George Welcome

Upon autopsy we find in a bass's stomach and associated structure: sticks, stones, shells, weights, can tabs, bottle caps, etc. The simple fact is: if the bass is in the eating mode you are gonna gut hook the fish. You can be as fast as you want, the bass's swallowing is quicker. I find it downright impossible to believe that anyone has fished for any period of time and has gotten away without gut hooking a fish at some point. Learn to remove the hook through the gills - it's simple. If you decide to leave the hook. It is considered amongst fishery people that it is best to leave some line outside of the fish's mouth. This will aid in keeping the shank straight and allow the fish to eat. Also, the idea that a high quality steel hook is going to disolve in a couple of days is just plain incorrect. It's going to be a long time. Blue Sky - you do exactly what I do with one exception. Once removed I cut off and retie rather than feeding it back through the delicate gill structure. No chance of raking a gill then.

RW _ To clarify those pics I updated with the weights - also that was July 2004

The key to through the gill hook removal is controlling the shank of the hook. The shank must lay parallel to the point at all times during the removal. It is no different than removing a hook using line from a person. Shank control is the secret. The other of course is to not have the hook twisted, which means depending on location removal will be one side of the fish or the other. If done correctly in human or fish the hook will come out effortlessly.

12.6 - Senko Bass - Boga weighed 14.3 - Senko Bass - Boga weighed 4 - 3 - Senko Bass - guess-timate 7.8 - Senko Bass - Boga weighed There's five for you all caught before 9:30. That's my grandaughter: want to know what fishing in July is like?

As noted, a circle hook will reduce some of that. However, if the fish are in feeding mode you are not going to stop gut hooking from happening. Learn to remove the hook out through the gill and you won't damage the fish. http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/articles/if2806_HookRemoval/index.html

(I have never caught a bass over six lblsx in a lake The only 3 big bass ( by NE standards) I caught one 5 1/2 lbs In Greenwood lake on the NY/NJ Border and 2 just over 5lbs on a Pond Im not giving up) hmmmmm - can you say perhaps Green Turtle? LOL If you ever have the chance in that north Jersey area: Bear Swamp Lake - on the Ramapo ridge

The most important tools that you have on the water, or for that matter anywhere they are needed, are your eyes. If you don't pay for the sun protection now, you will pay far more later. The difference in glasses is far more than just dollars..

Muddy: Anything would taste good in that recipe!

308 posts in 4 days: Wow!

Mass. is five over 15" for pickerel keeper limit so you are breaking the law. Chain Pickerel are very good eating - you just need to learn how to clean them. My feelings on fishing: If you can't fish within the laws of your state you should get out of fishing. Whether you like the law or not, violating it is serious business. Coming here and in effect saying or professing that irregardless of your states laws you do what you want to do, is pretty dumb.

This whole subject is really quite simple. If your fish and game allows you to keep fish then it's your right to do so. What I or anyone else does has nothing to do with your rights when it is you making the decision. When people fish from my boat it's understood up front that it is catch and release, but I would never tell or suggest what you should do on your own boat, assuming it is your right to keep or throw back the fish.

This should help: 2004, spring season - I stop to explain some of the layout of the lake to a client and while idling the engine quits. After several attempts to start I smell smoke; end result was two regulators, some wiring and the stator - over $1000. Two weeks later: out for a day of scouting and the engine bogs down and quits; end result a blown power head - Too much money to mention. One week later: when taking the boat out of the water we note that the cavitation plate is broken off the lower unit case; end result a new case and the cost of tranferring the gear assembly - another $1000. Over $6000 to this point: Three weeks later: Scott prepares to launch with clients and the motor quits while idling - it won't restart: end result was the replacement of the throttle positioning sensor - Another $400.00 So as you can see, although you had a bit of rain you didn't have the t-storm that I did. I won't even get into the number of tire repairs and replacements I go through each year. Why do I fish - I love it!

Obviously there are people out there that will say anything to sell a product. I believe a man to be honest until he proves otherwise and sponsored or otherwise, I believe most truly believe what they profess. There have been a few lemons come down the pike in the fishing industry, but they are few and far between. Most baits produced will work, and for those promoting them they work quite well. That in no way implies they will work for everyone. Most good products don't want sponsored individuals to fabricate embellishments for their products. They want honest and objective responses to inquiries about their product. Those that are sponsored and do add embellishment are short lived in most cases. Any of the products that I represent state that clearly in the contracts. If it is not clearly stated on paper it certainly is in conversations of business. By the way: The Banjo Minnow does catch fish - The Walking Worm does catch fish - The Snake does catch fish - The Helicopter Lure caught fish: just not as successfully as advertised.

Nothing is sacred on the internet. I have found many of my articles pasted on someone elses site, with the site owner acting as if they wrote it. Not much one can do about it.

Let's see: I've done TV shows - no other boaters in them - no PWC's - no rocking boat either: It's called editing! I Guess that some here have been out with Mr. Dance, cause not only do they know the types of bodies of water that he fishes, but they even know the size. It's amazing. Rumors running freely.

Rain and fish: Today's fishing: It's going to rain and the fishing is fantastic. It's raining cats and dogs and the fishing in dynamite. Tomorrow's fishing: It's going to rain the the fishing stinks. It's raining cats and dogs and the fishing stinks. The reality: There are no rules whatsoever in bass fishing. As quick as you make or find one the bass will change it. The easiest way to handle rain, the possibility of rain, or lack of rain is stay positive and keep on fishing. If it's a boomer get the heck off the water.

The caculator used in Florida by the biologists is complex and takes into account factors such as shape. But even so at best it is only an approximation. There is no way to account for mass or contents within the bass. Also, both the GFC in Florida, and Hal Schramm's caculations were based on a typical 10 pound bass: 27 X 17, with a variation in the weight of from 9 to 12 pounds. As per their caculations you can readily see the need for a scale. Measurement is critical and is difficult to do with accuracy. Buy a scale! (The primary estimate is derived from a rather complex formula, which is what Commission biologists use. The equation is:) Log (weight in grams)= -4.83 + 1.923 x Log (total length in millimeters) + 1.157 x Log (girth in millimeters).

It seems the general consensus is that most like Mr. Dance. I do however have a couple of questions. How does anyone here know what waters Mr. Dance is fishing, and further how do you know that they are stocked? How many here have made a TV Fishing show?

You appear to be missing the crucial points to this whole game: first find the fish - how? Seasonal habits based on your location. Second choose the bait - how? based on weather patterns the bass will be positioned accordingly. Choose the bait that will work that position most effectively. To fish effectively for bass, this is a deductive game of reasonable expectations, not a game of try your tackle box. As an example, if the bass are holding tight to cover, more than likely a spook is only going to wear out your arm, not the bass.

7.5 - rattle trap - calm day - Stick Marsh/Farm 13

Increase the size of the sock Russ.

30-35: electric boat - waders to try and stay dry - Over the last 5 years I have been witness to 3 bodies being removed from the lake - If your boat isn't made for it, get off the water: no one will consider you brave or heroic as they stand over your coffin.

BD Photo shop would be a good place to do it - constrain proportion and size to 640 width. They will work out fine then although I prefer 400 in the event that a page has side bars or such.

Big fish can be caught at any time you are casting. First cast of the day! Last cast of the day! Mid-morning! Noon time! Even small ones can be caught! Statistically however, and I believe around the country, the majority of big fish are caught in the late morn to early afternoon period.