George Welcome

First I find it strange when you are in advertising for people to just ask you if you are a fishing guide. Second, I see a bunch of red flags that say you shouldn't head down the guide road. I am assuming that you want honest answers and thoughts. If you don't truly enjoy showing people how to fish and sharing your knowledge you won't last. I don't begin to know what money holes are, but you are going to accept money to put people on fish - that means you need to show all and tell all. General info: a guides day starts well before the ramp departure at the lake - boat prep etc. takes time. a guides day ends sometime after dinner - boat cleaning, answering the phone calls, etc. takes considerable time. a guides day includes instruction as needed, baiting hooks if needed, removing fish from hooks, and even babysitting junior. a guides day includes seeing equipment damaged through carelessness, boat being damaged, and at times personal self being injured by flying hooks and lures. a successful guides day starts with years of learning what it takes to be successful on the water - people are going to pay you to put them on fish and show them how to catch them. Each and every trip is a tournament that you must win. If you don't you won't be around long. The expenses are high, but if you truly love bass fishing, and truly enjoy people than you will make it. My impression from your questions and your expressed thoughts about a cabin cruiser and trolling for 8 hours: you won't enjoy this "guide thing" for very long. I started guiding over 40 years ago and I still find each trip as unique and enjoyable as I did at the onset of following the guide trail. If you look at my profile there is link to my web pages - take a look at the comments pages.

1st level of confidence needs to be in the location that you are fishing. If everyone that fishes that location is/has caught fish than you are probably doing something wrong. It could be that you just possibly have not found the fish

I'm glad to see you took it with a good sense of humor. A sounder is not a tool to show you what you already know but rather to show you the unknown. When you fish the same lake you learn the hot spots, (hopefully), but no amount of instinct is going to put you on off shore humps, ditches, etc. when you are visiting some of the large lakes in this country. Sonar is but another tool designed to put us in reasonably potential water.

Your thoughts relative to tools of the past time are akin to the following: I like to fashion my hooks from the bones of animals and use handline and worms for bait and tackle. I used to own rods, reels, and metal hooks but I like the challenge of fishing like my forefathers did yesteryear.

They happen to be every bit as good as a bass to eat.

Dan, Next time out bring out the buzz bait. Hammered them today with it. Warm weather top water: gotta love it.

Dr. Jones is the head of research and developement for Berkley Pure Fishing.

LM bass taste exactly like the water that they come from smell. Bass out of a lake with a lot of algae will taste like algae, and bass from muddy water will taste like mud. Bass from clear clean water will taste just fine. However, I like my cats better cuz they taste like chicken.

Mutiple bombs the only way to get them out, but it will only be temporary unless you move the boat.

Had two boats: now only Hewes 20" Light Tackle - fantastic platform

Water levels continue to rise as the summer rains are now hitting with more frequency. Even so, common sense and caution are called for it you are headed to where the fish are. Departure from the ramp and the transition across the Marsh from the cut to the ditch has some rather large stumps, and of course tree tops, so be careful making that run. Once in the east ditch and until you get to the wood in the south end of the Farm there is relatively deep and clear water. Be aware that the wood comes well out from the south levee, so getting off plane is very important. Over the last week temperatures have been on the rise as a bit of a southerly flow came through the area. Yesterday saw the worst of it although there was a slight breeze to help with the heat. This time of the year there are four items that are extremely important to have on board for your health. First is insect repellant: The mosquito is released by the increase in rain so if you are going to appear at the ramp before daylight expect them and use that repellant. We do have the possibility of some nasty diseases that are passed on by the mosquito bite. Second, and one that is ignored by so many, is adequate sunscreen protection. Of course along with having it with you it is just as important to use it. I see many people that don't apply this when they should and the end result is sun damage to the skin, which as we all know can account for some serious physical problems later in life. The proper usage of sunscreen calls for application prior to the sun getting up, and then the periodic usage throughout the day. Depending on the screening factor of what you are using, reapplication is very important: read the label. Third, and another item of necessity is adequate amounts of liquid to keep you from dehydrating. For most of us, we are very much remiss in keeping the fluid levels in our bodies where it should be when out in the heat. Bring the water and remember to drink it. Fourth on the list, and one that most do bring, is eye protection. Use those sunglasses! Lastly, it is strongly recommended that you bring rain protection. It is kind of nice during the first part of a rain shower to cool down, but after a short while even summer rains get quite uncomfortable. Don't forget the rain gear. There is lots of discussion around the internet about proper gear for the different lakes in this country. For the Stick Marsh/Farm 13 the proper gear to have is strong gear. Rods should be MH or H! Line should be 1t least 17-20 pounds. Reels should be of adequate size to carry that weight line. This place is loaded with wood folks and if you come with light equipment you are going to leave a good majority of your fish in the water. Getting the fish up and moving is just as important as selecting the correct bait to catch them. It's really quite easy: Stick Marsh/Farm 13 has BIG fish! If you don't wish to see that big fish swim off with your bait then have adequate equipment to get them to the boat. Over the last week we have seen day after day of mixed top water bite and worm bite. For those that can, working something such as a Bomber Long A around the wood has been producing, but it does take a bit of experience to not leave crank baits in the wood. If wood gets hooked stop tugging and go get the bait. If you persist in trying to remove the bait from a distance you will only embed the hooks further and ensure that it will get left behind. Our best top water bait has been the venerable Chug Bug: The Storm CB08 has been the color and size. When the top water bit has dropped off a follow-up of the Yamamoto Senko or the Yamamoto SwimSenko has kept the fish coming to the boat. The road to the Marsh has been in really good shape this year compared to some the years past. The grading is being done at least a couple of times per week. There is no rush at the ramp as usage has been down. If you want to come water levels are just fine and the fish are biting. See you out there.

Average egg weight adds to Bass: 10% of body weight - hence, if the Bass's norm is 5 pounds than egged up she would weigh 5.5 pounds. The average count of eggs is 4000 eggs per pound of fish.

Oh oh, that Dick Tracy decoder ring can get you in trouble - next thing you know you will be in front of the CIA for giving away secrets.

Jeff, The majority of the bait company do no more than label the product. You would be supprised at just how few actually have anything to do with the manfacturing of what they sell.

All you are going to get is opinions for your question. Some like and swear by spinning and some like and swear by baitcasters. The actual differences start with the possibility of bigger fish, which Raul alluded to. If you need big line and stout pole than you need a bait caster. Although you can up line strength on spinning equipment by using braid, you can't add rod stoutness. So if you live in the land of the small bass, use what you like: if you live where the bass get big use the baitcaster.

I just love it: you guys with the "busted". I hear argument after argument about knock-off this and knock-off that, and how great it is to use those knock-offs, and how cheap they are. There isn't many unique lures out there and when someone makes it Bass Pro Shop will make a knock-off with nary a complaint. What's up with all the complaints about this one? Sounds pretty petty to me.

For those that think it is okay if given approval, etc. Read the Illinois law - it's really quite simple and if you own a pond than you should be familiar with Riparian rights and law. In Illinois, as with most states, water belongs to the state. It took very little research to find this. Hence, all state law would apply to the waters of Illinois whether on private or public land. The below is directly from Illinois Reparian Rights. Doctrine of riparian rights: "Riparian rights are a form of real property, a part of land law. The rights are appurtenant to the land; that is, they are attached to it in the sense that a person who purchases or inherits riparian land automatically acquires the water right."... "Under this doctrine, the law gives equal rights to the use of water to owners of land which borders upon or touches a stream or watercourse. A riparian right to the use of water exists whether the use is made or not; hence, a riparian owner can initiate a use at any time and insist that his rights be accommodated with other uses or that a share of the water be allotted to him. The nature of the right is usufructuary - the riparian does not own the water, but owns only the right to use it on his riparian land and to have it flow to his land so that it may be used. Developed in the humid climates of England and the eastern US, riparian law seems to be based upon an unspoken premise that if rights to use are restricted to those persons that have access to the water through the ownership of the banks, and if those persons will restrict their demands on the water to reasonable uses, there will be enough for all. Back to top

You know it is Dan. What a producer!

In Illinois, as with most states, water belongs to the state. It took very little research to find this. Hence, all state law would apply to the waters of Illinois whether on private or public land. The below is directly from Illinois Reparian Rights. Doctrine of riparian rights: "Riparian rights are a form of real property, a part of land law. The rights are appurtenant to the land; that is, they are attached to it in the sense that a person who purchases or inherits riparian land automatically acquires the water right."... "Under this doctrine, the law gives equal rights to the use of water to owners of land which borders upon or touches a stream or watercourse. A riparian right to the use of water exists whether the use is made or not; hence, a riparian owner can initiate a use at any time and insist that his rights be accommodated with other uses or that a share of the water be allotted to him. The nature of the right is usufructuary - the riparian does not own the water, but owns only the right to use it on his riparian land and to have it flow to his land so that it may be used. Developed in the humid climates of England and the eastern US, riparian law seems to be based upon an unspoken premise that if rights to use are restricted to those persons that have access to the water through the ownership of the banks, and if those persons will restrict their demands on the water to reasonable uses, there will be enough for all.

I don't believe in telling what baits or locations to fish them. I don't even believe in telling people I am on a particular lake for fear that they will follow me and watch with binoculars. I am even secretive about my secrets. I have learned through years of pro fishing the secrets of the pros, but I ain't telling, cause it's a secret. By the way: I hope that the code works for this message as I don't want it to get around. Ah what the heck. The following is the secret of all the top level pros: Cfmjfwf jo zpvstfmg!

Removal of hook: the key is maintaining the shank of the hook parallel to the pointl. The person that has the hook in them does that by holding down on the shank. Otherwise, the hook rotates and rips out. That would hurt. Also important is to consider where anyone is hooked to decide on the water or hospital. When in doubt, see a doctor.

CB08 3 1/4 " 3/8 oz. - 342 color Never have much luck with the cbs11 which is the bigger saltwater version.

The key is find the fish and bluebird skies won't matter:

Yesterday's investigation of the Marsh/Farm came on the heels of four consecutive days of high winds. Water levels have come up with the rains from Barry, however the 6" or so increase are not enough to allow thoughtless navigation out there. The result of those winds was water that was extremely turbid in most places. The Stick Marsh side had visibility levels that didn't exceed two inches anywhere. I check the NW, Twin Palms, and the cut, and found very dirty water. Yesterday's wind was 10-15 out of the west and not helping the situation at all. As I started in the Farm I found pretty much the same conditions except for one area. The spillway area had some of the dirtiest water that I have seen in there, and all across the north end conditions were the same. The pump on the east wall was running but no flow could really be detected. The water there was as dirty as elsewhere. One note on the pump area: There are several humps in the pump basin which will get you if you cross them. Be careful when operating in and around the pump. I then checked the SW area which is known as the nursery and found water there to be as bad as anywhere. The one exception to the highly turbid conditions was the south central area. This area had a foot of visibility outside the wood and more in the heavily wooded areas. Today I decided to do some fishing as the winds had decreased. Getting a late start I launched at 8:30 and headed straight to the Farm side. First bait out was a chug bug but there were no takes where I was. I started on the outside of the south wood. Picking up the Yamamoto SwimSenko I proceeded to put five fish in the boat pretty quickly. However, the fish were relative small: not what I was looking for. Don and Steve were further in the wood and reporting catching bigger fish, so in I went. Operating down in the south end takes patience and caution as the stumps are plentiful and hang-ups occur frequently. I did not have a major increase in bite so I started moving eastward. Seeing one bass then another chasing bait on the surface brought me back to the Chug Bug, and the slam-fest was on. Pass near a stump and there was a bass. There was another fisherman in the area and I yelled over to put on the bug. Doing so put him on this tremendous bite also. Every fish was good sized and the numbers caught grew quickly. When it was all over I had put over 25 fish in the boat including this one: A typical Stick Marsh/Farm 13 lady. Called it quits at 11:30 and headed home. Three hours of fishing with 25+ bass just isn't too shabby. See you out there. Say hi if you get the chance.

The Pros are normally targeting fish that are way less experienced than you or I am. Don't take that wrong because they love big fish but it's the medium size fish that feed them. Fish that have been hooked before do remember baits, noises, and their surroundings of past events. Big bass don't get big from being stupid or doing the same things all of the other fish do on normal public lakes. I don't think it's a secret that I catch a lot of big fish very consistantly and it's not by banging, clanking, or being foolish on the water. Boat color may or may not be a big factor but the other mentioned actions are. I guess the only proof of this is to look at how many big fish the people that believe it matters and the ones who don't believe it matters post pics of.