BassChaser57

GOOD CALL GLEN!!!!! This site has (mostly) great posts and insightful information. Of course some posts are just for fun and that is fine too. Please remember 95% of us will mind our manners and of course you have to run this forum to cater to the lowest common denominator. I have been fishing a long time and still find this site very fun and informative. This expands my tips and tricks knowledge which makes me a better angler. Thanks for putting up with the occasional pain in the backside and NOT allowing this site to be lowered to the level of some of the others. This allows the rest of us to have a great place to gather to share our passion without very many difficult members. Fat Ikas are better than senkos anyway. 8-) THANKS AGAIN GLEN!!!

Where you are is not who you are!!! You are on a journey that (if you finish college) will take you to great places. It is hard but look at your destination in 5 years and stay on the right path or you will never rise above your current situation. Growth NEVER comes without paying a price, some fear, and getting outside your comfort zone. You and you alone must decide (and it sounds like you already have) that you will go forward in life, stay on your chosen path and not let anyone put a detour in front of you. If you stay the course you will be a success, if you detour you will never arrive at your destination!!! If you were less of a person you would have already given up. You have what it takes to hang in there and go forward to great places in your life. Please keep us posted.

Many years ago when I was flight instructing I received a call from the control tower at St. Louis International Airport. The controller asked if we had an aircraft number %&$@#*? I said we did and he said we needed to teach proper pilot phraseology. He laughed and complained the student said "this is the man in the bird to the man in the tower, give me the word and I will give her the power." He was cleared for takeoff and I got to have a conference with the pilot but could not keep from laughing.

HEEEEEYYYYY wait a darn minute!!! That hits close to home in my neck of the woods. Really cute though. 8-)

It is true to a point that bass will eat more with warmer temps. After the water temps reach the 80's bass will slow down again much like we do on a hot day. That is why bass are generally more active as the water cools some in fall just like we get more active in the fall with moderate temps. 8-)

This is simply one of many examples of the public idolizing a sports figure only to realize that money and fame corrupts. Many of these sports figures are not worthy of our admiration. Lets face it, they can run, hit, throw, or catch a ball. Is that ability something worthy of putting someone on a pedestal? I much rather would look up to a fireman, police officer, teacher, preacher, of someone who selflessly gives of themselves to help others. Not someone that makes millions because they are good with a ball. I am not against sports figures, I simply don't understand what makes the general public go nuts over them and their one dimentional talent. That is my 2cents worth. 8-)

I am going with; 1. Crawfish 2. Shad 3. Frog Of course this depends on the body of water and water temperature as crawfish are not in all waters and only become active in the mid 50+ degree water. That is my final answer. 8-)

I have to agre 100% with your selections with but will add a #5. Pearl color at times will knock -em dead. It resembles a dying minnow. Good fishing.

I think we all agree it is tougher on young people to raise a family with costs of everything rising. It seems lots easier to have a few extra bucks in my pocket with the kids gone and a little better financial position that comes with age. I understand totally that I have wanted to buy a nice boat and have nice tackle, it just took me 20 years to do it. The angling demographics make total sense to me.

Bassmaster, In-Fisherman, Bassin are the three text books for me. LOTS of great info. 8-)

MUDDY, Then there at least 4 that like you--count me in!!! I always like to read your posts. You brighten my day Iand leave the site with a smile and it is ALL your fault!!! I understand taking a break as I have done that a couple of times but there is just something that pulls me back. It must be all the great BC.com members. I live near a small town with the city limit sign that says; Welcome to Malden, Home of 3465 nice people and one old sorehead. I suppose there is one in every crowd. We will miss you. Thanks for the smiles. BC57

THEY ARE GREAT. I have most colors in #8 and #10. They are great baits in spring but should work well especially early in the mornings. I have had great success with the pearl and clown colors. If you go to Rapala.com you can watch the proper way to retrieve the x-rap. I use is as a suspending jerkbait and have had bass clobber it. Actually I have had better success with the #8 size. Good Luck BC57 8-)

It is hard to believe but there is no law that forces us to pay taxes. We agree to pay taxes when we get an account at the bank. Hidden in the paperwork is an agreement that we will pay taxes or suffer the wrath of the government. Even according to the article with the link, the Law Professor said "we as a people agree to pay taxes." He did NOT say we have to pay because of government law or decree. YES, I am very happy to live in the USA and will pay my share of my taxes, this is just about laws/agreements.

LBH - YOU ARE CORRECT, Even though I just got back from 9 days fishing for smallies in Canada I need to spend more time in the front of my bass boat. Another way know when the fish are active is if you have "old bones" when they get really stiff and throbbing you know the pressure is droping and it hurts to do anything anyway, go fishing for the active bass. 8-)

There are lots of variables is Bass Fishing such as temperature,cloud cover, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, moon phase, fishing pressure, rising/falling water, muddy water, ect. There is one variable that I have used over the years that has proven to me -- it is simple and it works. Few of us can spend as much time on the water as we would like so I try to maximize my quality fishing possibilities. I do this by watching jet contrails (the white trails left in the sky by jets.) When I see the sky crisscrossed by contrails I go fishing and expect to find active bass. The explanation is simply that there is high level moisture meaning there is an approaching weather system. Many of us realize bass get active with an approaching storm or lowering barometric pressure, the contrails will tell us the same thing without having to be able to see the weather channel. The next time you see the contrails in the sky, try to go fishing and expect the Bass to be active and prove to yourself that contrails=active bass. Good Luck, BC57 8-)

You bring up a great point. Most of us would rather be a power fisherman live KVD but most bass most of the time would respond better to a slower soaking type presentation. What you are saying is exactly right! Fish high percentage areas, slow down and let the Bass find the lure. 8-)

I always plant them too deep and they don't grow. 8-)

You ask one hundred fishermen, you get one hundred different answers--but-- I would start on the right side of the dam where the fish attractors are located, yes these are probably overfished but would give it a try. I would also wear out the major point on the right side about half way up the lake as it continues underwater . I would pull out to the 16' water and start fan casting toward the shore. Continue moving in until you get some activity, at that point you will know what depth the active fish are holding. Notice the depth and try to repeat in other parts of the lake with fairly steep gradients With the temp that high I would start EARLY with a slow topwater walking the dog , chugger or a popper. As the sun comes up I would swith to jerk baits or most likley plastics. As far as colors, match the water color and plastic colors, (if the water is brown use Pumpkin and if the water is green use watermelon). This will be a good starting place. Good Luck and let us know how it works. 8-)

I am a high speed lift operator--ok-- an International Airline Pilot--- not to be confused with Jethro Bodine who wanted to be and International Playboy. 8-)

When you get to Branson there are reduced price ticket booths and of course if you look at a time share the tickets will be free. 8-)

LBH--Correct me if I am wrong but don't female Bass have TWO openings on their underside and male only ONE?? I thought "sexing" a fish only required looking for the number of openings.

You are on the right track but if you do not connect with the buzzbaits, try a popper or some other slow topwater until the sun touches the water, if it is cloudy or a chop on the water you can get by with topwater longer into the morning. Let the bass tell you how active they are. Spinnerbaits for fairly active fish and slow plactics for slow fish. 8-)

That is one of those things that will only come with practice. It is really hard to feel the difference between a log and certain types of strikes with entry level equipment so like at batting practice--take the swing and you will learn what it feels like when you have a fish and when you pull grass. The main thing is to enjoy your trip and please do not make your trips success or failure depend on the number of fish you catch. 8-)

You are in a normal situation as catching is much more than just throwing a line. There are so many variables in bass fishing that it is impossible to say here in a forum how to catch bass on any given day. The best advice I can give is to get in a club and fish with some good fishermen and learn. If there is any advise I could give is to use plastics such as a fluke, slug-o, worm, or lizard and try to make it look sick or wounded which means slow with twitches and pauses. As for color, if the water has a green tint to it try a watermelon type color, if it has a brown color try a pumpkin colored lure. Another major mistake new anglers make is to wait for the smashing strike, this is rarely the case. It is much more normal to see a twitch in the line, the line move sideways, the lure feels heavy or light as the fish sucked the lure in and just sitting (heavy) or has the lure and heading in your direction (light), hooksets are free so if it feels different--set the hook. It is something like baseball batting practice to get the timing to feel the strike and set the hook so you will probably miss more fish than you hook until you get the timing and technique learned. Another major consideration is to find the 10% of the lake that holds fish, again there is no way to tell this on the forum so read the how to articles on the different times of year and what the fish will be doing at that time such as spawning, ect. then apply what you read. As for location it has been said that not all structure will have fish close but all fish will have structure close. Fishing is like and other sport, the more you learn and practice the better you will become--keep learning and fishing. 8-)

You have a battle tested and proven lure. Having used them since I ws a kid (a long long time ago) they still produce. You will see more usage of them in the North but that may be a good thing if the fish are not seeing them where you are. Fish it like and other crank bait. Try to fool a bass into thinking it is an injured minnow. Twitch, twitch, pause. The Fire Tiger color will normally be selected with stained or worse water as it will show up well. Try it above undewater grass and it should produce some Bass. Good luck and keep us posted. 8-)