Matt Fly

Got me to thinking about watching the Cowboys game on Nfl ticket thursday night. Mr Gumble refered to the play clock as to the shot clock expired and the end of the period instead of quarter. With all the games on TV and all the networks who have a piece of the pie, we get some pretty sad commentary from time to time. Still a fan of Al and John on NBC now. matt.

Last nights game between TCU and NIU was lack luster to begin with. Desmond Howard was commentarying last night before the game and at half time. ESPN analysts were commenting on upcoming games that are must see. Desmond highlighted the CAL vs UT game in the Holiday Bowl before the game and at half time, he even took the time to point out key match ups and such. Aarron Ross and Cal QB Nate Lonshore ........ The funny thing about this is: UT isn't playing CAL, Texas a&m is!!!!!! Not one ESPN announcer or any one else said anything to Desmond about who was playing before the game or at halftime. You would think you would do your homework before you open mouth and insert your foot. Not one technical advisor caught the blunder. Apparently ESPN is loosing focus on their bread and butter, college football. Just thought it was funny for a total sports network to not get the facts right. Matt.

Can I ask a question that pertains to the Northern states? Reading about some of the states that got left out. Does the PWT, Proffessional Walleye Trail, hurt the numbers in those northern states for a bass trail? Is there more call for Walleye tournaments? In the south, we don't have a call for those trails, and Bass just seems to be the only ticket, but in the north, I see more Blog about walleye trails than bass tournaments. Any ideal of what kind of ratio there are between walleye fishermen and bass fishermen? Matt.

I have heard and read that my self a few times. Although alot of my winter fishing is around bridge pilings, its because of the baitfish that gather around them in the winter. I have always felt that bridge pilings have alot of steel and in winter, the steel transfers cold just as easy as it would heat. I love rock piles, rip around rocks on the dams. Is there a way I could rig a test for a swimming pool and thermometer to monitor warming trends and how pieces of concrete warm up? One thing we do know, if it asorbs heat, it will warm up some at least around the surface, but how deep does that heat transfer to? I like these theoretical questions, makes for nice discussions. Matt.

Both baits works. When threadfin die in the winter due to temps dipping below 45 degrees, it is the smaller shad, usually the late summer shad fry, which are by no means fry at this time that are the first to die. They don't just die and sink straight to the bottom, they will flutter and kick, but eventually, mother nature wins and they kick and flutter down slowly as they die. If winters are more severe and colder than most, and lakes and resorvoirs that are not as deep as others, the larger threadfin will die also. Up in northern states, its not uncommon for shad to be restocked. Also in the north, there are strains of bait fish that do well through the winters that don't get effected by brutal water temps. Its these times during winter that a spoon just hanging off in deep water with out much action that seems to work. Why? because the spoon mimics dieing shad that are slow to sink due to the density of the winter water. If the majority of shad that are dieing are 1-2inches at this time, a smaller spoon is used, later in the winter after numerous die offs occurs, larger shad will succumb to lethal water temps. Matching the size of the spoon and bait is important on some days and not on others. Most lakes in Texas have two types of shad, one being the small threadfin that never grows more than 3-5 inches, the ohter is Gizzard shad that reach 2lbs or larger. For Trophy large mouth on Fork, Two of the best bait sources in winter on lake fork are yellow bass, aka bar fish, and gizzard shad. Swimbaits of 5-9 inches works well for simulating bar fish, and a slow rolled 1/2 -1 oz spinnerbait works for gizzard shad. The other bait during winter that bass feed on for protien is crawdads to help develope their eggs, and we know that a jig n pig is one of the best baits during the winter. I don't think jig size is important, but do feel presentation of the jig is the key. We go to pork because its more bouyant in winter months, and again, thats due to the density of the water in winter. Along with the pork, we some time add another skirt to bulk it up, and what this does is slow the jig fall down with the added pork trailer. Keeps the bait in the strike zone longer. I think slowing down, and then slowing down even more is very key in homing in on subtle bites in the winter time. If it looks natural and stays in the strikezone long enough, the bass will be more apt to hit. Bass don't discriminate against an easy meal. Bass aren't in chase mode in the winter, they will feed aggressively on warmer days after the water warms up, but don't pass up free meals becasue of size very often. Thats why they are opportunistic feeders. matt.

No tricks, not even wrapping a rubber band around the cork? Thanks for the responses, I guess I'll be checking some type of wrapps out. Matt.

Plastics have certainly won its share of money and can be rigged for any conditions or situation. Matt.

Some of this music is making me look over my shoulder. Any guess to what happen to my Nazareth 8 track when my dad heard the first song? Dr Hook and the Medicine Show, Kansas, Meat Loaf, Eagles, America, Fleetwood Mac, Styx, and other greats like Jackson Brown. Ozark Mountain Daredevils (Jackie Blue), Wings, Cat Stevens, CCR, and Steely Dan, Santana, Steve Miller, Rush, and The Allman Brothers. Too many to list, cause I'd have to throw Parliment, Dylan, Clash, Pat Travers, and others in the mix also. Love old music. Matt

I look forward to meet the both of you guys sometimes. Matt.

Sorry Catt, I know you grew up around alot of top notch sticks. I know of alot of those names you have mentioned. East Texas has always been a hot bed for up and coming anglers. Matt.

L-Train, I'm a big McNutt fan. Read yesterday were parents went in to talk about their kids, the 3 Fr. from same High School, lack of playing time and they were under the impression that their sons would be involved in a pass oriented offense. 60 catches a season! If I was coach, and had a heisman canidate in my backfield, we would have done just what he did, run, run, run. Mcfadden was one of the top backs in college next to AD of OU. What lakes in your area are you familiar with? Matt.

JT. Sealy outdoors has one that pays, guaranteed, 560,000.00 for 3 days of big bass fishing on Sam Rayburn also, approx. avg is around 5500 anglers, and thats just one of the 5 he does for amatuers and Big bass. Hourly payouts for 3 days and top 12 fish per HOUR, its the same one that an 11 yr old won last year with 11+ lb bass. He walked with new hummer, Triton 21X series, bad boy buggie, and travel trailor valued at $120,000 thousand, not bad for a kid who can't drive for 5 years. 1st annual, and 1500 would be easy on Sam. Sam is in April every year, Coming up on 23rd aniv. Gunterville was new last year 2nd annual june Toledo Bend 20 yr aniv ??? JUne Lake Fork 21st aniv. Sept and new for this year will be Toho. Oct. 2007 I have been fishing Sealyoutdoors.com since 1995, and if he prints it, its given away. Portions of the tourny go to Ronald McDonald houses. Rayburn is where Bop Sealy started back in the early 80's, In 3 years, he will have the 25th anniv. on Rayburn. Guaranteed pay out is 1 million, winner walks with 250,000 for first place. No guides that have guided with the past 3months of said lake, no pros with entry fees of 600.oo or more for 4 tournaments within 12 months. He tries to keep it amatuers only. They also have kid fish tournament open to ages up to 12 yrs for all three days, with 1-3 places every day for crappie, bass, perch ,and catfish, and overall winners in each the final day. truly a family event. Matt.

Didnt like Metallica's remake of Bob Segers "Turn the Page", but still love Bob Segers version and anything else he has done. Matt

?Wow, I never seen anyone put Captain Beyond down before, You and I have very similar likes. Ritchie Blackmore and Rainbow, Ronnie Montrose, Gamma with Ronnie Montrose, Black Oak Arkansas, UFO, BTO, 38 special, just to add some. Matt.

What other ladies have given me for suggestions for my lady friend is: Nail saloon gift certificate. A leather case, finger nail doma flatchie, you know, clipper, quick cutter and all that stuff need to file your nails, emory boards and such. A ladies electric razor. spa certificate mp3 Ipod tennis bracelet. She likes cameras, so I bought her an HP digital printer, no computer needed. I'm hoping she'll post some pics for me some day. Matt

What tips are out there for slippery rod butts when the wet weather shows up? Second, I like reels that are low profiled, small, I don't have big hands, is there a way to make reels not as slippery in the rain, or is that gonna be a grip issue. I like to hold bait caster by the reel in my left hand. Matt

Worst bass miss was on Lake Travis in Tx in the darkness and light rain,at 6:15 am fishing large marina boat house throwing spinner bait to mimic bait fish in the white lights. I was completing long cast perpendicular to the boat and had rod tip down and had four to five feet of line out. You know how you are alomost through with that cast and start to raise your rod tip as to start the next cast. I had a frieght train hit at the boat. With the light rains and my cork grip handle slippery, all of a sudden, I was hit and the fish went straight under the boat and never appeared to think about turning. The rod slipped my grip, and the long butt flipped straight up and tagged me in the chin as she flew out of my grip. I had rain gear on, and my pole was going down, I went to my knees and missed the rod, and ended up going in after my rod. Got the rod, no bass, froze my tail off until the sun came out on that cool morning. Its the ones that get away that makes you wonder. Could have been a striper, could have been the big bass of the tourney, I'll never know. Matt.

Great bass, I like your spinner bait also, a good color. Matt.

How long did it take to land? Carp fishing at night when I was a youngster was a great way to pass the night while fishing for cats and crappie with zebco's and light line. Great way to learn how to play fish. Matt.

As much as western influence of techniques has been discussed weekly on this forum, I'm very surprised that no one suggests BassWest. Great big bass bait tips and all those finesse techniques that are so popular. Two of the best sources going Bass West and Inside Line/ Matt.

L Train, looks like your avitar needs some remodeling done. Die hard horns fan, and that don't get you much advice. LOL When are we going fishing? Matt.

Could this be the same kid?

Cool slide show. http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/breakingnews/slideshow/102006_kgwdeerrunner/1.html Matt.

I love big bass formats or what we call Big Bass Splashes. New for 2007, is the Mega Dodge Big Bass Splash on Sam Rayburn July 19, 2007. If this event would of been held in the 70's and 80's, I can assure you that Catt and his other friends would be all over this. And us amatuers would need some luck. http://www.basschamps.com/05/imatchhome.htm I sure would love some of the forum guys to come down and have some fun for this one. Matt.

I did not know it ever ended. matt