RoLo

I think CJ really summed it all up. Water is the best insulator against atmospheric conditions, and bass behave as though they know that because they're deepest in winter. The metabolism of bass is slower in winter than any other season, and bass behave as though they know that too. During the wintertime, bass show a marked preference for structures with rapid depth change, where they expend fewer calories. Sand bottoms are continually re-shaped by wave action, but a rock slope takes thousands of years to erode away. It all dovetails together: Cold Water - Slow Metabolism - Deep Water - Steep Slope - Rock Bottom Most weeds die to the ground in winter, so if you throw in woody cover you've got the Classic Winter Site Roger

I fish strictly for "enjoyment", but NOT to relax. I take my fishing much too seriously to even think about relaxing. Plenty of time for that after day is done Roger

When living in New Jersey, my wife & I spent a lot of time specifically in search of chain pickerel. We were motivated by the fact that Jersey had set two consecutive world records (since been broken in Georgia). During cold water periods (fall and through the ice), a minnow was far & away our favorite bait. If could be fished dead or alive, on a carolina rig or on a jig. During the spring and summer though, artificials easily outfished natural bait. Our favorite lure was the weedless "Johnson Spoon" dressed with a curly grub. Our second favorite was an "In-line spinner" like the Mepps, but during the last hour of light when the water surface went flat, the Original Floating Rapala was murder on pickerel, (but the plastic cordell redfin holds up longer). Roger

When joining fluorocarbon to any braided line (braided dacron, braided polyethylene or braided nylon), I have always used a uni-knot to uni-knot. Matter of fact, if I tie a uni-to-uni connection and you're able to make it slip, you can have my car and I'll take the bike home ;D Roger

"HeavyCover.Com" is back online. http://www.heavycover.com/ Here you select your own weights, blades combinations, blade sizes, blade colors and skirt colors. It's the only way to fly. Roger

Me Too! My monetary outflow is purely Monkey-Driven...don't look at me Roger

American Mongrel: German, Czech & Hungarian : Roger

I'm not sure how it happened, but I've become a devout user of braided polyethylene for virtually 'every' angling situation. I'm currently using PowerPro braid, but I trust that other brands of braid are equally remarkable. There isn't anything else I could possibly ask of a fishing line, so without any scapegoat the rest depends on me. Roger

Seems a lotta folks are pushing those chimanos, shamonas, woddever ya call'em...I'll have to give one a try If I'm not back in an hour, CALL THE POSSE! Roger

There are many things to consider when determining the best soft-plastic manufacturer (cost service durability & so on). Based strictly on the total number of products that I've used throughout the years, Zoom is the clear winner: > Zoom Super Fluke (don't leave home without it) > Zoom Trick Worm > Zoom Horny Toad > Zoom Fat Albert > Zoom Critter Craw > Zoom Brush Hog > Zoom Finesse Worm > Zoom Lizard > Zoom Chunk > What's Next?? Roger

Bill Lewis (rat-l-trap) It don't need a lip to be a crankbait Roger

Why? I just don't think it's necessary to tolerate the stench they give off. When Gulp baits are in the boat, I find myself scanning the lake shore for a sewage treatment plant : ;D Roger

I've yet to find "one" hollow frog that doesn't take on water eventually. For walking-the-dog, my favorite frog has been the "Boze ZZ Walker", but it too eventually takes on water > Roger

That's brilliant! ;D I'll drink to that During April 2006, the Bassmaster Elite Series was held on Santee Cooper Reservoir, SC. Though it has since been broken, Preston Clark weighed-in the heaviest Four-Day Stringer in BASS's 38-year history (to that date). Preston's 4-day stringer weighed 115 lb, 15 oz, an incredible 20-bass average of 5-lb 13-oz! (highlighting the stubborn 6-lb weight-plateau). During all four days, Preston used a plain Zoom Big Critter Craw that was T-rigged on a 5/0 Owner hook and weighted with 1/4 oz slip sinker. There was No jig, No skirt and No weedguard, just a zoom critter craw on a hook, I think that speaks volumes. Roger

The plastic trailer that most closely resembles the shape of a crayfish is not always the most productive. Compare each trailer by hopping and crawling them on the same weight jig you'll be using. Then choose the trailer with the most provocative action and slowest fall rate. Roger

Matt makes a good point, and it was the first thing I noticed. The photo has a strong "fish-eye perspective". The eye of a fish is strongly convex so it can see nearly 180 degrees. The so-called fish eye perspective exhibits a swollen center that enlarges the subject while the tapering periphery diminishes all else. This effect can be created by holding a wide-angle lens tight to the subject. The shorter the focal length (wider the angle) the greater the fish-eye effect. Roger

If you really like the features of this reel, your opinion is more important than mine, but I do own several old Diawa Tournament SS spinning reels. One of them has trouble holding a drag setting, I believe the internal thread on the adjustment knob is out-of-square. On another Tournament SS, the lifetime bail-spring given me fits, something that's practically a thing of the past today. I've also had the pivot-screw for the bail-arm rattle-out and get lost. That of course is my fault for not staying abreast of my reel, but it's never happened with any other spinning reel under the same watch. I should point out that my Tournament reels are very old, and I don't know if that reel has ever been upgraded, or in what way (question for Reel Mechanic). In any case, if you like Daiwa which is an excellent company, several fellows on the forum speak very highly of the Daiwa Tierra, which you might want to check-out too. Roger

Exactly...the power arm is a terrible thing to waste (a no-brainer) If a casting reel that I really want is not available in a left-hand version (for right-handed anglers), they lost a customer. Roger

You might give these a try: 5" Berkley Powerbait Shaky Worm in any dark color (powerbait not gulp). They're very meaty for a finesse worm but have nice undulating action. Roger

WOW, that's some story Lee, you guys are Too Kool 8-) 8-) I was fishing the Kissimmee River today (south of FL-60), and I thought that fog would never lift. I choose the river to dodge the wind, but it was out of the south and came right up the pipe. Hey, maybe you've only been fishing for a year or so, but you really hit the ground running Roger

By a long shot, the "Quest". Unless it's a beer-keg, the fight over time (several decades) becomes a tad anticlimactic. I release most bass in my mind, before they reach my boat, I'm already asking myself what I learned from this fish. Roger

Funny thread I have a hunch though, that each of us has more to do with our own destiny than we might imagine. It's only human nature to devote the most hours to your favorite lures and the fewest hours to your least favorite lures. Like KU_Bassmaster, I also place spinnerbaits on the bottom of the heap (I use them ONLY in muddy water). Without a doubt, there are fellows in here who put in 5 times more spinnerbait-hours than myself. It naturally follows, these same fellows are probably catching 5 times more spinnerbait-bass than myself ;D Roger

That's a great line to use after you've boated the "second" double-digit bass during the same day!! Roger

I've caught skipjacks alright, but they were saltwater "skipjack tuna". More than likely you're referring to the freshwater "skipjack herring" (baitfish). As for "ladyfish" on the Tennessee River, that one's got me stumped. The only ladyfish I'm aware of is the saltwater aerialist sometimes called the Poorman's Tarpon (aka: "ten-pounder"). Roger

I'm not clear whether you'll be using this reel for naturals or artificials. For live-bait fishing (large game fish) I use a Shimano Cardiff 301 CDF301A It's a round-reel weighing 8.9 oz, and is one of the few casting reels available with a spool clicker in a left-hand version (I'm right-handed). Roger