J._Bricker

Redline Robert- Shouldn't take more than 2 weeks to get it to MoTown during this time of the year, that was about my timeline 3 years ago. I'm also a Ranger Driver, in my opinion there is no other bass boat. Chet and Robert are good people and will take care of you. Oh, and NICE ride.........I know it's going to be Hell waiting.

Weapon Jig

2004 Ranger 520VX gets to the water with the help of a 2001 3/4 ton GMC Yukon XL

1)Brush Hog 2)Sweet Beaver 3)Senko 4)Fluke Looking at the flick to the left, can you guess why a Brush Hog is my #1 choice?

Fish Tank- They are as good as advertised, as you can tell by the comments made here. Good bulkly bait that I do like to throw Texas rigged. The bass just eat 'em when they are feeding on crawdads, just like Shad Master said, and it's an option to throwing the jig.

Bass Smacker- Did you find that ice off of Italian? I've got to say, our brother lip-rippers in the east can have that weather. Northern Cali weather can continue to spoil me year round . I forgot, I gotta wear shades 8-).

Brian- I'd suggest using a palomar knot, and don't forget to wet the line when tightening the knot. I also like to use Berkeley Vanish "Transistion" for the same purpose, as I like the color to help me line watch. Good luck, JB

Check Progressive as well. And don't forget to include your tackle as a separate line item. You'll have a new appreciation of how much you have invested. JB

BaitMonkey12- If you buy it I think you'll wish you would have spent your money on something else. For instance, a portable fish finder that you can use on any boat, including rentals. All you'd need then is a trolling motor / battery and your in business. That was my start and my .02 on your question. JB

Shad man- Couldn't care less what the water content is, my water rate will go up anyway. Good news, I can be fishing on the Delta in 30 minutes, or skiing on powder up in Tahoe in 3.5 hours........

Rebel Wee Craw Lake trolling or river/stream fishing

Go with the Loomis 843, 844, or 853, get the best you can afford. I have a Zillon 7.1 on all, because the bait monkey is my co-pilot. I don't think you'll be able to get that smile off your face. Hook sets are free, JB

Muddy- you've heard of the Snag Proof Tournement? Only their products are used, and during one event the guy who won used a Wiggle Wog, not the frogs like most others. Remember reading one guy complaining about the winner, who filled the Wiggle Wog with water to create a swimbait for a 30lb limit. Oh, and it was within the rules per the judges. Some clubs have topwater tourneys. Good times when the bite is on.......... My take on your original post, it could only be done on a club level. JB

Muddy- Don't dispare, the fish are still there. Yesterday (the 14th), took the boat out and I did manage one fish on a rip bait in Disco, with 41 degree water temps. But, I did find 1/4" ice at the back of one slough. Just not what we're used to, because it beats the hell out of drilling a hole in the ice to get at 'em. FYI, 9.29 anchored a 22.03 sack in a touney held on the Jan. 3rd. Only folks with a need of sunscreen are Raul and our friend in the Southern Hemisphere. Hook sets are free, JB

You're going to be happy with it. Fuel injection vs carburetor is no comparison, but the Optimax on my boat (a 225hp) loves the Optimax 2 stroke oil. Good choice, and good luck

North Georgia- Beautiful boat!!! I'm sure all of us hear can remember the pride you have right now when standing on the bow of our first boat, behide the wheel of our first car, and in my case (at your age), a street bike. Take care of your boat, and she'll take care of you. Tight lines-JB

Vekol- one of the best products out there for for under $20 that you can put on your trailer. Ben and LBH are giving you good advise- use the plastic caps, and a quality bearing grease. When the old grease is pushed out by the new grease, I would just clean that off with a paper towel. And if you do this regularly, especially at the end of your fishing season, you won't be one of those guys sitting on the side of the road. You know, the ones you pass on the way to the lake, standing around their boat trailer >, looking at a trailer wheel. Hope this further convinces you to install them- JB

I've got to angle my boat in. I'm thankful my trailer has a swing-away tongue and for stackable washer/dryers. It will fit, one way or another

Triton 21, I'd take JT's advise, he's right on the money. Also, that Trophy is going to dial up your RPM's when your breaking in a new motor, and let me tell you 10 hours is a long time. A 27 degree pitch Tempest is probably a better choice, after all you wouldn't put 13" rims on your tow vehicle, right? Oh, and congradulations on your new boat! JB

Check in at Phils Props or Cal Custom Marine. I'm sure there would be a message board or they could put you in contact with a local club. With all the tournaments on Shasta, the local clubs would welcome a couple of new members. Here are a few clubs I found up your way, Cotton Wood Bass Club, Red Bluff Bass Anglers, and Shasta Cascade Bass Anglers. Wish I could help out more, but I'm down in the East Bay. I normally pass through your neck of the woods on my way to fish the Klamath. Good Luck, hope this helps- JB

Thanks for the clarification LBH, as I wasn't sure if that was a local name for oysters (which are pretty d**n good raw, on a half-shelf with alittle cocktail sauce). Here on the Pacific side, they are also known as clams, horsenecks, cockles, and razor. Nothing like talkin' seafood. Good luck against Chuck. JB

Smib- The differance is the hulls, one is a "3" series, the other a "4" series. You can check the Ranger website for that info. But you can't beat a Ranger, I owned an "86 Ranger 373, which I sold 2 years ago and I'm sure it is still running strong. Take a look at any used boat website. You will find lots of older Rangers, but not as many of the other manufactures. That, I believe, speaks volumes about the reliability and longevity of a Ranger boat. It's also said another way, "resale value". IMO, go with the 482, its a newer boat and hull design, you won't be disappointed. JB

Jayhawk- I beleive Bixby is right. The red part of the bass' mouth you're referring to is the raspy, sandpaper-like part, correct? If they are kinda' "gummy" and red, it is because they are feeding on crawfish, and it is from crushing the crawfish shell on pick-up. If you put one of those bass in your livewell, I can almost guarantee it will start pukeing chunks of crawdads in the tank. This time of year (pre-spawn), the bass get the most nuttritional value for their efforts. And the females need calcium for their eggs, and they can get that from the crawfish shells. If the bass is feeding on forage fish, the gums will be clear. If you look closely at that bass' gums, you can actually see little teeth. That's why the inside of your thumb gets that nice "rash" after a good day of rippin' and lippin' fish. Anyway, just my thoughts on your question- JB

LBH- One other method to use regarding the challenge. I would suggest sending a letter on Bass Resource letter head (Glenn do we have any?), with a C.A.S.T. pamphlet explaining further the intentions of your challenge and what our group is about. Maybe include copies of your E-mail challenge and letters, as they may have been accidently deleted. Send the letter registered mail to Charlie, ESPN, and Clay Dyer, that way you know which someone got the information. Charlie is a celebrity, and as such a lot of demands are placed on his time. If you really want this thing to fly, you have to show him it is worthy of his time (we already know it would be). In my opinion, a certain amount of class not crass, will go along way in see your challenge happen. Good luck on this, and your pending victory over that guy from Boston - JB Oh and LBH- what the heck is a quahog?

Illini Bass- Check out Basshunter2K5's post on page 3, for more info on your question (I think there was 85 posts). As for your rig, the tow vehicles you mentioned should have no problem at all. JB