KU_Bassmaster.

Thanks, we appreciate that ;D. I actually don't mind the winter and actually like the things that go along with it. I enjoy reading you southern guys' post throughout the winter and it really recharges my batteries. By the time spring comes around, I am ready to hit it full charge. But this month of February is always REALLY tough and looonnngggggg. :-[

Me too ... I was like ...... Oh, this is kind of interesting and then... ;D ;D

Way to stab us stuck in the cold in the heart!!!!! ;D Nice fish

Yes .... noowwww I see!!!! I knew I was probably missing something When I initially read this post a certain thing popped into my head. A couple years ago I saw a dad and a son fishing off a dock as I was passing by. I overheard the dad talking while I was fishing some deeper water nearby and I noticed they had a stringer FULL of bluegill and bass. The dad gave the son another bluegill he just caught and told him to put it on the stringer "So that fish won't go tell the others (fish) they were there". :-? Then I watched them leave a little while later and put all the fish back. The dad took the fish off the stringer and midway through he says " Oooooo, some of these are going to make it" :-/

Huh .. The two above are classless ... ;D Seriously ... no ink on me yet. I kind of want one, but if I am going to get one it has to mean something.

Maybe I am missing something ...... :-/ If you are going to release them, why do you want info on stringers and why do you put them in nets right now??

Oh God ....... He has a fan club 8-) ;D

Man, I had no idea of this. I just turned on the TV for the first time today and saw the news . Hope all our FL members are safe and sound.

My best buy in the last couple years has been a lure retriever. I believe it has a 99.9% success rate if you have the patience to work with it from time to time. Sometimes it can be very stubborn and may take 10 to 15 minutes to retrieve, but like I said, it pretty much works every time. Since I have bought it (2 years), I have only lost one hard bait. It gives me more money to spend on jigs and soft plastics which I still lose on a regular basis. :

I was in there the other day looking for a few boat things. I didn't see what I needed so I asked a worker if he knew if they carry them. I asked him "If you don't carry it now (shelves looked newly re-stocked), then you probably never will??" His answer was "Yes, and in a few weeks we are actually going to cut this whole department in half"

I second that!!!!!! I assume it's some type of filter???

For Sure!!!!!!!

I got the scale on Ebay for a ridiculously good price (I think it might be hot now that I look back at it) and it also came with free pliers. Love the scale I honestly don't like the pliers. The business end of them is way to big and it's hard to be precise. They also feel kind of weak in your hand like you could break it at any moment. I'll take my el'cheapo needle nose pliers over the Xtools one any day.

First of I have a 55 lbs thrust "older" Minn kota Extreme w/ maximizer trolling motor. This is my only means of propulsion for my two man boat. Right now I have a Auto Craft battery ........ Group 27, Reserve Capacity 175 min ( I can get more specs if needed, I know nothing about batteries, but I always hear people talking about these numbers ). Last year was the first year that I think I ever maintained my battery correctly .... mainly charging right after each use. And I really saw a difference in the length of time my battery would run. Then the last few trips out this fall I saw the run time significantly decrease. The last time out I barely puttered back to the ramp. So I figure it's time for a new battery. My question .... What kind of specs should I be looking for?? Specific battery suggestions??? My MAIN objective is maximize the time I get out of my battery. I would like to stay under $100 if possible. In the past I have just taken my old battery into the auto parts store and they picked one out for me. Now I want to know what to look for. Thank You

Last summer ..... I set the hook and my drag immediately starts screaming. Just as I hook into this fish another boat is passing by and they stopped to watch. We start chatting a little and I say something along the lines of "If it's a bass, it's a MONSTER!!!!". So the fight continues and the fish continues to not give up and pulls line at will. After what felt like an eternity I finally get a visual of the fish ...... I'm thinking to myself crap. I tell the guys (who are the opposite side of the boat and can't see the fish) "its too big and I have to cut the line" as I embarrassingly lip this beast. That got a good laugh and they couldn't believe the size of the fish. I kid you not, this was the HARDEST fighting bass I have ever battled .... including my PB of 10-8. If this fish continues to live and grow ... I think I will need to get some heavy saltwater gear to battle it again someday.

LOL .... Great minds think alike. I was thinking about doing the very same thing. If you look at the map and see the east side of the lake where there is a boat ramp, parking, etc, etc. The boat ramp is for the small pools ring fry was talking about. Keep going down that road until you see a parking area. On the south side of that parking area will be another pool and on the north side a path. That path leads to where the warm water reaches the main lake. I haven't been out there in a few years, but I think this is correct.

If this set up is strictly for crankbaits (shallow, mid and deep), then I would opt for the slower ratio reel.

Probably never gonna get a clear cut answer on this. There are good arguments for both sides. I personally tend to lean a little towards the "no effect" side. Well maybe "no effect" is not the right way of putting it. More like little effect. Just a side note ... this is hands down my favorite way to fish.

Used to be barefoot. One hook in the foot and that was it for me. Now I have something on my feet at all times. Colder days: I have a pair of Merrel Gore-tex tennis shoes that I absolutely love. For warmer months: I have the pair of Crocs that LBH hinted at (he must really like them. He brings them up from time to time ;D). Problem with those is that they were black and hot. I am going a pair of white or light gray ones this year. Then I also wear flip flops

I couldn't agree more. Hold the fish in a NATURAL posistion. Like if you were going to show it off to somebody. You wouldn't pick it up and hold your arm straight out and you wouldn't hold it up right next to your body. IMO both of these pictures look stupid and very un-natural.

I think the internet camera business is very shady. I've heard of more people having problems including my best friend and either LBH or Hawg_Hunter from this site. If I remember correctly, they ordered a camera from one of those B.S sites and thought they got a great deal. When their camera arrived they found that they were significantly overcharged and were sent a bunch of stuff they didn't want. I don't remember the exact numbers, but I believe they were overcharged several hundred dollars.

it's still light outside!!!!!!!!!! Very exciting, but at the same time it only makes the spring fever worse. : On a sad note .... it's 15 outside and it feels like 5 and we are suppose to get the full force of winter (temperature wise) the next two weeks.

A Hush Puppy to me is basically a fried ball of bread. Your corndog thinking is pretty much right on. Like that without the dog. I've also had them with various things in them like clam, crab, and lobster.

If you are willing to spend that much I would stick with a reputable brand. That way you know you can get parts for it down the road. May I suggest a Shimano Citica .

I usem' all. From 1/8 to 1 oz. I probably use a 1/2 oz the most. That's basically where I will start and adapt according to vegetation, depth, wind, and time of year.