Z71

It seems I get checked everywhere I go. Intercoastal waterway, on the lakes, hunting, where ever. Had one pull me over 10 miles from nowhere coming home from hunting, I didn't come to a complete stop at train tracks. I would never knowlingly break the law, as I would definitely get checked within 3 minutes.

My friend, check your pulse. You have died and went to bass fisherman's heaven, a place I hope to go some day!

Well I took off yesterday with great anticipation due to the warming trend we've had going on for the past several days, I went looking for pre-spawn big heads, but when I got to the landing I had a conversation with a gentleman who directed me to a "spot" he said the DNR had recently set a net. When they checked the net they had 15 smallies in it. He even marked it on my map. I decided I would spend most of the day after LM and reserve the late evening to the "spot" he told me about. Around 5:30 I caught this with a DD22 crawdad crank, burnin it as fast as I could to get it down. When I saw it was a SMALLIE my heart started beating faster than a school boy in love, I see now why I havn't been catchin any.. been fishin the wrong type of waters, too used to catchin mr bighead, here goes, my first attempt at a picture, with my cell phone. The bottom portion is part of the phone case, I've never taken pictures, so I hope I'll get better, not a monster but.,,

Advantage super tuned. This is one of the best bang for the buck reels going right now. Compare the specs with some of the higher grade Diawa reels, same drag system. A step above the Citica. I like my advantage ST, no problems, bought it right after they first came out. I can't compare it to a citica, but I do own a curado 100d, I think the Advantage ST is just as good.., just more line capacity, diferent style reel.

What Raul said.

Here's what worked for me. ( if you have a relapse) Plan your quitting time to start on Friday. Why? Because you will not sleep well for a few nights, usually lasts 3-5 nights, so weekend is best if you don't work weekends, if you do, plan on quitting during some scheduled time off. During the week leading up to your quit day, switch to some of the skoal bandit type in the pouch, it contains far less nicotine than the regular skoal or copenhegen. I read the nicotine content of all of them and copenhegen #1 with skoal #2, so you cut back on the dosage ( nicotine ) leading up to your quit day using the weaker stuff. Withdrawal symptoms are then less severe. Stick with it, the first 72 hours are the toughest, don't give up! Good luck

Yes, I think noise can have a negative effect, but for how long who knows? I try to limit banging, bumping noises but as everyone knows it is IMPOSSIBLE to remain totally quite all the time so I don't sweat it too much.. If I miss that state record or PB because I made too much noise I'll never know it anyway.

At this point in my life: About as far as I could throw her! or ~ 1 foot, which ever's closer

It was a chilly 43F this morning at 7:30 AM on the old trusty chevy rear view mirror thermometer going to work. On the ride home at 5:15 PM, a nice 67F, so I rolled the window down for the ride in. Just wish I could have taken off today.

Although it's never happened to me, the thought of being in the ocean treading water, waiting to become shark dung definitely would be hard to handle. I WIIL NOT SWIM in the ocean. If I'm swimming its in water where things are too small to have me for lunch. I've never enjoyed flying, but I will when necessary, so I guess thats not a phobia

I'll stay true to S.C. and say Davey Hite, he's due another one.

I fish soft plastics more than anything, because I consistently catch more fish, but when I can get on a good spinnerbait bite, I absolutely love that the most! Fast, furious, and they really hammer it hard, plus I seldom miss one, it seems. Unfortunately I don't get on a good spinerbait bite often, really probably 1-2 times a year it seems, but I always throw it some to test the waters, but I tire of throwing one after awhile if they aren't nailin it. So, if they were hittin anything or everything, what would you tie on? What's your favorite type of bait, not what consistently produces for you? or is it both in the same?

My biggest were from senkos, spinnerbaits, & plastic worms, in that order, with senkos themost consistant, but I also fish senkos more, but I seem unable to master the jig, I am cursed when it comes to jigs.

Reasons why I'm not: They went way up on their price ( x2 ) They sent me a book I didn't order Late on magazine frequently Too much big business "attitude," excessive telemarketing I don't do business with companies like that.

Here's mine: Green Pumpkin / black flake # 297 Watermelon / white laminate # 901 but my best day ever was on kinami flash - gold shad # k821

All This wasn't really my outing but... My brother called me around lunch time today. Seems he was invited to go duck hunting this morning on Santee Cooper. They were making their way through some backwaters before daylight on the lake, to a back water pond where the guy had put out some decoys a few days back. They noticed all kinds of ruckus underneath the boat like fish or a small gator, they didn't know. The water was anywhere from 1 to 2 ft. deep. They shined their Q-beam into the water and according to them , there were literally dozens of bass in there, just suspending and swimming around, my first response was "no way" a bass would be back there this time of year, much less dozens of them. This is spawning territory only, I know the area well. But, considering these two guys are in their mid 40's and very experienced outdoorsman, I believe that the fish were bass. They said big bass, some looking to be 10-12 lbs. We have had a very warm Dec, even for S.C. standards, but this is very, very strange to me. One thing he said, the water had dropped considerably just since the decoys were put out a few days ago, the decoys were sitting in mud. I don't know what the water temp is down there right now, probably warmer than normal, but it's DECEMBER. In this area, there should be zero fish right now, even with slightly higher than normal temps. What is your thinking on that? Z

Everyone, Thanks for all the good information. The lifetime warranty makes alot of sense to me, especially when spending alot of money. The Megabass rods, no pricing or mention of warranty on the website, so I sent off for the info, but WOW, THE PICTURES alone look like they're worth $50! Anyway, thanks again for all the well thought out replies, I'll let you guys know what I end up buying. I plan on trying to put my hands on as many different types as I can before buying. Z

All, After many years of refraining myself from spending money on a high end rod, I believe I have convinced myself that it is now necessary. Let me explain, I own 20 or more rods of various sorts, all of which cost < $100, some much less, I could never justify the high $ rod in my style of fishing. I'm not a pro and seldom fish tournaments, but.. I have found that over the past several years I catch the majority of my fish on some form of soft plastic, and in the pursuit of larger fish, I now fish deeper water, (points, structure), more than shallow water. This justifies the greater expense of a soft plastics rod with the most sensitivity. Please tell me the top two rods that you would purchase, the length, stiffness, and the reasons you think its the best. Please be specific on name & model. I'm talking a plastic worm/senko rod. Price not a consideration, unless it's just downright obscene. Also, any custom rod makers that might fit the need, or come to mind. The reel will be either a curado 100 or mg50 I'm undeciced on that. Thanks for the advice. I know there are many of you that use top quality equipment, and can help here. PS My special guest for Christmas dinner? Mr. Baitmonkey himself will be joining!

I'll normally use 12 or 15 lb. Big Game, green, or 15# P line flourocarbon , depending on the depth and clarity of the water I'm fishing.

You got me to thinking: 1. I experimented with flourocarbon lines, Vanish, Stren and P-Line. P-Line wins hands down. 2. I reaffirmed my decision years ago that ML rods are for brim & crappies, after having big bass wrap a ML around my a**. I'll have big rod in my hand. 3. My decision a few years ago to by a smaller boat with 50 hp was INDEED A GOOD ONE, instead of a gas hogging high hp outfit. 4. I can catch a 28 lb, 5 fish limit, which I did on 3/23/06 in less than 2 hours. 5. I can catch bass in the south on swimbaits, they just don't weigh 20lbs, at least not yet! 6. Smallmouth bass are smarter than I am. 7. If fishing in a tournament, fish until the last possible minute, I very seldom fish tournys, but I did fish one this year and won it. I caught the last fish of the day at 12:45, the weigh in was at 1:00. That fish turned out to be big bass of the day, and with out it I wouldnt have won the tourny. I learned that from watching Takahiro win the Classic a couple years ago. 8. Taking my 11 year old daughter fishing was, is, and will be one of the joys of my life. She learned to cast baitcaster this year. Z

World record, state record? Hmmm, let me think about that for .0001 seconds. I believe I'd keep her!

Yes, fishing early and late tend to be more productive for me at certain times of the year, especially summer. Mid- day has proven to be the #1 TIME for me to connect with big bass in the month of March. I always schedule a week vacation during the full moon of March and make it a point to fish all day long. I started this routine after reading Bill Murphy's book several years ago, and found it to be true. It is simply too hot and therefore not enjoyable to fish during the mid-day period during the dog days of summer. I can think of better things to do. Yes, bass generally go deep in summer and winter, but will move up for short periods of time, usually early AM or late PM, and after dark in the summer. They will go deep, if deep water is available. I prefer early AM in general because the water and fish have had all night to calm down and return to normal, especially during the high pressure periods of the season. #1 One Rule: Fish when you can! Make time for those "special " times that seem to produce the best for you, be it full moon , no moon, whatever gives you confidence to fish and concentrate the hardest, usually produces the best results. Z

Well, I know 7000 acres doesn't sound small, but here in SC it really is as far as our major lakes are concerned. Santee - 170,000 acres combined Clarks Hill - 70,000 acres Murray- 50,000 + Russel - 26,000 acres Hartwell - 50,000 + Keowee - 20,000 + Greenwood - >10,000 There are some more I'm leaving out but you get the idea. We are blessed here when it comes to water and the 7,000 acre lake I'm referring to, believe it or not, gets small real fast when 50 bass boats with 200hp motors are on it. I find that the huge bodies of water still offer the opportunity for some private fishing, just due to the sheer size. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE fishing small bodies of water that are full of fish, but around here the chances are slim. There are some smaller public waters, but due to motor restrictions and excessive pressure I don't usually fish them. Z

I like the huge waters like Santee, Clarks Hill, and others in my state. I do like fishing small private waters if I get invited. I actually enjoy fishing these big waters so I can try to "unlock" their secrets. Lakes the size of these, you could fish a lifetime and still be discovering something new about them, that is what makes it interesting to me, although my latest obsession is actually a rather small lake, 7,000 acres, but the challenge for me has been learning to catch fish in deep water, and I had to make myself fish deeper, slower, different baits, learn more about structure, etc., bu it has paid off after about 3 years and this lake is now my favorite. My challenge now is to apply these newly learned deep water tactics to some of the bigger lakes, because in the past I was strictly a bank beater and cover fisherman. I have, by learning to fish deep water in a highland type lake, learned some skills I can apply to the other bigger waters, because they have deep water also, I just didn't consider it in the past.

I was raised a country boy in Mississippi, with 16 ponds and a creek within walking distance of my home. I remember the first bass I ever hooked, on my father's old Mitchell 300, and which I believe the lure was a type of Mister Twister grub worm around 4" long, white. I got the bass all the way to the bank only to watch it throw the hook. I believe it was probably 2 lbs. or so. After that I was hooked, and remember somehow getting my hands on some Shasta spinners, white with black dots, and I really started working on those small bass with that thing. Later on, I started tying about 10 ft. of line on my grandpa's old flyrod tip and wading the ponds, working a poppin bug up in front of me. It worked great on those small bass, I have fond memories growin up in the country fishin for bass, and for that matter anything else that would bite. I'll be 45 soon, so that was probably 1969, 70, 71 or so, before my teen years. Sweet memories of a simple life. Z