Matt Fly

Tungsten is hard, spray paint chips off very easy. I just did abunch of bullet weights last night with the powder coating. spraying lead seems to work good, but don't look as good as powder coating.

Congrats to Brett on his Hall of Fame career. I was honored to witness many of those years and games. Thanks Brett!

I tried the Falt Albert Zoom Grubs a few weeks back. Got lots of hits, problem was the way I rigged it. I Texas rigged the bait on straight shank, my first three good bites, 2 of them ended up with the fat of the bait balled up in the Jay part of the hook with no penatration. I'm trying them again this weekend with a jig head approach. Good luck and let me know how you rigged yours. I like the down size that this bait allows me to do when the temp dropped.

mattm, the first youtube video should help you out with the mud blown creeks. AS you said, we had 75-80 days this weekend and then got alot of rain and snow last night. South end of the lake will be clearer water, keep an eye open for Bell, she's warmer due to the underground spring at the mouth, and this spot rarely muddies up. Still good area. Always remember to slow down, and the trap bite may be on due to the cool down specially south in the grass. Good luck.

I take responsibility for coming across wrong at times. I appologize to all for that. There isn't one guy on this forum that wouldn't be welcome in my boat. Matt

I have the Lcx-27c mounted on the console with thru-hull puck. You can get the RAM mount, that will swivel so you can see it from the front as well. Most graphing is done searching with big motor running. You may spend more time on the TM so mounting up front is option for you. Also, I never look at speed any more on dash, I use the GPS speed. GPS speed testing has shown that GPS units are very accurate. Also, the 520 will help you navigate with your gps waypoints you install as you find honey holes. Thru hull, in my timberfilled lakes, it was best option. No problems, great units.

Bless these meatballs Lord I pray................................Keep them safe by night and day. The road trip last year seasoned them nicely. Just a reminder that last year, ya'll washed them fingers before testing the gravy after playing with your baits. Please do so again. Muddy, maybe you should lock'em up and mail the key off to neutral bystander.

Since your not gonna be installing a charger in a boat. I recommend going a getting something with a warranty. I have one for other batteries that came from Sears, lifetime warranty. Also, this charger has 2amp, commonly called Trickle charge. Also, my charger has 10amp setting for quick charge and a last setting was 50 amp for jumping dead batteries. One thing that takes the life out of a battery is 10 amp chargers, like alot of the installed ones in boats. For that Quick overnight charge. When ever possible, always trickle charge your batteries. Slow 2A charge when possible will sustain the life of your batteries. Walmart Batteries are good, cheap, and free testing with good warranty. Buy two, there may be a day when you need the extra battery such as fighting a late storm with 25 mile an hour winds. Extra weight will help stable the boat. Since were gonna save you money on the 70#.

USCG rating plate formula for figuring Max HP. (2 x L x W)-90 Example. 19' long and 7' 5" (19 x 7.42 x 2)-90 281.96 - 90 = 191.6 You are allowed to round up to "5" Max rating for this boat would be 195. Most dealers won't install a motor rated higher than the plate. Most. Some warranties are voided on boat by exceeding max rating. It is not illegal to put a larger motor than boat is rated for, but in some states, it is illegal to do so, and some insurance companies won't touch you if you exceeded the USCG rating plate that is affixed to all boats. In Tx, most Tournament trails will deny you entry if exceeding max hrs rating.

The more pixels the unit has, the better resolution you will get. If you have a catalog, BPS or others, compare prices and notice pixel count.

They have an 8 foot capability. Simply put, its an elecrtric anchor.

For newer ideas, try some west coast mags. normally any new style inroduced into the US comes from Japan and via the west coast. Check out Gary Yamamotos Inside Line or Bass West. Most magazines have the same articles reproduced and re-written over and over again. With that being said, I have been reading Bassmasters for 30+ years and any other reading material about bassing and outdoors. The west coast mags are normally the first ones to come out with fresh ideas. Also, they will cover swimbaits better than any other publications. Hope this helps. You can never read too much of anything.

PK has some of the most beautiful shoreline and blutts there are in Texas. You are blessed to live on that lake. Past few years, the Brazos river and lakes tied by that eco system have had the golden algae bloom. Hopefully that lake will comeback to what it once was. Matt

Glad you liked it, Some great reports coming in from Fork. Warming as we speak and the wind has layed down today thus far. Looking like a sweet day, too bad I'm working. Hookem Matt

What guy wouldn't spill his guts to Marcia Rubin. Different players in the game. Try that little test on the TFF. See how many forum fishermen will help you out. Its about competition and money in my areas. Where the lakes see a tournament every week, and sometimes, multiiple trails at the same time. Not saying you can't get info, just not as much as some think. Locally run forums were guys compete on the same waters just isn't the 411 on spots and patterns. I believe you'll get more info by just looking in baitshops. What is the missing color, whats the popular spinnerbait missing, topwater, colors. Old pictures posted. I hit the same shops on certain lakes all the time, if this guy gives 100 guys the same story, is that good advice or just idle chat, alot of holes given up are public local knowledge in the first place. And some of the baits recommended are old stock that didn't sell very well, seen this at Fork when 3200 anglers come down for the annual splash. On average, thats 32 states and a few countries that show up for the annual Splash, and prostaff are there to move baits, any of them. Just my take on info for competitive fishing.

I think I may go with the IMX, its one that I'm gonna check out for sure. I'd spend the money on a rod that you could feel a flea fart at 50 yards. Any of those out there? WW2, Always consider the experience behind the rod when advice is solicited or sought. You never know, Senko77 is young, but I give him his props, he's earned it in my book. Hookem

Texas rig, drop shot, are just tools. When bass aren't relating to bottom, suspended, there are better tools to keep the bait in the strikezone. I have used a drophot with the bait 4 foot of bottom, something a TX rig wouldn't allow me to do. some times cranks are better suited for the job, some days its the spoon. Both have their place in the boat.

Buzzy rods have been around for a few years. See them out in Texas alot. I have seen demos and had one in my hands a few times. I don't thinki its a gimmick considering we buy jigs with rattles or add rattles to certain baits trying to impart vibrations and noise to the bait. What I have done for years is, with my left hsnd holding the reel, I place my fingers across the cork handle and tap with my fingers. You know when some body is waiting on you and they are tapping their fingers on the table repeatedly, its the same technique on th cork handle. Does the same thing. As I lift a bait off bottom, I tap sending the same noise and vibrations down the line. It maybe a gimmick, but is no different in buying jigs with rattles for the same principal. Been around for awhile.

email sent,

We have a good report on here from Tom Redington. Very detailed. And I'm gonna send you a video from a week back on baits and water temps on Fork. A nice video for you to watch about fork and tactics. Breaking down the temps, the mud blown creeks that just got a shot of water last week. This video breaks down the temps and why to throw a certain bait over others. And as the temps warms in the day, what to expect the bass to do. Hookem Matt

Don't know where you guys hail from, but getting some info from local bait shops and such don't work to good for the local tournament angler, and on pro trails, seeking that info is forbidden now days. Specially when you have 10 top trails for all levels that fish the same said lakes all year. Our trails, the director don't get any feedback from winning teams when they are asked about their days, its tight lips. You stand a better chance of getting info from Bass Resource than you do locally. Go to Texas Fishing Forum and ask about current patterns on area lakes and see how many serious replies you get, maybe a joke or two. Guys have lived on said lakes most of the time and jackpot all tournies on home waters, the locals aren't giving any better advice than the TPWD site, which don't help. Maybe asking for crappie or other species and buying some bait would help, but don't bet the farm on any of it being a winning pattern. Time on the water in all conditions, when it rains, when the wind is out of the north, any condition that you may encounter is the same way you should practice. Good luck and fish what you can. Its always a learning experience.

Sorry peeps, fishing isn't spectator friendly. Most all other sports have a defined playing field for spectators to flock to. They get gate proceeds, concessions, some charge parking. What does BASS get from tournaments? None of the above like other sports. Bass fishing don't charge for spectators to launch their boats to watch. Public lakes!! Bass don't call off tournaments due to weather which might make some fans stay home. How do you become a fan when you don't own a boat to go watch? Figure out how to charge the fans and you'll generate more monies on tour. Which creates better coverage, and more sponsors. Again, its not even close to another sport, not golf, not football, not track and field, not even Nascar. Think about what revenues are not generated that is guaranteed at other arenas or stadiums.

Welcome to the forum. You have some great waters to choose from. Lake Austin is pumping out some giants already this year, Hookem Matt

You don't see the big sponsor dollars as evident by the commercials aired. Not like the Super Bowl were they? You had bigger Basketball games and bigger sports to be aired during the weigh in. Which one makes more money for ESPN, Bassfishing live weigh-in or college basketball? No brainer, their were more BB/golf/football/baseball fans in America and prime time spots will be occupied by one of the bigger money makers. You can say they made money, and thats okay, but look at the commercials that aired. Pretty much the same ones as early Saturday and Sunday mornings. What fortune 500 companies lined up at the door to get some of there spots aired. I love bass fishing, always have, but its not close to being a nascar, college football, basketball, or any of the pro sports of the big 5. Bass fishing isn't even close to what poker has become. There have been enough BASS bashing threads in the past, and I'd be upset for guys to get free internet live feed for free when other BASS members paid for that service. Sorry, I paid for my coverage through my membership. Maybe alot of guys who said they cancelled their memberships shouldn't have been so quick to act. I bet some of the same guys who bashed BASS and claim to no longer have affilation with BASS are still watching. Thats kinda of funny to display convictions against, yet still patronize them by watching their product. Got no problems with BASS, again, any coverage was better than none!!!!

Welcome to the forum, Some of the most scenic bluffs and treelines in Texas. Can't help you on any current fishing reports. Welcome. Matt