Bass Dude

As I was looking at the leaderboard from the Classic I noticed the payout: Winner: $500,000 2nd: $45,000 I'm amazed at the payout difference. I think BASS should evaluate that. I think a second at the Classic should be worth $100,000. Just an observation!

I see your point about the barrier---because there wasn't a ban on women racing. But I also think it's splitting hairs---ok she didn't break a barrier, but she has broken a string of women trying to make it NASCAR and not being successful. As far as your point regarding people "toiling" waiting for the big time. First, I think she did start in go-karts when she was around 8---may not be "from birth", but close to it---anyway, back to people "toiling" in other series. Everyone needs a break to move anywhere. If her being "sellable" helps her move ahead, I don't see anything wrong with that. I equate it to music. There are a million better musicians out there than what you see on TV or hear on the radio, but because Rihanna is better looking than Suzy next door, she got a record deal. There are instances in all different fields of people moving ahead and not necessarily because they are the best in there field, but because they offer something more. She's a good driver, that people like to look at, and can sell stuff. There are other drivers that fit this mold too---it's just the game!

I thought of this listening to this debate over the various sports channels. Would everyone be saying the same thing if a good-looking african-american man had won the pole? Would they say.... well he just got the pole, let's see what he does during the race. Would they say......Well, he's only known for being a driver because he's the only black man in NASCAR. Would they say..... He's only known because of all the commercials he's done. I think people would be singing a different tune if that had happened. They would be talking about how he removed some of the stigma attached to racing and broke the race barrier etc. I think Danica winning the pole is as much of a big deal as that would be. She has broken a barrier in NASCAR that hasn't been broken until now. She should get some accolades for that. She is a good driver and with some more time in the car, I think she'll be successful. Everyone says she'll never win or she's only won one race in IndyCar. There are a lot of people that have raced in the Indy series that can't say they have won. There have been a lot of Cup drivers that have never won a race as well. As far as using her looks to get sponsors, take it all the way to the bank!! Every driver out there uses what they have to get sponsors. Jr. uses his name to get his. Winning one race every two years isn't exactly the success sponsors are looking for. However, that last name of his gets you a lot of support! Carl Edwards is on the cover of workout magazines and other sports magazines because of his physique....same thing...isn't it! I'm sure that doesn't hurt his chances of getting a sponsor he might not have otherwise!

By we, I mean parents. Yes, responsibility is something you actively do..and some parents do not take that on. They place blame on all the outside influences when it is the parents who should be providing guidance and explaining the consequences that your actions have. If your underage child is pounding beers it's the parents' fault, it's not FLW's fault for waving a beer sponsor logo at a weigh-in. Bottom line...I don't think a beer company sponsoring a fishing organizatin will cause the downfall of civilization!!

Why is everyone so up in arms about the new beer sponsor of FLW. I can see not having that logo prominate in the college series, but in the other series, I don't get it. We are all adults and there are few things better after a day of fishing that an ice cold beer. As far as kids seeing this at weigh-ins etc, that's an issue that the parents can discuss with their kids. When I was a kid, my parents explained that it is an adult beverage and explained the ramifications of excessive drinking. I think the biggest problem in today's society is that we remove the responsibility from the parents and put on organizations or other people that aren't, and shouldn't be responsible for raising your kids.

I saw that an FLW just signed a deal with this company so I checked them out. I guess he's doing a good job already!! Anyway, pretty interesting concept. Check 'em out and let me know your opinions.

Lizard, brush hog, 10 inch worm, finesse worm, fluke, senko, zoom ultravibe craw.

I've been thinking about getting the Owner Jig-Rig. The concept sounds great, but I see that the heaviest weight they come in is a 1/4 oz. They say that it's great for penetrating the weeds because of the way it falls, but will that small size still go through the mats??

I use 2 1/2. I use the half tab as my "accent" color, like if I want a little chartreuse, red, or sometimes I will add a half tab of blue or black with my shad color skirts. I also use watermelon as an accent with my shad color skirts too...gives it a bit of an olive hue.

When mine get dull, I don't sharpen them...I toss it and use a new one!

Agreed!!!!! Underpowered boats are useless. An 18 footer should have at least a 150. I would always get the most power that is allowed for your hull. An 18 with 115 will be very underpowered. If you run into weather, or you get a little too shallow at need to 4wheel it out of an area....you'll wish you had that extra power. Same goes for your trolling motor too.

Iaconelli and some other pros always say they do online research to look for past tourney results, fishing reports and all that crap, before they pre-fish. What type of searches to you guys do...because I can't find anything good on a bunch of lakes I look up. The most recent is Fort Loudon/Tellico. I can't find squat dealing with fishing reports. I've even registered on some forums for that area and no-one posts too much about these lakes. At least stuff that is recent enough to be relevant.

With hooks today, I don't think you need to sharpen them. Most of them have some sort of special edge or point that doesn't need sharpening. I use Owners and I think sharpening their 'cutting point' would do damage as opposed to making them better.

Personally, I don't use Chatterbaits with a weedguard. With a moving bait, I think the weedguards get in the way and lessen your hooking percentage. If you are going to use one...pour the head first, with no weedguard. Then once it's cooled...paint it, add the skirt and glue in the weedguard.

Yes...you need that many!!! You should have at least 30 of every style, brand, running depth and color!!!

Tried that....keeps changing it to "another site". How about this....hand wig dish....change the H-to an L...change the W-to a B..change the D-to a F.

I tried to send you a PM because the forum won't allow me to post the website I found them on. It won't let me give you the website on the PM either. Sorry!!

I don't necessarily go by weight in choosing a crankbait. The first thing I look for is the running depth, then size, then weight. If I have a 1/2oz. crank that doesn't dive where I need it to go, it doesn't do any good. I always go by diving depth and don't worry about the weight. A little trick...you can throw the smaller ones a mile on a spinning rod...even in the wind. For some reason people forget about throwing cranks with spinning gear. I wacked 'em one day throwing a Norman Little N on a spinning rod. As someone else posted...I've killed the smallies on the small BigO. Mark Davis won a couple tournaments throwing the small plugs on spinning gear....just sayin'!

I don't think you need a bunch of colors. I use white or black...and don't think of the black as just a night time lure. I've had days where they will kill the black and not touch the white during the day. Also, I like to tweak the blade so that it just makes a 'gurgle' sound as you reel it in. I find a slow pace with that 'gurgle' gets a lot more fish. to make the adjustment you have to play around with the angle of the bends in the prop. I rarely use a trailor. Sometimes I will remove the skirt and put a fluke on in place of it.

I've been in a lot of boats as a co-angler and I've always liked Stratos or a Ranger. I currently own a Stratos 285 and love it. If I bought a new boat today...it would be a bigger Stratos. As a take off on a post above, I think the value and quality of a Stratos is remarkable. If I had 50g's or more, I would go for a Ranger. I am not a huge fan of the lighter hulled boats, i.e. Bullet, Allison, Blazer etc. Yes they go 90MPH, but as far as fishability, I don't think they stack up. The storage is very limited and the ride in rough water can be brutal!! Plus, I don't like the looks of them. Even the new ones look 'old' to me. Just my humble opinion....but I guess that's what you were asking for!

No offense taken...I was just stating my rationale.

I put it on the front thinking that if they hit the red hook I would get them with the front hook and hopefully increase my hooking percentage. I'm not totally sold on the red hook theory, nor am I totally dismissing the idea.

Try bearsbaits.com

I know this was stated, but they look like a 'meal' to a fish. Plastics and their action are built to make a bass respond to it's instict of getting an easy meal. The baits are meant to trigger a reaction and make a bass think that there's something to eat and it's right next to me...so I better nail it!! It doesn't necessarily have to look like a specific creature. Action and color should be dicatated by the water color, temp etc. I usually go for something natural looking, unless I think I need a splash of something more visible such as when you're fishing darker water. I have heard KVD say numerous times...that when you don't know what color to use, use a color that looks like the color of the bottom that you are fishing.

This always kills me...the comparison between red line and red hooks. Hooks do not have opaque qualities...light will not pass through a hook. Line, however does allow light to pass through. They are not the same material. Example, you can see through blue tinted lenses in eyeglasses, but you cant see through a blue wooden door. The idea that one can attract while the other is invisible, is not contradictory. They are different materials with different properties. Back on topic....I have used cranks with one red hook in front and one nickel in back. I noticed a majority of the fish were caught on that front red hook. It may have been coincidence, but it's happened enough for me to believe there may be something to this red hook thing!