SWMIBASSER

And that's fine.....We all know someone who knew someone who fished with someone who had a monster on one time. But that hardly merits the end all be all of the trophy fishery locations. Do you have big smallies in TN and KY. Sure. Do we have them in the great lakes. Sure. But I don't feel the need to write an article about it.

Show ME some 10's or for that matter numbers of 7's from those states. The state record in KY is barely 8-1/2lbs yet that is where a world record could come from? In fact one of just a few "hotspots" in KY list a 6lb+ fish as being the biggest taken out of there, and in another lake they talk about numerous 4-6's http://www.kentuckygameandfish.com/fishing/bass-fishing/ky_aa012205a/ Another Article lists TN as having some of the better trophy waters, yet there is no mention of any 10lb'ers. At all. And they (this is a Tennessee magazine) consider themselves 'one of the top' places for trophies http://www.tennesseesportsmanmag.com/fishing/bass-fishing/TN_1209_02/index3.html Some of the other state records in Alabama and N/C at 10lbs are 60 years old. Same with the record in TN. 01 produced a big state record fish in S/C. When a VanDam personally tells you he has caught them over 9lbs a couple times and several 8's I believe him. (not Kevin)

I gotta believe that the original reason for not allowing live bait is so that fish that are caught aren't put in a live well to "fatten up" eating a livewell full of bait. Or worse yet fish getting force fed BIG chubs/shiners to make the fish heavier.

I have heard from quite a few sponsored tournament anglers that many "sponsorships" aren't what they are cracked up to be. I think cart paints a pretty good picture. Some get all the soft plastics (for instance) they want, but then spend hundreds of dollars in gas, and days at fishing shows and seminars promoting product. As I understand it, even the big time pro's have sponsors like this sometimes. Gamma tried to give big name guys TINY sponsorships. To the effect of it SAVING money to not be sponsored by them.

Now THAT I'll buy into 100%! And not because I have a chance for the record or for any other self serving reason. It just simply makes sense.

They absolutely deserved their own trail. Without a doubt. I saw NO problem with that. And while I didn't follow it religiously I liked to check in on the ladies. The above isn't an issue of the WBT AOY making that classic. I also didn't have ANY problem with that. They didn't take away someone elses spot. They added a spot for the WBT AOY. Women are at a disadvantage. Until women regularly own 'AND' operate their own boat regularly they will be at a disadvantage. I think this is why women don't fare as well in open tournaments as boaters but as co-anglers do just fine-----Renee Hensley comes to mind. She may well be a good boater but fishes as a co-angler and does well in the stren series. (she is local to me and her and her husband are great) Women NEED to get to the front of the boat, and start taking command of things. My wife isn't that interested in fishing so I'll enjoy my time operating my boat by myself

I really don't buy that. Not for bass. I think that you might have a better chance of scoring a huge fish. Fishing artificial is just too efficient. I'd bet my boat a solid year of fishing artificial produces more bass by at least 25% than fishing live bait.

A ha!!!!!! You brought up one of the biggest arguments. Should there be different records for live bait VS. artificial. I say YES!!!!! What about for Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill, All of the Shark, Marlin, rockbass, etc,etc. Should those be split between livebait, and artificial?

Remember the largemouth bass isn't the only fish that swims. What about fish normally fished for, and caught on live bait. Are those records OK? I'm not giving you a hard time. Just trying to further the discussion. Many times we have ideals in fishing that suite us and that is it. If you are in a state that closes the season during spawning months you know how many "sportsmen" complain up a storm about the closure, without a second thought to the fact that it's a measure to preserve and protect the population.

Interesting. While I would compare a co-poly to a co-poly I still find the sizes smaller than I believed them to be. I would put cash down that the diameter, or line ratings have been changed over the last few years. I remember CXX being much larger than other lines. FWIW when comparing a co-poly to a co-poly Y/Z still comes in smaller in nearly every lb test offered. So I guess I stand mostly corrected.

I hear that all the time, and to an extent, I agree., but......then neither are any of the bass caught in CA, or the record rainbow trout, or the record tiger musky, or the record brown trout, or ....on and on and on. Record Fish always seem to be more about the fish, and that's a shame. The story should be about the angler. Its an angler achievement. Good point... But, I'm pretty sure the record Tiger Musky 'was' a naturally occurring fish.

Now see then I would care. As that would be cheating. I could have had my head in the sand for awhile but I sure never heard of huge bass coming from Japan before. Now all of a sudden there are HUGE ones.... 'That' seems odd to me.

I probably have a personal best sure. But couldn't tell you exactly what it weighed. The thing is, in my opinion, personal bests are to tell others about. All the enjoyment is had once your big fish is released. YOU had the experience. Even pictures aren't that important to me. Unless I'm fishing in a special place, or with a special person, then I like a picture to capture the moment.

P-Line Fluorocarbon = 100% Fluorocarbon P-Line CX Prem = Fluorocarbon Coated P-Line CXX = Xtra Strong Fluorocarbon Coated CXX=underrated line in it's LB test break strength. When you are buying a box of 10lb you are getting a box of 12 or 14lb line. Diameter and all.

How did you add 3"? What should I cut the blank with when shortening the handle? I might just give up. For some reason it's more of a problem now that it's winter, and didn't seem to bother me during the season. I think it's an issue of tinker-itis. But I still would like to hear about that musky rod.

I'm doing all of the above! Thanks for posting.

Not to sound rude to you, but who cares? Some people make a huge deal out of a world record. And believe me after being a Musky Fisherman for years, and following Musky fishing religiously I know the obsession a world record can cause. But let me ask you, and anyone else who 'does' care about the world record. If the only fish you ever caught was a world record would you be OK with that? I'm going to presume most will say no. Clearly the world record isn't everything. Maybe my indifference is due to the fact I KNOW the world record largemouth isn't coming from anywhere up here

Spoken like it came from my own mouth. ;D Same reasons I like new water as well. It's easier to stay more focused. I find it much easier to stay focused when fishing by myself and plan to do more of that this year.

Not refining a pattern. Even if it is working it can be improved. Not specialized enough. I don't have a go to tactic. I have my favorites. Jigs, jerkbaits, and shakey heads in that order. But still no GO TO tactic. Refining a system to much. This doesn't jibe with not specialized enough, but I generally stick with a technique to refine it as much as possible, even at times I should change things up. Mostly with Jig fishing over the last couple of years. Recognizing changes in environment even if subtle and using them to my advantage. Those are the ones I'd like to work on this year.

Like I said not really much to see but this is a sweet little reel now. Still need to get a metal drag star. Probably the Revo Premier since I gotta order some stuff from them anyhow.

I learned to fish with a Baitcaster using an Abu Garcia 5500 C3. Good real to learn with IMO. I was fishing with a baitcaster full time by the time I was 12 years old. Back then all we did in my family was musky fish. For bass fishing I would start with a 4600 C3. Easy to setup and use, and last longer than any other reel made.

Well I supertuned a Pro Lite today. WOW. I CAN'T WAIT to fish with this thing. Every aspect is smoother, including some work I've been doing recently that really smooths out the cam engagement and disengagement. Nice and smooth everywhere. Carbon Matrix drag washers from an Abu Garcia Ambassador swap right into the Pro Lite. The also swap into the under gear position between the main gear and the clutch kick mechanism. The drag is MUCH, MUCH, stronger, and much smoother too. I installed them dry, but I think I'll throw a little cals grease on em' to smooth it out even more.... I installed Boca ceramic hybrids, and a carbon handle while I was at it. I snapped some pics but they didn't turn out great in the inside lighting. I'll post a pic tomorrow but there isn't much to see really. A Pro Lite with a carbon handle. All the good stuff is inside.

Not all the bearings in the S have removable shields. At least in the earlier models.

This is all IMO. A reel only 'needs' 5 bearings One under the driveshaft, one in the palm plate (spool bearing) on on the spool, one in the cast control knob (also a spool bearing on many reels) and an instant reverse roller bearing. The bearings above are the most critical to holding things in the right places for the best performance. And the instant anti-reverse bearing is just a required convenience everyone is now used to, and expects. After that the next place for bearings are the levelwind system. With a possible two more there-one on each side of the worm gear. Then it's a matter of preference for a bearing supported handle. Which IMO is nice, but I've used handles with no bearings, and handle with two bearings (one bearing and one bushing per shaft) that were nice as well. That's a total of 10 bearings plus one roller bearing. But I still feel you 'need' at least 5. Or 4+1 roller

Nah. Ignore everything you see, here and read and assume it will be in TN or KY, since hey, the record came from there : And how many years ago was that? YOU are partially right. It will come from the great lakes, or surrounding waters. Possibly Erie, St Clair, or other less known spots on the Great Lakes. In fact it's down right comical and can speak volumes about some to read some of the nonsense posted. Not only will it not come from any Great Lakes or surrounding waters, but the Great Lakes aren't even in the running. : ;D