basswitch

Very informative post and it has helped me out big time. I actually had no idea what I was looking at. First impression, I though it was a hump with no fish around. I guess I won't really know until I get my first boat next summer, but it's always nice to get an idea for that little head start. I agree. This is invaluble to me. Id LOVE to see more screenshots from you guys and explaination of what it is. Any websites that have folks that do this? Mark I agree, I just got a Humminbird PiranhaMax 230 portable, and I'm having a great time learning it. Probably looking at it more than I'm fishing! But I would love a site with some screenshots to give me some ideas. Any site like this I've come across so far has been of really nice expensive sonars, which don't really help me lol. All that being said, the nice bass I caught yesterday was right up under the bushes around an island,1 or 2 feet deep, and not where my finder could see him:)

Thanks folks, we've decided to stay closer to home this year, but I'm thinking a Rocky Fork trip could be in the works for next year!

I love the commentary on the first vid. The kid needs his own show! Wish my first bass had been over 3lbs, heck, I'd like to catch a largemouth that size now!

We're thinking about taking a trip to Ohio next month, mainly to visit friends, but since we're doing it on the cheap and camping anyway... might as well fish right? We're looking at the Hillsboro/Bainbridge area, and actually one of the friends lives nearly on top of Pike Lake Park. My question is, does anyone have any experience with Pike lake, Rocky Fork lake, or Painted Creek Lake? I'm trying to decide which campground is best and right now Rocky Fork is winning due to the free WIFI (what can I say, I'm a junkie!). Some advice, or reviews of the lakes would be awesome:)

THAT is a big fat smallie! Wow nice fish! My first and largest is in my avatar, measured at 19 inches, est 4.2lbs. This thread is makin me wanna head down to the river!

Not at all last year, twice so far this year.

I just got more baby brush hogs in the mail today from the discount fishing site I use. I thought I ordered green pumpkin, and got pumpkin instead. Anyone have experience with this color?

I kinda blow a kiss at them, but no actual lip to fish action. I do talk to them, and thank them for playing:D

That's beautiful! I've on occasion grabbed some duckweed for my tropical tank, the fish love it. And last week, I brought a lily root with some growth on it in with a bass, it's now planted, we'll see how it does. I much prefer live plants in any tank, but they do take work.

I was laying in bed late the other night, and surfed to one of our pbs type channels, they had this show on about Orcas helping whalers... not that I'm a fan of whaling, but this is way too cool! http://www.killersofeden.com/ now spending time with Orcas is on my bucket list!

He's so cute! I miss mine being that little.

I think all you guys need to have a garage sale, and make sure to PM me the addresses:P I try hard to use most of my stuff, or at least switch things up and try something new on each trip but plastics really seem to work the best for me, and I'm more confident throwing them because they don't cost me 5 or 6 bucks each. And I'm sure that has alot to do with my success rate. Yesterday I tried my Storm Chug Bug (which I love) and as loud as that little sucker is, you'd think it'd work great, but I've only had one blowup on it ever. And then out in the deeper water, I threw on a steel leader and a deep running Rapala crank but didn't get anything except a little more practice with my baitcaster. I have cranks that I'm SURE are gonna catch me a nice fish someday, but for now, plastic is where it's at.

My fishin buddy and I went out to a chain of three lakes near my house yesterday for one of our all day fishing excursions. The bite wasn't great, but I was catching fairly regularly on plastics when I hooked into one that felt bigger and fought harder than any I'd caught on these lakes previously. After getting her in and snatching a couple pictures quick, I went in to get the hook and realized it was caught around her gill. She was bleeding a little, but it didn't look serious and between the two of us we managed to get her unhooked, although it took longer than I'd like. She splashed pretty vigorously when JD put her back into the water, but then went right onto her side. I got up into the bow and held her upright and JD rowed the boat, hoping that the flow of water would revive her. It didn't. We tried for at least ten minutes but nothing worked. In the northern zone of Wisconsin where we were fishing, it's catch and release only for bass until June 20th. So I couldn't even keep her (my husband wants to try bass but I refuse to kill one intentionally) I had to leave her floating there, and finally JD suggested we move to one of the other lakes, because I was SO bummed. Almost made me wanna pack up and go home. I can't remember the last time I unintentionally killed a fish. It hurt. Her day was goin just fine til she met me, and that just sucks. Here's a pic, before I knew she was doomed. :-[

Which do you regret? Not looking good for the camera, or catching something you want to be photographed with. Well, we've all got priorities. If the fates have determined that you will catch bigger fish when you are less than optimum, it seems you have a choice to make. You can fuss and primp and settlle for smaller fish, but look better catching smaller fish, or catch bigger fish while not looking as good. I know what my choice would be. The answer to that lies in my avatar, I looked like but still wanted a picture with my 4lb smallie!

It all depends, but I almost always regret it when I go out without my hair decent or a little makeup on, because that always seems to be when I catch somethin I want my picture with! When I go out with my cute lil fishin' buddy, I dress up a little, cause I know she will... and seriously what's hotter than two chicks fishin in a 16 foot deep v? Deep V shirts, to let the girls get some sun... :-*

If there are memories... you were doin somethin wrong! ;D The name didn't bother me either, but re-welcome anyway:D

Welcome from the (almost) Northwoods!

I find even the act of casting to be relaxing. I can fish for hours, not catch anything and I still will lose total track of time. Don't get me wrong, catching is much better but I find peace just in the art of the chase. I don't like work, so anything remotely like work is avoided to the best of my ability. When things like fishing become work, please shoot me.

Rare is right, can I ask where-ish? I'm North Central, do I have any hope?

The wealth of information the net provides is incredible, for fishing and all things. Not to mention, it gives me something to do on rainy, cold days in June(?!) when I can't go fishing!

It didn't really count in my mind, although I kinda wished it did just because it was a nice sized fish. But I was curious about everyone elses version of "caught" Thanks ;D

Lucky! I'd like to save up and go down there during the winter months, maybe take my fishin buddy. I'd like to go for Peacock Bass too, they're on my bucket list:D Good luck, hope you land a biggun!

That is very cool, the biggest one I caught today (14.5 inches, not lbs) half swallowed the hook, I finally cut the line, and pulled the hook out backwards to avoid mortally wounding it, then released, no blood no foul.

Yeah, kinda what I figured. Ah well, fair enough ;D

We went out to a local pond for a bit yesterday evening. I'm not really a "fish with teeth" kind of person, but I managed to hook up with a sizeable (est 30 inches) pike and got it all the way to the boat before it managed to bite off my line, I got a good visual... My question is, at what point does it "count" as a caught fish? If you catch a fish and manage to see it up close before it gets away, or do you actually have to boat/handle it? Silly question maybe, but I was just wonderin'