Shad_Master

Don't really mean to hijack this thread, but have a question about fishing right after a storm -- I will be fishing a club tournament on a lake this Sat and the forecast is for rain all day and night Friday, ending just before blast off. The fish have been deeper than usual because of high water temps and weeds being sprayed around the shorelines. Will these fish be more likely to move up on the banks after the storm or will they stay deep? As to the question originally posted - I have also had good luck during and right after thunderstorms -- usually better than right before.

There's a special place in hades for people who post jokes like that -- save me a good seat when you get there ;D

5#BG, I'm kind of with you. I have never understood how swinging a big ole bass into the boat and have it flop around on the carpet is better for it than being lifted out of a net. I always use a net when tournament fishing and can't tell you how many times I have seen guys lose a biggun at the boat because they didn't have a net. At a recent club tournament, one of our guys lost a fish estimated to have been between 7 & 8 pounds after he had his thumb in it's mouth. It cost him the tournament. He had a net, but it was in the hold (not much good there). My statement to my partner is, when I hook a fish, grab for the net - I will wave you off if I don't need it and I will do the same for you.

When you stop and think about it, natural colors can be pretty wild too. Take a look at a blue gill. I have a jig that has a skirt that I took from a spinner bait that has orange, green pumpkin, blue and silver in it. I have it on a bright yellow head and I have caught fish jiggin this thing up next to stumps when fish are holding tight to cover. I also have a white jig with white skirt and white trailer and I have caught fish swimming this jig through heavy cover.

One thing you might want to try is throwing a Senko or Ring-Fry upon on the duck weed and hopping it slowly along the top -- if there are bass under there they will blow up through the slop to get at it.

My club has two tournament circuits - one on local lakes and the other where we travel. I fish as a boater on the local circuit and as a non-boater on the other. One thing I have learned as a non-boater is to always get input from my backseater as to distance from the bank, trolling speed, etc. As a non-boater, I will offer these same suggestions but not in a complaining way, just simply asking. Now, when you "win" in my club, you may be able to bank as much as $30 - $45 or for big bass as much as $50 - $90. So it ain't like we're making a living at this. But that doesn't mean it doesn't get competitive. I'm working on a trying to get a change in the rules where "year-end" points are based on boat totals rather than boaters and non-boaters always competing against each other, but not surprisingly the boaters don't much like this.

Three years ago my "test pond" got covered with what I call water cabbage (some kind of plant that had roots down to here, but just floated on the top) and the fish stayed suspended under the matts and could be caught by punching a jig or heavy T-rig through them -- a great time. The next year, NOTHING (no weeds along the shore, not even any scum). I was not catching any fish and wondering what the heck happened when one of the residents came by and commented on how nice the lake looked since they had the city spray it. I almost threw her in the water. The pond went from a steady 3-4-5# producer to scrawny 10" fish all year. There is a channel that runs through the center of the pond that is out of range for casting and this is where the fish went. Fast forward to this year. We are starting to get some weed growth back around the edges and the fish are starting to get some good 12 - 14" fish, when all of a sudden I go back and the shorlines are clear again >. The biggest problem is that the same city entity is set to take over "management" of the local lake that has been the top bass producer in this area for the last several years and it is known for it's thick vegitation. Last night I heard that there was some boat out there last week spraying something along the shore line. :'(

You may want to check with your local cable provider to see if they have DVR services - I have mine set to record the first run of all of these since I am usually out fishing when they air, but I can watch them anytime I want to - the same with The Bass Pro's, Bill Dance, etc. BTW, the Smith Mountain tournament is going to be on this Saturday at about 8:30 AM (CDT).

ZOOM Vibra-tail Speed Worm -- June bug or June bug red

The real key to fishing GULP! is to let it sit in the water long enough for the scent to disperse in the water. Don't be afraid to make multiple casts to the same area, especially after you hook a fish. These do fish like Senko's but they don't shimmy as much.

I don't get it - how do you use your ankle to cast and retrieve? -- no really, heal up quick and get back out there.

One of the guys in my club just re-did the deck on his boat and put in new wiring -- he rigged his compartment lids with a sensor that is wired into the alarm system on his truck (when he plugs in the lights, it is connected) - that way if somebody opens the lids it sets off the truck alarm.

Tim Horton had this happen in a tournament either earlier this year (may have been the Classic) or last year - both fish were legal.

I was at Topeka about 15 years ago and now exactly what you mean about the "burp" of the engine - it was always fun to stand back and watch the crowd get drawn in and then jump back. The last time I was there, I had my Nikon 35mm camera and they let me wander all the way up to the starting line - went home covered in "Goodyear freckles" that day. I love the drag races and you are right, you can't describe the experience, you have to experience it.

Spent the last couple of days throwing a shallow CB from shore at a small lake near my work -- caught a lot of fish that were following it in and "trapping" it along the rocks. If this is common - how would you fish a CB from a boat for these fish? They aren't hitting it on a parallel - just when it's comming in from deeper water and are hitting it 1-2 feet from the shore line.

Something you may want to try is throwing a crankbait and let it crash into the weeds - chances are the fish have never seen this and will more prone to give it a bite -- you may want to have a T-rigged worm or senko as a follow-up if they bite and don't get buttoned up. I did this on a pond that I fish regularly a couple of years ago and hit a 6#er.

I had a chance to meet Rich Clunn last year and asked him a similar question -- of all the lakes he had ever fished, which is his favorite -- his answer surprised me: Lake Champlain and Lake Mead. Just for what it's worth.

I agree with MattFly - use a roll cast and practice -- I can't say I have mastered this technique, but I can do it even better with a BC than a Spinning outfit.

I have used Pete Wenners at hookedonbass.com a couple of times and he is great. There are a lot of good guides for that lake, but if you don't know it - you are best to hire a guide. The first time I hired Peter I arrived at the lake (this was before I owned a boat) and heard reports that the fish were suspended at 30' over 70' of water(!). This turned out to be true, but Pete was able to hit the spots and helped us hook 'em up. This was the first time I had ever heard of dropshotting and was blown away at pulling a 3-4# spot up from 30 feet. He, and most guides I would imagine, supply the boat and all the tackle as well as the lures. All you have to bring is your drinks/lunch and your rain suit. Oh, yeah, and your checkbook

Rat-L Traps are a great lure - it's hard to fish 'em wrong. I have had my best results earlier and later in the season by burying them in the grass and rippin' 'em out. I've even heard of guys fishing them like jigging spoons in late fall - but haven't tried this.

I think it's interesting that none of the current Pro's do their own fishing show. "The Bass Pro's" is as close as you really come for "how-to's". Both Nixon and Brauer were doing it while they were into the tournmanent scene - Would love to see Ike, Skeet, G-Man, etc. do their own show -- wonder why they don't?

Here in the midwest the spawn has been all screwed up -- they would start spawning and then we would get cold rain that would push 'em back -- after the water cleared up some, they would move back in. Not sure what the overall effect of this will be.

If you've never been there, the Shepard of the Hills play is excellent and will give you some insight into what all the signs and names are about. If Mel Tillis is in town, he does a great show - but don't ovelook the japanese fiddle player (can't remember his name). Silver Dollar city is a great place to spend a day and a $ ( :. Just do everything you can to avoid Highway 76 or all you will see is the car in front of you.

This will be my second year fishing with a chatterbait - last year I killed 'em with one, but in thinking about it I noticed that I didn't start fishing with it until later in the year (after the spawn) and I am wondering if that is a factor. I haven't had any luck this year, even in the places where they were lining up to hit it last year. Any thoughts from those of you who haven't given up on 'em yet?

I have heard of situations where someone was cited for not having proper safety equipment on their boat and the boat was impounded until they could pay the fine.