mrlitetackle

in fresh, i dont use a leader.... just straight suffix braid.... but in salt, i use a mono leader.... about 6ft in length.... the knot i use is the improved albright..... ive never had it fail... if your having problems, i suggest giving it a try... (the improved albright is wrapped down as well as up.... just google it)

thanx for the compliments too all.... Culln5......as for the coloring.... i was thinking the same thing, i have caught many large fish out of this pond.... and all are healthy to say the least, but this one's markings and color was quite beautiful. (i wish they all looked like that)

sure was a fatty of a little fella, huh!! agreed with...those eyes are somethin' ridiculous!

great fish!!!! as we all know, pics can be deceiving...... i would call it about 4.5, but as i said......who knows really??? what i can say is .... congratulations!!!! its a great fish, and WOW... it really inhaled that bait! good job.

i have no idea either, but.... it would seem to reason that the numbers would mainly have to do with... 1. the size of the lake 2. the amount of anglers fishing the lake either way.... catch'em as many times as you can, and hope that the repeat offender is 10+...... ;D

agreed with the others.... great catches!!! gotta love the biggun's!

thanks for the input guys!

good to see ya around... it nice to have another!

great day, eh! the fish look awesome.

the edit makes a world of difference.... "holy crap"....... no big deal. "holy $hi*"......... bad news..... shouldn't be said with the kiddies present...

id say 5 to 5 1/2 tops.... but, as we all know..... pictures can be deceiving!! so really...the minor differences are insignificant. great catch man...... dont let others get ya down.

i will agree with the "no big dealers' ".... i think by saying "holy crap"..... in these times he was indeed sensoring himself for small children. just my opinion, everyone can raise their own their own way... but by today's standards, i feel it is completely acceptable. i was using much worse in elementary school to say the least - (not to say though that my parents would not have wanted me to hear it from others though...)

great fish my man!! ps...........rage tail's rock.

chocolate..... thats all there is to be said.

thanx, paul... it was quite nice, but i have always wondered....... what was the weight on the absolute beast in your avatar!!! ive seen it for quite some time now, and always wanted to know.......

mlpauly....thanx man.... and ya, i only got about an hour of fishing in before it hit... sammylee.....if by chance you ever end up here, seeing as how you are far out of town..... i might consider taking you there - with a blind fold on of course!! - as for the lure...... i decided to use live shinners on this outing..... it was the first time i have ever taken live bait to lunker lake.... all previous outings, and fish were on artificials.

sounds like an amazing day..... i wish every day that i fish the salt something like that happens.... good job!!

kinda my thoughts as well.. ive never used it before, and i have caught plenty of fish...... thought id give it a try, just wondered how everyone liked this brand.

sorry to hear, but it is nice to have ya here!

good to have ya here, eh! and, ya.... as for the avatar, wow does it suck when that happens!!! i once had the same instance with the largest size yo-zuri crystal minnow....the rear trebble was completely through my pointer finger, and the front trebble was lodged in a dock, about 2 ft above my head...(i was wade fishing in the indian river)..... not fun.

i just picked up a bottle of the Yum attractant today (shad smell) at BPS.. haven't tried it yet (or any scent for that matter), but im looking forward to it on my next trip... just wondering how those who have tried it...., well liked it.

best wishes... and, thats one nice cat!!!! gotta love the way they battle.

keep the spinner..... thats all i have ever fished as well.... not that baitcasters aren't good, their just a pain in the a*$.... spinners will catch you any fish a b/c could.

for sure a confidence problem.... ive lived and fished in florida my whole life, and hard baits work wonders. And, like you, i am boat-less and always fish from shore... my fav's for bass are... jointed rapala minnow (black and silver) fat free shad full sized zara spook

granted, its not a fresh water cat, but my buddy caught a 9-10lb ''sail-cat" (saltwater catfish) about 5 days ago on a top water mir-o-lure while fishing for trout and red... quite the surprise!