BigEbass

Oh yeah, sweet - hope it works out for you!!

Gale, thanks, very re-assuring. I couldnt really see how it would not pay off. I was fishing a couple weeks ago on a large flat with patches of weeds and I am pretty sure I was catching the ones I was catching on random patches on this flat - now with my unit, I will target weedlines, patches, rock piles, whatever stands out ou there in the abyss - cant wait.

Yeah, that is the one I bought - it was 42 bucks - when I tighten it, it was very difficult to move! I too cannot wait to get it out there and try it, cannot hardly sleep!!

I think its gotta help me in a number of ways - find more structure, find more fish - another BR member put it best I think - he said something along the lines of he fears people will find the spot on spot quicker when it may have taken years before to find these! THey have also found a bunch of stolen and sunken vehicles near launches since fishman have started using these things more often - its funny. But if it doesnt pan out, it will sure look dandy on my little bass boat

Post pics of the set if you can, that would be cool!

hahahaha - dude, you blew it up!! Good job! I just bought the 998 and ram mount with maps too - I too am now happily broke - and god I cannot wait to try it out soon - did alot of the mounting work yesterday, nearly done, but have not had a chance to get out on the water yet - dude its like getting a bicycle for christmas at 10 years old and not being allowed to ride it - ahhhh. They didnt have the 898 in stock, so what did I do, spent more money And dude, I need a new set of knives, although the wife probably will not dig the fishing theme, hahahaha

You have the dedication, hard work and time on the water part right. Experience is the cornerstone. By saying traditional tactics I am thinking you mean lures. Are jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and so on... not big fish baits? I think you are seeing this in the wrong light. Lures are TOOLS much like a mechanic has different tools for different applications. Location, Location, Location...There are certain places big fish relate to. If I asked you to find me someone who is rich and you do not know the area, the most logical place to search is where rich people live. In prime locations, on top of a hill, the beach, a river front etc... you may find someone who is rich in the ghetto but the chances are not as great. So by eliminating transitional areas and focusing on prime locations (points,humps,ridges and creek channels) you drastically increase your chances of a big fish. Last but not least is presentation- Boat position, fishing up hill, directional changes, cadence and where are the fish active in the water column top, middle, bottom. Then make the proper Tool/bait selection for the application. When I meant skipping "traditional" tactics, I mean using the "traditional" baits used by tournament style anglers - mainly in search of keeper size fish and numbers of fish. Bill's book certainly emphasizes location, but what it does not do really was make a huge distinction about big bass locations vs. 2 lber locations - as you stated it pretty much could be many of the common hot spots, humps, ledges, creek channels, points, flats....on the note of location I will add this paraphrase from his book as well - I cannot recall the percentage he quoted, but he had stated a large majority of big fish he catches are in 10 or less feet of water as they are generally up there chasing baitfish into the banks etc.....he still stongly advocates fising deep on structure too - just thought his statistic was interesting as there are people that believe that the best bang for the big ones is from deep fishing primarily - I am quoting bill siemantels words keep in mind so dont attack me What I was asking was perhaps I will skip continuing to use "traditional" lures and presentations and rather try the big bait finess tactics discussed in Bill's book. Most anglers feel there is a progression to learning fishing - first learn to catch numbers, then go for size. I am just contemplating on skipping ahead to size and with time size and numbers perhaps

For me (and I am no expert for sure), when the bite gets tough I get creative particularly with presentation. If slow aint working in the cold of winter, rip it off the bottom with gusto or put on a soft plastic without any weight (like a senko) and just let it fall really slow. I have only been fishing for 2 years, I do not look forward to sucha severe slump, but I am sure it will come!! Hopefully not, heres to hoping Fishing in bama has picked up fairly good for us I think, not sure why texas is lagging behind? Then again, the fishing gods may just be testing you my sone

This same basic discussion is parralleled in other arenas as well. My family are a bunch of musicians and they are very opinionated about what is good and what is bad - this is the right way, this is the wrong way. Photography too - you have to use "natural light" - cannot use the in camera meter if you want the best results. Rules rules rules....fishing and all other types of activities for some people is purely for fun and enjoyment and of course the challenge. There are those that will view fishing from private ponds rich in quality bass ripe for easier catching as "the wrong way". Alls I can say out of my limited experience is this. When I fish in the private ponds here in bama, I have a great time. We catch alot of bass and big ones at times. As a beginner it gave me alot of confidence that was greatly needed. Now when we go to local public waters - I feel accomplished in catching even a few good ones. Which one do I value more than the other? I like both personally - not everything has to be made into a battle one vs. the other - they are just different. Having said that, we all are aware that Bill Dance's show is more on the stocked or private type waters, but its just a show - its just a background for him to lecture about fishing tactics. I tune out specifics about lures cause lets face it, they are there in part selling crap as are all the pros - the whole industry is centered around selling stuff, nothing evil about it necessarily (its the same in many arenas) - but just recognize that. I just love how every arena has its "purists" that see how people "should" do things - just chill out people - it is more of an accomplishment to catch big ones from public waters sure, but not everyone fishes for ego Yo Mike D - no problem man - FYI my name is Ellery - I post on your facebook every week or so - take care!

Only place nearby that had one was west marine (thank god) - bought the smaller Ram mount for 42 bucks - lifetime warranty - if it doesnt work out just as suggested, I will use it for my future unit on the front of the boat - but I have already tried this RAM mount out and it really is sturdy - I think that if you are in rough waters over time though it could start to wear at it - and other forums confirmed this - so far it seems to be fine upon my inspection - havent got it on the water yet - got the transducer installed very nicely today and the Ram mount, but now I still have to just do a few finishing touches and hook it up - cant wait!!

I know for a fact that a number of the stores nearby do not have the book mentioned earlier by Bill Murphy - I would have noticed and bought it.

Actually bought my copie at books a million in hoover - but it isnt there anymore since I bought it - you will find a very limited selection of good fishing books at either books a million or barnes and nobles - you may very well have to order it online - that or call a few places and ask them over the phone - btw - I am totally like you in that I like the instant gratification as well

That is what I am afraid of - I am going for the big uns here soon - and I am gonna go for numbers of big uns - I am only 26 so I have plenty of time to figure the monsters out.

I am only 2 years into fishing and I would like advice about this rig too - I have used the texas rig mostly, occ. drop shot or jig heads. I will expand on your question too if you dont mind to include what people suggest as far as presentation, or do you simply vary it and let the fish tell you? I have read somewhere I think that it is a good "power fishing" bait to cover alot of water in search of the bass - but my neighbor told me it is to be worked slow - I am betting both are true? Do you use something like a floating worm for best results perhaps to keep it above the muck in such cases perhaps?

I am a newb, and this is my goal....There is also an assumption that I must learn the traditional tactics to produce numbers before graduating to the big ones....I wonder how true this really is? (and it may be abolutely true for all I know). In light of Bill's book, its not all that complicated, but would require real dedication, hard work, and time on the water - I may skip the next 3 years of catching dinks If I find that these methods truly work as his book alludes to

Ok, so this pretty much sums up the question that I have that I believe keeps people and perhaps including myself from trying something like Bill Siemantel's book offers. In the above quote there is an assumption that when targeting these big fish, you greatly sacrifice numbers? If you work at it as the book states, can you not have both and the book simply states that we all simply choose not to.. In the above quote there is the assumption too that these tactics work only in wester clear lakes, but Bill's book specifically refutes that as well - not that I would know personally. I will postulate that there are very very few fisherman that actually will really do what it takes to build necessary confidence in throwing these big baits mainly for the reasons discussed above out of these concerns. I mean, I never see someone on Lay Lake throwing some monster bait (although they may exist?).....perhaps we all are just stubborn to learn a new/unconventional tactic in the face of years and years of dogma? If these big bait guys are getting quality and quantity, then I am game for investing some serious time in trying it - I am gonna keep researching this and seriously do it.

My fishing bud & I have an ongoing joke on how every time my phone rings, & I answer it, one of us gets bit. It's kinda weird, it's seriously like 75% of the time my phone rings one of us catches a fish. As far as your trip goes, good job. Sounds like a good day. Heck...anytime you get out on the water is a good day. heh heh, that is funny and odd - on a similar note, I have missed so many fish eating an apple - sounds weird but I almost always bring an apple take a bite out of it say while worming and as soon as I sink my teeth into it for a split second - a bite

Yeah, I actually caught three in this size range yesterday so it was actually pretty sweet - I worked that lipless tight around this patchy and slightly submerged clumps of weeds - they couldnt resist that bait zooming past their noses. And then came 20-30 mile per hour gusts and patch bits of rain - boy it was tough then as I have said, We probably should have toughed it out in the other lake we started in cause it was deeper, much o the center of it was 10 feet - and I guess that is my general question about these conditions - is a very shallow pond the worst place to be during these severe conditions I wonder...

Do tell - I am going to Academy Sports today to look what they have in stock - let me know...

I use this one on an HDS8 with no problem. My theory is if it proves to small, I'll move it to the front and buy the bigger one. Your theory makes perfect since - If I wasnt so broke I would splurge even further than I have and get the 2.5" but I got nutin left!! Plus on some other forums there were a number of people that used the 1.5 like yourself and were fine - although there was one guy that crushed his 1.5 ball after time and time tightening it very much - some of these guys on really big rough waters I imagine will just absolutely need the bigger one.

"Only problem I see is it allows any Tom, Dick or Harry (or Kim) to pull into a new body of water and find the spot on the spot in one day instead of 1-10 years. " That is the whole reason I bought it if it really works that good anyway - I am just starting to venture out to my local waters (and there is alot of em around Birmingham) and I need to shorten my learning curve hopefully Cant wait to try it!!

God I cant wait to try it out soon!!!!

Bought the 998 yesterday, not even hooked up yet Those are gizzard shad in this shallow shot? wow - I had not seen such an image before - it really can pick up baitfish if that is what those are?!

I am still a relative newB, but I doubt you are gonnt get a sorta plug-n-chug system down to a T to guide your fishing to the highest level - not that I am a definative source! Take KVD - he seems to state over and over that he probes a body of water and lets the fish tell him what to do at each outing - he has stated before he actually does not want too much input from others to potentially bias his thoughts and perhaps get stuck in others' ruts? Bill Siemantel's book (since we were talking about him) would agree with the above - Bill simply states you find the best spots (points, creekbeds, flats, drop offs, etc) and probe the entire depths of the water column to establish a pattern or a "milk run". Its all about presentation, really good presentation on areas that should hold bass - after I read this book it seemed too darn simple, but I think it has helped get out the clutter in my mind of all this other stuff and worry about what specific lure, what specific color, is there a cold front, what is the water temperature, what season is it, etc....although these all have their importances I imagine, but I think they may be taken too far at times? Thats just my newB 2 cents worth based on the base knowledge that I have to date, which is still pretty slim We will let the more expeirenced people chime in and bash me if needed

Well, I will be trying the big bait tactics covered in bass zone - I will look into the book mentioned in addition in the next couple months as well. When I saw this thread it brought to mind a general question about the issue brought up in this thread. There is an assumption out there that going big means having the ability to go many days without catching squat - or at least catching a significant amount less than with traditional pro-tactics used - I am sure this is true to an extent, but my question still remains, to what extent does going after the big one hurt your numbers? What is an avg day for these big bait guys? After reading Bill's book (and I just skimmed through it again today) - it kinda tackles this issue, although not directly enough perhaps in my opinion. In the book - he alludes to the progression of a new "big bait fisherman" - and states essentially that it will simply take time using these tactics - at first you may come up short, perhaps many days in-fact - but with time it will come and confidence will gain - just as confidence came for me as a recent newbie to a handful of baits and presentations I use now, but he warns that the step to get to the confidence with big bait finess tactics may be a more difficult step... None-the-less - it seems in his book after reading it, that if one committs to it, then they can expect to have productive days of fishing - and some days very productive - but what I am still unclear about really, is this question I have still yet: How many fish does someone like Bill catch on a given day. I mean, does he go out and a productive day may have 2 quality fish? How many days will we get skunked even once you develop the skills/confidence required? My lingering question about big bait fishing is simply, to what extent do we as anglers sacrifice numbers for quality when doing it this way? Bill's book when I read it seems to suggest that this idea that the big bait guys go out and catch none or the occassional 1-2 big fish is wrong, he seemed to say rather that the "smaller" fish are on avg. larger (3-5 lb'ers) and he seems to allude that you will simply catch more big fish, rather than previously many many more "keeper" size fish. I think most beginners and even experienced weekend anglers are turned off from such measures because there is in my view a widespread assumption that to target the trophies means setting for many days of catching none or maybe 1 or 2 fish (granted quality fish) - any of you guys care to clarify for me? I can live with an avg catch rate of say 2-7 fish per outing, but as a weekend angler, I dont really want to spend 4 weekends in a row to catch 1 8 pounder - but if I must invest some hard work and scrifice to get to a point where I catch more fish in greater numbers that are bigger, that seems to be the ideal setup My neighbor for example - he is 69 - long time "traditiona" bass angler - my mentor to date infact - we have talked about such things before - actually including today - he said he would rather stick with numbers stating he would rather catch some type of fish than hold out for the few bites and few quality fish....note however he has never undertaken the steps discussed in Bill's book - but my point is that the broad assumption is that even for the experienced big basser, you suffer greatly in quantity - please someone quantify this better perhaps. I wonder if its a big farce - that is, that guys like sienmantel are catching strong numbers and quality - and everyone else is slow to get on this train?