Lightninrod

My lips are sealed . Dan

6.5 lber--23"--on a Vertical Jig X on 1/28/06: 6.5 lber--23.5"--on a Chatterbait on 4/14/06: Coincidentally, those were the first Bass for me on each of those baits. Dan

"Word" Thankee aggie. I laughed out loud when I first saw that. I thought I knew what to expect but it still surprised me. Dan

Short fishing video. Be patient and watch closely. Dan

I use this weedless hook when I wacky-rig in the snaggy ponds I Bass in. Here is the weirdest wacky-rig I've ever seen: Yes, a hard-bait that has the line attachement in the middle of the floating, jointed bait. Amazing movement/action but no bites so far. I havn't had a topwater bite on anything in a while so I'm not discouraged. Dan

I fish it in two different ways. So far all my CB Bass(up to a 6.5 lber) have come using a yo-yo retrieve where I throw it out, count down 4-6 seconds, raise the rod up, pause, let it fall again reeling down on a semi-slack line. The bites have come on the fall when it's fluttering like a dieing baitfish. I've also tried burning it just under the surface. It will 'leap' out of the water at times as it dart's to-and-fro. Very realistic looking to me but no topwater bites for me yet. I do 'kill' it half way back, trying to entice any followers. Dan

At almost 67 years of age, y'all may think it strange but I'm trying completely new or new-to-me baits almost all the time and am I glad I have. Matt's Baby Bass brought me several Bass, ranging from 1.5 to my PB, a '9'. I took a chance on Senkos.........back in 1999(before I found the internet) and on the perfect hook for them, GY's Sugoi and they've been successful for me over the years. And recently, the Chatterbait has been a Bass catcher for me. An open mind....................................... 8-) Some that didn't work: Doug Hannon's Snakes >, Berkley Blade Dancer, some custom-made cr/baits, etc. Dan

WOW!!! At LEAST a 'nine'! My '9' was 26" in length and that Bass is at least that long and I would suspect, even longer and heavier than mine. And, kodos for not giving up when she ignored your first attempts 8-). Dan

I never fish early or late. I've caught several Bass(from dinks to 5 lbers) on a buzzbait right in the middle of a sun-shiny, hot, summer day; the best time to throw them IMO. Dan

I just heard a 21+ lber was caught yesterday in San Diego............................details have been promised later :-/ Dan

I cringe when I see him hold a heavy Bass with his thumb inside the Bass's mouth and his fingers splayed under its jaw and then he lifts it to a horzontal position. That alone can break or distort the Bass's jaw. Dan

My Hawker battery was using up its charge a little quicker than it use to so I decided to replace it. Hawker was bought out by Odessey a few years ago and I didn't know if I could find a battery that was just like my 7 year old Hawker but I did. I was so glad to find a replacement and the only change in it as far as I know is the name and the color. The Hawker was black and this little jewel is orange. It weighs only 15.4 lbs and I can carry it back and forth to my little Basshunter UBHII with one hand. It's a dry cell typw with no acid to worry about and can be mounted sideways, etc. Here are the specs Pic Another view It's THE battery for pond boats that use a trolling motor IMO. Dan

Fishing with our 8 month old Ocicat, Ginger: Btw, she dragged that 'rig' up the stairs to our bedroom the other night. She is a hoot!!! And you are absolutely correct in your analogy . Dan

I'm not familiar with those two swimbaits you mentioned but I do use Matt's swimbaits and have caught several Bass with them. As Roger said, just throw it out, let it fall to whatever depth you want, and then just reel it in slowly and steadily. At least that's what has worked for me. The profile and tail action do all the 'work' with Matt's baits. Be sure to coat the swimbait with Megastrike(preferred) or some slick, greasy attractant to allow the swimbait to slide inside the Bass's mouth for a good hookset. I point my rod directly at the bait, keeping slack out of the line. My bites have been 'soft' thumps and you must start reeling as you sweep your rod to set the hook...no hesitation...just reel/swing and continue reeling. Dan

JV: Not sure where you are but your weather forecast sounds the same as mine. I'd go with the ones that said "Tuesday" because, as Avid said, you never know whether the next day will show up . Think that's what I'll do too. Dan

I would guess you're using braided line :-?? That's typical of braid and one of the reasons why I won't use it. I just know a heavy Bass is going to strike while that braid is wrapped arond the tip and if that happens; broken rod ................. To give my answer, I'd place the rod's butt back behind me and unwrap the line with my free hand..............quickly . Dan

Amen Amen again from my household. Dan

"Florida strain bass were originally imported to Cuba from the U.S. in 55-gallon drums by the United Fruit Co. from 1915 to 1920, to provide a little sport for the industrialists. They have taken well to the island lifestyle. A school of thought suggests that Cuba's longer growing season has produced a genetically superior bass that matures faster and grows bigger than its American cousins. And the rumors about big bass have drifted with the (no) trade winds across the Straits of Florida. During the 1970s and '80s, stories circulated that 11 different fish landed in Cuba had topped the record. On Lake Hanabanilla, a 26-pounder was supposedly hauled up in a net. A few years back, a 28-pounder was said to have been caught in Lake Leonero. In each case, the record-breaking fish was eaten before it could be verified. Regardless of whether any of those rumors are true, the standing certified Cuban record of 18 pounds is enough to make American big bassers salivate over the possibility of it all. " Did y'all miss that in that Forbe's article? In case anyone wants to go there. Where to stay. I'd love to go both for the Bassin', the sun, the beaches(I was born-nraised in Miami, Florida and lived for two years in Key West, Florida.), and the most wonderful cigars in the world but I'll probably be 'gone' before that becomes legal. Dan

Classic Patterns but didn't see any videos. BPS's Videos Dan

"Lightninrod make no mistake about it Dodge County has some TOADS in it!! I hope Varner can produce those kinds of fish in the near future." Ft. Stewart fish Mike: Just to be sure others know, that first link was to Bass caught at Ft. Stewart, GA. I need to get my lazy butt over there ;D! Dan

Secret place to catch large GA Bass Dodge County PFA Bass Scroll down to see the 17 lber Dan

I think playmaker47 has the right idea; almost NO fishing pressure back then and just because no "20 lb" Bass has been caught in GA since then proves nothing. There are Bass swimming around down here that no man has seen and having said that, I'll say that the next WRB will come from CA. Those Trophy Bass hunters over there don't play around 8-) Dan

Dave: Thank you for your concern but it was just a tiny tingle and I only felt it a couple of times and since I was quick in moving my arm up, it lasted less than a second. I'm fine now and was fine yesterday too. If I should feel my heart's beat become irregular, I'll certainly get taken to the hospital. And to please Glenn and to make y'all aware of the things that can be done to manage a pond, I will link y'all to these 'in-house' articles. Dan

It is across HWY 49. See "Walker Road"? That leads to my boss's farm house, just a 1/2 mile due west from the HWY. The ponds are visable; the smaller one in the 'V' of the white lines(dirt trails) and the bigger one just South of the east-west white line and at the end of the vertical white line coming down from the "W". There they are and thank you . Dan Dan

Y'all come on down . My boss's ponds/farm are just across the highway from the American Camellia Society! Bet y'all thought that we don't have any 'culture' down here in the deep South ;D ? American Camellia Society 100 Massee Lane Fort Valley, Georgia 31030 (478) 967-2358 Directions I-75, Exit 149 to GA Hwy 49 S I-75, Exit 135 to Marshallville, Rt GA Hwy 49 N That oughta confuse ya ;D! Dan