George Welcome

Make the drive - easiest method without involving a bunch of very stringent laws.

I smile as I read responses that claim this is best or that is best. The reality is: only "you" can determine what is best for you because confidence is a strong factor in how much you use a particular bait. There is a marked difference between baits which isn't always determined by price, but most often it is.

Roll casting is similar to pitching. If you have watched fast pitch softball you can picture how the line and bait move. With about a half a rods length of line out: pick the rod up to bring the line to the rod - drop the tip to start the pendulum but instead of releasing the bait as it reaches the forward point as you would in a pitch, continue the arc to complete a circle, releasing on completion of that circle. What the roll does is increase the speed of the bait which allows much more distance achieved than the pitch. To learn this start with about a 1.5 feet of line out from the tip and practice without releasing to get the line to roll in a circle without wrapping the tip. Remember, the roll is a forward roll, not a side roll. It follows the same arc as that pitcher's arm does in fast pitch softball.

Geez, and I always thought they were such outstanding examples of photographic intuity and excellence.

That color code now is: Chrome/Black Back/Orange Belly - AF131OB Charlie Orme from Ocala, Florida is quite famous among Florida anglers and a force to contend with if you enter the same tournament he's in.

" Late in the hot spell we had substantial amounts of cold rain. " I don't know why your DNR didn't give a complete clear answer to your question, if they were asked. What happened occurs somewhat frequently following an innundation of ground runoff from heavy rains. Rain has no DO and the rapid mixing of the water dropped the levels in the lake to such a level that the fish asphyxiated. This phenomenon is usually a smaller, shallow lake problem and more common in the southern areas of the country. However, altitude, time of year, and many other factors contribute to this naturally occuring event. A good read about DO: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/COBWQ/info/DO.html

no

C'mon you guys - the fella has a big hand. 12 pounds if it's an ounce. :

Good boat with outstanding power option. The boat only has one flaw - it will chine walk. However, that can be overcome with a bit of driving. Great storage and great fishing platform.

First reason to have a particular boat and power combo: Because you like it Second reason to have a particular boat and power combo: Because you like it Don't take advice on boat and power combo - find a dealer that offers test drives and choose the one that meets your current and future needs. The bigger the boat, the safer it is. The bigger the motor, the safer it is. The bigger the boat and motor the more costly it is. As for getting caught out in storms: if you fish you will see some very nasty storms before you get back to the dock on the bigger lakes. Boat size and motor will determine if you get back wet up to your armpits, or toasty warm dry. Seven to eight miles away from the dock is a long way to go if you don't have the equipment to meet poor conditions.

Not the ground or you wouldn't have any lights: It's the brake/turn wire - find the break and you are good to go when you fix it.

Congrats on the family expansion: I hope Grandma was the second to know this great news.

Tournaments are won in PA and for that matter any other North American lake using a topwater bait. The right time and the right place on any lake makes a topwater bait the number one choice for producing.

One thing to keep in mind: photographic studies or otherwise - that's the response from human eyes, is not a response from a bass's eyes. So remove the word fact, because in fact, it is conjecture. A bass's pupil is fixed and dilated, which we assume is for maximum light absorbtion. If in fact their eye functions as ours that would make them myopic. However, until one talks to us we are guessing. Another consideration would be just how selective bass are when it comes to eating anything. The more selective they are the more likely they are to starve to death. Based on what they are caught with, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to suggest that they bite it first and decide later, color or otherwise.

Nope - how about a custom Johnson bracket and then an outboard.

You got that right

""the purist bass angler". Again, I would ask what the heck is a "purist bass angler" Either way it's absurd. "Using live bait puts a strain on smaller lakes with big bass populations, regardless of C & R. Most fisherman keep their biggest fish for mounting, even though plastic replica is readily availble. The big bass may be eventually released after extensive handling, showing off to freinds and photgraphing, ending up as post mortality death. The only issue I personally have with fishing big live golden shiners is they target big bass, usually a guide fishing for clients. Fishing live bait anywhere during pre-spawn and spawn should be outlawed IMO. Our sport should recognize that bait fishing with large bait fish is killing their most valuable resource...big bass. Fishing live bait anywhere during pre-spawn and spawn should be outlawed IMO. WRB" Everyone of the above statements are inaccurate and grossly incorrect. Everyone that fishes is targeting the opportunity to catch a big bass, whether with artificial or live means. You apparently never take a picture of a fish or show it to your friends, but that action in no way is going to contribute to the death of a bass unless one gets rediculous. You apparently don't like guides or their clients. Most guides including myself use shiners at the customers request, not ours. Live bait does not kill bass. Mis-handling does. Not learning how to properly remove a hook kills fish. Each state has a division of natural resources and it is by their recommendation using knowledge from those that actually study bass as to open or closed seasons. Perhaps you might endeavor to talk with your local DNR to discover why they make the decision of closed or open seasons. :-? "just another technique in the bass fisherman's arsenal. " that's a statement of absolute accuracy!!!!

"Even though true bass anglers find it hard to even think about using shiners or crawlers, sometimes it's what is best." I absolutely agree with the last four words in the above statement, but I totally disagree with everything before the comma. What the heck is a true bass angler? By the way: the Kahle hook is a better choice than circle hooks if you are talking LM Bass. As stated above, catching is just a lot of fun.

Take a look at Westerbeke, but I don't you will get the horsepower you want - weight may be an issue. http://www.marinedieseldirect.com/repower/specs/westerbeke.php?engine=westerbeke

This subject is as bad as politics or religion for discussion. Do what you feel is right and don't worry about what others think, as long as its your legal right to do so.

Wally-Mart: lawn mower battery - you don't need deep cycle for sounder.

Saltwater would be a better diversion than fresh. Contact these people for best info. Naples Fishing Club PO Box 12161 Naples, FL 34101 Phone 239-455-2801 Fax 239-455-3041 info@naplesfishingclub.org

Too far north for Peacocks - if you are speaking bass: limited canal fishing East on 84 or south on 41 - look also at golf courses that you might get permission at.

Get the 2623a.

Probably a 2-3 more weeks.