BassChaser57

Larry Nixon! He seems like a guy to go fishing on sunday afternoon. GOOD GUY.

I will give you $100 for it delivered. 8-)

In the rain I would start with a gold topwater and go from there.

If there is a bass club locally, or you know someone who is a good angler who will let you go along, your prospects for learning increase drastically. What part of the country are you?

I think it is the guy that can go to new water, figure it out and put pounds in the boat. It has been said that 10% of the anglers catch 90% of the bass. I just want to be in the 10%.

Another idea is to take 3 old tires, stand them up and make a triangle. Wire them together and drill some small holes in them to let the air out, no matter which way they hit bottom you have automatic cover.

I like the way roadwarrior thinks -- yes the plastics are probably the best fish catching baits day in and day out--but sometimes it is more fun to catch them on different baits of course assuming you can get bit on something else. I remember reading that novice hunters have to have a kill to have a productive hunt, then with experience they will limit themselves (i.e. bows, muzzleloaders, ect) and only try for trophies. You have to figure out if you want quantity or quality and fish that way.

I have normally found approaching weather systems to be better fishing than after frontal passage. When you look into the sky and see jets leaving contrails (looks like smoke) GO FISHING!!! There is sound weather doctrine on this that I will not bore you with but moisture is moving in normally within 24-36 hrs. But of course fish when you can, some days are just more productive than others.

The reason Lake Fork is never in the Bassmaster list is that Bassmaster never fishes it because of the slot limits. If memory serves it is 12" to 24" at least the 24" is correct so the anglers can catch 10 pounders and not be able to weigh them in. Most all the tourn. are won with below slot limit fish. If I had mega bucks riding on big fish and couldn't weigh them in I suppose I would not like it either. I caught a 23 1/2" Bass there last spring and the replica will be done soon, I had to kiss her and say goodby -- not legal, but this is what makes for a GREAT fishery.

Shoot yeah stumps are good. I try to fish cover on structure so if the stumps (cover) is on a drop or bend in a creek channel (structure) then you should be in the big mammas. I would cast to the sunny side this time of year, and I would see if there were a current or at least a prevaling wind as both of those things will wash out under it leaving a hole. The sweet sows will be sitting in the hole chilling. Good luck. 8-)

Way to go--- You did the right thing. It is getting to be the right time of year to have some fantastic fishing.

Yes you have a big problem and you MUST start going to meetings. They will be at the lake at sunup everyday that ends in "y" and we will all be there to support you in your addiction--um-- I mean recovery. 8-)

Any day of fishing---is better than staying home, sitting on your couch in your underwear watching TV wishing you were fishing. It probably will be a slow catching day but you will be doing what the rest of us trapped in offices or hotels wish we were doing. Glad to see you went --we will be awaiting the report. 8-)

Good post Matt, this seems to be one of the hottest topics on the bass scene in todays fishing environment. Thanks for the links, hope to meet you at Fork in March. PS. Just read your jokes and thought I would fall out of the chair laughing--more good work. You get a double attaboy in my book.

Hmmmmm, Has anyone else noticed that when anglers are defending Ike they say "well, are you saying he is worse than ---" and the others are deadbeats and derilects. To reinterate; I believe Ike is a great fisherman and deserves his status for being a skilled and talented angler and do NOT hate him at all. As has been said here, he is immature as he acts like a kid. It is not just Ike, MTV is locked out of our home as well and I attempt to have adult role models for my daughter who will make her a better, more responsible, self disiplined adult. An adult (no matter who it is) acting like an out of control teenager is not a role model in our home. Are there worse role models, of course, are there better, of course. I am an airline pilot and don't think you want me to scream and do the ghetto dance when I do my job and land the plane. The coach of the Denver Broncos tells his players to act like they came to make touchdowns and are not suprised when it happens. Act like they have done this before. I realize Ike is here to stay because he is too good of an angler and I wish I had his fishing savvy, I am just glad I don't have to act like him when I catch a fish and more importantly, I am glad the guy in the back of my boat doesn't act like that. Matt, None of the people or shows on your list make it in my home. Great subject and remember; If the whole world liked chocolate there would be no vanilla. 8-)

If you are just getting started you can use model paints. They work well and last a long time. 8-)

Balsa is cheap so carve away. You will have a great time with the Wal-Mart airbrush kit. Model paints also work well and are small quantitys and small $$. We want to see the pics of the baits and the monsters you catch with it. 8-)

Any hobby store would have everything you need to carve and paint. All the balsa, the knife, the airbrush equipment, and paint. Be sure to post the pics of the finished products. 8-)

This is some great input guys. The limits I saw being contemplated were 55mph. This allows for the bass and ski boats to get on plane and handle nicely yet provide a better margin of safety (so they say.) 8-)

WHOA GUYS, Lets encourage young people to have dreams instead of badgering them. I think it is great for young anglers to have a desire to dream and have goals. Lets help get these young folks on the road to fishing for a lifetime and being on a great website like this one instead of other web junk. To all the young anglers -- THANKS FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM!!! 8-)

I recently read where some lakes are thinking about imposing speed limits. Being that I am older and more prone to breakage it seems like a good idea to me. Denny Brauer had to have back sugery after a rough boat ride. What do you think? 8-)

WOW--THIS IS AWESOME!!! There is some fantastic information here. This is more info than I get in an issue of Bassmaster! THANKS GUYS(and Gals). 8-)

I reread the posts and it hit me that we are talking about two issues here. #1 Ike is a great angler and I do NOT want to take that away from him. #2 Ike is not and should not be a role model I want my child to be like. As was said earlier, there are several sports figures who are great in their profession but show little if any class or give a reason to be respected outside of the game. If money and talent make a "good guy" then Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson are the best! 8-)

If we want Bass Fishing to be a backwater, trailer trash sport, then Ike is the spokesman/personality we want. If we want respect, then we need to look to the KVD's and Clunn's of the sport. I shudder to think of Ike being on Good Morning America like KVD was and giving the average American the idea that he represents me in any way or is the norm for the sport. He simply lacks class, if that is what we want this sport to be, it is up to us! 8-)

So now what do I do on Saturday mornings, I suppose I will just get up and go fishing! Denny would say I am a ZERO, but I would be in good company as most all his guests have been a zero in his book. Why should I get up to watch some guy who is nervous on TV get trashed and embarassed by some other guy who thinks he is a hotshot because he has earned some $$? Michael Jackson has earned lots of money and has some talent too but I suppose I won't be watching him either. Lets put some class acts on T.V. -- Dance, Clunn, ect. 8-)