Dinky

I drive by Simcoe/Barrie every year on my way up to Temiscoming to fish for smallies at Beauchene. I have heard stories about that lake and now I know they are true! We always are in a hurry to get to Orillia to Webers for lunch, but may have to stop off there some time. The smallies at Beauchene are plentiful and easily get in the 5/6 lb range, but don't think they get much over that, at least I haven't heard of it. Those are nice smallmouth you caught.

BassAssassin, See my post in thread "I'm gonna be a Marshal' by started by Megastink for some tips.

To be honest with you 2/3k is not enough for 2 for Baccarac or El Salto. It takes at least one days travel each way, and often two. for Baccarac, and it can for El Salto as well sometimes. The drive to Baccarac is brutal-4 hours. The drive to El Salto is 2. You do have a new Lake 45 minutes from Mazatlan that is getting rave reviews (pichachos) and you can even book a combo for it and El Salto through Anglers Inn. El Salto also has the benefit of off shore rooster fishing and jack fishing through Anglers Inn available in Mazatlan, but that adds to the cost. If you fly a lot of your budget will be eaten up by airfare and I think you stated it included airfare. Your best bet might be to look to some of the State Parks in the southern states lakes- Pickwick-Tennessee, Dale Hollow-Kentucky/Tennessee, Guntersville, etc. Most have boat rentals and will also have links to guides in the area as well. In Florida I would check out the St, Johns River area-Palatka. It is much closer than Okeechobee and the fishing is just about as good overall. Whatever you decide, good luck and if I can answer any questions don't hesitate to pm me.

From the information in the story it certainly should not have given it as it did not apparently comply with the certification requirements.

To me the photo cannot be any more or any less conclusive than the 'facts' set out in the claimants and witnesses stories. Photos can be deceiving without being photo shopped to be sure. In any event, it does not appear it will or should meet the technical qualifications for entry into the state record book. Do I believe the fisherman's story? I suppose I do at this point. Why would anyone immediately infer he was a liar under these circumstances if they had no evidence that he was lying? I suppose a cynic or one who was jealous might do so.

x3 You can do a lot with it if it is sound to begin with.

I started out Marshalling, went in to fishing the Bass Opens two years ago as a co-angler at 66 years old. Never fished in a tournament before then in my life. I am pre diabetic and after a bad concussion a few years ago have a balancing issue that is annoying but controllable, and have lost 40% hearing in one ear. One shoulder surgery 7 years ago; need but will not have another; normal aches and pains. If I ever made it through the first two days and into the top 12 and into the third day of an Open none of the aches, pains or problems would be felt. The goal is of course to win and to do well. At the same time I obviously do not, at 68, feel the need to 'prove myself'. But it is also a journey, a learning experience and chance to fish with different professional fishermen and meet and make new friends. I have been fortunate to actually fish with the likes of Ish Monroe, Chris Lane, Marty Robinson, and many other Elite, FLW and local pros. I have made some great contacts and learned more than you can imagine. My point is-look at it as more than a quest for a single trophy. There may be more there than meets the eye. I know it may be more difficult to do this in a small club where you fish with the same folks in the same area. But maybe another different tournament each year would be a way to expand one's perspective and interest.

The Launch is at Frankford arsenal Boat Launch, 5701 Tacony, Philadelphia, PA The weigh ins are at Grear Plaza-Penn's Landing, 211 S. Columbus Blvd. Phila, PA You should receive a packet with all the info soon. If you go to the Bassmaster site, click on Tournaments at the top, then click on Elite and then go down to the right side and click on the #7 Delaware tournament you will find the information sheet. This is the sheet you will get in your packet along with other tings. You will need to fill out the form attached to the Official Rules and mail it in. I have been a Marshall many times and it is really worth the time and effort and cost. I met many of the Elite pros while Marshaling and then have been very fortunate enough to actually fish with a few of the same ones later when I stared fishing in the Opens. A few things: I assume you have been confirmed for the first 3 days. If not-and you want to have a chance to Marshall on the 3rd day make sure you are in the front of the line at registration-there should be a sign up sheet for those who want to Marshall the 3rd day. The field is cut in half so there are not as many spots open and after the second day weigh in is over you will wait with the pros who made the cut and Chuck or whoever will start calling names of Marshalls who were already confirmed for day 3--many are no shows--he will then start down the sign up list. Of course if you are confirmed for all three days you need not do this, but you will still need to stay for the meeting after the end of the second day weigh in to get your pro pairing. The last day there are only 12 fishing and the media take most of the spots so no Marshals needed that day. You will be encouraged to take iphone photos of your pros catches and text them to BASS. The details will be explained at the meeting prior to the tournament. Be sure to check with your pro anyway to make sure it is ok with him. If you want to learn from them watch them very closely--especially when they get into their tackle boxes etc. Pay attention to what line type and size they use for each application and ask them when you get a chance. see what kind of knot(s) they tie. Most of them are more than happy to tell you--you can tell if they are up-tight and pre-occupied so you might have to choose your time. Do not touch their fish or any of their equipment. Ever. If he hooks a hawg be ready to move out of the way if he needs to run around the cockpit. It is perfectly ok to help them launch and/or trailer their boat after weigh in. assuming you can back a rig that you can't see out the back of. I always take my binoculars along. I can spot who other competitors are as well as other interesting things. It is a long day with no chance to fish---it sounds boring, but it is a chance to see how some of the best fishermen in the world operate as well as how a big time tournament is run.

Wow! A real football-almost a soccer ball!!

Sometimes you can do nothing. Last January in Brazil a large Peacock Bass exploded on my top water lure about five feet from the boat. Yes it would have been better if I had been able to simultaneously ease off the drag and dip my rod down, but nay, nay, neither happened and the fish continued under the boat and the lure flew up with a straightened treble. In my defense, I didn't realize it was a fish at first, I thought someone had thrown a bowling ball at me and missed!

Any "record catch" is suspect if it is verified only by interested parties. How could he be allowed to claim a record catch that was verified by his own photo and own unverified statement? The only bigger dolts than Long would seem to be the dolts who allowed him to claim the record in the first place.

These are all great tips. I installed an oxygenator in my live well-- it had an aerator in it already and a recirculator as well. It may not be easy to install in all livewells, but it is well (no pun intended) worth it. In addition, I mash down all my barbs on my hooks when I fish for small mouth bass in Canada. It makes removing a deep hook bloodless and quick. Very seldom lose a fish because of it. I also believe that those who use extremely light line and thus often break it off may be causing increased mortality also.

No. They cannot use a net and they cannot let the fish touch the boat deck or any other part of their body-other than their hands of course.

Are you implying that another BASS Elite competitor set his boat on fire?

The most recent empirical evidence suggests that tournament fishing and C&R of spawning bass pose no threat to bass spawn in a given body of water. Nonetheless, regional differences in weather patterns and type of habitat, and availability of forage could dictate different rules for different states. Obviously, if tournaments had resulted in reduced spawns in a state it would have become apparent by now. Overpopulation that is not supported by the available food supply can also be a huge problem.

Major League Fishing actually counts the weight of every legal fish caught-there is no limit on numbers caught or weight. And they are penalized for mishandling the fish--including allowing it to touch the boat deck.

And you know this how???

Nice looking smallie. I have only fished the eastern area of Erie-Buffalo mostly. Here are a couple from my last trip. Caught on tubes in and around the Basin, mostly over on the Canadian side.

While I am sympathetic to your TM issue, I have had my own problems with them and it was during last year's road trip. Other than those two things, how was the fishing?

A few points about Bassmaster Classic/Elite tournament coverage 1. It would not be possible to have cameras in ant boats if there were co-anglers. Putting a tv camera in a chase boat is not going to achieve the same close up coverage nor the audio that comes with having the cameraman in the boat with the pro. 2. Only the Elite tournaments( 8 tournaments/year and the classic)-did away with co-anglers. All BASS opens have co-anglers. Limit is 3 for them. 3. The 'average joe' doesn't pay a dime toward the pro's expenses, or the cash prizes. The Elite pros pay about $5,000 per tournament entry fee--figure it out for one season. Corporate sponsors do contribute and do so on the basis that it is advertising. When has anyone paid a fee to watch a bass tournament? So the 'average joe' don't contribute much--other than buying sponsers' products for their own use. 4. While I agree that Paul did great at the Classic and deserves all the acolades he can get, it was his first and only Classic. He definitely earned his way in--under the rules--fair and square. But the 46 or so Elite Pros --even the first year guys--fished all season long against 99 other very, very good full time Elite professionals, at great expense to themselves to get there. And, some have been doing so for decades and have won many other major tournaments along the way--including a Classic or two. They deserve the lions share of the coverage. So 'paying your dues' can be a relative thing. While many are quick to complain about BASS, few seem to offer much except "token support" in the way of dues. It takes a lot of money and even more talent to be a successful professional fisherman at the highest level and it must be pretty hard to do--otherwise everyone of us would have qualified for the Classic.

I will be at the banquet

We will miss you ProCrafter, but we will save a donut or two for you for next year. Be well. Dinky

As in the Opens it is normally all public fishing waters. Any restrictions/special rules are spelled out in the Pre tournament Pro and Marshal meetings and in the information sheets. The release area is always identified and is off limits of course. A 100-150 mile one way run is rare as it would eat up valuable fishing time, but a long run can be made if the competitor feels it will be productive based on what he did in practice. Such runs also will often include one or more waypoints enroute that are fished.