Matt Fly

I know that anybody that comes into large sums of money at that age is gonna find trouble once in awhile. But ......... He has worn his welcome out in the NFL, they should ban him for ever to set an example of learning to keep better company around. Thats before this last issue ever came about. Matt

I don't ever want hooks in the water when we have grappled a big cat. We've blocked the hole only to have the big cat take some skin off the shin bone while blocking the escape route. I'm sure they perfected their technique, but a line and hook in the mix sounds very dangerous when the fish is hooked and being fought in close quarters. Matt

Walk lots of bank, fan cast to it all. I like a spinner bait for searching and plastics after finding a few bass with the spinner to probe harder. With bank fishing, sometimes its hard to find prime areas. if you can bank fish it, so can others. Matt

Welcome to the forum Soccrplayer07, In summer months, I try to find the thermal layer, the column of water that holds the most oxygen and baitfish. The temp is usually cooler. Find the baitfish with electronics, if bait are holding at 18 feet, look on the topo map and find all contours breaks and structure that intersect 18ft. If the bait is there, the bass won't be far. A wind blown point that intersect 18 ft would be good starting point for example. Currently in Texas, we have had lots of rain that has kept temps down, but this won't last all summer, so our normal summer patterns should be setting in for the rest of summer. Sooner or later, the deep bite will be dependable. Matt

My first true bass fishing was with plugs and started in the late 60's. Then, you learned to decipher and read water with what was seen above water and what you felt under the water. Some changes that helped. Theres a wealth of knowledge now published in magazines, cable network and outdoor programing, and certain forums. Easy to stay on top of fishing without being on the water when winter or foul weather days prevent actually being able to do so. Technology has advanced, so has the tackle and terminal tackle used in a variety of ways to present a bait. Outdoors has always been a passion, so vacations normally scheduled around outdoor events. Learning to bank fish young has taught me how to appreciate owning a boat and the reponsibilty that goes with it. I owe a great deal of where I am today to My Dad. He gave a boy with lots of enegry an outlet to put it to good use. Fishing, and lots of catching. Big lesson early. Big fishiing trips cost money, then and now. I learned that everyone can help pay their way. Kids gathered wood, picked up all trash, we carried water, we always had to perch fish for the trotline first. Small chores let me earn my keep around camp. Valuable lesson early in life that still holds true. Birds of a feather flock together, and here we are, all on the forum discussing our passions within the fishing world. Go figure!! Hookem and take some one young fishing!!!!!! Matt

I have introduced my girlfriend to fishing, all kinds. She has no confidence in any tackle, rods, reels, baits, or the fish. I kept it simple, I gave her some smaller profiled reels, and rods, and put her on 100's of white bass and hybrids off and on for the last 3 months. What this did is allow her to learn some tackle, learn to fight some nice fish while learning to use a drag. Gaining confidence in equipment and what lure do. She's casting, catching, learning to fight fish and gaining confidence on cranks, flukes, topwater baits. Chris loves to throw a swimbait, her PB bass has grown from 2.5 on Sam Rayburn in April, 4.5 lber in May on Fork, (she lost a monster on 30lb braid using a Yellow Magic topwater, broke her off in the trees), to a 6.25 lb Storms Swimbait Fork bass in June. Confidence comes with experience, and experience is gained by catching fish that are catchable. Sometimes it isn't bass. Hookem Matt

Glenn, His nickname, the "rainbow warrior" represents the colors that are flown by Gays. Thus the Rainbow warrior!!!!!! and racing was primarily a southern sport. Matt

Which is exactly why I think it's strange that Hendrick is going to replace him w/Jr. I'm not convinced that Jr is a better driver than Kyle Busch, but he sure does sell a lot more t-shirts, hats, posters, flags, stickers, coffee cups, etc. Kyle has two strikes against him within the Hendricks organization this year. He shopped himself around to most of the competition to find out his value or worth to other teams and he left the track early in Texas which Jr. climbed into his car to finish the race. Business is business, Dale sells merchandise, has one of the top sponsors in the sport,....ie BUD, and that isn't gonna change anytime soon, any good businessman would do the same if given the opportunity. Put him on the payroll. Say what you want against JR, currently, he's 4th in wins since he arrived in the Cup, and the other 3 ahead of him all won the Championship, he has two Bucsh Series Championships. I also don't think the drivers of old would have been as dominate with the talent thats currently in Nascar. The sport has grown, so has the talent level. Matt

If you believe they help, thats a confidence builder. Half the battle is believing. The other half is catching. Matt

Nothing has changed for me, I still dislike the Rainbow Warrior, and Jr is still the son of the Lengendary Dale Earnhart. As for some thinking he'll be running the 3rd best car, Kyle is setting in 11th in points and has a win. Sounds like a win win for all. Matt

AL, Just keep checking in. Godspeed, and thanks. Matt

With high winds and high rolling waves, I like to tie up if possible. Whether you anchor or tie up, when winds are higher than normal, I like to attatch the anchor rope directly to the bow hook so I'm pointing straight into the wind. This keeps the boat from being pushed sideways. When using a side Cleat, this seems to put more motion and strain on the anchor. If drift fishing, the drift anchor is a good choice. Matt

As it stands now, we are planning on staying at Lowes Creek. Most places are booked that have electrical outlets. As you mentioned, its not far to trailer to Indian Mounds. So, what time do we hook up for Thursday? Early morning, possible Wed. nite? I'm Locked, Cocked, and Ready!! Matt

Bomber Fat Free Shad in Root Beer, formerly Excalibur baits and Tenn. Shad. Matt

Tommy, How early does one need to be on the water to get the prime spot? Do you know anything about the Pleasure Bend Camp ground? We are still planning to trailer. Matt

Catt, Plans are still in the works, My girlfriend and I are still coming in the same day. My eleven year old daughter may be with us. My brother and wife may come up just to camp that weekend. So plans are still in-progress. Does Hemphill have a Walmart and does it have gas pumps? May be trailering empty to save the tires and fill up down there. Will you be free Thursday the 21st? I do have an anchor with 100ft rope. Looking forward to wetting a line with you. Matt

Again, not sure about the other 2 majors, Was all the majors a secret up until the plane landed? How can families and individuals make plans when the lake is kept a secret up until they landed? Was the other majors kept hush or just the Memorial Day Major? Hookem Matt

In all fairness to Texas and the DFW area's Memorial day lack luster showing. The Colonial, excuses me, the Byron Nelson Colonial and the Womens Bassmaster Trail was held on Lewisville the same weekend. I can't speak for the two other Majors, but it was poor planning on BASS with so many area events going on. Two many irons in the fire that weekend. Matt

Some very interesting choices. 2 events in Florida, New York, Texas, and no Clear Lake or the Delta. I didn't see that happening with the record being set out there this year, but maybe they're just alternating lakes. I bet they return in 2009 to Cali, or maybe the Classic will be out there some day. Biggest one of all, Iowa, Anybody know where Iowa is? LOL. Matt

The Big Game and Power Worms are as good as anyone elses in that price range. Brands are just like tools in the tool box, theres a time and place for the right tool. Don't care about every product they make, just the ones I was fortunate to "gain" confidence in. Matt

I look forward to it. I had maps, magazines, Old Lake Caster newspapers, and any other study material I could read for the umpteenth time out last night. Matt

I should arrive Wed evening on the 20th, and will be there until the following Tues the 26th. No hurry in getting home Sunday, I always make sure I have time to travel home at my pace. Couple of extra days on the water. Matt

I have take the clips off a metal fish stringer. I use the small clip to push a smaller hole in the bass' lip, then slip it on the scale hook. A good golden rule is to never mess with a bass gills. I have seen many attempts to weigh a fish by sliding a larger diametered hook up through the gills only to see the fish flop off on to the ground or hot boat deck. Also seen some trying to push that dull, larger point of the scale into the skin of the fish mouth. When I tournament fish, I just use the cull markers that are attached to weigh a bass if needed. Matt

Pretty often. I'm fortunate to have certified weights that I use to calibrate various types of scales throughout the hospital. Matt

Hardly ever, do you see a minor league manager getting air time on ESPN. You see the Rocket, or other big stars getting air time on rehabs and etc......I'd check that melon, it appears to be soft in some spots. Matt