gadawgsr1

I, too, fish alone much of the time and I think that is why when I do have someone with me, I have to call their name to get their attention; otherwise, they have no idea I have one in the boat. This is the case unless the fish splashes at the boat. Then... it speaks for itself and I don't have to say a word. --just smile. ;D It is at that point they always speak... You dawg! or You've got to be kidding me, another one? ...just sayin'. :

If it is working for you I will definitely have to give it a try; especially since everything you suggest I do is opposite of what I have been doing. At least in theory, that should be the case. Thanks so much for the tips. You guys are awesome.

I have been fishing the Goose Creek Reservoir, Bushy Park, and the Hatchery. I have not tried weightless yet. I must admit it hasn't crossed my mind. The only bite I have felt is the rock my prop found at the hatchery. >

For the last month I have really struggled to find fish that will bite. Multiple bodies of water here in the Charleston, SC area and nothing seems to bite but pan fish and even those are slow to hit. I realize temps are up but I cannot remember the last time I found myself in such a slump. Let me know what has been working for you and help me get past it. I have thrown just about everything I have at 'em. With the water temps in the upper 80's, I would expect them to be deep but most of the fresh bodies of water around here are not that deep. What gives?

I've lost two. The first one was an Abu Garcia Revo STX purchased from Spotaholic on here. I think I used it 2 times... That was the first time in all my 30 years of fishing off and on that I lost a rig. In fact, I remember reading on here not long before it happened about how some had lost their rod and reel and I couldn't understand how that could happen. I know now The very next time out I lost the rig I had been using for 15 to 16 years. I had just spooled on some new line. Stay with what you know. I was casting a texas rigged worm when...--snap! The release of the tension from the 1/4 oz worm weight brought the rod tip straight down to the water and as it hit the water it came right out of my hand. It was one of those slow-motion moments. I dove in after it (I was fishing by myself) only to realize I couldn't see a thing and I had just seen a 7 to 8 foot alligator not long before. Needless to say, very quickly I put myself right back in my boat without my new rod and reel. > As for the second one, I lost it a week later and the same exact thing happened except I didn't go in after it. I simply watched it sink out of sight. Since then, I have added the rod life jackets. As corny as it is, I will NOT lose another one! By the way, I did drag my anchor trying to retrieve the STX but to no avail. It still sits at the bottom of the Goose Creek Reservoir. :'( One more thing. I took that line off what I had left and respooled with what I had always used. It hasn't happened since.

Here is one I took this past Saturday, October 3, 2009. My son's first LMB caught on a small rattle trap.

Amen brother...Amen!

Here are a couple pics from a solo trip I took Friday, September 25, 2009 at Bushy Park just up from the Navel Weapons Station in Goose Creek, SC. I caught 10 fish using a shad wrap; all of them bream except for the one white bass. Viewer beware, cell phone pics... **resized pictures**

Sometimes, Yes When found in the same lake Millfoil starts growing in early spring and bass will move into it to find something to eat. As the spring turns to summer you will notice that the Hydrilla is growing a lot faster and taller than the millfoil and in some cases it will choke the millfoil out. As it heats up the water looses its ability to hold oxygen the Hydrilla, and what millfoil is left will be producing oxygen so the bass will move into it to stay alive. Whatever plant is producing the best oxygen and holding the most food will be holding the most bass. I won a late summer tournament with Senko77 a few years ago and the pattern was simple. I spent three days dragging a 1oz jig and pulling up Millfoil. Most of the Millfoil in the lake was dead but when I found a patch that was green the bass were stacked in there. I didn't need to catch a fish in practice to know where the fish would be during the tournament. I found four spots like this in my area of the lake and we ended up with a 25.8lb sack with a 9.98 kicker. 2nd place was 12+lbs. Very interesting. The bodies of water around here are covered up in both types of plants. I will have to give fishing "in them" a try. I usually throw just in front of the cover and pulll the lure along that front rather than in it.

Okay, I'll bite... What does it matter? Do bass prefer one over the other? I know I'm new to the "dynamics' (I have caught fish for years and not worried about the dynamics) of bass fishing but isn't underwater cover just that: underwater cover?

MSNBC always bends their stories to fit their purposes. You have to look deeper into their purposes for posting such an article. To them, it is not about the fish at all. They usually have ulterior motives. I would venture to say that the process has less to do with what is in the water than we realize.

Thanks so much for the warm welcome. Keep up the good work on the forum.

I have been lurking in the background on this forum since October last year reading and enjoying some of the stories, information, and picutres and felt (after reading some post in the Fishing Flea Market about non-contributors) it was time for me to introduce myself. Back last October I purchased a fixer up 17' Javelin bass boat. This past spring I finally finished the major repairs and had it water worthy. I have been able to enjoy the opportunity to fish all summer. Each time out I was successful in catching fish of varying sizes. So far, my personal best has been 7 1/2 lbs. I was going to post a pic but I have not contributed enough. Thanks for reading.

Speaking of knots... I found this page after searching what a bloodknot was... Yeah, I didn't do the boy scout thing so knots are not something I know. I'm sure there are others like me so I thought I would pass this along. I am not sure if this is allowed as I'm relatively new to the forum but here goes (I'm in no way affiliated with this website but found it to be very useful): Google "Animated Knots by Grog" Then, click on the "Knot List" link found on the left of the page. Being new to the forum I cannot post an active link...

Are there really substantial differences between the higher priced and lower priced reels? Why should I pay $175 to $300 for a reel? :-/