make spinning reels. They have 4 or 5 ball bearings and there very smooth. I have some older Quantum spinning reels too,these were Wal-Mart bubble Pac reels don't let the lower price fool you besides some Viva's which seem to be better quality spinning reels too. I don't see the viva spinning reels anymore. But the smaller viva spinning reel is an exact same reel as a smaller okuma reel that I have the parts look to be interchangeable. It makes me think there the same company. Who knows. I know what I'm using probably isn't top shelf spinning reels but they seem to work great so far.

A bears skull is really thick and I been told that BULLETS will only bounce off it. I did bump up from a 30-06 to a 338wm to do a special fly in hunt someday.

I did shoot in a local gun club in competition as a 12yo kid. I had an old gunnery sarg hammer on me to get my breathing down before I shoot. You line up the sights on the bulls eye. Take one deep breath and let it out, take a second deep breath and let it halfway out, hold and shoot. You will notice the sights stay much steadier. My '72 Mossberg 30-06 bolt action has over 700 rounds put threw it by me. I stayed with it. I reload a tad below max load. It's a milder load but more accurate. She will shoot nickel(5 cent) 5 shot groups all day long with my reloads. The first time out with the 338wm the only difference was it had a tad more recoil over the 30-06. After I sighted in the scope my last two shots took the x out of the target. The newer 338's of today have a tad more power. Let's face it how many hunters put 700 rounds thru there 30-06 hunting rifles. I was at the local range with my 1907 Swede Carl Gustaf m96 6,5mm mauser shooting it with iron sights, no scope. I didn't know there were some SWAT guys practicing a few benches away from me. They seen my target and came over to see what I was shooting that was so accurate at 100yds. When I told them it was a 100yo Swede mauser there jaws dropped. They told me they had SWAT rifles with scopes that weren't that accurate. I was shooting 1 1/2" groups at 100yds benchrested using new 131gr SP seller & bellot ammo. Of course the Swedish 6,5mm mauser is one of the most accurate military rifles there is. It's really like sending a ringer into a competition. Plus I was shooting for accuracy that day after sighting it in from meters to yards for deer hunting. It had a 200yds military zero so I purchased the higher front sight to file it down till she hit the x ring at 100yds. Most military rifles from that era have 200 to 300 meter zeroes with there iron sights. They can shoot 4" high at 100yds. There only meant to be accurate for minute of man sized targets for war at the longest distances. The most famous Finnish sniper of WW 2 perfered a Finnish m27 mosin rifle with no scope. I'm still not as good of a shot that my older brother was. I couldn't ever come close to him. My oldest son shoots just like him. You can be as good as you want to be just practice, more practice and more practice.

I'm looking at all the ball bearings with no lube on them. The gears were lubed but not to my standards. I lube even my cheapest reels so I get the most out of my investment. I'd rather save the money on replacing them to invest in more lures. Plus I like to test the different reels and give them every chance for survival. Plus I like inspecting the insides for craftsmanship and quality materials. Plus the average fisherman like I once was with trout fishing in the spring and maybe one or two outings for bass my equipment never wore out. I just didn't use it enough. But now with bass fishing more and more a borderline product won't last. Even from shore I'm good for 500 to 1000 casts by the end of my outing. Somedays my arms feel like they were going to fall off. I wonder what the tornie guys feel like by the end of the day. Fishing in competition isn't like fishing for fun. We don't hear about the aches and pain side.

What ever happen to those crankbaits with the laser pointers in them? I have one but really never tried it that much. They were suppose to be hot stuff like a cat is to a laser pointer. I don't see them anymore. Bb

To me my hottest crawfish bait is the Rebel BIG CLAW crawfish crankbait. The only plastic crawfish I have ever tried is the ones that came soaked in hot sauce. I still have them in large and small sizes. These look real down to every detail.

I just opened up one of my new spinning reels. Although it has neat little ball bearings I found only the gears to have light grease on them. I took out my moly and lubed everything the either turns or slides. Even the bail hinge points were dry. I did notice it had a lazy bail before I lubed it. Now it snaps shut. But I close all my spinning reel bails by hand anyway. My question is does anyone lube there new reels before using them?

I have only used senko style baits and brushogs with success. Worms, I use a split shot rig unless there 10" or 12" worms I cast them with no weights if I'm in the shallows to 4' deep water.

Going from fishing in the dark to twilight I use what I have listed above. As it gets lighter as the sun is up the game changes to go deep. I've worked the jig up the Rocky point by hopping it slowly.

The Mauori charts were dead on. The most bass I ever caught at one time was when the moon phases were timed with a weather front during the full Moon phases. It happens once a year to me. The bass feeding frenzy is so extreme I swear they would bite a bare hook.

I go most of the time anyway but I make sure I go when the moon phases are right. I fish by the mauori charts. My PB of 10lbs was caught when the mauori charts said good early. Make sure you figure the charts to your time zone. I think this is why so many don't believe. Remember on the days the fish are biting the deer are moving too. I see deer all the time when the fish are biting.

One looks like it's an antique and the other looks like a Penn reel. I been collecting the antique bait casting reels along with there steel rods.

I have a one in a million remington 700 in 338wm. Using new over the counter Winchester 338 / 225 gr SP ammo "Betsy" can put two rounds thru the same hole at 100 yards benchrested. Standing up hand held with four rounds in non stop rapid fire as fast as I can run the bolt shooting at four different bullseye I came within one inch from each X ring. I don't shoot Betsy often because she is so accurate. When Betsy sounds off it echoes thruout the whole town. This year I may bear hunt with a new Russian AKM 47 in 308win. With the original iron sights she prints 1 1/2" groups @ 100yds.using surplus ammo. I'm sure it can do better with quality ammo. For deer my Swede mauser in 6,5mm will do. Or I'll handgun hunt deer. If your hunting grizzlys with a 30-06 just make sure you can run faster than everyone else. I seen my 338mg take out three ribs on the exit hole with black bears. I've hunted with my 30-06 for over 25 years. I think he is right about the Alaskan guides won't guide unless it's a 338wm or bigger. I guess these guides aren't good at running too. Think about with the big game hunters we see on tv who miss shots?

The wild west gun guys in Alaska are offering a new designed lever action in s&w 500. It's a shorter barreled guide gun rifle. I would like to see the lever actions upgraded to the older black powder calibers using the modern smokeless gun powders. The 45/90, 45/100, 45/120, 50/90, 50/100 etc just the thought of these in a smokeless powder in a lever action and a long 32" barrel gets me going. I would love to carry one of these when hunting bear. The lever market is unchanged for over 100 years let's face it. The market for o ever actions is at a stand still because nothing new is really being offered. I can't say enough about my marlin 444. I just purchased some 270gr and 300gr jacketed soft point bullets to reload for it. But the 300gr leadcast bullet in the 444 is suppose to be the hottest thing for it. Bb

I lube my reels with moly it eliminates friction, reduces wear, prevents galling, fights corrosion, doesn't attract dirt, stays were we put it. Moly works its way into the tiny pores of the metal then there is no metal to metal contact it's only against only thus no wear its eliminated. It reduces friction Your reel may feel hard at first but after a few turns of the crank it will free up as the only works in. Do not over lube it just a little moly will do. Bigbill Www.ts-moly.com I don't like seeing things wear out.

First I fish from shore 90% of the time. I have learned the ins and outs of shore fishing. I've learned there are many numbers of bass to be caught at night when they turn on before dusk. But there smaller in size when compared to fishing in the early am in the dark till 8am to 9am is when the shoreline bass make there move to deeper cover. I find at twilight while the sky starts to light up the topwater and crankbaits seem to rule at this time. I also throw deeper crankbaits into the channel and drop offs if you have that situation presented to you too. In the low light brighter inline spinners will work too. As it becomes lighter I switch to using the rapala original floater as these bigger gals start to get ready to move. Using a bomber shallow A in red Applecraw is one of my favorites too. We can crank it to 3' deep or slow reel it as a topwater lure since it floats. I also hit the channel with a rebel BIG CLAW crawfish crank at this time too. I bounce it off the bottom. Once the sun is up if you have a drop off or submerged weeds we need to go deeper since the bass move to thicker cover to hide. In the open water I use spinnerbaits too and fish it above the sight line and below the sight line by adjusting your reel speed. If you can see your spinner bait your above the sight line. If you can't see your spinner bait your below the sight line. Having a topo map of the body of water your fishing will tell you the depths and where the points, plus we're the holes are too. If no map is available ble I use my hummingbird portable fish finder to learn how the place is structured. Then I know what depth lure to use where. You will find out in fishing from shore you can have many situations to fish from in one spot. I can fish the flats, the weedline, the weeds, Lilly pads, the deeper holes, the open water all from one spot casting in different directions. I wouldn't know it's there without using the portable fish finder. Once you know how the place is structured you know how to fish it. You will find out each place will be related as to how to fish it once you learn the layout of the body of water. You can have success fishing from shore too. We aren't limited in fishing from shore. You just need to be really stealthy in the early am when the bigger bass are near the shoreline feeding. We need to handle our tackle and walk very quietly so we don't spook them. Make sure your tackle box is organized too. Finding things in the dark and low light with a flash lite can be tough if everything is mixed up. Remember any noise at all spooks them. Even a coff. Fishing in the hot weather during the day when the bass are deeper we need to use carolina rigs and split shot rigs with plastics in the weeds. Find where the shady spots that cover the water were it's cooler there you'll find bass too. Just fish the plastics slower.Bigbill Don't forget your rattle trap early in the morning too. Use what ever you have till you figure out a pattern. Adjust your lure color to the conditions of the available light too. Try every presentation too.

I'm sorry to say in my state these guys have more power than the state police. Your buddy should of said I have a problem losing everything so keeping it in my truck I know where it is at all times. I was checked once in my home state of ct.and I seen the fish n game ranger let others go free with no license. Why do I buy mine? Being disabled I park my car as close to where I'm fishing when I can. I was fishing 10' from my car when the park ranger told me to move my car I was too close to the dumpster. The dumpster was empty so no pick up was going to happen soon. As I packed up to leave he said just move your car. I told him by the time I get in my car the pain will be so bad I have to leave anyway. I thanked him and left. This guy was showing off his power because he had a summer help kid with him. I vt I was checked for hunting licenses while on my land. Since my land isn't posted no hunting I get to hunt it for free. Now as they got out of there truck we put our guns down on the ground right away. It's the right thing to do. They were relaxed and very nice to us. Some of these guys are awesome.

I need to be honest here. In the past when I first started bass fishing I used every trick possible and it worked. I took a football 3/8oz jig in green pumpkin added a rattle, an uncle Josh pork craw trailer and added a shot of craw scent. I casted it out with a baitcaster set up straight down a rocky point. I hooked up on the first with a decent sized bass of 2lbs. It was the first time using a jig and hopping it up the Rocky point. Now the first time I used a 12" culprit worm in black shad I had a rattle in it too, plus I used scent. I caught a 13" chain pickerel. I went out fully loaded using every trick using rattles, scent plus sight in color and size and it played off. So they can smell the scent, hear the rattle probably before they see the lure. The sight is probably the last thing they see. What do you think?

All my older baitcaster reels I purchased are all brand new. There is hardley any outings or very low hours on them if that. There still in New condition so they shouldn't need parts. I'll stick with them and use them. I need the practice anyway.

I'm not up in tree stands nor am I built for running nor speed. I'm on the ground so that first shot better count.

I just purchased some weedless hooks. I ordered 1/0, 2/0 & 3/0 hooks. The 1/0 are actually #1 in size and the 2/0 are #2 in size. The 3/0 are the only ones that are actually 3/0 when I compare them to the other ones I have. Have you noticed the sizes of hooks can vary between the hooks made here and the ones from Japan? I'm putting together an in-house stash of all the hooks sizes that I mainly use.

Shop around for the best prices. Everyone seems to have sales right now. I would checkout the local Wal-Mart, bps, and www.fishandsave.com they have low prices too with very fast shipping. Bill

Yup that's a good caliber but why a single shot? If you hunt alone for hogs are you on the ground or up in a tree stand? If your on the ground do you have backup? I would prefer a marlin lever action in either 45/70 or in 444 marlin. The 444 marlin has 3,000ft.lbs. @ muzzle and at 50ft will go thru a 3/8" boiler plate steel. It's my weapon of choice for hunting bears in thick brush country. The difference between the two is about 1,000 ft.lbs. with the power @ range going to the 444. But the 45/70 has a 405gr bullet and the 444 has a 240gr bullet as a standard load. The 444 marlin really shows its stuff when reloaded with the 300gr leadcast bullet. This seems to be favored by most 444 users. But I like the 45/70 too. I would love to see a manufacture use a more powerful modern gun powder and make the 45/70 really shine power wise. This would take a stronger rifle if course. The 45/70 is a tad too big for deer. You may waste too much meat.