Matt Fly

I have not seen that on any trails in Texas. I do think it would be good idea for some of our hotter lakes in Texas if it aids in lower mortality rates.

Laws in Texas require you to report it. Most cases would involve a deer being hit by passing car along a PUBLIC highway. I'd think this one would be the most popular scenerio of them all. First and foremost, shooting from or on a public road in Texas is illegal as well. If I found this animal on my hunting lease, I'd put it down plain and simple. When in public or on public roads, I'd report it and let the professionals do their job.

Just look back at the suspensions and fines administered to the last few teams that got caught. Gonna be some crew chiefs on vaccations for at least 6 weeks along with some hefty fines. Gibbs racing has won 14 of 25 NNCS races this year. ???????

Never thought I'd associate Joe Gibbs and cheating in the same sentence. That one kind of leaves me floored.

I am confident that I can go to a new bass lake and not get skunked!!!!!!!! Why is that? Past results, which equates to past experience. Confidence is based on each individuals strengths. Confidence is believiing in what you are doing. Why is everyone so confident that KVD is a threat at any tournament? Past results. Confidence isn't a technique, it isn't a piece of equipment, its purely mental based on results.

Would love to see Todd finish this one on top. Good ole Texas boy. How about Matt Reed? Lots of experience on ole Sam and rough water. Our rough water beats the heck out of ya. The saddles of the swells are close together and on the Great Lakes, they are generouly further apart. Heard the in-expeirenced guys went standard bilges, and guys like KVD have in upwards of 8 bilges hooked up.

Great article J.T. Now for a plug in a different direction. J.T.'s article is just one example of what kind of tips you'll find in the "Inside Line". Great Magazine.

I always like to add the Texas state record was caught on a crappie rig while crappie fishing. 18.18. Does a smaller bait guarantee bigger fish, nope. There are no gurantees in fishing that are money back that I know of.

Although I'm skeptical of a WR swimming in Texas, a state or world record would be donated to the State fish hatchery in Athens Texas. Its open 6 days a week for tours, and this would be a way for them to generate some extra revnues for the Hatchery and the Share-a-Lunker Program that they maintain. As for self monetary gains, I'd hope that would come from some tackle endorsements.

True dat RW. For the most part, the C.O.T has or something has made racing a bore for the most part to watch this season. Honestly, safety is always first concern. But to add some suspense to this race, they should of waived the last two or threee competion cautions allowing the pit boss to make some stradegy moves.

My Dad use to hook live bait through the lower eyesockets. Dad always said bass aim for the head, they'll diegest their prey head first.

Buck, Welcome to the forum. 2 months ago would of been in late May if my math is correct. That would be transition period and tough times for most. Congrats to you and Tom for having what sounds like a super trip hookem Matt

I like it when the one bass decided it was feeding time, he chased that trout back and forth, on top and bottom.

I don't think the Elites are Elite just yet. It hasn't been that long since we had the E-50's. When they expanded, there wasn't really any qualifying events. They took the first 50 that could pay there entry fee and met wrap requirments. Don't forget, alot of BASS pros bailed due to having to fish from Tritons, the biggest majority was the Skeeter boys. Give them a few more seasons, they'll get weeded out. You haven't had Davis, Yelas, Cockran. Fritts, Dion Hibbon, or any of the old BASS boys on the Elites as of yet, I know Mark qualified. As for the comparison to Nascar in Camera packages. Bass fishing can't make prime time TV, why do you think a handful of people compared to the millions that follow Nascar would make money? Nascar will have 100,000 spectators on average at every event or more, BASS is lucky if they had 100,000 at a weigh-in all year combined. By the way, look at ratings for Nascar on TV. Tells you why in car camera's pay for themselves. The old pros have travelled to alot of lakes over the years. Posting the lakes for the next 2 years in advance may allow some guys to study more on those lakes they knew nothing about. Remember, years past, one year schedules, now with 2yrs being given, the learning curve for some may be sped up. knowing were you go only allows you to put plan together for sponsors to be seen. How does that help? Lot of anglers aren't "made men", they need to cash a check here and there to survive. Selling ideas to new sponsors takes mental worries about finances in the long run and takes some pressure off them. Lots of factors that will help the Elite be Elite!

I watched this two or three times, the whole time I had to really look to notice that the bait is actually alive and wasn't a swim bait.

Both. You need more Pro trails. It keeps them on their toes. CAuses them to push the envelope. I don't get FSN because of the cable plan. Too many guys in the USA that are great sticks that can win. I think we had the same Classic winner as we did on the FLW a few years back. MR Clausen won the classic on both sides of the fence. With respect, the old BASS pros have more exposure, but times always changes, and new talent always shows up. We need both trails to keep pushing each other. I sure would have trouble putting 5 pros together on a fantasy league created from both tours. I haven't seen Mark DAvis, Jay yelas, Fritts Cochran for awhile, but do know these guys are great at what they do.

Found this, didn't know if its been posted before, but can't hurt again. Love the sound track. Who did the sound track? Ever wonder about bass following you bait? Ever wonder if your bait was too big? Ever wonder if your fishing too fast or too slow? Notice how easy a 10-12 trout was inhaled. These guys attacked the albino live trout. Swimbaits!!! I need bigger baits.....

Anybody see similarities in 1984 and present times. Big Brother can watch you at intersections, track you with your cell phone by the GPS inside, bank ATM's camera's, store camera's and all the satellites. I recently was sent a survey in the mail by the Texas Department of Public Safety asking me why I access I 20 to Dallas off and on all week. How did they know that? I do cover a 2nd hospital in Dallas on and off. I was told the smog van that sets up to monitor emissions on that on ramp was how they knew, and I said since when is photos and running licenses down for surveys legal by the government? Big Brother is watching you.

My current partner, Larry, was from the Millwood area, he said toss the P&J jig at the roots around the cypress trees. Shaded side. Hookem

Russ isn't much bigger than a pea in pod either, so I'm sure he'll take care of ya!

I do believe by using large profiled baits, you can elimate some smaller bass. Even though I catch 1.5 lb bass on 14-18 inch placstics. On that note, my 14+ came on an older Shad rap, tiny bait compared to other cranks with small trebles. TEXAS state record of 18.18 was caught while crappie fishing, so how big a bait do you think that was? Don't disagree about large girls being caught mid day. Great time period, but do the majority of big girls feed at that time? Or just a small percentage? I've caught my share at night and day. I have done farless night fishing than daylight hours, and based on the percentage, I'd say my chance are way better at night. RW, most of the time the trophy buck gets shot during daylight hours, it was because of the rutt and he's visible. Most big bass caught in the spring is because of the same ritual, reproduction. Learn to fish big arches over little ones and I'll bet your gonna increase you size of bass. Summer and bridges. Bridges tell me that most of the time, there are channels, deep water, possible old road beds and old sunken bridges that parallel the new bridge. What else does a bridge offer? first off, shade 100% of the day. Bridge pilings also have algae growth on them that all bait fish feed on. Sure is nice to have boat waves continueing to knock that growth off and see bait around the pilings all day. Crappie fishermen place brush along the sides of the pilings for added attraction. Bass eat crappie, rephrase, Big bass love easy meals and crappie and all the other food sources down there seeking shade and depth. I haven't been fishing Cali in along time, but can offer this. What is the food of choice in most resorvoirs in Cali? Trout!! San V. and other lakes are connected by aqua ducts, ducts that pump in water, which is current when pumping, trout like current, bass know trout will be in that current. I caught the majority of my big bass on San V at the Aqua duct. and other similar lakes. So, If I was heading out to Cali and wanted to fish for some big girls now, i'd do some checking to see if they have been pumping and when and where they will be next. Know thy habits and hangouts of thy food source. Know what lakes are pumping by getting online. Why fish San V if they aren't pumping when another lake is pumping? CAtching big fish consistently is not luck, its having done "ALL" your homework. Know thy food sources!!

You could break down a bass' travels throughout the year to help determine the most likely area they will be in. What do bass do in the fall when water temps start falling? School on migrating shad. On most of our lakes in Texas, they have alot of feeder creeks. Note, not all lakes have creeks for shad to migrate to the backs of, thus, as I always mention, learn thy baitfish and its habits and travels. What do 90% of the guides or articles concerning schooling bass mention? They all say, for the larger bass, try to get your bait down deeper under the smaller schoolies. In winter, our shad suspends out in deep water and will stay primarily in a small radius, they don't migrate very far at this time, you can bet that bigger bass are setting up house near the huge schools of shad, this is a time where I find that you may have to catch a few dinks to get to the better fish. Although we catch some nice junks from time to time on Fork, the grass and a jig are your best ticket for DD bass. You'lll catch nice ones on spoons and such, but the jig is a top producer, and to narrow that down, normally after the 3rd consecutive day after major fronts have produce are excellant days to work a jig for monster. As WRB mentioned, protein in the winter is to help develope those eggs they are now carrying. grass and crawdads in the winter are like spagetti and meatballs, they just go together. AS winter progresses and spring nears, as temps warms, the bass move to holding or staging areas, so do the shad, they seek the warmest water possible. Spring is no brainer, bass go shallow to spawn. Bass have been fending off preditors trying to get to their roe and fry, ie.....perch and brim. Bass know that as soon as they are done with their business, that those egg robbing perch will do they're business next. Bass will stay in those same shallow areas feeding on easy targets for a month or so. Thus, the bluegill colored cranks/spinnerbaits and such are great baits during the ealry post spawn phase of a bass. Check out most guides reports during that period. I find fishing those perch and brim beds areas at night are best for big girls that are seeking a very easy meal. EArly summer is a period of transition, and this can be hit and miss. Bass are setting up for summer pattern. I know in the summer, shad seek shelter shallow in the evenings prior to darkness, grass or any cover they can use, why do you think the topwater bite is so good early and late? becasue bait has moved into the shallows? EArly morning, as soon as the sun peaks up, the shad go deep and the topwater bite dies. Notice a guide will tell you as the sun rises and the top water bites dies, gradually back out to deep water. Why? cause the shad are heading deep as the sun rises. As summer progress, we have a thermocline that sets up. Shad will be on the theromocline. What does the thermocline offer? the most oxygen content and cooliest water. If that thermocline is set up at 20ft, you can take a map, find points, humps or anything that intersects at 20ft and fish it, you'll find bass on the same levels as the shad. The common demonator for finding bass is food. Learn thy food sources and you'll find bass, all sizes of bass. We have a ton of guides reports on a bunch of lakes, they all seem generic, it seems as they write one and all use it for that month. Why? My lakes all share the same food sources. I personally think more trophy bass feed at night when the lake is free of noise than in the day time. You may see a trophy buck early fall in daylight hours, but when the shots ring out, the only time you'll see him in daylight hours is if he's on a doe, other than that, he goes nocturnal. Moves at night. I think big, huge bass feed primarily at night on highly pressured lakes. And the easiest way I have found better bass is watching my electronics. I look in the normal haunts, when I find the size of arches I'm looking for, I set up shop. Learn your electronics and food sources, the rest will fall into place.

The colored plastic latches. Is there a color code on what goes where? Does blue mean deep divers? yellow shallow for example? Never thought about buying boxes by colored latches to use as indicators of whats where. I'm impressed. I have the planos, but not that neatly.

Saw that melt down at the Masters. Greg had 87 wins on tour and 2 majors wins. With that resume and the leads in the final rounds, they were melt downs. Good to see him do well since Tiger was not there to steal the thunder and press.

This big decsion by BASS did what? Effected a handfull of guys. Elite Co anglers? How many of you will never fish again because of this? How many of you will never buy products again? There are only a handfull of pros out there compared to the millions of other fishing licenses being sold across the US. Whether tournaments existed or didn't, I'm still fishing like everybody else is. I'm still buying product, and its not because of the pros. I bought products before BASS was on TV. Most of us older fellows have had Orlando Wilson, Bill Dance fishin shows, but never saw much of the pros footage of days of old. Ya'll call them info commercials now days. Please, everyone just tell me who quit fishing because of this? Anyone? Then, whats the fuss? lol