Matt Fly

RW, with your setup, what kind of hookset action do you use?

Confucuis say "Wife who put husband in dog house, soon find him in Cat house"

The replies you've had are all great ways to rig a tube. What type of rod are you using? I only ask this because I would assume you are using a rod with enough arse in it to drive a good point home.

RW, I'm one who thinks the less a fish is touched in any way is better off than rubbing on something or some one. I know trout fishermen do wonders in handling their fish. We all have dislikes, mine are nets, boat carpet, Fish Fishburne, Bill Dance and any one else who mis handles fish. If my team partners wants to use a net in the boat on his and my fish, thats okay, his money is invested also. Practice is just practice and I haven't netted any of mine.

I will fish when the opportuninty rises, but do like to fish when the moon is 3 days waxing and 3 days waning. Lunar Phases and Bass Fishing Results By Ralph Manns http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/articles/if0602_BitsLunar/ This has the graphs to support the article below. Bass Facts & Figures -- Anglers have long believed that lunar phases affect fishing results, but there has been little catch data to test that assumption. Data presented by Lake Fork biologist Kevin Story at the Texas Chapter, American Fisheries Society, Bass Management Symposium showed graphically that in March 2003 and March 2004, lunker bass catch rates at Fork were apparently linked to moon phase. March is Lake Fork's most productive month for bass over 7 pounds. Catches go up when bass are in or near spawning areas, and large bass tend to spawn earlier than smaller adults. Large bass, presumably on or near spawning areas, were caught most often on the full moon. Secondary peaks occured around new moons if water temperature was 61F to 63F. The lunar-tied cycle of bass catches then fades until the spawn is over. Biologists postulate that moonlight illuminates shallow nests and allows bass to more easily lay eggs and later to guard the nest against raiders. Thus, spawning on the full moon with a clear sky may aid fry survival. Once the temperature has exceeded about 65F at nest depth, the light of the full moon doesn't appear to be as important, since subsequent spawns were scattered around the intervening new moons (dark nights) and next full moon. Severe cold fronts can change this pattern by dropping the water temperature below spawning minimums (about 60F). If the first wave of bass fails to spawn, they may start over on the next full or new moon. If eggs were killed by weather, females may not have enough eggs remaining to support a second attempt, although multiple spawning is possible when an ample food supply allows additional eggs to develop. Unless they're already physically spent, male bass may nest again but the timing of later spawns is more variable. There were also catch peaks near the two half-moons. These peaks don't match any theories of bass spawning. But they match postulates of some lunar theorists who report that catches of lunker bass increase on these specific half-moon days. Sponsored Links

You guys see the gill thing as I see nets. Don't like gilling fish or nets, any time you use a net or stick your hands inside the gill plate, its bad.

#18 or #409, also comes from lake Alan Henry. 13.04lbs

Share lunker #17 for the 2006 season comes from lake Allan Henry. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/budsharelunker/archives/lunkerdetails.phtml?fishid=408

Dark colors, standards are black and blue. we like to fish in the nights during summer months, Good way to beat the heat. Black and blue are good rules of the norm, doesn't mean there aren't other choices. ON recreational lakes, its a good way to beat the summer time wake boarders and the rest of the recreational boaters.

When I saw these showing up, I was assuming they were "ex" members of BASSMASTER, since we had the tread of BASS vs FLW. I saw BigTex' post. I thought if he was banned, Glenn wouldn't give him last rights. I figured he'd left on his own. LOL

The highest percentage of rivers and lakes all run North and south. The warmest waters should be the north west banks, they receive sun all day. Not always true north, but some variance in a northern direction. I have not found this to be untrue on the west coast or south. Its a very good starting place to look for the first spawners. Once last point, the banks on the Northern sides are shielded from the blistering cold front winds also, which helps keep those temps warm on the NW banks.

We've beat that thread up a few times, biosonix. I believe BASS didn't allow them onboard at the classic this last time. Yes, I'm a bass addict. Hookem

Congrats to Roger and Lois, I hope I got her name correct. 42 years is a long time. Darrin, 22 years ain't bad either, congrats to ya'll for the commitment. Lots of people now days don't make 10. Ditto on take them to the outdoors. Matt

The difference in the challenge and actually being there. You know what your past and present weather has been. The warming trends if any. What geographical location? Kentucky was a guess. When the normal spawn takes place so you can tell where they should be staging. We didn't know if this lake had coves or creeks. There are a ton of patterns that work, and prespawn baits that work. Whats the food source, if good supply of crayfish, then jigs or crawls would possiblely work. Too many unknowns to guess. Not knowing when the 4 bass are caught, does not mean it was a pattern. It didn't say when they arrived and when leaving. 4 fish could have been 13 hours of fishing. In December and Jan. on Fork, you can count on trap bites as the pattern for 45 out of 60 days. Not sure you can classify it a warming trend, it was equal, and not knowing the past days would determine the trend, colder or warmer. The temps 3 days prior had water in the lower 60's which meant a cooling trend. The next one that someone does will give more details hopefully. Thanks for the challenge, It had me waiting for the results. Hookem Matt

Cover vs structure. I always believed, anything associated with the shore was cover. Marinas, boat docks, grass lines, lily pads, a lay down off the bank Anything that is not associated to the shore is structure. Contour is the elevation breaks in the water. Pond dams, river and creek channels, guts, ditches, road beds, ledges, humps, borrow pits, flats. What extends up from the contour is structure. Bridge pilings, stumps and trees, rock piles, houses, barns, foundations etc.....

Size of lake. Any creeks, rivers. Geographical location. dominant bait fish, ie.....shad, minnows or? Where are the spawning grounds located? shallow areas. Give us more of the puzzle, and someone will give you some good pointers. hookem matt

Amen!!!!

This one was an easy one for Dave to go pickup, how about 20 minutes away from the hatchery. Purtis Creek is about 321 acres, catch and release only for Bass. This could be record year for share lunkers if they turn on at the regular lakes. Alan Henry, which dethroned lake Fork for the first time ever last year with 9 donated 13+ bass. Fork had 8. Alan Henry has none this year, so far. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/budsharelunker/archives/lunkerdetails.phtml?fishid=407

Please take a number and be seated, you'll will called on when the next available spot opens up. NOW SERVING 22,888,043. Hookem matt

LBH Will call you later tonite, I got your message today. Also, I emailed two college professors asking for pictures of the skeletal system of the LMB. Hookem Matt

You watch to many games shows, but nice come back. LOL thats funny.

I have made comments on other threads about using in-line spinners, althought the beetlespin is not an inline spinner, its small and versitale. I always had good luck on the yellow/red spots. I guess size doesn't matter all the time. LOL

I was off in my accounting, #406 or the 16th sharelunker this season thus far. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/budsharelunker/archives/lunkerdetails.phtml?fishid=406 Do you think he was targeting crappie with a beetlespin and got lucky?

As Hookem reported on the #400 thread, five more have been caught over the last few days. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/budsharelunker/ This totals 15 for the short season thus far. If I read write, one of them came off of a beetle spin.

Check state laws, its not illegal to put fish in cages. It appears fishy to be in the middle of the lake. There are numerous live cages in Tx around peoples docks. Most I have seen are floating Pvc cages. They might have been fishing for crappie and caught a bunch late in the night and a large hold cage ensure they won't die and can be cleaned later. My dad used to put large cats in these 5x5 ft holding nets and keep them in there for 2-3 weeks before cleaning, gets the fat off fish by holding for periods of time. The placement of the cage is suspicious, but if this was Tx, the only law broken is the theft of the cage that was stolen. Every thing else is assumed, and no proof.