Low_Budget_Hooker

Many states do protect bass during the spawn. I got a 7.6 lb LM when I lived in VT, my PB at the time but couldn't keep her because of the closed season I'm not complaining, she's still up there for someone like Upnorth to catch again!

nothing I can take much credit for,was working the 4-8am shift at ups, got out and went to my friends tiny pond, maybe 10 acres, but a run off of a lake that was part of the stocking program in the 60's & 70's. Was on my tippy light gauge 12' jon loaded with weight from ridiculously planned decks that made it look like a 5000 bass boat but made it tipp as heck with 2 people. Center of gravity was too high, anyway, off topic, I was standing on front deck throwing a 1/8 oz fleck s/b (blk) catchin small bass and then one cast, about a foot b4 it hit the water, the poike came and met it in mid air so I was instinctively setting the hook at the sight of the action all in the spluit second that I'm thinking I'm going to flip off the back of this boat when this line snaps cause I just saw the biggest pickerel of my life and I have old 6lb junk on and a 5'6" light action rod (rookie)!! Long story short, the whole time I was reeling I was sure I'd never see it. THen I di, and it was huge and on the first grab I got gill and eyeball and just hefted it in the middle of the jon where there were no decks. Straight to my buddys paintshop around the corner ( launched from his land) for pics and then to local state scale and the rest is history. The fish is still amember of our family adorning our xmas display as I type!

Been there, survived that! I have an IGFA line class record for a northern that I caught while bass fishin'. I got lucky when I reached over and got a thumb in the eye and another finger in the gills. if I hadn't, I probably would have never got to hold her.

Nice post Preston. You mentioned how the advertisers also post on all fishing aspects, not just about their product. This is a great place for a "special mention" Dave, "reelmech", has also gone above and beyond to help folks with countless reel problems giving step by step instruction to help avoid a repair bill that might be avoidable. THIS IS HIS BUSINESS! 99% of people who own a repair business would reply with"send it in, I'll take a look". Not Dave, if he feels he can help, he will, if it's a big job, that's another story but man,....giving away knowledge that you get paid for is extremely generous and I feel deserves a quick mention here. Don't forget about his specials for members also. Same goes for all the guides here. G WELCOME, L.D., etc-thanks to all you guys! AND A MERRY XMAS TO ALL!!

many times I'll leave the lure out there and grab another rod with a sub surface lure such as a super fluke or a baby 1- for an immediate follow up throw.

One way to tell if you are doing somthing right or not is to step back and check if you are smiling.

A new classic!! Thanks GW, well done. Merry xmas to all, now stop ordering through UPS please, you're all killing me! lol

violence is never the answer, for example.... if I happened to be that person on my pwc, I may just go get the Penn 130 2 speed, pull up outside your house in the 27 regulator and yank the deck right off of your house. oh yea, while you are enjoying dinner on it with the family. Now, now,...Not that I would do that, but violence isn't the answer, there is always someone with a bigger reel! Especially when their tax dollars give them just as much right to be there as us. Communication would be a better start IMO.

I think I was put here mostly to bring fishing to others. I love it. It all started when my brother and sister had kids and fishing with uncle Russ became the thing to do. I learned I had a knack for teaching. It's not somthing I would want to do for a living like a George W, because teaching fishing is only one tiny aspect guiding. One tip that works well in teaching the dynamics of a cast is the term "loading up the tip" In the backswing, the weight of the lure combined with inertia, will load up the tip of the rod with energy. That energy is transferred back to the lure when unloaded, or thrown forward. But anyway, for me, I'm fine with teaching friends and whoever wants to learn. This also explains my involvment with the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation. Share the knowledge (this was my one post, for the day, back to the big brown truck to bring xmas to everyone. bah humbug,lol)

just a thought, when I had my old corolla wagon years ago, my 12 ft jon fit on the roof rack, I just took the attachment for skis off and used just the straight bar. Thule makes one for the '05 maxima. You would look for just the straight bar(diff lengths, get the longest) and not any of the attachments i.e. ski rack, kayak rack, bike holder, they all attach to the straight bar. I had a light duty 12 then, and I could do it alone with ease.

When the pressure is high, there is an increased amount of pressure put on the fishs' swim bladder, usually will aid in putting a fish "off" of feeding. Low pressure, just the opposite. It's not about lure choice or color like a cloudy vs clear day would require, it's more about the chances of there being a good bite or not. Hope that helps a bit. I'm sure Chris can go into details for you if needed.

That would all depend on the hull more than the topdeck layout.

Capt. G- You can spank that monkey if you please but guess what..........he likes it, grips on even stronger and starts whispering in your ear, "Hey you can get bass pro points if you apply for a bass pro visa, snicker , snicker,he he"

[move]DON'T DO IT!![/move] For relatively a bit more money, you can have 10 times the boat that will last longer than you. Buy a 12 ft jon boat. In time, you can customize it if you wish but many can be found used for $2-400 dollars. So many points here, I'mm going to need some old posts. Plastic is cheezy, aluminum will last forever. Aluminum is easily repairable Aluminum has much more torsional rigidity. The pelican plastic is flimsy, it warps and the seams seperate within a few years from the ones I've seen. If you really want to go plastic, at least look at the coleman stuff Read some of this thread, good info on how/where to find,etc. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1119359773 Also check this, the last part about jons: http://bassresource.com/fishing/getting_afloat.html Feel free to PM me

my mistake, I answered thinking he said guide, not pro. Oops. Either way, captains liscence is good idea!

Being a captain is not an option, it is a requirement to do anything even close to what you are looking to do. You can't get insurance without it to begin with, nevermind state and federal requirements. If you are serious about guideing and providing a safe, fun day for your clients, obtaining your captain's liscense should be somthing you look forward to. There's a ton to learn. Look into the 6-pack class to begin with. Becoming a captain is no joke. The term is used with the same respect as the term "doctor" before someones name around here. there's alot of hard studying to do for the classes too, don't take them lightly. What you learn or don't learn can cost or save someones life,including your own. Good luck, now hit the books.

Not really, that's what "lifestyle " is! Paparock, I get in that brown truck every day to be you eventually.

[move]peacocks in Bora Bora[/move] [move]Largemouth on El Salto[/move] [move]Tarpon on the fly-Key West[/move]

nope, no problem on my hook,..um I mean,...in my book,hehe

WOW!! $169 off, that's like buying the jacket and getting the bibs for free!!

Local shops are always a great way to get business. Having long term established relationships on a personal and business level coming into the game is a must. Like L.D. said, most of his business is word of mouth which backs acstechs advice that if you don't produce, you don't succeed. Most of the respected names in fishing for a certain locale would either recommend or not recommend someone and the chances of that someone being you depends on how these locals view you. ****************************************************** Also check with locally produced fishing papers. Ours is called "The Fisherman" I think one of the biggest requirements is choosing a body of water that attracts anglers. When I was looking for a guide for fork, I didn't type "spotted bass guide" in google, it was "lake Fork guides". Does your body of water attract possible customers? When L.D. mentioned the web site, the above point hits it on the head. Lake Fork guide Ritchie WHite is the first hit on google under lake fork guides. His web site is the best one we saw and there were 2 of us inspecting them ALL! After further research, we learned that he backs up his game. Guess who we booked. Great point L.D. Good Luck and keep us posted along the way so we can refer back to you when this comes up in the future. Perhaps we could write an article of your story with clips from the board along your journey and file it in the articles section above.

I would if I trusted myself more but.... I'm a cash only kinda guy

I know DD, I felt so dumb when I was talking to HawgHunter one night and was saying how I need somthing to help reheat my hands after they are wet when it's 15-30 degrees or so and he's like, the tent heater doesn't work enough? (we had been previously talking about camping and all the same gear we both have) Duh,lol

freshwater pirates? ARRRRR matey, ye shoulda shot 'em Hoist 'em up till the gulls 'r done

depending on the degree of coldness, we start out using fingerless gloves, then full gloves, then full glove with heater packs, then......wait for spring,lol. Upon HawgHunters suggestion, I will also be getting a small tent heater to keep in the middle of the boat to warm our hands over. Keep them dry! Bring a few2 small towels to dry hands after they get wet. Thanks Ryan- Will look into those gloves for '06. I saw the sealskinz but they don't promote warmth, just waterproofness.