Captain Cali

Cabela10, I totally understand what you are saying. But like Supermat stated, why? What would be the motive to fish somewhere else for smaller fish while the bigger fish are being caught at home? There is nothing to prove. It's all about the biggest fish.

Seen, 7-9 pound range. Unseen, 22lbs. 6oz. Hey, we all have to dream a little.

There is more to it than just that. Some of these guys, the elite, are hunting for a World Record. You can't exactly do that in Minnesota or most of the country for that matter. I don't care how good you are. Great follow ups everyone. I have nothing to add. 8-)

Sowbelly is a great book. 2 thumbs up from me.

Moonsault series crankbaits are my favorite Lucky Craft cranks. The CB001 is a killer super-shallow bait. I also like the CB100. The Fat CB BDS series are also great shallow cranks.

Hoo-Ah!! Merry christmas everyone! 8-)

Yes. Great baits!! A must for every swimbait arsenal.

1. Is dropshoting basically a vertical presentation? Vertical & Horizontal 2. Do you essentially leave the bait in one spot with some shaking etc.? Most do. I drag and dead stick more than shaking. Both work. 3. Is their a proven "retrieve style" of dropshotting I just SLOWLY drag the rig and dead stick. I'll maybe throw in a few shakes here and there. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Until you feel something funny. Always keep bottom contact with the weight. 4. How compatible is dropshoting to weedy cover conditons. I was fishing a drop shot rig all summer with the weed cover at it's thickest for my home lake. I'm sure your lake is a different animal though. Usually more weeds call for a longer tag end/leader. There isn't one thing I can pin point it on. It's just something you will get a feel for once you start catching fish. I'm confident that, with your experience and knowledge, you will get into a drop shot groove that you will not be able to break. It's a deadly technique. One last thing, SHARP HOOKS!!

Great work Russ and crew! You guys are the bomb!! 8-)

Shot placement, shot placement, shot placement. Caliber means nothing if you can not hit what you are aiming at. A well placed 9mm shot is better than a .45 shot that doesn't hit it's target. And vise versa of course. What I'm saying is the gun you can shoot the best is the best choice for self defense. Consider what feels comfortable to you, then consider what caliber. Munkin is right about the .40S&W being about the best all around caliber for semi's. More and more police and federal agencies are switching to .40S&W for a reason. It's just a good overall round and you don't sacrifice capacity.

I would consider a CZ 75B. Not if you will be carrying though. Great firearm with a great price. Should be a good first. http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=29

I usually don't fish my Matt Lures with trebles but when I do it's a size 4 or 2.

All have an influence but the biggest for me has to be time on the water. You can read every magazine, internet article, and ask all the questions in the world but you need time on the water to put it all together. As LBH puts it, "You can't catch 'em from the couch".

I use Owners first and Gamakatsu second. Gammies are usually easier to find. I will be trying the XPoint and Daiichi hooks next year.

Buzzbait Gunfish MS Slammer

When I got my first Matt Lures Bluegills I purposely took 'em to a pond loaded with dinks (1-3 pounders) just to see if they would get bit. Not only did they get bit, we couldn't get the bass to bite anything else!! Typical pond dink. 3 pounds max. They inhale it!! It cracks me up everytime I see this picture!! ;D

Pointer

Has anyone tried this bait? How well does it perform? I like the idea of being able to walk the dog on the surface as well as below the surface all with one bait.

KU, that is too good!! ;D Avid, nice tights!!

Very well put. I own all 3 baits and couldn't agree more.

Easy... Method: Dropshot Bait: Roboworm Body Shad (4") Color: Oxblood Weight: 1/8 oz.

Sweet!! Thanks for taking the time, Doug.

I would guess I have fished in 50+ feet. It's really hard for me to say but I would guess I have caught bass in 20-30 feet. Possibly more. 30+ feet is the place to be right now at our deep lakes. It's actually more like 40+ at the deeper lakes. I've heard about people catching them suspended 60+ deep. I can't wait to dabble in that when I have a boat.

Interesting. I wonder myself. The 10.5 I caught this past summer was 26.75" x 20". The calculator reads 11.9260lbs. That is 1.4 pounds difference. However, it was the first and only fish I have ever measured so there was probably something we did wrong. 25.5" x 20" was probably more like it. Calculator reads 10.8375. Only 0.33 pound difference. Hmmmm....25.75" x 20" = 11.0510 pounds. Now I'm really interested!! Could I really have met her twice in two weeks??

I'm a righty and use a lefty. Wouldn't have it any other way.