K_Mac

I think Brady's suspension has absolutely nothing to do with thermodynamics, the relationship of pressure to volume of any gas at a given temperature, or any other physical law. I don't think it has much to do with winning or losing either. This is about power and money. Master B, you laugh at those with no lives discussing pro sports and think it's cute. I think it's cute you are right in the middle of the conversation and don't seem to think that also applies to you!

Why is it great sports teams are always lucky? Top professional poker players? Tournament anglers who consistently finish at or near the top? The reason is the same for all: Ability, desire, and commitment. Catching fish consistantly is not random. Yes, chance plays a part...a small one.

When I took my Concealed Carry course a man and his wife showed up for the shooting qualification with two brand new pistols, a 40 mm High Point and a Glock 380 (G42). Neither pistol had been inspected, cleaned, lubed, or fired. The Glock ran flawlessly after the instructor showed the woman how to hold it properly and applied a couple of drops of oil to the slide. The husband got the same treatment for his 40. His results were not nearly as good, but it seemed to shoot fine for the instructor. They obviously had the money to buy two good quality guns. Buying a 40 mm High Point for concealed carry is like buying a brick to hammer finishing nails. If that was as good as he could afford it might be better than nothing. Even then, showing up for a concealed carry qualification class without ever taking the gun out of the box baffles me...

Deaknh03, you make a valid point. Now do as I say, and not as I do.

YoTone, I think Avidone1 makes a point about giving found lures away. Giving lures away is as much a part of fishing as losing them IMO. Giving them back to the fishermen that lost them is not practical, but giving them to someone who needs them is a great way to promote fishing. The look on someone's face when you cut off a bait that they have seen you catching fish on, and giving it to them is worth more than the cost of the bait in my view. Fishing is supposed to be fun. Life is too short to get stressed over things you can't control. Enjoy the process. S. Sass, the emojis in your post seems to indicate you think it's funny. I don't.

When it comes to lost lures, it has always been finders keepers. I have lost a truck load, and found a few. Do you really think a box of lost lures left lakeside is only going to be checked for specific baits lost there? I could empty your box many times over without getting as much as I've lost. Your motivation is honorable, but naive. Be careful kicking old guys. Some of us won't take kindly to it.

Making sure the hook is "sticky" sharp will make a big difference. It is not popular anymore to sharpen hooks, but I always sharpen any hook that isn't perfectly sharp. You also didn't mention what rod you are using. How fast an action you use is a matter of preference, but you must have enough power to drive home a big hook. Like any other bait you are going to miss a few. A chatterbait is a big fish bait in my experience. Good luck.

Nathan it's all good. There is no doubt that success in any field has much to do with psychology, my comment on psychobabble notwithstanding. Discussion of such things is what makes life interesting IMO. Again, welcome aboard.

Welcome to the forum Nathan. You make many generalizations about a variety of things. Generally speaking generalizations aren't of much value. I will give you a couple of examples: KVD is as intense on the water as anyone. The idea of him stopping for a little meditation and deep breathing makes me chuckle. The idea of visualization or any other psychobabble helping me catch fish is also laughable to me. I am also a big fan of being fit and would agree that it increases stamina and mental acuity. Telling me or anyone else how or what to eat before a tournament or fishing trip or during the day is not something you, or anyone else can do without far more information than you have. Why some succeed at professional fishing and most fail is an interesting topic. Money is a factor but ability, desire, and commitment are what separate the pros from everyone else in my opinion.

I'm not sure if it would make any difference in my area (St. Louis, Mo). Both stores are 70ish miles from my home and in the same general area. The last couple of times I've been Cablelas had as many employees on the floor as customers, while BPS was very crowded. The stock wasn't nearly as good at Cablelas as it used to be either. Based on this small sampling, it looks like something is needed to keep Cablelas vital, at least locally.

Like anything there is a learning curve. Seasonal patterns, weather conditions, water conditions, techniques and tackle, structure and cover, and countless other things are all part of the equation. Enjoy the process.

24 volts will be far more efficient, and probably less costly long-term. How deep you discharge a battery and the number of times you do so is what determines its life. Two well maintained batteries with light use will outlast one that is discharged much deeper every time out. I don't consider 70# too much for a 17' aluminum boat, having fished from aluminum for years. Being lightweight is a fine thing when it comes to towing or power needed to operate effectively, but when fishing in the wind it is not. The cost of two batteries is a small price to pay for the power to fish where, and as long as you want in my opinion.

WW, you have just proven once again that guns and fishing tackle can become expensive hobbies! I don't own or need a 1911. I want one though...

Scott F gave you the disadvantages. One advantage is in rough water you can set it deep enough to keep it in the water. This can be a big deal when fishing in the wind.

I hate braid, but use it occasionally. I love fluorocarbon. 20# fluorocarbon is fine for heavier baits in heavy cover. For lighter baits it requires the right setup, but 12 or 15# will be far more user friendly.

Education is something that generally happens over time! "Feathering" the spool to control it's speed requires skill and practice. Experience is the only way to get it. Learning what doesn't work is as important as learning what does. Most of us who have been doing this a while have our reels set looser than a beginner. Even so, I am not at all reluctant to turn up the brakes when conditions call for it. For some not using brakes and setting tension to only keep the spool from side-to-side movement is a matter of pride. I am not that guy! Set your reel to best suit your skills and conditions. Enjoy!

Part of the allure of a dropshot is that it is a little "flacid". A bait does not have to be moving aggressively to be effective. Sometimes just the opposite is true.

Sounds like you were far more pleasant than I would have been. There are many boats for sale. A dealership that treats a customer, even one not spending a lot of money, like that doesn't need my business. I would have told him that and that I would make sure all of my boat buying friends knew how he does business. Good luck.

Bralexander I respect your decision to fish a classic reel. I would put on a shelf with the others and get a new one! Sounds like it works well with the line it was made for. Enjoy!

It is basically a bass cap on a multi species boat. It appears that most of the greater depth is above the water. I would love to fish from one to see how being several inches higher effects fishing. Thanks Redline.

The other option is taking him to a lake with a larger keeper size. A couple of years before my dad passed I took him fishing on a lake with an 18" minimum length. We caught a bunch of nice 15-17" fish. For my dad the thought of releasing fish that size was inconceivable. I did manage to convince him a couple of fish were not worth going to jail for! He really wasn't happy about it though. A few days later we went to another lake and caught a nice mess of bluegill. We kept fish that still had some growing to do, but I cleaned every one. I would also give much to go fishing with my dad again...

I am a trickworm or kut tail fan, but I have caught more fish on a watermelon red Zoom Finesse Worm than the other two over the last year or two.

Robert do you have any idea how much deeper it rides in the water than the standard 2014 model?

I have used it off and on for years. It is certainly worth the price. It is best used with KVD L&L. It may not be the easiest to manage, but for strength and abrasion resistance you can't do better for the money.

As you and I both know, 'going light' when choosing a trolling motor is a bad idea regardless of what a fishing boat is made of. The reason glass is less vulnerable in the wind is weight and displacement. Wind is a pain when fishing, far more so in an aluminum boat. I wish this wasn't the case, but years of experience proves that physics applies to boats like everything else.