senile1

Ok. Maybe I'm confused. It wouldn't be the first time, and it surely won't be the last. Glenn, you and the Mods have my respect and I think you run a great site, but I don't understand the reasoning behind closing some threads. I do understand the rules regarding religious and political threads and I agree with them. (Not that you need my agreement. It's your site and your business.) The thread I'm thinking of at the moment is the "Makes Me Sick" thread in the general forum. Many people were still posting but, due to some repetition the thread was closed. There was some debate in the thread but nothing really got out of hand. I was just curious as to what the criteria are for closing a thread, other than argumentative or disrespectful posts. I can see that this might depend on the thread and could involve some subjectivity as you probably prefer to act before the arrows fly.

Asking for permission is always the right thing to do. Follow the golden rule.

The Mets and Braves are looking good, but, for me, it will only be a great season if the Cardinals pull themselves out of the cellar. Their pitching has been terrible half the time, and they still aren't rattling the bats. Tipptruck1, the Brewers are playing some good baseball and they are a young team. You've got a lot to look forward to, I think.

Good idea for a thread, FiveBassLimit. I'll bet there'll be a plethora of answers to this question. If I think about it too much, it can become difficult to answer. I love it when I feel that thump as you say. I love it when the rod loads up and the fight is on as Ronnie stated. I love lipping that nice bass and admiring its beauty. And at all times, but especially when the action is slow, I love to sit back and admire the beauty of the outdoors. There's nothing like losing yourself on a big lake and catching bass.

Good point, Fish Chris. He's learned how to catch pigs, but maybe he hasn't been exposed to the ideas and methods that will maintain a trophy fishery.

Different priorities. No one is right or wrong. I do believe in purchasing a level of equipment that isn't cheap in order to obtain acceptable quality, which really gives my answer to the original question for this thread. I just don't buy the most expensive. (Yet . . . . or maybe never.)

FC stated: Be careful. You don't want to strain that shoulder from patting yourself on the back. It'll make that next pig you stick much harder to bring in. While I agree with you on not bashing one another on this thread, I believe education isn't a panacea for every problem. Sometimes there is no answer. Some people really don't care. Many people still have unprotected sex with strangers after being educated. It takes all kinds to make this world go around and there is one kind that won't change, no matter the education received. I'm not saying this guy is that kind, but if he is sticking pigs like this it would seem that he is a knowledgeable fisherman. C&R has been around for years, so do you really think that he hasn't heard of its benefits? It's a possibility but I would say it is unlikely. I do agree that we should try to educate people but once that is done, what's left except threads like this and public pressure to do the right thing? (To those who eat fish, I am speaking of C&R of most trophy fish. I believe in selective harvest. See my earlier post.)

Cigarlover stated: Good statement. But I can't take credit for something I didn't say. Somebody else said this . . . . . or I'm too senile to remember saying it.

Who determines what somebody 'needs'? Really, none of us 'needs' to fish. We are not starving. Really, none of us 'needs' a boat'. Really, none of us 'needs' a rod, reel and lures. When somebody starts dictating 'needs' it starts to get scary. We are free to do what we want with the money we make. It starts looking at best like a 'sour grapes' type thing that somebody has a better boat/equipment/etc, or at worst like a form of mini communism where everybody only gets a $2000 aluminum jon boat with a 5 hp motor because somebody decided that is all we really 'need'. I'd rather choose where and how my money and enjoyment are spent. Sorry - I don't want to pull this into a political thing, I hate politics, but there are two threads of a similar nature with different folks weighing in on how my hard earned cash should be put to use... /end rant I understand your rant, but I don't think DELee36 is trying to dictate our needs or preferences. He's just making interesting conversation. As for "sour grapes," some of us can afford more expensive boats and equipment but we don't buy them because we have different priorities. When I retire I want to fish whenever and whereever I want with good equipment. I'll forego the very expensive stuff now, so I can put money away for when that time arrives. Now, there is the possibility of dying before I get to enjoy this ideal retirement I have in mind, but that's a chance I'll take. If this were to happen, then I know the money saved would go to those I love, which is still a higher priority than having the most expensive boat in town.

In murky water, I have a lot of luck with a chartreuse spinnerbait with one colorado and one willow-leaf blade. The color and the thump of the colorado helps the bass find the lure. Rat'l'traps and other such lures are good as well. I don't know how murky you're talking about though. Any lure that makes noise and is visible in muddy water would be good. Bright or dark colors, rattles, and thumping spinnerbait blades are the ticket. Also, in muddy water fish will tend to hang close to cover and you can find them shallow. I would also try dropping a texas rigged worm, a jig, or a Fat Ika next to, or into cover.

BaitMS, (to play angel's advocate to your devil's advocate ) Many of us do believe in selective harvest. This is the whole point of conservation and it is a proven concept. You can't maintain the health of a population of fish without it. But many of us who have been on this forum for awhile know that if fourbizzle is complaining about this guy, the complaint probably has some merit. We've had some good debates about when to keep a bass and when to release it, but many of us feel strongly that keeping a bunch of trophy fish is detrimental to the chance for others to do the same thing. I understand that some trophy fish are close to their death bed anyway, but in California, I'd say that 9 - 15 lb'ers still have some living to do. I would release them. As for fish dying after I release them, that is a possibility but chances are they will live if I release them immediately. Statistics that I have read show that even under tournament circumstances where fish are released after weigh-in, the percentage that die generally runs 4 - 8 percent at most. Don't get me wrong. I worry about the effects of tournament fishing too. But if I keep that trophy the chance is 100% she will die.

Fourbizzle stated: I think this comment is still the best reward this fellow could receive. You have to wonder if people like this can put two and two together. Doesn't he ever stop to think what are the results of his keeping every pig he sticks? Or does he just not give a d@#$?

yeah thats comparing apples to apples : ;D Ahem . . . well the final results are the proof in both instances.

Skillet is right. I don't know how many times I've answered this since I've been on the forum. I'm sure a few bands and musicians on my lengthy list change every time because it depends on what I'm listening to at the time. One band is always there though. Dream Theater. 'nuff said.

Nice fish, LBH. You are the Bubba Blue of Tuna fishing.

I guess we're all off topic though. The original question was when will he break the record? Whether we like it or not, it will count. It's just like the debates we have about the current world record bass. It is the record whether we agree or not. I honestly don't have a prediction of when he will surpass the number but so far he's having a decent season so it looks like he'll do it this year unless he is injured.

If I am on a deserted island with Muddy_Man, and when we are finally discovered, it is found that he has been shot in the head, do you think that I'm going to be found guilty, or do you think they'll say I'm innocent because no one has proof that I'm the one who shot him? (Sorry, for using you in the example Muddy. I have no intentions of shooting you. ) Guys, when it is scientifically impossible for the human body to gain the kind of muscle mass that Bonds gained in one year without steroids, that is not circumstantial evidence. It is logical proof in my eyes, but good people can disagree.

Thanks for the laugh. ;D

Except for a few exceptions the adult human body can only gain approximately 10 - 12 lbs of muscle per year naturally, and that is when doing a bodybuilding routine. Most people gain less than that. Some people gain more than that but some of it is fat. Bonds gained around 35 - 40 lbs in one year and most of it was muscle, giving him the strength to go from 30 - 40 home runs a year to hitting 50 - 70. Guilty as charged.

I voted yes but with restrictions. If I catch a bedding female, I release her immediately. I'm not comfortable with catching bedding females and carrying them around in a live well all day, nor do I fish the beds that often.

This is similar to a scam posted by George Welcome in the following thread: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1175850881

He is still listed in the members directory. He left and then he came back with the same name but without the underscore. Last post was February 9th. If I remember correctly, he did post an apology after his dollar a word posting, so I have no beef with him.

bshaner stated: Good question. Integrity has become an optional commodity for some people. It's a shame, but it's the world we live in.

Often, I'll ignore the ads when I'm reading the magazine. I'll have to go back and take a look. I'm sure there are a few sports figures who are guilty of this as well as other celebrities but its about making money. I agree with Glenn's point about ragging on people, but I am interested in facts, and if this is a fact it is good to know. If we ignored all negative facts we would be rather uninformed about our world. It's all in the words you use to present your negative facts. Some words are easily construed as bashing.

I haven't heard that one in a long time. ;D