Goose52

I just checked my net and it's a Frabill. So, you've had 5 recommendations for the Frabill brand - sounds like you might want to visit: http://www.frabill.com/landing-nets.html You've had 3 recommendations for rubber netting material - it really is better at protecting the fish's slime coat and it is much easier to clear treble hooks from the rubber netting. Rubber netting is a bit more expensive, but well worth it. You've had one recommendation to get the biggest net that will fit in your boat. Another consideration on size is when you're fishing alone, make sure that you have a net that you can swing with one hand since the other hand will be holding the rod...so, you probably don't want an enormous net! What you haven't said yet is what type of boat you plan on fishing from - that will determine the handle length that you will need. If you will be standing when you are using the net - you will need a longer handle. In my case, I'm sitting at water level in a canoe and have a very short handle. I think the Frabill web site will give you all the selection you need for size, type, and quality/cost. Once you've found a net you like, you can web search on that model to find the best deal. Good luck in your decision...

WOW - $750 sounds like a good deal indeed! Now, save up and get another yak to go with it... ;D

Looks like BPS started updating their web site overnight to add some of the new product - but it's all labeled as Out of Stock so they're not quite ready to sell yet. The JM carbon black and signatures rods are now listed as well as the new Bionic Blade (I'm not a fan of split grip rods but I guess there's no stopping them!). The new JM Signature BC reel doesn't seem to have any improved specs - I could be missing something but at first blush it seems it would be better to get the 2010 JM Gold at the clearance price (if one is interested in this reel series...). Interesting stuff...maybe I'll get the catalog today when I check my PO Box. I don't really need anything - got enough rods and reels, but I could be tempted to get another CL BC reel if they go on sale sometime and I always keep an eye out on the clearances.

Check posts 5 and 7. Might have a quicker winner. ;D I think you meant posts 4 and 6? Anyway, I took 4 & 6 more to be "green" comments expressing concerns about the excessive number of catalogs that BPS sends out each year - which I agree with. Like I said earlier - did we really need three different Christmas catalogs? ;D

I have always kept good records, both in business, and in personal endeavors. Computers have made it easier in the 30 years that I've been using them. My primary hobby for most of my life was shooting and I have logs for rounds fired in each firearm, as well as annual records for total rounds fired each year. These records allowed me to set goals, as well as to set up maintenance schedules for the various guns. For fishing, I'm not entirely sure what the records are for. I too sorta know what my successful baits are, and where my "hot spots" are in the 11 lakes that I fish. The fishing records only take a few minutes a day to compile (on the water and then at home on the computer) so they are not a burden to keep. One thing for sure, these records, and some dated/labeled file photos, give me something to play with and to remember the good catches when all my water is hard...like right now.... ;D

I have always kept good records, both in business, and in personal endeavors. Computers have made it easier in the 30 years that I've been using them. My primary hobby for most of my life was shooting and I have logs for rounds fired in each firearm, as well as annual records for total rounds fired each year. These records allowed me to set goals, as well as to set up maintenance schedules for the various guns. For fishing, I'm not entirely sure what the records are for. I too sorta know what my successful baits are, and where my "hot spots" are in the 11 lakes that I fish. The fishing records only take a few minutes a day to compile (on the water and then at home on the computer) so they are not a burden to keep. One thing for sure, these records, and some dated/labeled file photos, give me something to play with and to remember the good catches when all my water is hard...like right now.... ;D

I have always kept good records, both in business, and in personal endeavors. Computers have made it easier in the 30 years that I've been using them. My primary hobby for most of my life was shooting and I have logs for rounds fired in each firearm, as well as annual records for total rounds fired each year. These records allowed me to set goals, as well as to set up maintenance schedules for the various guns. For fishing, I'm not entirely sure what the records are for. I too sorta know what my successful baits are, and where my "hot spots" are in the 11 lakes that I fish. The fishing records only take a few minutes a day to compile (on the water and then at home on the computer) so they are not a burden to keep. One thing for sure, these records, and some dated/labeled file photos, give me something to play with and to remember the good catches when all my water is hard...like right now.... ;D

I get them from BPS via snail mail and email - seems like at least 6 times a year - perhaps more. Have you ordered from BPS before or signed up for their emails? I forgot to mention earlier but this is $20 on orders of $100 or more. On the free shipping code - search the web for Bass Pro coupons and you occasionally find free shipping or shipping discount codes, and sometimes a code for the $20 off/>$100 order.

I'm not sure I get excited about the new catalogs, but it is interesting to see what they come out with every year. And, like we discussed earlier, it's nice to have a hard-copy catalog to browse when you're not on your computer. I get baits and other stuff at TW. I get some consumables like soft plastics at WallyWorld. What I mostly get at BPS are the house-branded items, and I usually wait for the clearance or sale prices, then try to throw in a $20-off coupon or get a free shipping code. Regarding their shipping - I sure wish they would improve that for sure. Some places I order from have the weights of all items in the computer and calculate exact shipping cost - other vendors are taking advantage of the USPS flat-rate shipping boxes. However, since I live in a relatively small town, and the nearest tackle store with a good selection is over 40 miles away, the gas to get to that shop and back is almost what the BPS shipping might be. Either way (local shop or BPS order) I have to pay state sales tax. The key to BPS shopping is to be patient and wait for the sales and clearances and then combine with a $20-off coupon or search on the net for BPS coupon codes - you occasionally will find one for free shipping. Do that, and there are deals to be had... 8-)

I didn't realize that anyone on this thread was on a soap box. A bunch of folks were having a conversation about a new catalog and someone came along and tried to take the thread down into the toilet... :-/

I use a short-handled rubber net - can't even remember the brand or where I got it (EDIT - it's a Frabill). Rubber is the only way to go - good for the fish and easier to untangle hooks. The short handle works perfect for fishing from my canoe since I'm sitting real close to the water level. When fishing from the bank - I don't use a net.

Really goose , you don't know what bashing is. Hmmm - I wonder if this thread had been about receiving the new Shimano catalog, and someone had called it toilet paper, what the response would be... :

When fishing from the bank, I keep a card in my pocket and just jot down info as I go along. In my canoe, I can take a maximum of 6 rods so I prepare a card in advance that has sections for each rod I plan to take. The card in the photo below corresponds to the catch log extract I posted earlier. As I started fishing, you can see that I had to make some quick adjustments - especially for the rod that I was using for cranks (lower right corner). You can see that I caught 8 fish on a Wiggle Wart and two fish on a Norman Deep Little N. Overall, the card shows that I caught 10 fish on cranks, 3 fish on a 7.5" Yum ribbontail worm, and 5 fish on a Zoom Fat Albert 5" grub. It was the first time I fished that lake in the canoe so I recorded the maximum depth that I observed (11 feet - the smallest/shallowest of the 11 lakes that I fish). Water temp (center top of the card) was the beginning and ending temp. I only weigh LMB that are 14" or over so you only see a few weights on the card. It's not a very sophisticated (or tidy) data collection system...but it works for me... : FWIW

When fishing from the bank, I keep a card in my pocket and just jot down info as I go along. In my canoe, I can take a maximum of 6 rods so I prepare a card in advance that has sections for each rod I plan to take. The card in the photo below corresponds to the catch log extract I posted earlier. As I started fishing, you can see that I had to make some quick adjustments - especially for the rod that I was using for cranks (lower right corner). You can see that I caught 8 fish on a Wiggle Wart and two fish on a Norman Deep Little N. Overall, the card shows that I caught 10 fish on cranks, 3 fish on a 7.5" Yum ribbontail worm, and 5 fish on a Zoom Fat Albert 5" grub. It was the first time I fished that lake in the canoe so I recorded the maximum depth that I observed (11 feet - the smallest/shallowest of the 11 lakes that I fish). Water temp (center top of the card) was the beginning and ending temp. I only weigh LMB that are 14" or over so you only see a few weights on the card. It's not a very sophisticated (or tidy) data collection system...but it works for me... : FWIW

When fishing from the bank, I keep a card in my pocket and just jot down info as I go along. In my canoe, I can take a maximum of 6 rods so I prepare a card in advance that has sections for each rod I plan to take. The card in the photo below corresponds to the catch log extract I posted earlier. As I started fishing, you can see that I had to make some quick adjustments - especially for the rod that I was using for cranks (lower right corner). You can see that I caught 8 fish on a Wiggle Wart and two fish on a Norman Deep Little N. Overall, the card shows that I caught 10 fish on cranks, 3 fish on a 7.5" Yum ribbontail worm, and 5 fish on a Zoom Fat Albert 5" grub. It was the first time I fished that lake in the canoe so I recorded the maximum depth that I observed (11 feet - the smallest/shallowest of the 11 lakes that I fish). Water temp (center top of the card) was the beginning and ending temp. I only weigh LMB that are 14" or over so you only see a few weights on the card. It's not a very sophisticated (or tidy) data collection system...but it works for me... : FWIW

Interesting - thanks!

That just about covers everything! Not sure how you would automate that to allow sorting though (Access data base?). In any event, that certainly gives you an idea of the potential data that you might want to record...and hopefully you'll have time to fish too...

That just about covers everything! Not sure how you would automate that to allow sorting though (Access data base?). In any event, that certainly gives you an idea of the potential data that you might want to record...and hopefully you'll have time to fish too...

That just about covers everything! Not sure how you would automate that to allow sorting though (Access data base?). In any event, that certainly gives you an idea of the potential data that you might want to record...and hopefully you'll have time to fish too...

Me too! BPS has both my street address, and my PO Box, so I often get two of everything thus have one copy for the "reading room" and another for my den/office. ;D They DO overdo it though - did we really need THREE different Christmas catalogs? Plus, were I them, I would send the Saltwater "Offshore" catalog to the states along the coasts, and not the landlocked states (although I guess the Muskie guys use some of that big tackle... : ).

The photo shows a section of my "2010 catch" worksheet in an Excel workbook. Not shown is a last column where I record weights (but only for LMB 14" or larger). As you can see, it usually takes multiple lines for a day's fishing. For data collection, I keep a card in my pocket and just jot down the catch as they come in.

The photo shows a section of my "2010 catch" worksheet in an Excel workbook. Not shown is a last column where I record weights (but only for LMB 14" or larger). As you can see, it usually takes multiple lines for a day's fishing. For data collection, I keep a card in my pocket and just jot down the catch as they come in.

The photo shows a section of my "2010 catch" worksheet in an Excel workbook. Not shown is a last column where I record weights (but only for LMB 14" or larger). As you can see, it usually takes multiple lines for a day's fishing. For data collection, I keep a card in my pocket and just jot down the catch as they come in.

I'm with you - I REALLY had to make myself use plastic worms this year as I just like casting and cranking and staying more active...than just creeping that worm back at 2-4 minutes a cast. I'll have to say though that while I did get my biggest bass of the year on a crank - most of the next biggest fish were caught on 10" plastic worms... :

I thought for sure we would have the first BPS basher by the 5th or 6th post on this thread - we made it all the way to the 11th... :