FlyRod

Of course I'm serious ! Haven't you been to the Special Projects section of the BassCat site? Or the Top Secret Section at the Pratt&Whitney site? After all, when we Sooners do something, we do it right! Re: The Schooner...that's one of our greatest traditions, but the two weirdos in the pony suits they introduced this year are a monumental embarassment. They're almost as bad as the YooTee WrongWhorn Band's uniforms. To be fair, it takes real cojones to wear an orange Brokeback Mountain cowboy suit with 9' fringe ;D. Believe me, when the Sooners DO start a team, it'll be the best. Did I mention that the BoomerSoonerPuma that B'Cat is building has crushed diamonds in the gelcoat instead of metal flake? BOOMERRRRR! F. Rod Sooner Fan at large

THIS JUST IN!!! The University of Oklahoma has announced that it will field a championship Bassing Team this season. The team will be coached by none other than Barry "Da' King!" Switzer and will feature potential Clunn Trophy (equivalent of the Heisman Trophy) candidate Adrian Peterson as a the starting front seater, with Larry "Bite or I'll tackle yo' hiney!" Birdine as the starting co-angler. A new BassCat model , the "BoomerSoonerPuma", is being specially constructed at press time and will feature a Crimson and Cream color scheme and a 345 hp motor specially made by Pratt&Whitney. The boat will have heated Magic Fingers seats in the basic color scheme, but made of Bevo-hide ;D. The deck material will be made from Wildcat Turf, contributed by Kansas A&M@Manhattan with the original color "Brokeback Mountain Purple" : bleached out and redyed in the appropriate Crimson hue. Instrumentation will be provided by NASA and the sonar/graphs will be capable of determining the location of the largest bass in any given body of water as well as their date of birth, sexual preference, preference in lures, and credit rating. A further feature of the boat is a fully stocked bar, with icemaker, that automatically turns into a small altar if a Baylor U. boat (Green 14' aluminum, 15hp Kenmore.) approaches 8-). This year's recruiting crop was rated #1 by the Hooters Girls and includes Georgia phenomenom Ryan "SoonerSenko" 77, Rhode Island All-Stater Russ "Line Backer" Hooker, who initially verballed to Penn State but realized it was hard to work a buzzbait in 6 inches of ice, and some guy named Glenn, who is considered a work-in-progress (backlashes his Zebco "Snoopy" a lot) but has potential. Ladies and Gentlemen! I give you the 2006 Sooner Bassin' Team of THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLA(BY GOD!)HOMAAAAAAAA! Note:The boat's horn will play "Boomer Sooner"http://members.cox.net/soonerlynx/sounds/index.htm upon an angler boating a bass and "OK Oklahoma" if the fish weighs more than five pounds. (Contributed by Bob Stoops, some football guy.) Flash!!! Texas A and/or M has announced that they will no longer be fielding a bassing team until they figure out how to keep the traditional pre-tournament bonfire from burning through the deck :-?. F.Rod Roving reporter and unashamed Sooner Fan! " Neath the western sky, OU's Chant will never die. Live on, University."

I've lived in the same condo since '83 so finding my bed in the dark is no problem unless I trip over one of my cats en route. Now, if I'm at a different place I usually ask her to, at the least, not snuff the scented candle until I join her. That, or I follow the sound of her little snores 8-). Ohhhhhh...BASS beds?...never mind. F.Rod Latella (Emily's brother) The above dedicated in loving memory of Gilda Radner.

I rub some MegaStrike on their forehead and hook them on a Carolina Rig with a 3/4 oz weight. ;D Sorry, it's been a long day already. lol JT Bagwell Baggy, If they are real brats, I hook 'em through the lips. Can't scream as loudly that way. Don't want to attract attention, y'know? FR

MY brands :-?? Maker's Mark Tanqueray Stella Artois Thash 'bout...hic!...all. Oh, and GREEN Curados too! FlighRahd

Not to be a doomsayer, but... I'd bet even money that the bass died from stress within 24 hours of being caught, :'( handled, etc. Nobody is to blame though, 'cause ya' gotta have a picture of one like that. Being a Cali bass, I assume she was eaten, in a politically correct manner, by the rare species of turtle known to frequent Cali waters (Snapperus Demoliberalis Nutcasus). You can bet the turtles selected a great wine to accompany the meal. Of course, the turtles felt guilty after dinner and swore to become vegans and join PETA . F.Rod

DLoomis, I know this guy! 8-) Do as he suggests. And...be sure to get the float! F.Rod

Much as I'd love to listen to good music (I have a degree therein) whilst angling I'd be reluctant to have a built-in unit playing in the boat. Why? (I hear you inquire.) Well, correct me if I'm mistaken but wouldn't the boat itself transmit unnatural (to the fish anyway,) sounds into the water and spook the critters therein? Of course, one could go the headphone and IPod route, but then one might not hear another boat, off-course and dangerous, or the shouted warnings that a tsunami has somehow formed and is heading one's way. True, tsunamis rarely occur on Texas lakes, except when some drunk and his pontoon boat come too close, but you never know. Now, while under way, I'd definitely NOT wear headphones, but speakers blaring "Ride of The Valkyries" when bounding over some waves or the theme from "Top Gun" when running WOT might be nice. F.Rod

Me! 8-)

My "pretty much favorite partner" (who is NOT so pretty, BTW) has a Skeeter- labeled G3 with a 90 hp. I find it to be more than adequate but he cusses it regularly. Mostly, his gripes are what he deems to be sloppy manufacture and shortcuts. Still, as the backseater, I'm pretty OK with the rig. So soon as I win the Lotto, he gets MY choice of boat and motor, either a Puma or a Legend LE-21 with a 225 OptiPop XS OR E-Tec. Any day now. Any day! I'd recommend you do some serious research and in-person eyeballing on any brand before you buy. If you really don't know what to look for/beware of, get an "expert" whom you trust to go with you. Make a checklist of features AND (above all) quality "indicators" before you go and use that to determine your choice. And...welded hull ONLY, unless you can afford the Tracker Avalanche...great tin boat! F. Rod

If you are towing a fairly large and heavy boat with a midsize P/U, or even a midi SUV, you might find the tail wags the dog at inopportune moments; sharp curves at speed, wet pavement, etc. Braking can be a problem too...sometimes fatally. Also, though towing with a manual tranny on level surface is usually OK, assuming clutch skills are part of your resume', a manual tranny on steep ramps will probably need clutch replacement sooner than later. If the clutch is worn, the driver may not be able to gain ground, especially when recovering the boat, and may even lose ground...disaster! Further, if YOU want to drive the boat off and on the trailer, you'd better school your partner on manual clutches vs. steep ramps. Otherwise, the entire rig may join the Silent Service (See: US Navy, Submarines.) I've seen this happen more than once. I'd recommend the driver's door be OPEN and that the driver be wearing a PFD. Not kidding here! F.Rod

Montezuma Jabberwocky Watkins...knew him well!

Just an opinion... I'd hold out for at least an 18 footer, unless you have tow vehicle limitations. Also, the 90 hp will soon have you wishing for more power, at least a 115, unless you are fishing smaller water where long runs are not part of the equation. Shop around and take your time. I'll bet there's an 18 footer with a 150 just waiting for you to discover her. Good luck! F.Rod

By Golly! You are right! I must have been in "Comma" mode and I admit that I'm not the best at mechanics. But, I can spell and express a thought with some fluency. Someone once told me that such failings as I evidenced in my previous post were a "not to worry" matter IF you can somehow "hear" my ramblings as you read them, rather than ingest them in a purely visual manner. I hope she was right . I still stand by my opinions, grammatical bloopers and all. Thanks for the constructive criticism. It was warranted. Whaddya expect from a Music Major? F.Rod

I recall that Spoonplugging was a big deal among a VERY limited number of anglers here in the San Antonio area, circa late 70's. There was at least one Spoonplugging club formed here. It did not last long. In those pre-Walmart days, there were numerous independent tackle dealers in our fair city. Some of them loaded up on Spoonplugs... and some later ate them I was invited on a Spoonplugging trip during that time; Borrrrrrrriiiiinnnnggggg! After the 'pluggers got tired of replacing their weaponry that had been lost to trees, rocks, etc, (and that didn't take long) the club faded away along with fad. To me, trolling is something you do in the deep blue sea (They never have eliminated the difficulties involved in casting lures with a 9/0 Penn Senator) OR if desperate for a fish and/or would rather drink beer/fondle Cynthia as you drag hardware through the water. Buck was scientist, after a fashion, and is due respect for the manner in which he developed the system and application. For all that, however, a TRUE fisherman/woman, seeks his/her quarry one-on-one, hand-to-hand. To hook a fish with a rod in a holder, missing that wondrous sensation of a strike, is to surrender a thrill like no other. F.Rod

I think it's darned sad. Not to single anyone out for criticism or embarassment, but many folks measure a man, initially, at least, by his fluency in his native tongue, both verbally and in writing. I know that a man's true worth is in his heart, not his voice or pen, but the harsh reality is that most prospective sponsors don't want someone representing them who so lack fluency that they cannot possibly convey the sponsor's message. I realize that some of our brothers here do quite well verbally and simply lack typing or spelling skills OR the willingness to proofread before posting. Still, those skills are of great importance as well, and must be developed and honed to a fine point. (Will I EVER learn the proper use of the Semi-colon? I doubt it! ) I'm not saying that one needs a degree in English, but one must be, at the very least, capable of fluent communication. I note, with dismay, that "kids" of my generation are more skilled, linguistically, and, for that matter, have better "number sense", than recent crops harvested from our high schools and colleges. The decline ran parallel to the decline of discipline, respect (both for self and others,) and loss of love for God and Country that began to manifest itself in the late Sixties. See a connection? Of course, so much as I do, admittedly, laugh my fundament off at it, "Blue Collar Comedians", such as seen on the redneck music channel, make matters worse. These guys are possum stew for the soul, but death to the language. Give us, this day, our daily rant! F.Rod

BillyBass, IF I had wanted to name forums, I would have. I did not do so because I was speaking of group behavior and character, not individuals. I had no reason then, nor do I now, to put anyone...moderator, member, whatever, in the spotlight or under the microscope. There was no valid reason for you to "modify" MY post, unless it was to curry favor with the forums you named (correctly or otherwise). It needed no further elaboration or detail. Besides, you may not have been accurate. I note, with wry satisfaction, that you declined to "guess" at any others whose distinguishing features I mentioned. Why not hazard a guess or two now? Catch a big 'un and be safe doing it. FlyRod

Never come to a complete stop. It's harder to hit a moving target. Never bunch up. One mortar round will get yez all! Serpentine! Serpentine! That is all, out. Rod, F. Having a flashback

Well, to be honest, I'm still looking for the "perfect" forum...whatever the heck that is. Of the those that I'm a member of, all offer some positives and some negatives. One of them (present company excluded, please note) seems to be populated by 6th grade dropouts who thrive on name-calling, posting pics that are unsuited (though mighty eyecatching) to a "family" board, and delighting in internecine warfare among members of other forums. If someone ever films a remake of "Deliverance", I know where they can hire all the "local color" they need. Another has recently featured some strife as mentioned above, with the result that several members bailed after posting heart-rending (riiiiight!) farewells. Hey, if you're gonna leave, just drop off the key, Lee. No famous last words required. Yet another seems a bit too politically correct and over-censored, but that's no crime in that most all forums are the personal domains of an individual or tight little group. As such, he/she/the inner circle or clique, have the right to dictate and control, fairly or not, thus reflecting their own values (or lack thereof) and that's simply the way it is. So, by sampling them all, I've been entertained, angered, educated, frustrated, complimented, insulted, laughed at AND with, praised, damned, threatened, approved of, etc, etc. In turn, I've tried to be helpful, sincerely sympathetic, constructively critical, funny, and fair. By the same standard as I'm willing to apply on a give and take basis, I've been no more, or less, successful in my efforts as the various forums have been in gratifying me. So, what does this tell us? Simple...nobody is perfect, least of all me! F.Rod

Well, there was at least one incident of hull failure that I'm personally aware of. It happened at Falcon Lake circa early 80's. Conditions were horrible, wind-wise, with some serious and unevenly spaced waves churned up. A bass boat, driven by a fairly seasoned pilot, was so battered by impacts with the waves that the hull literally split from near the bow hook to a point approximately 1/3 back on the keel. It opened a gap nearly an inch wide . Fortunately, the incident occured not far from a launch ramp and another boat , which was "in formation" with the unfortunate crew, immediately responded. The other boat managed to tie on and tow the stricken craft to the shallows where it was beached by wave and wind. There were no injuries. I will not name the make or model :-X, but will say that the firm involved no longer manufactures bass boats. I DO recall that it was within three months of purchase and the manufacturer offered a full replacement. Being thoroughly spooked, the owner refused replacement and successfully demanded a full refund on the purchase...WOW!...and was finally successful in that effort. Imagine trying that nowadays. Now, and this was probably key to his success in obtaining a refund; The boat showed absolutely NO sign of impact with a solid object. I saw the boat once it was dragged onto the trailer and I can attest to that. Conclusion: A manufacturing/material defect. So far as one breaking in half, it has happened with supertankers but never with a small boat. F.Rod

Why would he be willing to trade for less power and potential problems? Maybe, just maybe, he knows he can remedy the probs with your current motor, wind up with a newer motor (perhaps with some factory warranty remaining,) and save gas. I'd check to see if there's warranty remaining on your motor or find a skilled mechanic to see if it can be brought up to spec. Besides, is YOUR hull rated for a 300? F.Rod

La Ciudad San Antonio de Padua, en Bexar (Beh-har), Tejas (Teh-hahs). Translation: I be in San Antonio, ya'll. F.Rod

If for no other reason, the State of Nuevo Jork is blessed by the presence of...... The United States Military Academy at West Point! F.Rod

Jeff, My favorite fishing bud has the G3 (Branded as a Skeeter) 18'(+-? inches) footer with the 90 Yammy. He yearns for 20 feet of fiberglass, max HP, more speed, glamor, etc, but I drive and fish from the G3/Skeeter often and find it to be a very nice rig. It runs in the high 30's, heavily loaded, and would benefit from the 115 HP option, speedwise. However, the current setup sips gas compared to many other rigs. Cheap to tow as well. Perhaps they've improved, but I've found Trackers to seem sort of "tinny" and not all that well made. Also, I've heard more gripes than compliments re Tracker sales and service. Finally, the Yamaha IS a quiet, smooth, seemingly bulletproof engine. Lowe? Well, that is one highly regarded brand and rightly so. Try before you buy and assess ride, features, layout, storage, fishability, build quality, etc. F.Rod