Bass Dude

I hate when people pull out in front of you only to turn at the next street!!! > And it really ticks me off if they do that and are turning left, then we all get held up because of that idiot!! >

Get some soft-bait glue and put ONE drop at the eye of the hook. Its quick and that lure will never move.

Pickel Weasel ala 'That '70's Show'

Me too---and I think that's the beauty of our sport, there are no hard/fast rules. The success in this sport is only limited by your imagination. BTW---spinning tackle for any light-weight lures!!

That is a beautiful fish, not only is she big, but her colors are awesome!!! On the live bait issue...I have no problem with people using live bait. For me, I don't use it because I'm tournament focused, so I'm always out there trying to improve my artificial bait techniques to get better at that game. Around here, getting minnows has become quite a chore with the new laws too. So it's just easier to get a bag of plastics or buy a crankbait! I never think any less of a fisherman for using live bait. The hard part in fishing is finding them, and this aspect is not lost because you're using bait.

I think tape on the bottom of the reel see maybe the way to go, not really sure I can bring myself to use a Sharpie on a $300 St. Croix Legend Elite even if sand paper takes it off. :-/

Again, this would be great, if you only knew what was down there. It's like watching the World Series of Poker on ESPN...and thinking how easy it is, then you realize you can't see everyone else's cards when you're at the table!!!

I make and only use my own. I've been using mine so long I've lost confidence in store bought brands.

I write what's on my reels on the foregrip of my rod with a sharpie. At the end of the year, I always go over the grips with fine sandpaper to clean them and the sharpie comes off along with all the dirt and grime. Then you have a blank slate to use for the following year.

Once you master the technique, it does have it's advantages. The advantages I see using it is that you can use a heavier lure and heavier line than you can with spinning gear. Secondly, you have the power of your baitcasting gear to get the fish out of the cover. If you're doing what Dean Rojas does with a frog, you just can't do that with spinning gear. You won't be able to get the fish out of that stuff.

Did anyone play for the Classic? How did you do? Who did you pick?

The explanation is great and makes it sound very simple. Unfortunately, you don't know that there are 5-5pounders, 4-3pounders etc and the pros don't either. Also, you don't know that they will be there or even close to that location the following day. Smallies, for example, could be here one day and gone the next and if you didn't soak that area for all it's worth, you missed out. Managing a location is a big gamble and its not an easy decision to leave an area when you're getting them. Even the pros struggle on this, ask Kelly Jordan! It is something to condsider, but it isn't always the correct course of action. This Classic was an exception, in most cases, if you only have one area for a multi-day event, you're screwed.

Man, that hurts!! :'( Bright side: you still have your rods!!

Oddly enough, it does make sense!!

Is anyone else excited to see him back this week?? I can't wait to see him play again.

It depends on what tourneys you are fishing. Most do require you to have an "installed" gas tank. In other words, you can't have a gas tank you carry to boat and connect it. Most tourneys do have a length and horsepower minimum for safety reasons (both clubs I was in had a minimum). Livewells are also mandatory. Make sure you read the rules or ask the tournament director. And also, as someone else stated, there usually are insurance requirements as well.

I wish I could recall his name, but one of the pros interviewed during the Classic made a comment along these lines: "To have any chance of being #1 you must be willing to gamble. That means the possibility of going from #2 to #11 or even worse." If I'm not mistaken, I believe that was Boyd Duckett.

Don't be ashamed!!! I've been a flooger mook for a VERY long time. Don't let the SHEmano guys scare you!!

That is beautiful ;D

Just like everything else in fishing--This is one of the variables and decisions you need to make. You can also get burned by managing your fish too. You think you're managing your fish and leave at 9:00, but you may not know that Joe Blow snuck in there at 10:00 and whacked 'em. But, knowing if anyone else is using your water is also part of management too!! It's all part of this wonderful game!!

I think it's too technique specific. I use my flipping rod a lot for tossing frogs, so I would much prefer a reel I could cast with also. But if that's all you're going to use it for, I think it would serve that purpose well.

A die-cast!!!

The start up cost seems high, but if you break it down to a p/unit cost it is cheaper. I may drop $50 at a time buying supplies, but I can make 50 jigs. Plus, for me its about the fact that I have total control over the skirt, hook, blades, color etc. There are very few lures companies that make a lure exactly like you want, if you make it yourself, you have that ability.

I would definatly go. Eventhough you can see the tackle on-line, there's nothing like seeing it in person before you buy. Then you know exactly what you're getting. As the other posts state, the store itself is cool, I would go at least once. Plus our Dick's and Gander Moutain around here don't have anything, so I go to our BPS all the time.

I'm always amazed that people are surprised to see him be "normal". I've had the honor to listen to his presentation when they used to do the Bassmaster Universities. He was THE best presenter (FYI--KVD was at this one too), he was a wealth of information and knows how to speak to an audience. I've also had the honor to meet him each year when the Elites have visited Oneida. He is a class act and has never been anything less than professional and cordial. And...He knows how to find 'em on Oneida too. He brought in a 20lbs bag in '08.