kayl.

I saw them at the local fishing show and they screamed gimmick. That said, maybe that's what the pros are all using, but they're just not telling us! ;D

Has anyone fished this lure? Looks crazy...I'm going to buy one, but not sure what size. Just wondering what experience y'all had with it and what size recommendations you'd give... I'm between the 5" 7/8 oz and the 3.5" 5/8 oz... http://www.tackletour.com/reviewbettencourtbaitsrodent.html

IMHO, yes!

He means a kit to deflate the bass' swim bladders...I don't have a boat, therefore I have no need for such a kit, but I wish you luck. Try doing a google search for tips?

I went fishing for an hour and a half today, didn't catch anything. I saw a school of 15-18" bass sitting near a tunnel that connects the big lake I fish on (2 acres) to a small pond (maybe olympic pool size). I'm guessing they were there because of warm water? I didn't have much in the way of bass lures with me, so I was using a small pre-rigged worm (like in my avatar) and a small crappie crankbait. I also threw a bigger bass-sized pre-rigged worm, but with no luck. Any tips? (Bass season doesn't open here until next sunday, so I need to be a bit discrete) on another note, check out the loot I have in the pic attached. I paid a total of $20.07 for everything in the picture; that's about $77.31 worth of items. The Meijer (24 hour grocery/everything store) by me had a bunch of fishing stuff 50% off and then an additional 40% off that. I paid $2.10 for Rapala DT's. I also saved some money because I was overcharged for a couple items, and in Michigan, you get the difference back + $5.00, so I saved $10 that way. Anyways- If you live near a Meijers, go go go!

I really didnt start this thread for this argument to come up This is about care,sympathy and concern for all this affected CAN WE KEEP IT THIS WAY I respect that and will keep it that way. It just irks me to hear people screaming for more gun control on national radio not even hours after the shooting stopped. What happened to respect for the innocent people killed and their families?

So horrible...I can't say anything else. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved; I can't even begin to imagine... Another problem with things like this is that anti-gun groups use them as propaganda for new gun control laws. Criminals don't listen to laws! When will society wake up and realize that gun-free zones, where a lawful CCW holding citizen cannot carry, are sociopath friendly zones?

I too am interested in swimbaits, but I'm in Michigan. I'm still going to try them out this year, but not any of the HUGE ones . Some of the baits I've been looking at are: Mattlures Baby Bass: http://www.tackletour.com/reviewmattlures.html Bettencourt Baits Rodent: http://www.tackletour.com/reviewbettencourtbaitsrodent.html Bettencourt Baits Real Fish Bluegill: http://www.tackletour.com/reviewbettencourtbaitsrfbluegill.html Bettencourt Baits Real Fish Shad: http://bettencourtbaits.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=38 This is what VanDam was fishing at Amistad: http://www.***.com/descpageSWMABT-ABTS.html For pike/musky, I'm thinking about trying this: http://www.tackletour.com/reviewbettencourtbaitsassassin.html I hope you can find something you'd like to try! Remember that swimbaits are generally not numbers baits, so you might have to fish them for a while! Good luck!

In my experience, almost anything works for Pickerel That said, spoons seem to be the best "producer" (of bitten off lures) for me...

Mine is currently a $15 Lucky Craft Live Pointer, Sammy, or Pointer, but I plan on buying a $20 Bettencourt Rodent and a $40 Bettencourt Real Fish Bluegill for a nice birthday present to myself in May.

I like Dick's Sporting Goods, but only because I have an unlimited amount of $10 of a $25 purchase coupons...it makes buying Lucky Crafts a little easier on the wallet! If anyone wants the coupon, send me a pm with your email and I'll email you the .pdf file. Justin

Dabnis- Welcome- I'm from Grand Rapids and can give you some lakes with decent shorefishing if you want...Where are you from?

5+ pounds on a weightless worm rival (pic in my avatar) I caught two this size in 2 weeks, never had a camera or scale with me.

I'm headed to the Everglades for a 7 day canoe trip. 7 days paddling, 6 nights sleeping on platforms above the water. I'm hoping to get some fishing in, but I don't really have many details yet...if I wasn't headed there, I'd probably be headed to Lake Fork or Denver (SKIING!)...

1) Keep off the 35lbs I lost this past summer 2) Save more money/pay more of my tuition in cash 3) Get those six pack abs I'm working towards 4) Get out fishing more often! (I'm talking at least once a week!)

Thanks for that info. I found out that he will be doing seminars at the local fishing show this winter! I can't wait for the show...the bait monkey rules there

That video was amazing! I will be buying that dvd!

What technique are you going to focus on improving in 2006? Personally, I'm going to focus on using crankbaits and spinnerbaits, as well as frogs/snakes across the slop. I'm also going to start using baitcasters (I've been a pure spinning man) and try out some swimbaits for bigger bass. (Oh- and I'm going to focus on keeping the bait monkey fed too ;-))

I think that even more so than the rod, the line is important. I've switched over to power pro and it is a world of difference from mono. So much more sensitive. I also used PP steelhead fishing during one outing this year and could definitely feel the bottom as I was tumbling spawn downstream better with the PP than with mono.

LBH- You really should share that spreadsheet (at least an empty one) with your good buddies @ bass resource

Maybe I'm the only one, but I about fell out of my chair when I opened up this topic and read about 70* winters! It's currently about 20* out and snowing, with snow on the ground! I'm so jealous of you guys that get to fish all year long! (Of course here I get Lake Michigan and the salmon runs as well as Ice Fishing!) Now for my recommendations: Try a Jig & Pig worked slowly through the timber or a Pointer or similar suspending jerkbait. Best of luck!

You have tons of ideas here, but here's another one- If you have a gander mountain by you, go there and pick up a pack or two of "Worm Rivals". They are small (2-3" pre-rigged worms). Try Black or purple. You have to tie on a swivel and then clip the worm to it- use a small black swivel (not one of the 10-for-a-dollar swivels). Pinch a small splitshot or 2 about 18" up the line. Literally drag it along the bottom slowly...12"-24" @ a time. Give it a try if all else fails!

the problem is when the golf course is owned by your college :-P

How quickly are you retrieving? If you're going quick, slow down- if you're going slow, go slower...I've caught a couple of my biggest bass on retrieves that I let my bait set for a while (while talking to someone or doing something in the boat, etc). Just a thought! Good luck!

I can see a problem with the battery dying in the transmitter; then what happens if you don't check it enough? (Everyone knows that people don't always check everything)