Dad_Golf_Fish

Together, those describe yesterday at my house. I almost ended up going out, but it was just a bit to threatening. Now for next weekend I have an organized tackle box and I'm brushed up on techniques to use.

I disposed of some of my income there this week. Ordered Monday, received Thursday with a hand-written personalized thank you written on the packing list! Great prices, great shipping, great service. I'll be disposing more of my income there shortly.

Thanks for that! I can't say that I'm really in a bind, since the old one works for the most part. If I have to move more than a few hundred yards, I just crank up the big motor. I'm sure I'm scaring a few away doing that, but I'm not tournament fishing, I'm fishing with family and friends. Someone else wants the 36# mentioned above, but they also may want my 28#. Telling the Mrs. that I may have a buyer for it seems to be loosening her up on the idea, so I might just be able to make this happen. I haven't looked at what it is going to take to remove the old one and mount a new one yet, but I don't think it is going to be pleasant. Since I am likely getting a new finder for the bow for Father's Day, I'm going to have to be in there anyway, so it seems like a good time to take on both issues.

Thanks for the advice Tommy. My '88 Cajun is the 16' Fiero F/S with the original Force 85hp. I just wondered if the 36# might be like adding one more speed so my 4 now would be a 3 and when I need 5 now I would have a 6. Then again, when into a 15-20mph wind, even the 5 is just standing still draining the battery. Most of my local lakes are small enough that I don't drain in a normal day fishing, but there are a couple of larger ones I would like to hit once I get the new TM. Did your Cajun have the digital gauges? If not, I would like to ask about your dash configuration (maybe another thread or PM). Previous owner removed one and ran the HB525 wiring through the hole. I would like to restore it to original. cart - A very generous offer! Especially shipped! The $50 for the 36# is generally within my pocket money from my "allowance" and the wife would never know. Our general agreement is we ask each other on anything over a hundred, and now might not be the best time after what I've asked for for Father's Day. Still, after 20 years together, I know ways of getting things I really want and $175 is cheap compared to what I will owe her if I get it. I'll discuss it with her tonight and get back to you if someone who has now seen this hasn't snatched it up by then. Thanks again for the great offer!

Not much different than chumming for sharks. And less blood!

I don't know about the habits of bass well enough to comment on that, and I've seen enough talent here who will probably explain that aspect of it shortly, but in relation to weather, the significant change in wind speed/direction, temp, and pressure should easily identify the passage of the first front. At that time, you are post-frontal. If the next front is coming in that fast, it also will mark the start of the pre-frontal condition. I'm not a bass, but if I saw/felt/sensed two fronts coming that close together, I would probably just hunker down till the second one passed.

With the wealth of information on the net, this will seem to be overkill, but if you'll indulge me for a moment... If you would like to learn something new, you can make your own weather charts and forecasts. I was a weather specialist in the USAF, and if they could teach me in a few months, most people can learn this in a few paragraphs! First, find a map of your area (state/neighboring state or smaller). Make many copies. Now, you need to collect current conditions from around your area. Good sources are the tv, internet, airports, military bases, golf courses, state parks, beaches, etc. The three things you need most are temp, pressure, and wind speed/direction (or is that 4 things?). On one of your map copies start writing the information down for each location you've found. Now play connect-the-dots. Find the areas with the same pressure and start drawing lines between them. Use a pencil with a big eraser! The wind direction will tell you which way to draw the lines. Areas with higher winds will have the lines closer together. When you're finished, you will likely have a series of hills and valleys. You should easily be able to identify highs/lows. There must always be a low near a high and a high near a low. Just the way it works. Now you need to do what all professional weather people do: Stare at the map for a looooong time, then make your best guess. If you are sitting under a big ridge of high pressure, it will take a long time or a serious system to break down that ridge. Expect a few decent days. If you're at the bottom of a big valley, changes happen fast! If your between the two, look out your window, shake your head, and go back to bed. A weather forecast beyond 24-48 hours is just a WAG anyway. Try this and hone your skills against what really happens over a day or two. You couldn't possible be any worse than the people you see on tv. Or just use weather.com or weatherchannel.com

Those storms hit me head on last night! Lots of thunder/lightning and over two inches of rain. T-storms this time of year are usually dry- hence the annual fire danger. I was thinking the post-front muddied water was really going to mess my fishing up this weekend, but now I see the storms are likely to stick around through the weekend. I guess I have another week to figure out what to do...

I have an '88 Cajun F/S (I think 900lbs) with an 85hp (manual says 250lbs) + fat boy + wife + kid. It has an existing bow mount foot control MG 28# which moves along ok on speeds 4 and 5, as long as the wind isn't blowing. I've been looking at the 55# to replace it, but I might have trouble getting that past the Budget and Finance Manager for a while. I have a chance to get a used 36# locally (not easy in Hicksville) for $50. Questions: Should I bother with the 36# as something better than what I have until I can afford the 55# and then sell off both the 28# and the 36#, or just chug along with what I have? Given the weights above, what would be a suitable size TM for my boat? I've read that shaft measurement should be bow to water distance + 20". That means that I could get away with a 36", 40" would be optimal, but if I only found 45", is that ok to use? Does that also mean that when mounting a new one that I should set it at that distance (bow to water distance + 20")? Thanks for any assistance!

Most of my "old" stuff is Power Worms from the early/mid 90's. Some of the bags are still sealed.

Any chance you'll reveal the general location? I haven't been to N.H. in about 30 years, but I used to visit the N. Conway area. My grandfather had property there and I used to love spending time with him canoeing in the rivers.

X2! If sent via U.S Postal Service it is clearly written - You didn't ask you don't pay! Direct from the U.S Postal Inspector's website: EDIT - Missed the bolded sentence in the quote from the site which is probably the most important .

I also moved from Texas to California (and miss Texas as well), but you have landed in the right place. Since joining this forum I have already met new people in my area and we are even thinking about starting our own local club. Great people here! Friendly, and know more about bass fishing than I can absorb into this wet noodle. Welcome, and if you ever get much further north, let me know, and we'll get on one of the local lakes.

Thanks again! I'm up for trying new things, so I'll respool before too long. The rig in question had the rod separate at the reel seat Saturday, so it is sitting waiting on a new rod. The reel is 16 years old, and I won't replace one of my most battle tested reels. P-line is new to me, but I've always has 12-15# Stren ultra thin on it and loved it. I could lift small trees out of the water and retrieve my snags. The backup spinning reel has generic 8# mono. It will be a good drop shot rig.

Thanks J Francho! With all the other info I did forget to mention the line. Both the bc and spinning reels holding 15# P-line CX. These were all caught on the spinning since when I worm I usually rig weightless or real light unpegged and I'm just not that good with the bc especially with light tackle.

Thanks for that link Glenn. Maybe if I read this once a week I'll eventually be able to get it right when it's time to do it for real. What I had really hoped for with my question was how to best avoid the problem in the first place. Since the last three fish were hooked deep (and on different days), I thought something was wrong with technique. The last two were bleeding by the time they surfaced. The last one I felt and set on the fall, so it's not like I'm giving them time to get it down that far. It just seemed like I was doing something wrong, whether it was hook size, bait size or whatever. J Francho has suggested bigger baits, so my next outing I'll trade the 3/0 hooks and 5" worms for 4/0 hooks and 8" worms and see what happens. I haven't found my go to colors (bubblegum/lemon) in 8" yet, but I guess it's time to give something else a try.

I'll ask for the recipe in a PM. I don't want to start one of those threads!

Moments like that (especially caught in pictures) make the best fishing ever!

Thanks for that. I had actually read it a few weeks ago. I didn't need to do that on the first two, and tried it (unsuccessfully) on the third. Admittedly, I'm not skilled yet in the technique, and could have done it wrong, but I think the thing bothering me most is that they were already bleeding so bad before being boated. If I can avoid that, I believe I will have more successful releases.

I've had this situation happen my last two outings. Two weeks ago, I only caught one, about a little over a pound and a half. I was fishing a YUM 5" worm, T-rigged on a 3/0 EWG worm hook with an 1/8th ounce unpegged weight. I don't think I caught the initial strike since the first indication was two good pulls. I didn't do a TV style hookset, just a firm sidearm sweep. I lipped it at the side of the boat. The worm was completely swallowed, and the hook was swallowed halfway up the shank. It took quite a bit of manipulation, but I was able to free the hook with the fish unharmed, and sent it happily on its way. This Saturday, I hooked two during the mid morning, both a hair over 2 pounds. My setup was exactly the same as the previous time (worm, hook, weight). Same type of sweeping hookset, and I'm pretty certain it was at the first strike. When I lipped this first one at the boat, it was already bleeding profusely! Before I even went for the hook, the blood was dripping on the carpet. It was hooked deeper than the one from the week before. I was able to free the hook without any yanking or tearing, but the little guy was pretty much a goner. I filled the livewell, added Catch and Release, set it on recirculate and set him in. About 20 minutes later, I hooked into the second one. I am almost positive I set on the initial strike since it happened on the fall. I brought this one to the side, and could already see the blood. I lipped it in and looked in the mouth. This hook was swallowed to the eye! I gave it every effort to no avail, so I finally just cut it off at the eye. I thought about trying to release, but with no immediate sign of life, in the livewell it went while I hoped for the best. I few minutes later I heard the thrash, and thought for a moment there may be hope, but when I opened the lid, they were both belly up. I'll take the appropriate bashing for having to admit they were delicious, but since I don't really fish for food, but the sport, I would appreciate any advice on why this is happening, and what to do to correct it. Sorry this is so long-winded, especially if the answer is as simple as use a 4/0 or 5/0 hooks for worms. I've thought this may be what I need, and I've already added them to the tacklebox, but if that isn't what I need to do, I'd hate to stick an even bigger hook down their throats. Thanks for any suggestions, this unnecessary killing of fish is really bothering me.

I just saw a video on bass fishing the Delta, and I think I remember they said the current record is around 18 pounds. I had ruled out the Delta as a spot to fish because I thought the wind/waves might be a little too much for my 16ft. F/S, but after watching that video, I've changed my mind. I've got to fish it now. I have a friend who has fished it in a smaller boat. It's only about an hour and a half from me, so I might make it a fall overnight trip.

I haven't been to Clear Lake in about 13 years, so I'll leave most helpful information to others. What I will say is that CL has been the best local fishing I've done in northern CA. The bass and cats are well above average for this area. Lately I have been researching the local guides so I can tell the Mrs. what a great anniversary present a full day guided trip would make. Depending on your budget, you may want to look into that. The ones I have been looking at provide everything! Boat, rods, tackle, and most importantly, local knowledge. They also offer shorter outings if full day trips are too expensive. Have fun, and good luck. Remember to post pictures of your catch! I miss seeing those Clear Lake monsters.

Yeah, it was 20 pounds if it was a pound and a half (which it was ;D )

I bought a cheap drugstore digital camera ($9.99) for just this purpose and keep it on the boat in the glove box. Last week I was on the boat by myself and caught a monster bass (must of been 20 pounds : ). I held it up best I could, even with my super-human strength, extended the camera out with my other arm and snapped the picture. I rushed home and downloaded the pics to my laptop only to find a picture of myself with my arm out to the side, cut off at the elbow right where the fish should have shown up. When I get home from work, I'll upload the picture, and you can use your imagination where the fish should have been. EDIT - Sorry for the bad cut/paste on the quote :-[ Also -photo of mentioned monster fish

...and I've read every one of them since joining. Some of them twice. I'm about to start through them all over again. Thank you for all the helpful information right at my fingertips! Back to the question: I love worm fishing. Usually t-rigged, weighted and weightless, also shaky head or drop shot. My preference is 6-7, lighter colors (bubblegum/lemon), very little extra rod action.