Dinky

I got a go pro for Christmas-haven't used it yet so you pros can show me how ro use it!! I am photo/video/tecno/challenged so plan accordingly!! Do I need batteries?

Siebert- Great idea for a contest. If you will bring an assortment of your jigs to the road trip I guarantee I will buy at least $25 worth--so it will be worth your while to bring them? and then I will break even when I win the contest! Let me know asap if you cannot do this--I will order some on line as long as I can pay the extra fee to have them overnighted to me in Florida--let me know. thanks, dinky

A pig!!! Great job!

There really is more to it if you want to become a little bit more involved. Most of the time the pros are glad to answer questions about what they are doing and why they are doing it a certain way and what equipment etc, they are using and why. For my 8 hours with KVD I got a few lures, some autographed, some to use; some very good cookies his wife made; a lot of interesting insight into his strategy; a free dinner; as many photos and autographs as I wanted from any of them; I got to meet and talk to several of them from my home state; an inside look at how the tournament is run; a chance to see the latest (and most expensive!) bass boats, tackle and electronics available;and some great photos on the water. the only 'downside' was the 45 minutes it took us to get from the weigh in back to loading his boat--seems everyone wanted his autograph and picture. I feel I definitely got my money's worth. Plus, I took my boat and stayed after the tournament and fished Monday-I knew a few places that I felt sure held some fish. But if a person already knows all that stuff or isn't interested in anything except fishing the same one or two lakes all the time, then I can see how it would not appeal to them to Marshal a tournament.

you can fish the B A S S OPENS as a co angler and have a chance to fish with an Elite pro-of course you might draw a wannabe pro - there are a lot of them. the PAA is cheaper to enter --not sure how deep the pay out is though.

I stand by my statement-the Falcon of 2013 is not the Falcon of 2008. If that distresses you, plumworm, so be it. If you, or anyone else, wants to drive 1400 miles one way to fish Falcon lake-- I suggest you hitch up the boat and get 'er on! It is waiting for you.

Crikey! Aint she a beauty. good catch O. They can hide from the boat traffic but they can't hide from you! Obviously it never gets old going after those bigguns.

You are hooked!! Nice going -best way to learn is to actually do it. Good job and good luck on getting your car fixed and your 1000 fish!!

I stand by my statement--the Falcon of today is not the Falcon of 2008. If that distresses you, plumworm, then you need to get over yourself...man. No, not my PB--not even close. But I will be danged if I will apologize to you-or anyone, because my PB is bigger than yours, plumworm. FYI-the guides don't fish--if they did they would be fishing companions, not professional guides. After you get over being distressed about Falcon Lake-maybe we can have a more adult interchange.

Three fish-all about the same size.

As for my complaining about the guides--I stand by my statement --they were at a loss. One predicted that the tournament pros would not be coming close to their 2008 weights, much less have a 66 yr old second place angler break 100lbs. They both took me to places-and we spent time in places where the tournament pros never spent a minute fishing in---except around the dam where I caught all but one of my fish. all others I caught were not over 3lbs and I never caught more than 4 in one day. What's more-it seems the rock piles I was cranking didn't produce as well for me and even though I feel I know why that happened, I didn't understand it until the first day of the tournament. Too late for me by then--hence the reason I usually fish AFTER marshalling a tournament instead of before. Finally, you cannot believe how everyone--and I mean everyone there-locals, out of staters, tackle shop owners and the Pros-commented how different the lake was from 2008 when you could catch a 3 to 5 pounder on almost every other cast. Certainly there are still a lot of big ones in that lake--but for the average fisherman making the long trip there requires a lot of concern when there are other fisheries nearly as productive overall and much closer. BTW-any big fish is a real thrill for me to catch--as were these at Falcon--but not close to my PB. But-that isn't the only and overriding goal of any of my fishing trips anyway. If it happens great-if not-I still enjoy just fishing.

Thanks,Big-O. You are right, the locals are steamed because the out of stateers (they say from 'up north') will keep the limit each day for a week-no matter how big. Plus, At its lowest the netting on the Mexican side was apparently out of control since the fish were so stacked.

The week that Jeff, Dwighr and A-Jay were in Mexico catching a bunch of huge fish I was at Falcon working my tail off to get a few big bites! Next time it is Mexico! Prior commitments forced me to forego a trip to Baccarac--it won't happen again. Massive draw down (35feet) plus enormous pressure from out of staters as well as locals has taken a toll on Falcon. None the less the Bassmaster Elite Pros managed to score some century weights for the 4 days. I fished a couple of days before the tournaqment and then Marshalled the four days of the tournament. I usually take my boat and fish AFTER the tournament when I Marshal--that way I know where the fish are and what they are biting on -plus then the pros don't care if I fish their spots after they leave. . This time I didn't want to trailer my boat 1400miles one way to Falcon--I paid for it with mediocre fishing as my guides did not have a clue where the fish were. My biggest.

Congrats, Trapper! BASS does use text messaging for pairings in the Opens - they started last year and it is much more efficient. On-line registration is also used for the Opens. You may want to check into the Central Opens next year-I think you would like it.(assuming you could take the time off of work - which is always a consideration).

What did it taste like, Tom?

Ronnie- I have open days and I don't care how much hair you got.

All 3 of you let me know what day(s) you want to go. Long Mike is the only one with a reserved seat so far.

BASS should ask the Marshals of the 3 pros involved about what actually happened-they will be more objective; There is an unwritten etiquete that you do not poach someone elses spots--but it seems to occur a lot --after all these guys have practiced for 3 days and all of them can read a map/electronics.

"90% of the fish in a body of water are in 10% of that body of water." Anonymous Dinky's corollory: " 90% of the time I fish in the 90% where the fish aren't; the rest of the time I am hung up in thick cover." "The length of time you retain a pair of sunglasses is inversely proportional to the price you paid for them." Dinky "Size matters."

Beware the guy who is driving and who says " Hey, I saw this in a Roadrunner cartoon-I really think it'll work"! Rational and responsible fiscal behavior never, ever, caught a fish.

A few photos from the final day of the Bassmaster Falcon Slam-the final day was postponed from Sunday to Monday due to high winds. There are more on my Gallery.

This is correct.

As long as you have culled to 5 in your livewell before your next cast you are legal.