fish-fighting-illini

This was covered somewhat a while back and I think possibly several people overr eacted as did I. I'm not sure they canned the show as much as maybe just a seasonal thing. Same goes for all the shows on OLN. They are tailoring to hunting this time of year. I did read a quote from the OLN pres though that said they were going to turn the page to be more like ESPN 2 or something along that lines. The OLN I in fact read the quote. Re the ESPN "time of year" over reaction, it is just speculation on my part

I got to thinking about this again a little. I've got to fess up too I felt like stirring the pot a little. I'm not positive because I never paid that close of attention. But of the big show boys ( Martin, Houston, Parker Mc Guiness etc I don't recall seeing any of them reeling baitcasters with their left hand ( they might all reel BC's left handed I'm not sure). A couple of people on here ( I think) insisted that a Rh'd person to fish "the correct" way "should be reeling with their left had". Again I'll double check over the next couple of weeks but I don't re-call any of the show boys reeling BC's with the left hand. If the stated "proper way" is true then almost all of the successful show guys are left handers. If that is a pre-requisite to having a good fishing show then I am definately ol. Don't take this too serious just stirring things up a little on a cold Midwest night. LOL

The down sizing sounds good. I found this summer that big spinnerbaits worked early then no luck. I ended up going to Crappie size spinnerbaits 1/16 & 1/32 oz and caught bass. Maybe try a swimbait as it mimics a minnow almost perfect. I have found that 4" swimbait little or no go but switch to a 3" or 2" and it worked much better. In short same principal (downsizing) is worth a shot no matter what type of bait. Try a couple of stom swimbaits in bluegill or Firetiger color with the paddle tails and see what happens. They are .50 ea so what have you got to lose. I have found the color to be no major deal. It is the action of the tails that I think works.

I always seem to do things a little edifferent. I am right handed and have RH BC. On my spiining's I use right hand retrieve. I for the life of me could not figure out why R handed people people reel with their left hand! lol. I don't have any trouble battling the fish or strength. W/O the extra beef in the left arm I think my feel of the rod might be more sensitive. I just wasn't corrdinated enough to reel with my left. I tried to make myself reel left and no go. Man I must be uncoordinated! Like they said personal preference. Matt

I went and tried the Rapala demo again and I just didn't like it. It was hard to figure out plus steering the boat with the keyboard was a pain. I couldn't cast more than 15ft no matter what I did. Plus the underwater screen gives you the feeling that you are bouncing up and down in the water. It makes you feel like you are in the water wearing a lifejacket. I even tried the tutorial and struggled. Once I finaly found a listing for the keys it was a little better but I still never caught a fish ( maybe it mimics real life too much? lol). I looked up Pro Bass fishing 2003 and played the demo. It has quite a few lake choices and lure choices. The graphics are pretty good. It has many kinds of fish and played pretty smooth. It filled my needs so for $19.99 on line I bought it. Just IMO

Thanks for the replies. I've just tried the demo/ trial version of the Rapala so maybe the real thing is better.

Does anyone have a computer fishing game that they can recommend ( not playstation ). Probably only 2005 or 2006 as can't buy old. If someone has an old good one then same co probably makes a newer version that is good. I've checked out a couple of Rapala trial versions and didn't think a lot of them. I'm not looking for major tutorial type just plain catching fish etc. I've got to start planning for winter fishing withdrawl here in the Midwest of Illinois lol! Ice fishing is not in the cards for me! I did play an awsome one at an arcade that had a reel with a short rod stub, very realistic and fun as heck. The reel vibrated when the fish bit and you had to watch tension etc. I will check again but I looked for the same name in computer version and did not see it listed a while back.

Hang in there Bass_Rep it will come along. I started out like you late and didn't catch a lot. This time of year can be very tough depending on what area of the country you live. I don't do well when it is blazing hot. I fish almost esclusively from 1/2hr before dusk ( generaly around 8pm) till 10 or 11 pm. I catch more from 8pm til 9:30 than any other time. That is on one lake but on another lake I go to night fishing is very slow. I haven't figured that part out yet. To give you an idea of what's to come last night I fished for 2 hrs and averaged a bass every 12 minutes. None of them were huge ( all less than 1.5 lbs)and some big time fisherman would be bored with that size but I cannot get enough of catching LGM Bass!!! I can't explain why I'm so into it much but man it is fun.

Are we not missing the "boat" on this? (pardon the pun) Right away quite a few people respond to the change in fishing shows. Why don't we make it be known that we are unhappy about it? Maybe I could be some sort of advocate and type up a generic e-mail to that ea of us could sent to the OLN's, ESPN's, Disney, B.A.S.S. etc. Not sure how I would get it to you maybe the moderator has an idea. I would be happy to type up something. Everyone could use it as a time saver and customize it to their liking. I could also re-search and post some links to the appropriate feedbacks. Moderator how many members do we have on this site? Should give us some clout anyway. Not to mention clubs and relevent organizations we belong to. Maybe we put some heat on B.A.S.S re-garding re-newing our memberships? I read in USA today that OLN is getting out of its current programming and wanting to move to more ESPN like programming. When they go they can take my cable subscription with them. Maybe they just don't realize how many of us are. If you are interested give me some feedback and or suggestions.

Cool story Bronco. Kind of a similar thing hit me late ( minus the father problem ). Fished on and off all my life where I grew up but had very little success. The problem didn't change where I am living now for a while. Then one day around age 43 or so I got bit by the bug. I started catching fish and have had a ball. Just like you some days even without catching fish. I Have caught more fish in one day than in my prior total lifetime. Won't be joining any tour soo though lol ( not that good and won't be). I am 100% hands down hooked on BASS fishing. Enjoy it and even better that your wife seems enjoy it as well. 95% of what I've caught so far has been from the bank so hang in there it can be done! You hit THE most important part on the head; you had FUN. Good luck and if ever in central IL give me a shout.

All above mentioned points are valid. It can be a little complicated but you shouldn't have to have a death grip on the connections to avoid the heat. The only time mine has heated up was when a connection came loose. Can be any # of problems. I would maybe rate the odds in this order: 1) connections at battery 2) wiring problem elsewhere other than at battery IE short or ground problem or bad splices somewhere 3) trolling motor drawing more amps than it should 4) bad battery (not likely with being new but possible) If you know how to do it as a test you might try to isolate the tm from the rest of the functions( if possible) take an extra battery and run just the TM on that battery. If the orig battery it still gets hot then you have narrowed it down. If the TM battery gets hot then you lean that direction. If you get it narrowed I can give you some additional ideas. just trying to lend a hand

I have a lake 10mins from work and I've only got a 1/2 hr lunch. Mainly do it in the early spring just to get my fix during those very short early spring warm spells. I don't catch much then but just to breathe fresh air again is enough after a long winter!

Thanks for the advice. I've spent quite a bit of time reading the book. It also comes with a demo program so I have experimented quite a bit with the settings, display etc. I'm as ready as can be for never having owned one before. I just need a break in the weather to get it on the lake. They can keep this 100 deg crap. On vacation next week so I've got fingers crossed for some fishing time.

Someone from work had an older foot mounted troling motor for sale. He said he only wanted $30 for it and only if it didn't have a problem else it was free. I Found out that it works fine except for one speed didn't work. I checked and one of the spade lugs had come off of the switch. I gladly paid him the $30. It is an older 5spd Minn Kota that is all metal construction, even the foot pedal is metal. It doesn't have any thrust rating on it but it moves my 14ft jon with the 10hp, gear, wooden floors, casting deck, my buddy and me (neither of us lightweights lol). I run 5,6 or 7 hrs and have never so much as had it slow down from low battery. One of these days I'll get around to posting pics of the project jon boat it is on. This is the deal of the century!

I just received a Garmin 240 fishfinder as a gift for a favor I did. I think my brother paid around $85 for it on clearance brand new in a box. The unit came with a 20deg trolling motor mount sensor that has depth & temp. It also came with a transom speed sensor. The unit has a small amber LCD display. Has anyone ever used one of these? What did you think of them? Any tips on using it?

don't work- Jig and pig ( not one singe bite) C-rig ( lots of bank fishing and harder to do from the bank I believe ) t-rig " " pitch and flip maybe I'm not a slow patient fisherman? does work #1 SWIM baits! spinner baits crankbaits buzz baits Was always terrible at fishing for 20years ( had some tough lakes to be fair), gave it up for 20years then took it up again in different area of the state. Still no luck until I tried SWIM baits, then I gained confidence or whatever and now I can catch them on several things. Fishing is fun finaly, just like on the shows ( not quite as many fish as the shows though!) Just bought my first boat so now I'm going to do some experimenting.

I was never a big fish eater but have learned to appreciate it in the last few years. That being said I just flat out love to catch bass big or small. Same with Crappie, Walleye etc. I belong to a small private lake that is mainly catfish. You are allowed 4 per week and some people just live for it. How many fish can these people really eat? Crappie limit is 25 per fisherman per day at a nearby lake. Same thing how many fish can they possibly eat? They are legal and it is their right but the mentality of more more more bothers me. Personaly until they post a sign saying "please keep the fish" I am throwing them back except for once or twice a year. Just my 2 cents Matt

Good thinking about the picture Josh. I've got a special sports area in the corner of my family room. Right now it is reserved for Walter Payton, Dick Butkus, Sandberg etc ( plus the crap my wife keeps adding ( long story). I need to add a bass picture. Now all I need to do is catch the bass! Might be a whileyer? LOL

I'm from Peoria, Illinois. Dead middle of Illinois draw a line from Chicago to St. Louis and we are almost equal distance between them. Lots of medium size lakes around. Illinois and Mississippi rivers are fairly close but neither is anything to write home about. Good bass is a 4 or 5lber around here but their are some 7-9's.

Russ very nice job on the poster. Glenn I'm still new here but thanks for the great site it will help get this newly bass hooked Illinoisan through the winter.

Congrats on the 2.5 lber. That is a fun size. I think about any bass is fun... 3/4, 1, 1 1/2's. I've caught 5 or 6 3's and everything has been from the bank. My next goal is a 5 we'll have to see how that goes. Might have to get a boat to pull that off. What did you catch the 2.5 on? and what time of day?

I'd have to agree on several of the ideas already posted. I too am knew I started bass fishing last year in July. I fish in a couple of small lakes and exclusively from the shore. Spinnerbaits are a very good choice as they are one of the most naturaly weedless lures there is. You can often bring them over tree limbs and not get hung up like you would a crankbait with treble hooks. Spinnerbaits are fairly inexpensive, try the Walmart ones for a $1 then it is not so hard to lose them. Gander mountain sells skirts that you can easily change to give you an inexpensive variety of colors. I've got to the point that I make my own from online stock and have even started selling them. I would also agree about casting sideways. I very seldom have success by just throwing out as far as I can. I almost always cast sideways this works very well at dusk in summer when the the bass come close to shore. I've also caught 3 or 4 18" bass less than 4 feet from the shore ( often by a tree limb though). The one constant I think I've learned is that nothing is constant one week it is spinnerbaits, next it is cranks or buzzbaits. I have been the most consistent on standard spinnerbaits though. Also ask questions at the lake and see if you can fish with someone once or twice who knows the lake well. Keep us posted as being a new fisherman myself it will be interesting to see what works for you.

I have had some good succes with spinnerbaits in my short (1yr) fishing time. It took me a while to be a believer but when I tried it whoa it worked sweet. I have used mainly what I can afford. I've used mostly less costly ones but also some that I got from a few fishing shows. I do like the closed eyed ones as I think they are easier to tie. As with all baits their are times when they work better than other baits. I have not studied them enough to figure out which types work best IE willow, vs colorado vs ok etc. That is going to take a while to get a handle on.

sorry I need to proff read and spend some time on spell check

To me a bone jarring strike is just one where the fish realy hammers the bait when it strikes. Probably a lot of things at work here. In summer might not be quite as lively. The other guys had a point too might be related to the fish moving when he hit. Could also be just how much a fish ways woudl cause it as well. I've had a few "bone jarring" strikes and some of the hardest were from channel catfish. I can tell right away when a cat is on vs a Bass.