Matt Fly

Besure and check your Hunting and Fishing State License handbook for BPS coupon for 20% off one Item. It was in the TX 2004 handbook, collected lots of those coupons, would use one for reel in the fihing Dept. One at the customer service window, and one at the regular registers for all my big items. Who knows, it may be your state giving you a little something extra to shop with. I have one located in Grapevine TX, near FT. Worth about sixty miles, But in the spring, Lake Ray Hubbard is having a grand opening on a new BPS that will only be 25 minutes away and is located on the lake so you can pull into there dock parking by boat and shop. Two Bass Pro Shops within a hours drive.

My focus for 2006 is not to stay in a past honey hole to long because of its productivity from the past experiences. I've found my self talking to myself, saying 10 more minutes, just 10 more minutes. I know she there. How long is to long? 10mins, 15mins, 20mins?

I have bought a SUZY home-maker baking timer. I am going to focus on not sitting in a "honey hole too long" because of past results. Thus a timer will go off and remind me how long I've been here. Results will deem if its time to move on, and maybe come back later and check again.

The Fish and game ruled that there was no way she could have place the weight in the fishes stomach, the fish had consumed the weight long time before this. The weight had some type of aquatic growth on it. This little 180 acre lake doesn't get as much pressure as you think for bass, the smallness doesn't appeal I guess to anglers who can't put there expensive bass boats on the water due to engine size.

Mike Long's whopper is No. 17 all-time but, technically, not a Lake Mission Viejo mark By Ed Zieralski STAFF WRITER April 30, 2005 Avid angler has become a gaff artist Local teen tries to take advantage of casting call Turns out Mike Long's 19.2-pound bass that he caught last Saturday at Lake Mission Viejo won't be the official lake record. But it will keep its spot at No. 17 on the all-time heaviest black bass ever caught in the world. Long joined the ranks of Bob Crupi and Dan Kadota as the only anglers with two bass in the Bassmaster Magazine Top 25 All-Time Largemouth Bass. Long also is credited with a 20.75-pound bass he caught April 27, 2001 at Lake Dixon in Escondido. Advertisement Here's why it's not a lake record at Lake Mission Viejo, a private lake open to Mission Viejo Association members and their guests: Dave Kerr, the manager at Lake Mission Viejo Association, doesn't doubt that Long caught the 19.2-pound bass, just as he doesn't doubt Long once caught an 18-pound bass at the lake. But Kerr said Thursday that the official record stays at 17 pounds, 6 ounces for a bass caught July 1, 2001 by Association member Richard Orellana. "I just talked to Mike and I'm convinced he caught the bass, and I believe he caught it here and it was that big," Kerr said. "But we agreed that it isn't our official lake record because he didn't weigh it in here for anyone to see. This is the second time he has claimed a record here, and both times he failed to weigh the fish." Long didn't weigh the 18-0 or the recent 19.2. Instead, rather than take the bass to the dock for weighing, Long weighed the bass on his hand-held Berkley 50-pound Digital Scale and released it in the same area where he caught it. He said he used an 8-inch Huddleston swimbait and pulled the lunker from under a swim dock in Lake Mission Viejo's Bahia del Lago, or what Long calls Pepinos Arm, named for an Italian restaurant nearby. One of the pictures Long submitted to the Union-Tribune clearly shows the Berkley scale at "19.2," not 19-2 as was reported earlier. The 19.2 reading puts it at just over 19 pounds, 3 ounces. Long, who was interviewed Thursday for a spot that airs tomorrow on ESPN's "Loudmouth Bass," said his scale has been approved by the International Game Fish Association for weighing record bass. He also had a witness to the catch, Mission Viejo Association member Mark Scott. "That's why I took a picture of the bass on the scale," Long said. "I'm not calling it the official lake record, and I'm not trying to claim it." Kerr, who has been at the 124-acre, mile-long lake for 27 years, said the scale at Mission Viejo is not a certified one, but he requires fishermen to weigh potential lake-record fish on the lake's scale with a lake employee present. "That's only fair to everyone else who fishes here," Kerr said, adding that staff members usually are around until midnight. Lake Mission Viejo's written policy prohibits anglers from putting bass in their live wells from March 1 to June 1, unless the bass is a potential lake or world-record catch. Long could have put the bass in his livewell, returned to the dock and tried to find someone to weigh it, but he chose not to. "I've quit taking bass to the dock and have been releasing my fish where I catch them," Long said. Long's 19.2-pounder edged ahead of three bass caught in San Diego County on the Top 25 All-Time Largemouth Bass list. There's a 19.19-pound bass caught by Ardon Hanline on Feb. 17, 1987 at Lake Morena, and another 19.19-pounder caught by Steve Beasley on Feb. 3, 1986 at lake Wohlford. Next up is the controversial 19.06-pounder caught by former Lake Miramar concession operator Sandy DeFresco. That bass, moved down to 20th now, was thought to be the heaviest bass caught in 56 years until it was discovered it had a 2-pound, 8-ounce lead diving weight in its stomach. DeFresco was given credit for her bass' weight, minus the lead in the belly. Mission Viejo has become a draw for big-bass chasers due to its giant bass, trout-fed with Mt. Lassen rainbows from November to April. Some of the lake's original bass came from San Diego lakes in the mid-1970s, Kerr said. He said one angler has caught 13 bass over 9 pounds this year. The stories just don't get any more outlandish than at Miramar. This is the lake where a 21-pound, 10-ounce bass was caught that was discovered to have a lead diving weight in its stomach--and also the place where a 20-pound, 15-ouncer is alleged to have been floating, dead of old age, and then scooped up and presented as a record catch. Regardless, Miramar is something of a miniaturized factory for making big bass. It is a tiny lake, just 180 acres with an estimated population of 5,000 bass. But they get huge. Stocked trout are like growing pills, and good numbers of threadfin shad are available as well, as prime forage. (California Fishing; T.C.G., Tom Stienstra 1995/96) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Zieralski: (619) 293-1225; ed.zieralski@uniontrib.com

Any New Years Resolutions for 2006? Since a lot of people have been trying to quit smoking, I though I'd give it a shot my self. So, In 2006, in Jan. I am going to quit, not try, but gonna quit!!!

Its not something I have to learn, its a technique that hasn't been needed as much on the timber lakes with lots of grass. Fished a lake that had 1000's of boat docks. I havent been skipping Tubes as much as I used to, boy was I off a little to start, 50% was pretty, 50% was ugly. And I'm critical since I think your best shot at the big girl is the first cast, or the money cast as not to spook her with a bait that isn't on target the first time. That day was critical since fish were holding in the middle to the back of the dock supports and these docks are only 6-10inches above water.

pre-spawn-yozuri red rattlin vibe spawn- anything plastic post spawn-buzzbait dog days of summer- early june, c-rig in 3-4 inch plastic bait, shades of green late summer 10 in plus worms. Buzz bait fall- 10 in/ crank baits Buzzbait winter? still a work in progress.

zebco 33- First fish, cane pole or zebco33

North winds all week, lows in 20's hi in the 40's for the week. Water temp will drop this week for sure. Thanks for the info, I wasn't for sure if this bait would be a good post-cold front bait. Sounds like the colder the better.

A 13 lber is on my letter to Santa this year.

Today was windy, morning low of 54, southwinds 15-20 mph, 80 for the high, morning surface temp 57.2, noon 59.8, 3pm 60.8. The X Rap was the money bait today. Noon, the orange bellied brown back X Rap (I called it a burnt orange) bite was on. These fish came from the deep water, 10-20 around noon up on flats in 2-5ft. I found the wind blown break lines associated with smaller flats to hold 2.5 -4.5 lb fish. 3 typical spots that had the same features produced a limit of 5 at 14.32, 9 keepers, culled 3 times, had 7 unders in 3hrs. 9th place. 18.08 took first at the Media Bass on Cedar Creek, 49 teams. Back on CC next Sat. for another tourney. With this cold front coming in tommorow and hanging around all week, Will the X Rap produce in colder water? This will be the first major cold spell to stay awhile. Is there a temp that would deem this bait to be ineffective?

Falcon, when I saw your user name, I was thinking Falcon Lake in Tx. When I was stationed in Great lakes, I became a good salmon fisherman. Didn't get to bass fish up north like I wanted to. Since I don't fish for the smallies much, in Tx a 6lb is a trophy in my book. What is considered a trophy small mouth in your neck of the woods. Hookem and indeed you have been!!

Hitting the Jan. outdoor shows, prefishing for Feb 11. Tourney. 3 Tourney's left this year. I have one the next three weekends. Most of all, I'm chasing the 13+lber's as much as I can on Fork with swim baits and jigs.

Cameron on the TFF is the young guy who runs the bait shop at Lake Fork Marina. I received a few IM's from others telling me ignore him. I can't believe its Cameron from Fork. That won't stop me from going to Mosiers to eat though. Those sudies done revealed alot of info on mortality rates from Tourneys. I will have to find that web and report on that. It was found that 2wks after holding the Bassmaster event on Fork, with the slot waived for Tournaments, fish were dieing even after two weeks. The 515 bridge to the left of Fork Marina is where they put in huge holding pens/nets from the bridge to hold and study the mortality rates of the dog days of summer. Business owners want the slot removed for Tournaments. That would bring the big trails in and the local trails would hold more tournaments on the lake with the slot removed for tournaments only. The guides on the lake won't the restrictions. Its a money issue for all involved. Well, the slot is still in place. You think I like to throw 8lbers back during a tournament, nope, but having the opportunity to catch a state record or double digit bass is worth the slot in the long run.

Texas has a sharelunker program that runs from Oct-Apr. Any 13 pound plus bass caught during those months that gets donated it to the hatchery receives a free replica of the fish for allowing the TP&W to spawn this fish. They will send a tanker and biologists to pick your fish up from the lake. You will be given the fish back to release it in the waters of your choice. 50,000 fry will go to the home lake of the fish where caught. Plus the largest share lunker of the season receives a lifetime fishing license from the state of Tx. 1. Does any of your states get into dna studies on bass to make your home waters better. 2. Any similar programs going? The first one caught this year came from Lake Lewisville, the same place KVD set the lake record on during the 2005 E-series. The record has been broke 3 times since the June Tournament. The fourth time was Monday, the 28th of Nov, with a 13.63, It was caught at a marina fishing barge, a known crappie barge, it was caught on a 3 1/4 Fin-s. This lake was well known for the recreational boat traffic in the summer. Most bass fishermen would travel to other lakes to avoid the pleasure craft. But since the BASS Tourney was held here, the fishing pressure had increased. It is truly amazing how one tournament can change a scene on a lake.

I'd have to say a garlic spike-it markers saves me lots of money. Red, Blue, Orange, and Chartrues. But the others are necessary also, needle nose, clippers, and the list could go on.

Tail Kickers, little georges and other spoons are taking their fair share of winter bass in Texas. Some days, you only need to reel it up off the bottom and do nothing, just let it set still, other days, rip it off bottom and let fall. As Avid mentioned, also the red trap is starting to pickup pace quickly. The drop shot with flukes, and similar style baits is the other pattern working. A lot of fish have made it back from the creeks since we just started winter or I should say the cold weather has arrived. Main lake humps and points in 15-30 ft have been holding steady schools of bass. What green grass is left is holding shallow fish along stump flats, wacky worming and dropshots working well also.

Glad to see familar surroundings. Nice Job Glenn, Thanks.

Life like lures are just tools in the tackle box. Each has its own place. When waters are crystal clear and visibility unlimitied and bass are chasing bait fish, one has an advantage over other lures. The same applies to the rod and reels and lines we apply, one will be the proper choice, right tool for the job.

Yes and no. Some times we catch bass that are feeding and sometime we get reaction strikes. Depends on the mentallity of the bass at that time. When you catch numbers on one bait in the same area, you need to change style or presentation. A 4 in grub in watermelon was the ticket, throw a different looking worm in the same color to trigger the bite again. Like catching crappie all day in the same hole. Light penatration has change and so did the color of choice. Early was a watermelon red, later is water melon candy. Fish haven't moved, conditions changes by shade moving, sun moved over head and so on. Scents can be changed also by using other brands or a totally different scent all together.

Was that a lead in intro by GLenn? That is standard military issue gorilla tactic bassin tackle. Just standard issue for us hard core bass-aholics. ;D ;D ;D

Well Glenn, How do you like it nowwwwww???? I believe this thread was at 300 people then and over 3000 served.

when do we see the Charlie Moore video? Charlie likes them on the "farside".

Even a battery with a bad cell will read good on a voltage check. 12v The easiest to do is let Walmart or Auto zone do a load check on it. Autozone is free and walmart is to if its one of their brands carried.