Kana

i have to say its rare these days to find compassionate people and those who contribute so much and seek little or nothing in return. we are lucky that this forum has many of these people and Roadwarrior is one of them. to you RW, i salute you and your big heart!

lets see, gimmick lures, now gimmick habitats. i agree that you can build your own for less, and add weight which is the most made comment regarding the BD habitat.

my dad, and my grandfater, both about the same time. they took me fishing for anything that would bite to keep me interested. after about 10 years old my dad and uncle got me into bass fishing and its was all over from there. spent my allowance on new baits. bummed fishng trips form anyone that was going. great memories, and liek many others its now my turn to take my dad out and return the love that he showed me. but now getting up making coffee and breakfast are as much as part of the trip as fishing itself. great topic!

i have the same problem, i have a good camera phone, in which the screen flips so i can see and preview but the frame is only so big at arms length away. if im going to a place that i antcipate catching nice fish i bring the Digital video camera then "snp" pics from it off te computer when i get home. nothing beats a tech savy fishing partner to take the best pics!!!! 8-)

if i had to go back and redo a paper for a similar class, i would do the effect of non native species. that facinates me and more than just anglers might get something out of it.

ratl trap and a husky jerk are the 2 baits i favor if im luck enough to hit some schooloing bass. its iller action if youre in on it!

Avid, the minute i read your thread i thought of my dad so i just need to take a minute to tell you folks how much i appreiate what my fater has doen for me. im 27 now but when i was younger he tried to get involved as much as he could (school, sports, and personal/social life) and did a really excellent job of laying out life and setting reasonable expectations for me to adhere to, with out being overwhelming and driving me away. with age and the trials of life that i face now i have to say thanks to my dad for preparing me for life. i always respect his opinion and even if we ARE countries apart i feel i have an obligation to be respectful, responsible and do the right thing in life. i couldnt have a better role model, and hes the one who got me into fishing so many years ago. i hope when i have children of my own i can raise and guide them the way he has done to me. hes no bass pro (but fishes quite well), but i wouldnt have it any other way.

LMB 6.5# at toledo bend SMB 4 plus# on the Columbia in Oregon Doesnt really count, but ill mention it for sheer weight and shock!: Grass Carp 25 plus# in Japan

no ice, i thing\k the fish just sensed the weather before me. i have yet to try the mojo rig rig, but ill keep it in mind.

dont miss a good oppertuntiy get out here and fish. like a few have said before me, start witha spinnerbait then move to a ratltrap. my best days fishing are in the rain. hope you have gore tex!

c-rig results: bass: nada carp:1 (about 5 lbs). i got em on a fat ika reverse rigged (black with blue tenticles) i tried everything i had, including senkos, craws, grubs, finesse worms, flukes, kut tails, power worms, and tubes. i guess i hadnt expected much as i got snowed on (just flurries) while putting my gear together. thenabout 11:30 we had a 20 min. snow downpour. but it sure was pretty! id like to thank gore-tex, it was hilarious to see other running for cover when the wind and flurries came, too bad there was no where to go! still beats anything else i could have done on my day off. thanks for all your suggestions!

sweet, thank you gentlemen. im packing my bags for tomorrow so im not rushing in the morning and waking the wife, and im just so lucky i have a bait that is close if not the same as you fellas mentioned. i hope i get action on the c-rig, id hate to have to pull out all the punches and throw the old stand-by to get some fish. im feeling hyped and looking forward to some good time on the water. ill let you know how it turns out.

i just re-read the artical on top regarding c-rigs, and think im going to hit the river iwth that on thursday. im thinking, now that its colder and bass a re looking for a slower, bigger meal, would it be a good idea to c-rig a super fluke (will it sink too fast?) or a creature( would the amount of appendages give the image of a meal that is too active to pursue?) a lizard (too cold for lizards to be cruzing around in the winter?), a craw (cant usually go wrong with this one, although bait fish seem to be the forage of choice during this time) a fat ika (sounds good to me and bass have a very limited exposure to ikas here) or a straight worm (will it impart enough action to entice a bite?) these are part of my pre fishing dilemas. any suggestions or tactics? ill be rigging up with a brass weight and a glass bead on 12 youzuri, with a 15# flouro leader. site info: im banking it, water is murky, lots of scattered structure on the bottom, grass beds at 6-12 feet. average depth, 4-15 feet. water temp, high 50 to low 60 depending on sunlight. usually light to moderate winds and scattered clouds this time of year.

thats unreal! maybe they knew he had dynamite if there was no action, it is the OTHER way to get fish in the air then in the boat! thanks for sharing.

KU has it, search for tactics that may interest you, then ask specfics if you need em. but on a side note,in addittion to having a fishing buddy, do some reasearch on bass habits. it helped me more than anythng else, understaning thy enemy! seasons, foliage, and a multitude of other factors dictate where and on what a bass will feed, knowing these basics will put you closer to consistantly catching fish, as you will know where to look, what structure or cover they may be near, and weather that will change everything! its an exciting mystery that is always changing and making you think in order to succeed, what a blast. and welcome to the best site, if you need to know it, its here!

ive taken a few friends fishing. some have some grandpas hand me downs, so i tell them ill bring the gear. iusualy give them the bascs on a cast and have them practice in an open unobstructed spot for a few minutes, and watch what theyre doing and how i cn help. i usually dont fish for at the beginning, but rather help them if needed, and retrieve stuck lures. i agree a ratl trap is a killer beginner bait. its best not to overload them with info. i just try to let then get comfortable and point them in the right direction. if all else fails, gills give them a bit of practice!

i used to save my demolished trout flies for gill fishing, it always kept the wife entertained, and was cheap!! as for secret tactics (try to keep this on the down low, i could get arrested) well when im fishing i like to jam to a good mix CD and i often find myself getting a little too into it and get a little funky chicken going, this usually results in nice fish. im not usually reeling, so im guessing my terrible dancing moves the lure just enough to entice a bite. if they were smarter, they might come to the surface first and get a good laugh, because the victory dance is way better, and more coordinated! and by then i got em by the lip!!!!!!!! yeah i look like a spaz but.. whatever!

santamonkey gave me money via my wife for goodies this year. i was controlled, bought what i planned on... then he got me (when i though i had him tamed with nice well though out purchases) i needed new reel covers, gycb 6.5 in kut-tail worms (thanks RW), some vibration baits (they finally had all colors in all sizes so i picked up one of each) new gloves, two new sdrive big baits from evergreen INTL. and lots of odds and ends that i was running low on. and a new ZPI handle and daiwa natural cork knobs for my millionaire. and picked up some megabass topwaters for my seabass ventures. Then $500 later im good. well thats till tomorrow when i get more money from a side job, to finish the monkey off for this month. ouch im so tired......

I bank fish and look to continue fishing through the winter to lean more. in japan its now between 40-50 degrees, adding winds occassionally of 20 MPH. i usually fish pre dawn (sunrise at 6:30 ish) till about 2 or 3 pm water temps are mid 60's in the area i frequent, water is stained, topography: river setting with hard rock patches, rip rap, light structure, healthy weed growth at about 6 feet and deeper. deepest section being about 12-16 feet at best guess. enviornmental management has recently cut and cleared large amounts of weeds close to shore accessible areas, and clear cut some timber areas on the bank as well. the areas i fish in particular are "closed inlets" that resemble linked ponds fed by the main river, only connected with 3 canals about 15 feet wide and 2-8 feet deep. most are choked with winter veggies but still allows the level to rise and recced. in fall i was hammering them with vibration baits, ratl traps and cranks. in the last 2 weeks we have seen winter conditions set in and activity turned off. i have fished finesse jigs with some luck, but i am looking for advice on new tactics. i have changed colors, profiles and retrieve patterns but have had little sucess. i have been looking at c-rigs, and slowing down my topwater game. beyond that im clueless as this will be the first year i will fish entirely through the winter. i have read the articals that have suggested that i still can use the same tactics year round but to slow down, way down. the area sees tons of anglers, most often baits are wacky rigs, t-rigs, spinnerbaits and down-sized plastics. i have tried these tactics as well but the fish have just seen them too many times to get any action on. i would truly welcome any ideas.

this isnt trully fisihng oriented but i once considered the same thing. but i opted to get my bachelors degree from the University of New Orleans, then pursue a culinary career. my bachelors degree has opened doors that would have not been accessable without higher education. besides in universities there are usually fishing teams or clubs, which wil kill 2 birds with one stone. if you are seriously interested in fishing and want to make money consider marketing, then post graduation you can seek out jobs with tackle manufacturers, promote what you love and im sure youll get to try out awesome gear and travel to awesome fishing related destinations. just my thoughts.

ho ho ho from snata monkey. he went with me to the tackle shop today and we got a pair of daiwas provisor gloves, gore tex! i got the pair with the 3 open fingers. and if i get cold i have over gloves to wear that will keep me toasty! ill let you know if they keep me dry and warm!

this year was probably my best. after hooking up with this site i learned alot of new things that help me catch fish. my PB was a 5+ nat bad for japan. looking forward to a better year next year as i think i have a fair understaning of japanese tactic and what variations i will need to apply to stand out from everyone else and catch bigger and more fish. thanks to everyone here for making it a fansatic year. ho ho ho to the bait monkey too, he made it costly!

during the summer i invested in Daiwa Provisor Gor Tex XCR. they are uninsulated but, i bought a size that accomadates a fleece liner for the winter. i too layer and fisn it to be most effective. My fishing partner has the North Face that LBH has but the price is near double here in japan, so i opted for the Daiwa Gortex. it has been ultra relaible, and still pliable with a fleece liner and thermals for winter. Gor tex is an absolute, get the best you can afford! Potty acess is a plus!

this past year i have gotten successful with vibration style baits, adding on to my crankbait and spinnerbait skills. starting a few weeks ago i have been trying to get used to jigs, finess and larger weights. i have spent many hours perfecting my flipping and pitching so now im ready to take hold of the jig, so i think. my idsadvantage is that i bank fish 90% of the time so i will have to adapt my technique for that situation. the finess jig has already got me bit, so i know a bit of the action it takes to gain interest of the big bad fishy! wish me luck, i think taking on jigs is going to be a doosie, but ive also heard it pays off!

were feeling the slowdown here in japan too. but no reason to stop fishing. the last few times ive been out in the past week, i have been having outstanding luck with a 1/32 micro jig in white with either a few strands of green or orange, with a GYCB 3in. shad shape wom in pumpkin as a trailer. the jig has been getting worked. so all that said thanks to LBH for a previous post on finess jigs, and to all that posted their thoughts on the matter.