Matt Fly

Raul, You are deserving of this recognition. Always helpfull, thoughfull of others and hi tech. One of the first guys I remember meeting on the forum. From your first post I read, I could see you had some salt in your posts. This sight is lucky to have your knowledge, experience and wisdom of the Bait Monkey. My hats off to you sir. Hookem Matt

One must be rated to be over rated. Just who in his 4 seasons has over rated ELI? I rated him as young and learning. Its not like he's a veteran pro bowler thats been around for 10 years. The normal matsuration process for good products coming out of college is normally 4 seasons as QB's. Eli is doing what most other QB did in there careers. Mature!!!! One thing you can say about ELI, he wasn't a NUMBER ONE draft flop like so many others before him. Calling him SheLI, I don't think he really cares!!!!!!

dutchb, Welcome to the forum. Throw that Texas red craw trap. Pretty good limit getter and wins lots of money. Matt

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1174751149 First off welcome if I had done that before. The members on here the last two years have made a annual trip to Fork on the 23-28 mar. You might try the link for info and pictures. There are guys who caught their PB last year. I'm sure they would be able to give you some advice. You will see lots of fishermen at the marinas and lots of boats on the water. Lots of boats, you should be able to get some good up date info while you are therel Heres to you catching that Bass of a live time. Good luck What a trip you have planned, Lake Fork and TMS. Hookem Matt

Some of the known big hitters on that lake totally blanked. Sorry the weather didn't cooperate for them. I guess Byron felt at home in Cali emceeing the event. I like what the winner said about throwing swim baits. He said throwing a swimbait is like playing the slot machine. You keep playing, and playing, and sometimes it paysoff. Good to see Cali getting some of those style of tournies going. Weve had them for over 20 years, and they are open to anyone. Some day, maybe they will get the hourly money going. Imagine paying 12 spots per hour for 8 hours a day for 3 days. Thats 286 hourly checks that pays 1000.00 to 200.oo every hour for 8 hrs for 3 days. This year guaranteed payout is over 1.5 mil. Hookem

Last Sunday!

Was wondering what I said at 3 in the morning to get a deleted post. Then saw the post on lost posts. Thanks for the heads up!

Always work with you nose into the wind, it allows you to keep positive control of the boat. Going with the wind may blow you past your targets were as into the wind just pushes you back but keeps the nose forward. Always make the furtherest cast to your targets before trying to move in. I see alot of guys move right up about 10 ft off and start working

Awesome toads, and thanks for the Pictures, keep them coming man!! all healthy looking fish.

That was the theory that was always passed on by other anglers. In winter, water doesn't mix with particles as easily, which simply means that during this time of year, water normally will be the cleariest of the year during this time. Water is denser when coldest and doesn't allow mixing of particles. Thus fish don't feed from vibrations and sound, thus the need for a tight bait when fish feed primarily from sight. Thus the need for mostly thinned billed cranks with skinner profiles. Hookem

There isn't anyone that I wouldn't want to fish with. But a goal of mine is to fish with some one from every state someday. I like to stick little colored flags into a Texas Map on all the lakes and rivers I have fished in Texas.. I think that would be great for the all the states as well. Hookem

First off, I'm starting to see that a good day means no problems, no $$$$$$ lost to down time. So catching some fish is icing on the cake. Putting one in the boat is a good day in 40-48* water. This weekend, Putting 5 in the boat would be dang good start to a new year, and I don't care if my partner does all 5, I make a very good net man if need be. This weekend, we'll see 200-250 boats on the water. So a limit would be very good day for early Feb. Cashing a check, priceless!!!!!!

I'm not slowing down enough as I should. We give the same advice to others in the winter. When you think you have slowed down, slow down some more. Well, I know I could dead stick alot better. How many have ever back lashed and while picking it out, you reeled in and had a fish on there. That is dead sticking at its best. Deadsticking really works, and thats is one of the best examples I can give. Happens alot. KVD said, You never catch a bass on accident, there was a reason for that bass being there. Slow down. Thats me. Slow it down another gear.

The Stren series was on Falcon International a few weeks ago, the one with Thomas Redington, our very own Tom finished 19th in that event. The winner, who was well over a 4 day total of 100 pounds was using two baits to fullfil his limits. Half of those fish came on a chatterbait with a Lake Fork Magic Shad. Which is a fluke type/swimbait type trailer. I personally havent had any success on the bait. But Chris (gf) has had some luck with it. Enough that I can't say no when she asks to fish it. Worth a better look maybe.

That was the results, 10.52 What lake?

I didn't read all your replies. I just want to commend you for recognizing what your other half does for you daily. Alot of guys don't care, some do. Just look at some of the reasons why some guys have cancelled or just couldn't make the Gunterville trip. Lot of it was family. Some body asked what makes you a man? Well, based on your thoughtfullness and consideration of your wife, I'd say you have good handle on being a good father, husband, and pretty good man!!!! And to say you ask permission is or maybe stretching it, you could simply say, was checking with the wife, she does the family scheduling to see if its a good day for me to go. There would be less family fighting with that kind of respect towards each other. Good on you!!!!!

There are times that some noise attracts fish and sometimes it doesn't. I don't see how a 1/2 oz lead bullet weight makes that much of a difference on a 12 inch worm when TX rigged. Whats the deal? Tungsten changes the profile by how much in length. A Texas rigged worm doesn't make that much noise unless you add a bead or something. Most of us push the worm over the eye, thus no metal to metal. A carolina sinker with a 4 foot leader only matters if you have added something in there to make noise with it. A smart fishermen will use the cheaper lead when he can get away with it so he can save his expensive tackle for when the conditons calls for something smaller in size. What looks better? a baby brush hog rigged with a 1/4 oz lead bullet or the same with 1/4 tungsten. Ducks eating lead is the lesser issue. Its ducks that have been wounded, that arent bad enough or life threatening at the time, but lead will eventually cause lead posining later after the wound healed. Thus, the laws were changed for migratory birds. I'd start buys some alternative weights. One of these years, just like in huntng, you will see lead free tackle, and thats gonna make things go Higher in price unless theres a cheaper metal out there.

Dallas vs Pittsburg was two good ones. I like the RAms vs Titans, good game that came down to one foot line with time running out. The Carolina vs pats game came down to FG from Vinateri, last team with the ball won that game. Been some good ones, and some yawners.

That is no easy answer. There are no text book answers that are the same. Certain cultures vary. Some religions define when you come of age. Here in the United States, certain states declare that you can be tried as an adult at certain ages. Doesn't mean you are. You can die for your country at 18, and long ago, there were times your parents could sign for ya if under aged. So a person can be deemed an adult without displaying traits that some of us say you need to display. I don't care who you are. If you can pay your own bills, and take of business legally, you are an adult. There are all types of men in this world, Men who are serving time in prison, old and young adults. What makes you a man don't matter. Its how you handle your self at all times. Simply put, he takes care of business, that business may be family or single, but does so within the laws of the land. I always figured, if he or she is old enough to be sent to war, you should be afforeded the respect and priveledges of such honors. Afterall, we send men to war, not children.

Those sound neat for the guys who like those types. I only fish one that is close to that. Its a strictly Berkley Baits tourney on Fork, only berkley baits put on by Berkley, gonna be over 250,000 up for grabs this year. My 10 inch power worm bite has taken some money before. I don't care for the 4# test. You are giving the fish a chance to break off easier, thus a fish that will have a hook empailed for some time, that may create future health problems. I always say use what it takes to get the job done. If down sizing works, good, but only downsize to a # strength that works.

The only way GPS can help you find a hot spot is by word of mouth or knowing the Long. and Lat. To find fish, you must have knowledge of were to look to start with, and last time i checked, GPS was for navigational purposes. A satellite finds no fish. Repeat, the satellite that feeds the unit sees no fish. Some one had to locate and mark that spot before it ever became known as a hot spot. CAmera's, Did you know that camera takes time to use and it takes time to find fish. Also, most of my waters are to stained for it to be effective in East Texas. I was also told, even in clear water, gin clear, that you couldn't see very far. I call that handicaped. Take you longer to find fish with it than the graph. Biosonix on the lesser trails is not allowed. Don't know about the pros as of this year. For the most part, our local trails are cut and dry. No biosonix, cameras. no cell phone usage with other constestants, and no radios unless for weather only. So at this time, I still believe in the vast majority are finding fish with a graph and what GOD put in between their two ears!!

Most bass clubs have their own web sites. You might find some help hints there also. As you meet your boating partner for the day, just ask him what space he has. You can always keep some of it packed in the car. I find telling some one this is your first time, what do I owe you for today? and then about tackle, it will work out just fine. Good luck. I have done well out of the back of boat. Met lots of fun guys in Clubs. Hookem

Zona had Greg Hackney singing baby cub as well. I would love to see Zona be stage emcee of BASS Elites. I often wondered why Zona doesn't fish as a pro, he seems to catch'em, and certainly wouldn't have problem getting sponsors either.

Very good info. Thanks for sharing. Matt

I like this idea!!!! Maybe do this with another forum member at the same time. 2008 members challenge ideas, and some good ones coming. I bet some one will take alittle from all the suggestions thus far and tweek some of the new ideas coming in a put together an interesting new year.