Matt Fly

We are learning more all the time. No question about fish dieing. Was just curious to know where you read proposed limits of 3 and other things asked in previous post. Its sad, but anglers as well as BASS are at fault. One of the biggest factors that contibuted was deep hooked bass from 30 feet of water. Most of us who fish deep waters know that if your gonna keep'em in the live well, they need to have air bladders bled. I never see the pros doing this until someone from the tanks does it. Thats too long to wait for proper fish care in my opinion. Hope we all agree, that some times, it takes a sad event to get further education implemented. ESPN/BASS need to issue a statement soon. I see Paper trails coming down the pipe in the near futures if mortailty rates continues. Wisconsin passed legislation after the FLW tournament and high mortality rates. Don't remember the new law, but it regulates tournaments. I have read numerous responses from Lane. She has a good reason for being upset as well. She certainly does her part for the sport.

WRB What Elite 50's tournament on Falcon did you reference. E-50's didn't hit Falcon. This was first stop on Falcon ever I believe. for BASS Numbers are growing, but there not enough info and never will to fully analyze all the factors. BASS said 158 died, whcih is 11% and thats alot of good brood stock. How many fish were culled after being in a cramped livewell by fishermen? How long being in there? What was the condition of the fish when released? How many were deep fish? How many Pro's actually checked their fish regularly? How many were gut hooked from C rigs? Who knew that Clear Lake would be shattered, not once but numerous times? At one event!!! How often do we see 35+ sacks, 40+lb sacks? Not a regular occurence. Don't know where you got a number like that, but 11% isn't even close to those numbers. 3000-5000 lbs dead. 5000 pounds would be over half to 2/3 rds the fish died. Roughly over 3 1/2 ton were caught and your reporting high rate of almost over 60% dead. Where did you get its the norm of 3 fish limits on Falcon and Amistad. We haven't had limits like that ever that I'm aware of. FLW co's maybe, BASS hit Amistad first time ever last year, and that was 5, and Falcon for the first time this year. Prespawners, if any? Not a factor. I have gorged bass on shad and don't see all the scales as you mention and this is first time hearing that excuse. And who proposed a 3 fish limit before the tourney? I'd like to know where you got the facts from. Only thing I can say is, numbers like this have never been experienced, so no one really knew anything other than a record could fall. SAme as Clear Lake last year, except Clear Lake didn't produce the final weights, so how could you predict the outcome. It was uncharted waters for BASS. FLW hasn't came close, so you couldn't look at them for past like experiences. Remember when BASS went to shared weights? EVery body got upset and bashed BASS. I wonder if that rule was still in effect if that wouldn't have solved the overcrowiding issue in the livewells? Dang if you do and danged if you don't.

The rules we play by say, Trolling with big motor prohibited, what you do with the trolling motor is different. So dragging a bait with trolling motor is not the same as combustion engine. Strolling is using the trolling motor to get cranks down deeper and there are no rules against it here.

Theres no comparison, tournaments have rules, big bass boys don't. Lived there for 15 years, seen'em, Butch and others use live bait as well as artificialls. Differnet rules in tournies. Big bass boys go out when they want, when conditions are best for their results, pros got dates in advance and have no choice if they want to compete. Mentality is totally different. One is looking for big bite, the other is looking for five bites. As for how good these guys are, didn't they assemble what they called a respectable field on one of the best lakes in Cali and 10 lbs won it. Well, they had a chance to shine and with results, it looked lack luster. Not even an teener to win it. Thus, not as easy to produce when given a date to do it on. And only one DD total from the best of the best. They are human after all. When they (big bass guys) have dates and times to produce, we'll see how well they do when earning a check is on-the-line. To me, there no comparison until they play by the same rules. You don't compare college football to the pros, its not the same. By the way, the Linders are knowledgeable, but they have all the days they want to put footage together, and I'm not sure of his pro bassing record was, but its not near a good as KVD, Martin and Clunn. Again, What they do when the clock isn't ticking don't compare.

They always draw the lake down coming out of the winter to prevent massive flooding down stream. They just didn't get the rain or as much as they needed to bring her to pool.

All right Catt, I'll be your huckleberry! I have heard of a lot of different types of berries, but what is a dew berry?

Water is finally moving up into the buck brush. With the upcoming Sealy's Big Bass Splash and over a half million to be given out, lips will be tight. I'd say fish the 10-20 ft grass for the big bite. Lots of small bass has pushed into the buck brush and some checks will be one shallow, but the 125,000.oo fish has been caught deep most years. Frog bite is really picking up shallow.

I have seen bass do this after extreme cold periods, as noted, these bass were asorbing heat. Thats why the trap bite on top of the grass is so effective in Texas in the winter. Bass come up in the holes near the surface and sun them selves for some quick rays. But never seen a group or school that tight together. Russ, again, most men don't put cream in their coffee, but our ladies do! LOL ;D The ones that do are usually mamas boys. LOL! I know if I said that to most, some would take it personal, I know you want. ;D ;D

Welcom aboard Steve, I believe we met at the BassCat Owners Invitational last month. I want to personally thank you, the baits I got free at registration and the baits you gave us after the meet and greet helped us to a top ten finish. On day two, 480 boats came to the scales, and only one limit, with your baits exclusively, we weighed the second heaviest bag. We used the Rage Tail Chunk in the Summer color and the new Pure Posion Chatterbait for every fish we caught. Welcome aboard, and thanks. Matt

Growing up, my Dad had a hat for most occassions. One for catching the big cat, one for bassin, one for hunting. He always wore old clothes and hats, he said they had "power" due to their age and experience. In short, a hat never made a trip until it had at least 7 years of age on it. Then, if that hat made a trip, it was on the first day, Dad always saved his power hats for when he thought the "Big Dog Would Walk". Like Muddy last week, I miss my Dad often. Threads like this just bring back those memories.

I can't speak for your Game Wardens, in Texas, some GW's cover 3-400 miles by themselves with no back up for hours. They patrol borders and encounter some illegals crossing and smugglers. One of the most dangerous jobs in Texas. Sorry for his ticket, but your statement about Barney and Game Wardens are off course. Hookem

Funny, I have seen them fish in worse conditions, and the winds never came as they were predicted yesterday. The 20 mph winds and 40 mph gusts never happened. Was beautiful day down on the border yesterday. This is in no way a bash towards Trip for taking safety measures, its we seen them in worse conditions.

Texas Parks and Wildlife said 60 fish died after the event. First off, there aren't many tournaments out there to study the effects of mortaility with the huge sacks brought to the scales. BASS took lots of bashing already from bloggers. C Rigs played just as much a role with numerous gut hooked fish. Depths might have contributed some with fish coming from 30 feet. The heat really played no factor, water temps were ideal even though air temps reached the 90's. BASS could impose the 3 fish limit on Co-anglers as the FLW has done, but how does this help the pro who like the Pro on day 4 had 3 ten pounders in the livewell before 8am. Granted on day 4 there was no Co boaters and both livewells were used, but if that happens on days on 1-3, he still has to use one side. Too many factors to point fingers. As tournament anglers, its a responsibility that we all should share.

I think you can find bass by staying in touch with the shad/food source. Learn thy food sources and their habits, bass won't be far from them.

That would be "classic old school" techniques.

Didn't need any second chance guesses. Kansas was my pick when their was 64 teams to win it all. Go Big XII, our first NCAA title since the Big XII formed!!!

Congrats to the Rock Chalk Jayhawk fans of Kansas!!!!! One to remember!!!!!

Whats my foavorite Texas color? PLUM, on most lakes!!!!!

Numerous reports of 65 pound braid being broken with regularity. Thats a mean bass>

Bryon Velvick's 3 day record was shattered numerous times. The all time 4 day record will fall as well. Don't think Rojas single day record will fall. You are allowed to fish across the boundary line with the purchase of a Mexican fishing license. Clear Lakes BASS record is fixing to be history. Martens weighed in 109 and change.

Gotta throw my home state in as well. The All Time BASS record could fall in 3 days, 42 and change could be done easily. Consider Fork doesn't get a shot cause of the slot. We can match any state lake for lake on huge bass, we just don't have the correct climate to raise the 20's. Cali owns that distinction. But chances for a DD is just as good or better in Texas. Hookem Hookem,

Give us some details Matt. Glad Fork cooperated for ya this trip. Hookem

good observation Muddy!! Fish Chris' fish are so big, theres no room for scenery!!

FC, That Smallie looks bigger than 7.6. What a fatty she is. Nice one!

Saw four pages of predictions but didn't see any posted results from yesterday. How about Martens 40 pound sack? Bet you he wasn't finessing those bass!