Matt Fly

Finding and learning a shallow gut, ditch, silted in creek channel, or what ever you call the highways that bass travel, not to mention that shad travel the same routes as a bass will that goes shallow to feed early morning and late evening/nites. Lots of work goes into placing cover or structure into the lake. I have a friend who fishs local, small trails only, not professionally, but certainly could if he wanted to do so. Over 120,000, in 3 years for a weekend angler should make people realize the importance of knowing a bass travel routes to feed year around. I always preach "know thy shad". Truth be known, its more about knowing the lake better. I can walk in shallow water and feel the ditch with my feet and I place a bouy on the small bends or brakes to mark the path. I then place brush piles and sometimes I place pieces of cement foundation, boulder, more like rock I can manuever to drop into place. Rock and old broken foundation will settle, and may cause a new ditch to be cut when run off occurs causing some errosion or a new ditch for future use. Matt

How many guys ever walk the shores or mark these little drainage ditches that lead into spawning flats when water conditions allows? Finding these spots when water normally could be 8 ft is harder, but when water levels are down 5 ft such as on Fork for the past year, that leaves 3 ft which can be walked out in the water to better understand that ditch that holds tons of prespawn fish in the early spring, late winter.l Matt

Old road beds and sunken bridges are a steady favorite in the summer months. I love creek bends with big trees in late winter months for staging spawners. Matt

I love the presentation of the floating baits for Carolina rigs when fish seem to be a little off bottom in the summer on road beds. Getting hard to find in DFW area also. Matt

realistically? A young boy went up to his father and ask him, "Dad, what is the difference between potenially and realistically?" The father thought for a minute, then answered, "Go ask your mother if she would sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars, then go ask you sister, then go ask your brother, then come back after a few days of thinking it over." So the boy went to his mother and asked if she would sleep with Brad Pitt for a million. The mother replied, "of course I would! We could really use the money to fix up the house and send you kids to a great University!" He then asked his sister. The girl replied, "Oh my God! I love Brad Pitt, I would sleep with him in a heart beat!" Then the boy asked his brother would he sleep with Brad Pitt. "Of course the brother replied. Do you know how much a million bucks would buy?" The boy pondered his families answer for a few days and then went back to his Dad. His father asked him, Did you find out the difference between potenially and realistically?" The boy replied, "Yes. Potenially, you and I are setting on 3 million dollars, but realistically, we are living with two hookers and a ****!!"

Slot lakes vary depending of biologist recommendations, such as Lake Fork. For years, the slot was 14-21 inches until the big die-off. Then in 2001, the slot was raised one inch every year until 16-24 inches was in place. The state set the slots on certain lakes, in Texas, a legal fish can't touch the 16 in mark, but can the 24 inch, anything in-between 16 and 24 inches must be released immediately, you can't even put her in the livewell. Slot lake limit tourneys are a crap shoot because you are allowed to keep any size fish below 16 inches regardless. Ideally, you would want to catch bass that are 15 7/8, but catching 5 of those would be lucky. So on Fork, 9 lbs on 5 is excellant most of the year. Since Tx has spots, Guadalupe, and crosses, most Tourney directors make the minimum length the same as the state regs. for LMB, 14 inches even though spots and guadalupies have smaller size standard, this takes out the confussion of properly identifing the bass correctly. matt

I disagree, I think not being able to use a net makes things more interesting. Its hard for some one of large stature to kneel down and lip a bass. Nets don't give a bass a very sporting chance. Mano Y Mano. Its also my opinion, thats why you see more older pros on the FLW, the use of the net. Bass allowed nets to be used just prior to Ike coming on the scene, then no net rule and BASS pros jumped. Who knows, its just an observation of when alot started fishing on the FLW side only. Matt

Actually, I didn't hear much ranting, just replies to what one is paying, As the Title implied, whatcha paying for gas? Natural gas as in Pinto Beans are about 43 cents per pound, and octane 87 is about 2.73 outside of Dallas. matt

I'd have to say the OU/Boise State game was one of the best exciting games played. And considering who they beat, it was one for the ages. Hookem Matt.

Wild Bill Skinner has been booking trips to Mexico for ages. It wouldn't surprise me to see a bass eclispsing the 20lb mark. No way to judge that fish at all. Just guesses!!!!!! Matt

If I am looking for bigger fish, I may stay in one spot that I know produces, looking for that one bite. If I am searching new water, or looking for numbers, I might make a milk run on lots of good spots. Experience in old "holes" gives one confidence, it usually has alot to do with how long will stay in one spot. Matt

Les Miles' recruits at OSU had OU's number 2 of the last 3 years he was there. Knocked OU out of the Big XII title game twice. Something no one has been able to do since Stoops arrival. Not even my Longhorns. One thing for sure about the SEC, theres no shortage of coaches, there are some of the nations best coaching staffs. Lots of big names in that conference. Hookem Matt

WE used to have a Bass Club called Buster Browns, all UPS ers. We were affiliated to Honey Hole in Texas. Around 300 clubs. You could send the top 3 teams or top 6 individuals from each club to the state tourney, You fished as a six man team out of 3 boats. 2 day cumulative totals for all fish. Competion from other trails finally did them in. Matt

Sorry folks, but when a grown up is injecting his son with HGH to bulk up a kid, theres a problem with roids. And this is reported by the news, so take it with a grain of salt. Which is one of the reason reported as to why the wife wanted a divorice back in 2004. Steroids, whether prescribed by a doctor or gotten by other means, is still a roid!!!! All the young deaths in wrestling have one thing in common 90% of the time Roids. Most of the blood in wrestling is fake, you can't tell me that cuts only happen on the hairlines100%. Some is real, but most of the time, its staged. Just like Vince'sdeath in the limo, was that REAL? I accept wwe as entertainment, just like a circus or any thing else, its entertainment. Matt

Seems like good things keep coming from one of our smallest states. I don't know what your doing in Rhode Island Russ, but it appears to be catching on around your little state. Russ weighs no more than a saw-buck, and its all heart. Congrats to you and all your efforts for the youth of American. So Russ, whats next on your list? Matt

I googled her name and lots of stuff came up. i wouldn't respond personally. Matt

I guess thats one way of hitting 10.000 faster, register a new name. Welcome to the new forum members. LOL Hookem Matt

A prime example of how this site helped me this last weekend. Tommy, aka Catt, whom I have never met in person before this weekend. Tommy took a day off from work to personally come out and show me a couple of spots to fish during the $360,000 shootout on Toledo Bend. I didn't win it, but did walk away with a very nice check from the first spot he showed me. Which I fished 60% of the 3 days during the tournament looking for that one big bite. Sharing is what this site is about, and thats a prime example. Thanks Glenn, Tommy, and others for sharing your time, thoughts and experience. Hookem Matt

South to North, stationary, and it looks like 3 more days of rain, possiblely more. Forecast may be wet on and upto the 4th. No relief in sight yet. Matt

Its all apples to oranges. Just because you own a large boat doesn't mean you have to fire that engine up to go fishing. Most large lakes I fish regularly have dozens of ramps all over the lake. My trolling motor puts me in enough water to get- bit in without having to fire up the big motor when gas prices are too high. I have even launched on electric lakes only, just not fired her up. I do agree whole heartedly with Fletchero. You gotta do whats in your budget to get the most out of fishing. Hookem Matt

University of Texas!!!!! Hookem!!!!!!! Matt

I gotta think steriods played into the equation. I have seen too many friends on roids with temper problems. I have no respect for anything he may have accomplished in his life with his recent actions. If I had known what had happened when the Raw aired Monday, I wouldn't have stopped to check it out. Didn't get the facts until last nights ESPN sportscenter. He's was a very sick individual as his actions attested to that. Matt

Tommy, Don't know if you saw or heard any results. I just want to thank you again for your inputs, spots, and company in the boat. I did cash-in on Sunday with a 5.39 on the first spot we fished together. Took a 2nd, almost had the T-shirt bonus winner. Got nudged out by .12. I pretty much spent 60% of the time on spot #1. I did fish Mill creek and caught some fish, fished six mile briefly, looked like a parking lot as you entered Six Mile. Tommy, again, thanks for your knowledge and help. Let me know when Fork is on the menu, I owe you a guided trip. Hookem Matt

Rods have been cleaned, checked all my rod eyes by pulling panty hose thru each eye to check for rough edges. Reels cleaned, lubed, and respooled. Changed my oil and gased up the Durango last night. Last few minor things to load, go over my written list one more time. All system go. Leaving out around noon, ETA, Lowes Creek 4 to 4;30. See you in the morning Catt, Matt

Mike who? I think the big Cali Bass Hunters should include Fish Chris on the top of the list. Proof is in the pictures. Messed Up! If that was me, there would be a mess, just not gonna mention where. Another beautiful toad. Hookem Matt