BigEbass

Oh yea, they still have a number of milos locations - one quite close to my house - I actually personally hate their burgers for some reason and the tea is too sweet (that is kinda impossible for most folks in alabama)

I have not been there - I have lived here for 2 years and have not been to all restaurants by any means - but I googled it and got their address/number: 2321 4th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203-3803 (205) 254-9167 I love B-ham!!

Now this is likely what will happen with my wife if I had to totally guess - we can do some swimming, she can read if she wants and lay out, but pick up a pole if she is interested - again, I will not pressure her, you cannot force someone to like something anyway :-/ Having said this, If she doesnt take much to the fishing component on the boat, she probably will not want to be out for more than 4-6 hours I am guessing....we will see. Regarding people asking me to fish for easier species...I do not frankly know all that many tactics for say bluegill or crappie in my area - besides a simple worm/hook/bobber from the docks type of fishing. She has actually done some bank fishing with me once and caught 4-5 bluegill off a worm and sinker (no bobber!) - I was impressed - her first time fishing and she did better bottome fishing! I think the hardest part for her regarding bass fishing will be casting....

As I said before - I have my fishing weekends to my self every other weekend. My wife works every other weekend and I tend to go fishing on those weekends and that all works out just fine. However, she has interest to get out on my modest little bass boat with me and I will test the waters - either way it goes, I will still have my me time (again sort of disreagard the whole kids thing for now, that will put a big asterix on these statements, but a happy asterix).

heh heh, To A-jay's wife - thank you so much for your wonderful thoughts and perspective - I will take it to heart. Regarding the children - I did not include this detail as to not confuse the matter, but you are right - we pretty much will be doing little fishing as the child is growing up - we will have a nanny though and I plan on fishing at a minimum still one saturday per month ;D - but fishing will not be a priority for a while now. But I also hope that when my child perhaps takes to fishing, my wife will be involved too - a whole family ordeal sometimes perhaps ;D

Definately will not force it and certainly am glad I have my weekends to myself no matter what! In all likelihood I am forcasting that she will not take to it which will be just fine really - but I hated fishing until a very distinct time in summer 2008 - so perhaps if she has some bit of positive experience with bass fishing she will take to it....we will see.

The topwater hit just a couple years ago first "hooked" me - but I will say that getting that bite and setting the hook (topwater or not) NEVER fails to produce absolute joy...I tend to yell "BAM" loud when I hook one Secondly, even just being out fishing in general is a break for me - I am never thinking of a to do list, or responsibilities - just sort of meditative and looking forward to that strike. Even if the strike does not come (this winter has been that kind of winter) I still very much enjoy fishing - although the exitement of the bite tops the cake ya know I have my first child on the way - we will see how that alters my best list ;D

Note to everyone too - my wife works 12 hour shifts as a pharmacist (I am a pharmacist too) - she works every other weekend - I work mon-fri 9-5 pretty much, so I have my weekends to fish by myself and with my neighbor, but I would dig it if she enjoyed some of her weekends off fishing with me - and later in retirement she may perhaps want to go on fishing trips....its probably all a pipe dream, but she is fairly out-doors-y - we do some mountain biking on the side and camping - now just need her to take to fishing. We will see how it works out this year starting in the spring...but if she does not "take the bait" I still have my weekends off

"There's something in fiberglass & metalflake that just melts a girl's heart. " hahaha - perhaps - but I know she is committed cause she stayed with me even through using canoe and trolling motor

jbones, you made me laugh so hard with that comment ;D

"My wife has turned into my best fishing buddie and frankly I prefer to fish with her than most anyone else." This would be great for me, I will do my best - thanks for the advice so far guys....

So I have taken to bass fishing like crazy in the past 1.5 years and fish when I can with my very cool senior neighbor who got me into this obsession. However, I am not always able to go fishing with him and on my wife's weekends off (she works every other) it would be so very cool if she was into it too!! She is reluctant but willing to try at the moment (my hopes are not too high :-/). If she was a junky too then I would likely fish more overall!! ;D So, I got my first little 16 ft bass tracker boat with 30HP merc. last year - I have started going on on it on my own to get a feel for navigating, finding and fishing structure without the help of my neighbor - still much to learn.... How do I increase my odds of ensuring my wife "gets hooked"?? It would be so sweet. I am thinking about taking her to a couple places in west AL that I know of that are pay ponds that really produce consistently.....perhaps to give her some confidence - put her on say a spinnerbait there and reel em in....maybe some topwater too. Will wait till spring to give this a shot. Any ideas to make my dream come true?

"IGFA rules state that a record under 25lbs must be exceeded by 2oz or more than the existing record. To replace a record fish weighing 25 lbs or more the replacement must weigh at least one half of 1 percent more than the existing record. " that makes more sense when looked at in this regard....

Hmm. I am just a dumb newB, but foul hooking a fish on the bed hardly seems the same as "catching" a fish. I think the foul hook rule makes since.... I had read an article written by doug hannon and he agreed that there was no way that Perry's LM could have been more than say 7-8 lbs at best based on its recorded lenght and gerth....being that 4.89 is my biggest fish though make me by far NOT an expert :-/ I sent Manabu a message on facebook congratulating him on it - he sent me a nice message back and said he will plan on beating this record easy soon. He has apparently hooked what he was sure to be a 28+ pounder and has seen 30 pounders..... Just a thought....if Olympian snow skiers can win a gold medal by 0.01 seconds, then why cant a fish be considered "larger" if only by one oz....? Is someone familiar with the rationale for the "must be more than 2 oz" rule?

Its freezin in Alabama for crap's sake!! I went out fishing on saturday and caught NADA - water temp down to 45 degrees, but at least no ice I didnt feel as bad though cause all the pros are down here struggling just the same as my newB a$$ Last winter here water temp always in the 50's with good fishing all winter - bbaahhh - this winter has sucked! I need to move to florida or Cali 8-)

ahh yes, good idea - I keep a good number of lipless cranks and fish then at various depths with good results....unfortunately I left at about 4pm on saturday...I got there at about 10:30 and finally gave up (had to be somewhere)....do you think at this time of year that at sundown, you will more reliably hit the active time for bass to turn on? I know from my experiencs in warmer weather that is certainly pretty true on the whole. Thanks for the advice, I will give it a shot!

I live in Birmingham, AL and have just been bass fishing for the past 1-2 years. This winter has been remarkable with record cold and consistently cold temperatures. Last weekend was even more remarkable due to the weather fronts that dumped some snow and made fishing that much more tough as I understand. It is gonna be still cold most of this week, but as I understand it clear weather and sunny and may warm up for the tournament itself....this weekend may be much different than last weekend, but then again, it may not, water temps at large could still be in the mid 40's, and Alabama bass at this time of year usually see mid 50's....I had read on ESPN that last weekend was tough for pros with few bites but there was a few out there that got bites and hauled in a few good bass....surely this weekend will be more productive (relatively anyway).....it will be interesting for sure!!

Catt - I think that makes the most sense - you clarification set me strait! Fish all depth depending, but know your structure - I am gettin there....slowly... Disregarding the efficacy of topwater, catch rate, or size of fish caught - it is still, IMO, the most fun part of bass fishing!! It was my first topwater tiny little alabama spotted bass caught 2 years ago that triggered my now obsession! Nothing beats a big ol Hog blowin up on my 7 inch pink trick worm fished on top - there is just no substitute baby!! ;D I will add this in addition - I have frequently in my limited fishing experience so far quickly ran to shallow good looking cover for a quick try of topwater - even dead middle of summer - those largies hunker down in the thick stuff and on some occassions they will hit topwater for 1-2 strait hours with the ferocity and frequency I have not matched yet - we caught last summer (my neighbor and I) over 20 bass in 1 hour on buzz baits at high noon in july, swealtering heat, really calm - he thought I was crazy to go to the buzz bait...it certainly wont always produce granted, but I always give it a shot for this rare occassion! Casting the banks without any regard for what is going on does seem silly, even to me as a newB - gotta know whats going on under there! I cant wait thought to pull me out some big ones from the depths, I hope it will bring me more consistent catches as I diversify!

Well hello there fellow Alabamian!! I live in Birmingham - I am 26 years of age and have only taken up bass fishing in the past 1.5 years, got my first little boat about 8 months ago - I fish some private ponds/lakes down here with my neighbor, but also fish the coosa often (primarily lay lake). I have never fished guntersville lake - I hear its the best in AL - I also hear it is one of the few lakes this winter that has kept a consistent bite? I have struggled down in our area this winter!! Last winter was great... Nice to meet you and ROLL TIDE - if you are ever in my neck of the woods, let me know, not that I would give you any real insight as I am just too new at this

Thanks - good advice NWFL! I will give it a shot - hopefully though it starts to warm up soon (doesnt look like it will)! I think my greatest error on saturday was perhaps changing my tactics too much - next time when it gets that tough, i think I will stick to a spot that I know holds em, and keep pounding it - will try the drop shot - I have used it before and just didnt try it on saturday, probably would have been a nice bait to use as well - but I think it was just a tough day for the most part! Looking forward to 50+ degree water really soon!! Thanks everyone - any more advice, dont be shy!

For someone trying to learn how to go about this deep water techniques, where do I start? Someone suggest a first read or a website for me?

I am a newB bass junky weekend warrior (btw, I need to be able to fish 5 days a week :-/ These are a few of my thoughts...being that I am new to the scene, consider them questions rather than assertions!! I read Bill Seinmantel's book last year....and he pretty much kept it simple enough - fish the best spots (points, humps, flats, creekbeds, ledges) and consider shallow cover of course....and especially "spot on spot" type scenarios.....so if the spot is deep, fish it deep, and if it is shallow, fish it shallow....that is pretty much his words anyway. Now I am becoming more aware of deep structure and am trying to learn to fish it as of this unusually cold Alabama winter - but nothin beats an Alabama bucket mouth exploding on topwater people, thats just all there is to it in my book - it is this display of their ferocity that makes the largemouth so popular - not their size IMO - even a moderate or small size pig blowin up on my worm fished on the top is the best feeling for me However...I have yet to catch many bass that were over 5 lbs > but I have only been fishing for a year and mine is coming weather it be deep or shallow! I will play devil's advocate quickly.... : How deep was the two world record largemouth bass caught - as I recall they were both caught not with verticle jigging or deep trolling techniques....correct?? Doug Hannon said in an article I had read last year that the majority of his big bass over 9 pounds were caught on a 7 inch texas rigged worm - he did not say if he was fishing primarily in 30 feet - but I believe he fishes heavy cover in that little boat of his primarily?? Not saying all you veritcle only deep water folks should throw away your techniques - I am simply pointing out that there seems to me to be a great many ways to catch the oppurtunistic largemouth bass....and deep water is no exception (except for me cause I stink at is so far, you all are gonna help me with that) Anyway, fish shallow only, fish deep only, fish both - some may avoid deep because of its technical difficulties or they may simply not prefer that type of fishing, but I think there is no one way to skin this catfish....like Bill Sienmantel says in his book - fish the best spots at various depths and find the fish, then catch em....seems like good advice to me (which does require deep water skills btw), but I dont know much yet

Good tips for certain - this lake that I was fishing - it is realtively featureless - I am pretty sure that when it is this cold and sunny that they will be holding on either the 2-3 steep points or near the d**n - I trolled around for a while in the morning inspecting the bottom for stumps, trees, rocks - anything deep that might hold them - and nothing - featureless - so I stuck with the points and kept changing up my baits....but if what is said is true - that is that they only bite for a short period during this cold water temp then shut down, I think I may do better to stick with 1-3 baits and keep workin em slow until the bite turns on? I usually do not use live bait for bass - I like the idea to target them for sure - although a couple places me and my neighbor fish are private lakes and they have rules of no live bait - the lake on saturday is public though. So the moral of the story is....stick with something like a jig after you find the right spot in order to get those few bites and hopefull boat a big one ;D Otherwise, can Alabama get warmer soon for heavens sake!!!

I am too a newB from Birmingham, AL - welcome (although I feel funny saying that since I too signed up today) - perhaps I will just say hello 8-)

Thanks guys and gals - looking forward to sharing my experiences and getting some education on here - we will be talking soon - although I will not be fishing now for 2 weeks :'(