Matt Fly

I have watch a few local guides do there semiars at the bass pro shops all year long. Same tank, same fish, the fish still hit anybaits thrown, granted, the hooks are snipped and the fish don't get hooked, but it don't stop them from hitting at the demo baits every weekend. The tanks are as clear as any lakes, yet bass and spectators can see the line in the water and bass don't seem to care. Broken fishing line and all sorts of lures hanging around down there is part of the enviroment down below. I think they are used to seeing fishing line every day. Matt

Theres too much line in the bottom of our lakes and rivers, I think bass are used to seeing fishing line all over the lake and its just part of their enviroment. The same theory of bass being caught and getting smarter could be used in saying that "a bass that is caught in grass would never go back" if they truly do get smarter after being caught, and I just don't see that. matt

Theres a ton of good used boats that have been one owner boats that have been taken care of. As with anything used, you don't really know the history and upkeep of most boats. Here in Dallas, there are 100's of 17ft bass boats with one owner and maintenance records. Being patient, knowing a good marine mechanic to give the boat a look see is also possible before buying the boat. Items to look for that will cost you later down the road is older batteries that "might" need replacing in the near future. Condition of trailer tires. Check all storage box lids, carpet, seats, livewell pumps, pump timers, trim switches, normally 3 on a boat, up front by the trolling motor, the console, and on the motor, plug your anchor and running lights also. The biggest repair you could encounter down the road is motor repairs. This is why I suggest a mechanic to do a quick check, mainly looking for compression checks on the cyclinders. The other isssue with boats is the impeller, (water pump), depending on how old, when was it replaced last if ever. On smaller motors, they are easy to get to and cheap to replace, and is wise considering a new one can run on the average about 35.00, and to replace a motor is thousands. Don't know your area, but there may be someone close to your area that might help you look at a used boat. One thing this forum does is, help each other out if we can. Even help you do a lake test. And we have members from all over. Hookem Matt

Since you mentioned weekend warrior. What would you require electronics for? If your looking for depth, drop offs, cover, and temps, then an old graph can accomplish that easily if working properly. To upgrade to some of the newer technology, You could accomplish this with less than 200 bucks. It just depends on what you want to see and how much you would like to spend in the future to upgrade your boat. Welcome to the forum! Hookem Matt

Nice one Josh. Matt.

Let me add to Triton 21, (Kelley"s 8.9). Just one of his good fish he caught. He was blind casting a BPS weightless senko and got tore up, she hit it and busted him off after a short fight. He re-rigged and cast the same rig in the same spot and nailed another one in the same spot, after he landed this one, which was 8.9, he then took his other senlo out of her mouth. Two consecutive casts nailed the same fish twice. Some of the guys nailed a big crappie on a big spinner bait, that took them by surprise. Food was excellant, most excellant. Looking forward to today. Matt

If I were a bass, I would eat lobster everyday!!! Since my eyes are bigger than my stomach, I guess the number one caviar for bass would be crawfish. Matt.

We have a cross in Texas in the Hill country that we call "mean mouth". A cross between the spotted bass and a quadalupe bass. If you ever catch one, you'll know why they are called a "mean mouth" Can be described like a small mouth, pound for pound, a fighter till the end. I have never seen any in Texas close to what Fish Chris posted. Good question for Mr. Hannon possibley. Matt

Nice one Squid. Matt

Last year, I was elated to have guys come to a lake that I love. The weather didn't cooperate and the results were mixed, some personal bests were caught. We have a forum in Texas that is primarily Texans, and we compete on the same waters all year. The sharing of info is very tight lipped, and shared with PM's most of the time. This is what makes this forum so special, the free flow of info shared with all. We all share at least one common thread, some form of bass fishing. I'm excited on meeting new faces. Hookem Matt.

I'm gonna drive over tonight and say hello to Kelley (Triton 21). Kelley was there last year. Hopefully, I'll get to meet some new forum members. This morning was chilly, but the sun is up and warming nicely with a light north breeze to start. I would expect some nice reports today with yesterday clearing and sunny for most of the afternoon. I'll try to post some pictures late tonight. Hookem Matt

First off, bass are primarily structure/cover oriented. Low light conditions such as darkness or a cloudy day help stage bass on the edges of cover, which make it easier to present a lure to. When a front has passed that was a major front, bass tend to put their nose right up against something or buried up in the cover. Blue bird days, blue skies, means bass are buried in the cover because of brightness, its doesnt make them less active, just hard to get a bait to. Steady summer barometer readings and wind position the fish at the same spots for most of the summer. You can set your watch to feeding patterns because winds are generally the same all summer and major storms are through for the summer......ie the drought season or fewer storms passing, at least in Texas. A fish does have to adjust to pressure, how much depends on the disturbance moving through. Maybe six inches, maybe 3 feet. I believe on alot of lakes, there are 2 populations of bass, those that live in deeper waters most of the time, and the year around resident shallow bass. The shallow bass is gonna just bury up, the deeper bass is gonna adjust in the water column by moving vertically. A suspended bass is by far one of the harder to catch, ie..... its harder to keep the bait in the strikezone. I do think severe fronts shuts down a good bite for numbers, but bigger fish seem to show up on some of those brutal cold front days. Matt.

Half the guides on Fork are not southerners. Tom is a transplant from Chicago. Plus half the population in Texas are not born and raised Texans. Russ would fit in because he has a knack for conversation with all types. I have never thought of were a guide is from, only what his reputation has earned him. Hookem Matt

Transfer to Dallas UPS, then you and I can tag team some tourneys for extra cash. I'll make sure to have an extra bedroom waiting. No shovelling snow, no short season, salt water in not that far away, and you can pick 25 lakes within a 100 miles that can produce SAL's. Hookem Matt

Weather is holding, fog this early morning, burned off late morning. Warmed up nicely. A very sunny afternoon. Be Safe and take your time travelling. Looking forward to the 2nd annual road trip. Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your SAL. Hookem Matt Now you guys got me thinking about full body armor.

Riskkid, I appreciate you recognizing the "Great State of Texas". But when it comes to fishing buddies, were like bass and don't see colors that well. Now if this was Horns vs the Vols in football, game on!!!!! Hookem Matt. I would love to have a rod like that for my collection. Great ideal. Matt.

First off, you have a smile that puts Garfield to shame!!!!LOL. I don't think an artists could match the pictures enough to do them justice. Most beautiful smallie pictures I have ever seen. Congrats on your PB, I bet it won't be your last either. Hookem Matt

Happy Birthday bassboy1, the big 14 today. I wanted to add, some of the older guys I have known are both pleasure and tournament fishermen. One tip that an older guy gave long time ago was. When on lakes with multiple creeks that feed in, and bass are moving in and out staging in the winter for pre-spawn, he like to troll cranks up and down the creeks till he picks up a few in an area. This is easier to locate schools of bass this way. He said you can learn how far they move up a creek or when the back out to the mouth. On various warm consecutive days, bass will move further back into the creeks, and a sudden cold front might have moved the fish all the way out until warmer temps drives the temps up. Once you locate how they are moving on other days, he can pinpoint on where to start without covering dead water. Even when fronts pass. Once you find that area, then break out your confidence baits. Matt.

I'm with Catt. My first thought is time of year and what they normally would be doing with the seasonal pattern. Next is the weather, I love having a wind out of the southern direction for at least 3 days in a row. That sets up were the plankton/zooplanktons should be found, such as the wind blown points, humps, fence lines, tree lines or just good banks. Take post spawn for instance, after the bass have spawned, soon there after, bluegill will be shallow to spawn, and its paypack for bass. Great time to be targeting blue gill beds with a multitude of baits. So bass will be feeding shallow in early summer for sure. Shad hatches will occur through out the summer, so shad imitating baits such as spinners, cranks, and fluke like baits will work. Consider the lake itself, a heavy recreationally used lake may cause the best bites to be at night when the lake is quite. Right now, seasonal pattern in Texas, I know that spawn is approaching some areas, and is started in other areas. So my search will be shallow or out to the first breaklines near deeper water depending on temps. Knowledge eliminates alot of dead water fast. Matt.

Derek is originally from North Branch Minnesota. After last years tour, he bought a trailer in Hempshill Texas which is located between Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend to cut down on travel. 23 years old and he's done well thus far. Matt

Matt Fly 46, Retired USN, 2 daughters, 1 grandson, 8 months I'm located east of Dallas about 45 minutes from Lake Fork. I repair all medical equipment for two hospitals in the Dallas area. I love the outdoors, hunting and Bass fishing and the Texas Longhorns!!!!!!!!! Hookem Matt

Happy Birthday bassboy1. The big ONE FOUR!!!! Matt

I would certainly like to stress catch and release is very important in most cases, but this time, please feel free to keep what you catch. Matt

Very funny. Does that hit home for any of our forum members? Matt.

Thats just wrong!!!! But good question. LOL Matt