BillyBob

Something ya'll can help me get past is this Elite BASS qualifying. In one of our past threads, it was accepted that Elite BASS Anglers were "PROS" and or that a qualifying stair step tour was a way to weed out the big money guys from buying their way in. If that was kinda in a paraphrase way of stating that idea, BASS sure ain't seeing it that way...at least for the guys that got in on the ground floor,last year. Nothin at all against Harley,Ash, Brodeur, Eaker, Velvick, Merkin, and Lane, but they all got "IN"in 07 HOW? I was there! They finished well out and others coming up through the nothern and southern tour last year, that finished in front of all these guys at the wildcard didn't make it ! You can believe me when I say some would have said YES! BASS during the breifing meeting at the wildcard did say they were going to cut the field of Elite's down to around 80 and they ended up with 108! Fair or Fare? Ash's lifetime winnings ain't 3 thousand, he's a nice guy, but what the .... , there's other nice guys waiting their turn too ! Tell me I'm all wet and I'll drop it!

Since I raise white burley tob. I can tell you, it is definitly okay to grow it where ever you want. for personal use. 2 yrs ago the gov regs changed and there is no more program so anyone can sell it to an approved warehouse. Tob. from a seed has to be stressed through a transplantion or it won't amount to anything. I can also tell you that rolled up white burley without filler will blow your head off! nicotine poisioning is possible too. Just buy em, or better yet QUIT

I like George's statement that " Pro is a designated acheivement, not one of income". We have all seen guys, on the local level, on their home lake that you couldn't beat with a baseball bat ! They spend every spare minute on it, and know it better than they know their wife. Take him to a strange lake, and he skunks! But on that one lake, Kevin Van Dam couldn't beat him, and the level of his acheivement, is Pro-ish to say the least. Earthworm, nowhere on a W-2 does it state your occupation, only your name, address, and your employers. Nor does it give your occupation on the 1099 misc. from BASS L.L.C., you get at the end of the year, if you cash in a tour event,or several events. Under your guideline, a person never having seen a bass could on his/her schedule 1040 form after he signed it and dated it, write PRO Bass Fisher on the occupation line,and poof make it so. You think the IRS cares ?

Here is something for you admitted "non-pros" to think about. Would you consider anyone or everyone on the BASS Elite series to be a PRO? Does the FLW Pro-Series stand for Professional or Promotional Series? How about the BASS Opens or the Stren Series? The thing is, I personally know for a fact! that there's "guys" out there I'D call PRO, who on their 1040, list other occupations, and one in particular whose 1040 says," loan originator", thats won over 200K in tour money this year and is headed to the classic!... He's not a PRO ? How about the bottom third of the "guys" that don't break even on the Elite Tour, and generate livelyhoods from their outside businesses? They not Pros? Funny but they and BASS, think they are. I have to take exception to the litmus of "occupation on a 1040" as the only criteria for someone that has worked as hard and long to EARN the title of PRO. Heres the point. I don't care what your title or for that matter (W-2)which by the way, doesn't list your occupation, its on the 1040 beside you signature and you put it there, says...until everyone around you talks about you being a PRO ANGLER it doesn't matter what YOU call yourself. The litmus test is what others say about you, not what you say about yourself. Professionals don't have to brag, others do it for them!

So what makes you a pro at fishing? Don't really know when you arrive, except that calling yourself one, isn't it, others saying you are, is!

I don't think he is. Haven't talked to Joe personally since the tour ended, but he wasn't at the wildcard and those that have, said he has gone into the hunting show business. He aired a bird hunt on ESPN from FOX RUN, (southern ohio) 2 weeks ago. The official list ain't out yet cause they don't know the official list. But don't think Mike Reynolds or Chad Brauer's coming back either. Several open qualifiers turned it down, like on the northern tour they took anyone in the top 10. Matt Sparr was 9th and he made it. At the wildcard breifing meeting, Chris said anyone that was there,at the wildcard, already Elite, would probably make it again. AND they probably were droppin the elite anglers to around 75 or 80.

Need a co-angler for BASS/ABA Ohio Weekend Series, all five prefered to guareenteed link. Also looking for a co-angler, that likes to pre-fish in official practice, on all 6 BASS Opens. P.S. Thats me on the right!

Just out ABA-Series schedule is out. What do you think?

Heres my 2 cents. : Given that you only included in your choices those two boats, I'd pick the Stratos ! She's not a big water boat, but with the E-Tec she'll do. She's a fast, hot little, good on gas, 73ish runnin, rod locker ample, storage decent, basser. Wish the seats had springs but what the hey!, your young. On the other hand, your TR200, is a cheap version of Tritons X series, right down to a cheap plastic devider in a sub-par livewell, you'll end up trading it! The seats seem to be on pedestals and rock back and forth. Hinges are sissyfied and I've seen brand new hulls with blemishes. Shame on Triton for building such a thing. And by the way, case your thinking I'm Stratos struck, I own a Triton . I also apologize to any 200 owners for knocking your boat, but I have my opinion. The 225 PRO XS is the best on the market, but they all go POP! Two-cycle motors are designed by mother nature to be sloppy, they love to throw gas and oil all over themselves inside. But what they don't burn they throw into the water, and there in lies the rub :-/ The new badder versions are leaner, and require higher tolerances, and thats where the E gets the nod. You can count on that as being a definite, possible, maybe! ;D

Craven, I don't mean to argue with your opinion. If thats what you like.. so be it, but I wonder how safe anyone would be, in one, at a dump out at high speed. You ever manually blown it up to see how thin the bladders are? Plus if you leave it on, that means you got a cord hanging off it and have to reconnect your kill cord everytime you sit down to start your big motor. It'll be only a matter of time before that cord causes you to lose a fish. Again, if you like it...go for it!

Guys, here's a couple of negs. The first is that they are not considered a life jacket in the boat unless worn. If its sitting on your seat and you get inspected on the water , it doesn't count, as a life preserver. Second, the thing doesn't ever fit right. I can't see getting thrown from your boat at 70 mph and the thing not ending up around your neck! I've gotten two for gifts and have gone back to a good jacket. Putting the daggone thing on is a headache and grabbin my jacket is twice as fast and safer. I tournament fish and maybe I'd think different if I was into a more relaxin deal.

Save your money till you have enough to buy a Lowrance 332C. Don't buy an internal antenna, you can't mount it in a dash, which you'll eventually want to.

lowrance is real reliant on a steady 12v. All kinds of crap happens when you have a voltage drop. Wire it to your primary or use another battery.

Had one...don't waste your money.

I give up! Don't think thars a one of ye that kin spel ! ;D

With eyes and scales on the cork, it looks like you've got a home made spittin top water bait!

Here's an example....same fish that I'm holding to the left, caught and released 4 years ago. Replica made at a cost of $10 per inch. She was 27.5 inches. Made for me by a company in Ft Lauderdale, Fla. Makes me happy that she's still havin babies and she's on my wall too!

Okay! I give up! Whats a reverse? Ain't never seen one . I thought I had it all! I've owned 4 different motors in the last 3 yrs, and the one I got now I like. Minn Kota power lift Pro 82 24v . You'll have to add about a hun. to get it but Its fantastic. No temperature because of the universal sonar, but who needs it on the trolling motor anyway.

I've got a universal transducer on my Minn Kota pro max. I like the built in feature,but it doesn't have temperature sensor. In the spring I like finding little temp. differences in the coves while on my trolling motor. My question is...Has anyone ever tore down or into the universal transducer to try and change one out, or adapt it to a different trans.? It comes with a 20 degree cone and I don't like the wider cone. I definitley like the lift assist ! Not for lifting but for letting it loose into the water, so I don't want to tear it up, but would love to tinker with it.

2005 TR 19X DC, 200 Merc EFI, Minn. 85 Pro Lift Assist, Lowrance 335C in dash,51x bow. And my two new toys 2006 Duramax 6 speed Allison and my new shop to put it all in. Picture's worth 1000 words.

This is not intended to be a commercial for State Farm. I was pulling into weigh-in on Kerrs Regional BASS Series last Oct. Congested wasn't the word for it, when the prop hit the bottom and knocked boat out of gear. I smacked another brand new Triton. $3500 damages. My agent never batted and eye. Replaced all new for the other guy. Funny thing it never even scratched mine. My premium didn't raise either. Two phone calls...done. The other guy lives 400 miles from me. Thats service. I'm sure it depends on your agent.

Okay! trying one with my flippin stick. 8'er lamiglass discontinued. All my handles have some red burl in them.

I'll bet you guys think this is funny! Its about like making baits youv'e never done before....trial and error. Before long I'll get it and be stichin two together...(maybe) :-[

Whoa! thats big ! First time I tried posting picture. I'll try again this time with the only design wrap I've attempted. See the FISH?

I started making rods and wire baits because I couldn't buy what I wanted. Through alot of trial and error I finally got it. (sometimes) Glad your sharing, could always use a new idea. Heres some of mine. Pardon photo setup. Shikari composition fiberglass tip - graphite Blank. CB603 6'er great topwater