Dinky

I'm sorry I didn't check with you first, riskkid 2, but RW is really old and he is depressed because miranda lambert hasn't called him. I figured a day on the lake with us would either cure or kill him.

Interested in a threesome with me and riskkid on Wednesday?

Fishing Rhino- I'm arriving some time Thursday before noon--if you need any help breaking in your motor. Also will have open seat Thurs & Friday for fishing if anyone else is interested.

So far no one has mentioned anything that has NOT happened to me. I guess that makes me old, too CATT. In fact I can add a recent one from this week: as I got on plane and my bow levelled out my trolling motor prop flew off and landed two feet from me.

I confess I wan't sure who Miranda Lambert was so I googled her. She ain't gonna call you, RW. But, if she does please ask her to join us at the RT.

Great info CATT!! If I can get to the Bend this fall can we set up a 'live demo' guided trip? (@ your normal rates of course). Also, I hear a lot about fishing the outside bend of a creek or main channel. Any guidance on that? Thanks again for the great info! wmd

Great Scorcher214!

I got a seat open on thursday 26th and friday 27th.

"Guns don't kill people...." Ooops wrong topic-- start over: "Boats don't catch fish, fisherpersons catch fish" (with apologies to Issac Walton). Although I understand why a pro fisherman might sometimes use a "run & gun" strategy in a tournament, I agree that slow and deliberate is much more productive and enjoyable.

Crikey! she's a beauty! Is she just a "Trophy Wife" or can she cook too?

I think you are right. Plus a lot depends on the coin toss as to who gets what quarters to fish.

Speaking for myself, I appreciate the apology and consider all above nothing but H2O under the bridge. Your considerable experience regarding boat safety in general would certainly be valuable to all of us. May I suggest a separate thread on the subject. I know many of us would benefit.

With all due respect, A-Jay, your 30 years of experiences in USCG search and rescue, as impressive and commendable as it is, gives you no right to use my posts as a jumping off point for your lectures on boat safety. And neither do I appreciate the negative tone your original post/lecture attached to our experiences; the implication being we were engaged in some unsafe and ill advised activity. You have no facts whatsoever to substantiate your claim that all my experiences have been positive. For all you know I could be retired military and a VietNam Veteran with extensive knowledge about S&R under extreme conditions.Please quit patronizing me and other Marshals. We all get it--you are for safe boating. So are we. You have absolutly no right to imply that we Marshals or the pros we were with last week were guilty of 'complacency and/or [excessive] adrenalin'. Please get down off of your self-righteous soap box and quit lecturing us like we are a bunch of undisciplined children.

First: Every Pro I have ever ridden with is extremely safety concious and an excellent boat operator. I have never felt in any danger any more than when I'm in control of my own boat. All the boats have at least one handle for the passenger, most have more. Never been in one that didn't. Second: Any time you are on a body of water like Okeechobee it can get windy and rough without causing undue safety issues to the pros, their passengers or other boaters. The length of time running in those conditions, rather than the operator, is what makes the experience exceptionally tiresome and tedious. Third: your interpretation of our experience is either a) a reflection of some hidden bias or agenda based on a lack of knowledge/experience about high performance outboard boats and the pros who operate them c) a product of sour grapes or d) a combination of all of the above. Fourth: Your comparison of Elite Tournament fishing to NASCAR is totally unrealistic: for example the tournament in question was on a lake covering over 500,000 acres--a somewhat larger venue than any race track NASCAR runs on; the fishermen have an aversion to competing near other boats--NASCAR drivers must get close to each other while driving one ton missles at 200 mph. Fishermen drive a relatively short time at high speeds-they can only catch fish when the big motor is shut off; while NASCAR drivers aren't even competing unless they are at high speed and pit stops are measured in seconds. Fifth and final: Due to your post I will never again relate in a post any experiences whatsoever as an the Elite tournament marshall or individual boater. If I wanted to be lectured to I would have stayed married to my first wife.

I marshalled for J Todd last year at St. Johns river on Saturday. It was my first ride in a Phoenix. It really impressed me and should I win the lottery I'd probably get one.

I have only used PP so cannot comment on it vs the Talon. Just make sure your jack plate is such that you do not have to remove the boat motor to attach the PP bracket to it. My old jack plate was in two pieces and on my 1st PP --a 6'---I had to have the motor taken off to safely attach the bracket. Regarding the hieght of the PP: the 8 or 10 foot models would have to be lowered to get into most garages, but as Glenn said it is no problem and then you can raise it back up inside. As far as on the water-you can lower them to get under a bridge and can even allow them to drag in the bottom as long as it is soft. I know some pros who drag the bottom at times simply to slow down drift--somewhat like a shallow water wind sock. but of course this could cause damage if you are not careful. PPs remind me of cell phones when they first came out....I never saw a use for them then, but now I can't get along without them. Every time I have fished or marshalled with an Elite Pro and they have caught a fish in 8' or less of water the PPs immediately go down as soon as the fish is boated, then there is time to retie, etc before throwing back into the same general area. I will do the same if I ever catch a fish!

I do recall when we were in that area with chris et al, but was unaware we were on the basscam--hope I wasn't doing anything stupid or worse!!!

I was a Marshall at Okeechobee last week end also. This was my 6th or 7th time but my first trip to the Big O. I went early and fished a couple days before the tournament and then decided to forego Marshalling Saturday (I was an alternate anyway and they said they probably wouldn't need me) and go shiner fishing. What a hoot. Wednesday evening after the meeting and pro assignments I had a chance to visit with a few of the folks I have Marshalled for and fished with in the past. Had a short visit with Ish and complained about my cocoon sunglasses losing therir side lenses. Fished with him in the 1st Southern Open. He stored his truck and boat in my driveway after it for a few weeks while he flew home. Sure made my rig look puny. Didn't get to congratulate him after his win though. Spoke to Dave Hite and asked about his son who is in his first year at West Point. Thursday I drew Morizo Shimizu from Osaka, Japan. We went all the way to Clewiston; (now I know how Columbus must have felt when he finally sighted the coast of North America!!) and then about 30 minutes more back into a couple of 'ponds' he found in practice. After about an hour with only 3 fish and no keepers we headed for the Monkey Box. Note: I learned on my first time-never sit on your hat and pray that your hemorroids are made of fiberglass because it is 'bumpy' at 70+mph in a moderate chop. At 1:00pm Morizo had exactly "0" in the box. By 2:30 he had 5 including a 6+pounder-which he referred to as "Big Mamma" Morizo used some top water skinny dippers and naked swimmers type early. Switched to flipping with craws and sweet beaver types later on edges of the grass and pads. After the weigh in he needed to get his prop changed so we went to the service trailer. What a mad house. But, in about 20 minutes they--the Merc techs--had his new Fury 25 on--half price on tournament days. Story is they had to take a lower unit to south Okeechobee and change out Shaw Grigsby's on the water on Thursday. Have also been told they can replace a power head in less than 3 hours. Amazing. Friday I was with Andy Montgomery from NC. I was very impressed with his ability to cast under docks and pontoons-he hit the marina on the way out to the Monkey box. Those guys definitely fish in places most of us never put our lures. Andy had a tough day and lost a 6 pounder at the boat late--don't know if it would have pushed him into the top 50 for Saturday but was very disappointed for him anyway. Andy used two sizes of swim baits with skinny dipper trailers as well as a chatter bait with a large trailer. Also flipped with a 1/2 to 3/4 oz black and blue jig with a blue KVD creature trailer and rage craw trailer. Also flipped with rage craws on 11/2 oz weight--it was the only way to get through the thick mats. A great experience--learned a lot as usual and will be in Oneida in August to fish and Marshall.

Buzzfrog- There usually are quite a few Elite Series Pros who fish the Opens as well as many other pros you probably have hrard of. I fished with Ish on the 2nd day of the 1st Southern Open at the Harris Chain this year. There should be some booths/displays to see. I'll be at Lake Norman fishing as a co-angler, but that certainly is no reason for you to hang around at the weigh in too long!!

I will be there and will be glad to bring some wine and/or beer. When you get a count on how many are going to attend either pm me or post.

It's hard to pick but your lists are good. I too will be at Okeechobee marshalling. Going down there early and taking my boat to do some fishing before the tournament. Let know if you can break away early in the week to chase some bass. I have had the pleasure of Marshalling for KVD as well as Casey Ashley. Both are absolutely fantastic to watch and were very professional of course. I was with KVD on Pickwick 2 yrs ago. Aftet the weigh in we were on our way back to his boat and he was literally surrounded by fans wanting autographs and photos. He turned no one down. No one. It took us 45 minutes to clear the area and get to his boat. He said he did not mind doing it at all, that the fans and their enthusiasm was what it was all about. What a gentleman. I also was lucky to marshall for Boyd Duckett, Grant Goldbeck (last year on harris chain on Saturday bed fishing with Shaw G. in the canal), Davey Hite, and many others. They all were happy to explain what they were doing and why. I have learned a lot doing it.

I can help with the boat situation so lets talk at the Road trip.

Scorcher- I see you list Lake St. Clair as your favorite lake. I have heard the smallmouth fishing is pretty good there. I will be at the RT on gunnersville in april maybe we talk about a trip there later in the spring if you are interested.

The only retail stores I can seem to find any bass fishing magazines in are Barnes and Noble and Books a Million.

It is unlikely that a competitor would not keep his fish with him at all times until the weigh in. The live wells should be able to aireate enough with use of live well oxygenator chemicals.