Lund Explorer

WOW, that takes me back! I used to fish in a Tuesday night league where all the guys used to talk color numbers. You didn't even need to mention Yamamoto, just the number. After one night when my partner and I had whacked a big old limit, all the guys wanted to know what we caught them on. "409!" my partner Tony announced, "Really cleaned up on them." The next week, there must have been a half-dozen guys come over to our boat to explain to us that there was NO number 409 other than a cleaning product. The owner of the local baitshop laughed almost as hard as we did! ;D

I can relate Chris. I think everyone who is naturally left handed or ambidextrous can attest to the fact that many things in life require an adjustment. My handwriting is so bad the mailman complains. I end up printing (in all caps) or typing almost everything. I'm also an over-the-top writer so no pencil for me. Sure was a lot of fun taking test with the old fill in the blank answer sheets. But I can do many things either left/right. I could switch hit for average in baseball/softball. I play golf primarily right but can also play left. I kick with either foot but the right is stronger. I got drunk once and tried bowling from the right side and will never get that drunk again. For fishing, I cast everything with my left hand simply because I'm more accurate but can use my right hand when needed. I reel baitcasters with the right hand, and spinning reels with the left. The only place where I was lucky in all of this was having a Mother who insisted that the teachers allow me to use the hand I wanted to, and not the one they wanted me to use.

Having walked on both sides of this path, I think it is safe to say that non-tourament anglers don't look down on the "cast for cash" crowd any more than tournament anglers look down on the "stringer fishermen".

No, you don't have to leave them at home, just give them to your wife. Tell her that every time you ask for one of them, she can get another puppy! ;D ;D

I have a 14 year old granddaughter that will agree with that. Even if the emotional scars were to heal, she'll always be reminded of her encounter when she wears shorts or a swimsuit. I'd mention how much she stands to get from her settlement when she turns 21, but I'm afraid half of team pampers would be asking me for her address!

Pass on my congrats too! That should go a long ways on the puppy chow bill.

To begin with, I never go fishing with just one lure. You can reduce the need to worry about any specific bait not performing by starting each day with several different types of baits, and rotating through your selection consistently. Most days, I find myself with at least two horizontal searching style baits, and two more that are more vertical in nature. I will usually start out working an area with a spinnerbait, crankbait, or topwater to see if I can catch any active fish. If that doesn't work, or if the bite slows down, then I will switch to a vertical presentation with a T-Rig worm or jig. these baits will not only catch active fish, but can also trigger neutral or inactive fish if it is placed within their reduced sized strike zone. With regards to colors, I mostly stay with something that closely resembles the predominate forage for the body of water that I'm fishing. This means bluegill or baby bass colors on some lakes, and shad colors on others. Jigs colors will be close to the crawdads in that lake, and plastic worms are based on water clarity. And just for giggles, there is always that darn bubblegum color that works for no apparent reason.

Is he going to take one of the two spots you have on that list?

From that article: "Prosecutors say he spent much of the $107,000 he stole at strip clubs, restaurants and on sports memorabilia. Almost $11,000 was recovered from his bus when he was arrested." Happy to see he didn't waste it all!

I'll second the waxworms. When they are biting good I go with plastics just to keep from rebaiting every 15 seconds. But if the bite is slow bluegills can not pass up a waxworm. I know alot of guys like spikes, but I don't. I have yet to find a time where they bite spikes better, or that they prefer them over waxies. There are times when a couple of red spikes will out fish waxworms, but you can do just as well at those times by tail hooking a wiggler to you teardrop. It's the lively movement that seems to make the difference. If it ain't alive, put on a new one!

Hey Goose, I don't want to say that I hate coming to this section of the forum during the dead of winter, but I really do try to avoid it. Couldn't miss you mentioning your new PB elsewhere though, so I better suck it up and offer my congrats as well. What's the fish count year-to-date? You are getting quite the head start on me. My first real chance is still over a month away. :'(

I hope this doesn't break any of the rules for this forum, but perhaps you could start here: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/lawsconstitution/consearch.asp The proper way to change how government works is through the voters. Either by electing officials who share your views, or by specific legislation supported by the majority of the people. Of course the idea of restricting access to these waters to anyone who owns a jetski, pleasure boat, or any other boat with a motor larger than 9.9hp is going to make it harder to reach a consensus. Probably since your new legislation to lift the current restrictions, simply keeps those restrictions on almost everyone but you.

Ain't it great! I just winter!

In my opinion, the greatest thing about sports is the memories it makes for it's competitors and it's fans. So when we all gather here later this evening or on Monday morning to talk about the winner of this year's event, let's not forget that the first victory claimed belonged to a Kevin. The second came to a man named Gerald who helped bring him into our lives. Kevin Oldham lived up to every requirement that makes the mark of a champion on Saturday. The story of his fight with cancer, the support of his fellow firefighters, and the ability of a guy named Swindle to set aside his own time in the spotlight, should etch an evening into our memories. There were a lot of champions on display last night. Here's the rest of story for one of them: http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/columns/story?columnist=barone_don&page=g_col_Barone_Classic_Angels

Agreed! Reminds me of an upsized Stingray Grub with a tail that has some thump to it. Not sure what it will do for green fish, but the smallies should go for it.

How'd I miss this thread? I posted something else in the general area just a few minutes ago. Bottom line? Somebody is going to get hurt if they think they can run a plane through a blinding fog.

Anybody want to ride along with one of the classic anglers mentioned in the article? http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/classic/news/story?page=b_classic_11_Stout_Radar Supposedly Skeet Reese is quoted saying "It gives me eyes in the dark and in the fog," explains Reese. "I can spot a buoy in the water three-quarters of a mile ahead and pick up birds sitting on the water 100 feet away." A further quote from the article: "For example, Reese says that instead of idling through blinding fog, he can run on plane and see where he's going with less concern of hitting something." Let's hope that this was all mis-quoted. 100 feet to see a bird sized obstruction in the water? Like a gator's head? A deadhead? While running on plane? There is no possible way that you can avoid a collision when you are traveling that fast and you'll only see the problem 100' away. At thirty miles per hour, a car needs at least thirty feet to stop on dry pavement, and boats don't have brakes. Are you just supposed to swerve? How do you drive around a large bow wake from another boat? Can that radar even pick out a wave? We've had boat collisions in the middle of Lake Michigan when people have thought they could run through fog using radar. Two problems. First, the operator needs to know how to work and operate the radar, and secondly, the radar has to pick up the target in time for the operator to react. Any bets on what Lowrance's disclaimer is going to say on the screen each time you fire one of these things up? Does anybody else think that sanity may just be lost in the fog?

Do I remember them? Yup, still have a couple of them. http://www.cremelure.com/store/store_product_detail.cfm?Product_ID=142&Category_ID=1

Well, she's fairly cute. But now the big question..... What's the name of her leader dog? 8-)

I'll bite Chris, which size do you have for your DSLR? Or better yet, which would you suggest for a guy with a mere fraction of the lenses that you've probably got. Mine is a Nikon D40 with the standard 35mm and a 200mm. Do you think this one would work? http://www.casesbypelican.com/1454.htm

i think this sums a lot of it up right here... Nope! My choice... Forcing yourself to open your abilties, and thereby expanding your comfort zone.

Like Chris, my answer is both yes and no. But first I have to question going back only 20 years to when there was only one company making worms? That would be 1991 B.S. <Before Senko>, and there were tons of companies making all kinds of soft plastics by then. Easier yes in some ways. More comfort for sure as boats have continued to be designed better. Does anybody else remember the tri-hull bassboats? Better electronic tools with GPS, SI, DSI, as compared to the older paper graphs and Loran C from 40 years ago or the first flashers and LCD's that came next. Not easier in some other aspects. Some of us can remember the days before jetskis! We also didn't face all of the invasives like we have now. There was a time before grass carp, zebra mussels, milfoil, and countless others. Does anybody remember when VHS became an issue? All in the name of "what if", I'd be more interested to see today's crop of fishermen go back to those old days to compete against the likes of Roland Martin. It would be interesting to see which of them could amass the same number of tournament wins and AOY trophies.

That stuff is a lot more fun to fish, than to watch this guy who must suffer from palsy with the camera on his head. Anybody notice the mistakes he was making? I saw two for sure.

So did you remember to pick up something for the wife, or are you going back tomorrow? ;D

I agree Deb. Anytime an accident takes a life its bad, but when it involves a child it becomes even more horrific and defies any logical reasoning. It just doesn't seem to be enough to offer thoughts and prayers to her family and friends at such a time, and perhaps that is one of the hardest things we all have to face. I hope that everyone touched by this terrible accident can someday find peace in their hearts.