RoLo

Boca, I have a feeling that you know more about Crooked Lake than I do, but I'll still give it a shot: It's deep (in places), it's clear (most of the time) and it's stipled with underground springs. The lake record is 16+lbs and it's still yields some of the largest bass in Polk County, Florida. Unless the situation has changed, you can't reach the main lake from the public ramp on the south shore. The only decent ramp I'm aware of is Bob's Landing off Cody Villa Rd ($7/boat). Naturally every angler has his own hotspots, but I favor sharp sloping bottoms. There's a place I call the "Bowtie", from Bob's Landing it's about 2 miles at ~330 degrees (circa: N27 49.980 W81 34.250) Another place I call "Mideast" lies about 2 miles south of the Bowtie, through the narrows (circa: N27 48.385 W81 34.320) Good Luck buddy Roger

I realize that my reply is late, but this is the first time I've seen your post. Anyway, when I lived in Rico, Georgia I used to fish West Point Lake, and usually put-in at Ringer. We never slayed the bass at West Point Lake, but we did alright (caught more spots than bigmouths). Our best luck with largemouth bass was at the mouths of Potato Creek and New River, where they merge with the Chattahoochee. Roger

Whether I'm fishing in Florida, Canada or anywhere in between, the weather I like the least is Cold and Windy. The aftermath of cold windy weather is usually cold and muddy water, and as several fellows pointed out, that really sucks! Cold muddy water is a double whammy: Muddy water reduces the bass's vision and Cold water reduces their reaction speed. If you work the lure at a normal pace, it may be out of the bass's sight-window before the bass has a chance to react. Roger

Last year, Lois and I made a trip to Cypress Lake (a less crowded lake in the Kissimmee chain). We put-in on the south shore of Lake Toho, then entered the lock at Southport canal. To get into the lock, you need to jerk on a dangling rope that rings the bell at the lockhouse. While our lock was filling with water, I chatted briefly with the woman proprietress. As you might expect, this woman meets all the biggest names on the tournament circuit on a regular basis. However, she only seen fit to mention one man, you guessed it...Ish Monroe. She said that Ish came into the lock one day after a really tough day on Cypress Lake, but said that Ish was extremely pleasant and had a great sense of humor. To me at least, that speaks volumes. Roger

My dad introduced me to hunting and fishing, for which I am eternally grateful. In any case, it would be a stretch to say that dad taught me how to fish (on the contrary). Though I'm basically self-taught, the one man who taught me the most was Al Lindner (penpal and founder of In-Fisherman). Roger

I always recommend beginning with a local publication that's centered on your home state. In this way you'll be receiving the most useable and pointed information about your own personal niche. What's really nice is reading the 'Where', 'When' and 'How' about lakes within easy striking distance of your home, instead of some distant lake that's six states away. State-intensive publications, unlike National magazines will keep you abreast of the conservation efforts in your state, changing laws, current lake levels, local tournaments, which species are doing best on which lakes and what lakes are falling from grace and why. When I lived in New Jersey I subscribed to "New Jersey Outdoors"; when I lived in Georgia it was "Georgia Sportsman" and now that I live in Florida it's "Florida Game & Fish". Just for instance, this month's issue featured Reno Alley, a local guide on the Kissimmee chain. I live less than 15 minutes from Camp Mack, which leads to both Lake Hatchineha and Lake Kissimmee. Among the national magazines, the "In-Fisherman" is the clear winner for the serious angler. It's a highly scientific, multi-species magazine that goes well beyond black bass. The magazine was sold to Primedia in 1998, and three years later Al Lindner retired in 2001, one of the only angling writers to retire a millionaire. The baton has been passed to Doug Stange, but not to worry, Doug maintains a tight ship and upholds the same high-standards. Fishing Facts" is another technical, multi-species periodical, in fact, it's the publication where Al Lindner gained national recognition before introducing In-Fisherman (1975). Spence Petros is no longer the editor of Fishing Facts but still writes articles for the magazine. If there are other magazines in the same class as the In-Fishermanthey got past me Roger

Thanx for nothing, now my secret is out! > If you are really serious about boating a wall-hanger, then liveline a "Norway Rat"....that's what I'M talking about : Roger

Here's wishing all the BR members a "Happy Thanksgiving!" Roger

Not stupid at all. To this day, I still "Flame-Whip" the ends of my dock lines, which never fray. Wrap masking-tape temporarily around the rode, ignite the fuzzy fibers with a lighter, wait for a molten blob of plastic, then blow out the flame. Not so easy on a windy day though, if you know what I mean Roger

Cutters Yesterday's braided lines were made of linen and dacron and any dull pair of scissors cut the line. The polyethylene braids used today require a good pair of scissors to get a clean shear. The $3 pair sold by Bass Pro is nothing to write home about, but I'm sure you'll like them better than the cigarette lighter http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=73302&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults Roger

SPINNING ROD BPS BIONIC BLADE BNC60MS <> Medium Power <> IM-8 (45mil modulus) $55 (on sale) Length: 6-ft (1-Pce) <> Line Wgt: 4 to 12 lb <> Lure Wgt: 1/8 to 1/2 oz SPINNING REEL SHIMANO SYMETRE FRONT-DRAG SY2500FI $79.99 (don't know if it goes on sale) Line: 6 to 10 lb <> Wgt: 9.5 oz <> Max Drag: 15 lb <> Bearings: 4-BB / 1-RB <> Retrieve/Rotation: 31 Muddy, this spinning outfit is the closest thing to stealing that I know Roger

Well-written Chris, I can empathize with everything that you wrote. I cherish my time with male companionship, but it makes me feel almost guilty that I can have an equally or better time with my wife. You've helped me to understand why that is so. I take my fishing very seriously...waaay too seriously. If I'm not given my entire head on the water, at the end of the day I'll feel as though I've wasted productive time. The last time I was out (long time ago) I invited my neighbor across the street. Larry is a good neighbor and great friend, but he never stopped talking 'all day'. It made me feel good that he was so comfortable in my company, so I let go of the reins and reminded myself that socializing with a good friend is just as important as fishing. As a result, my trend of thought and my sense of purpose on the water were basically trashed for the day. I've been married to the same women for 43 years, a woman thank God who LOVES fishing. When Lois and I are on the water together, there's no social pressure and I'm able to function at "close" to maximum potential. I say "close", because oddly enough, I was alone when I caught nearly every personal best (fresh & salt). Roger

The next ice age is still a few million years away, so for now at least, we have no choice but to abandon the use of lead. I feel that steel shot and steel sinkers fill the bill quite nicely. In the course of a year, how many more bass do you think you will catch using tungsten sinkers over steel sinkers? And in the grand scheme, does it really matter? I don't know, but it seems like the fishing fraternity is either rich or gullible, because corporate America has us where they want us. I've been a tool & die maker all my life, so naturally I've known about tungsten carbide long before the fishing community. At one job shop that I worked, I was the form grinder for lathe cutters (angles, radii and relief). Most of the cutters were made of high-carbon, high-speed steel, but occasionally I had to grind cutters made of tungsten carbide...Arrghh! Tungsten carbide is the hardest metal known to man, and the only grinding wheels that will cut tungsten are silicon carbide wheels ("green" wheels) and diamond wheels (exceedingly expensive). The price of tungsten isn't likely to fall anytime soon, because of its unique hardness (second only to diamond) and its industrial value. Even in the industry, rather than use a solid carbide cutter (which we could) we would braze carbide inserts onto the tool bit. To my mind at least, dunking sinkers made of tungsten is pure folly! PS: If the emphasis is on maximal sensitivity, there are two other avenues for achieving the same goal. Stepping-up on the "tensile modulus" of the rod blank is a one-time expense that will greatly enhance sensitivity. Switching from monofilament line to braided line will provide an even greater boost in telegraphy. On many occasions I wished that PowerPro braid were just a little more absorptive, so pebbles didn't feel like strikes. Roger

My wife and my girlfriend, but neither knows about the other. I'm only kidding of course...they do know ;D Roger

Most in-line spinners are saddled with two flaws that result in less than reliable slow-speed blade-rotation. 1) They all use clevis-mount spinners (It's the only choice with in-line spinners, save the Panther Martin system) 2) They typically but not always incorporate slender blades (usually somewhere between Indiana and Willow-leaf) All "in-line" spinners are offenders: Rooster Tail, Shyster, ABU Reflex, Blue Fox Vibrax, CP Swing and even the overpriced Mepps. If reliable, slow-speed rotation is your main goal (a smart goal) you may be better off moving away from the in-line configuration and choosing a spinner that employs a "Ball-Bearing Swivel" and "Colorado Blade". Regardless who manufactures the lure, clevis-mount spinners are more prone to stalling than a spinner behind a ball-bearing swivel Also, slender spinners create less water resistance than broad-shouldered spinners and therefore prone to stalling at slow speeds. Nevertheless, if you're reluctant to switch from an in-line spinner to an overhead spinner, I'd personally stick with the Rooster Tail. Some time ago, I tested the popular in-line brands and to my own satisfaction at least, the Rooster Tail exhibited the most reliable slow-speed rotation, but I should add, by an almost imperceptible margin. Roger

I didn't buy Ike's book, but I'm not surprised that it's a great read because Ike definitely knows his stuff. Mike hit the ground running, a brash, boisterous kid with a mile-wide ego. I was intrigued by the fact that his personality was just too easy to dislike, which kind of held me at bay. In truth, Mike Iaconelli interjects color into our sport, and he came at a time when tournament fishing needed a shot in the arm. Suddenly people who never watched a fishing show in their lives, were waiting to see this screaming maniac from Jersey. It often takes eccentric behavior to light a fire, not unlike Bobby Fischer was to chess and Cassius Clay was to boxing (Muhammad Ali to the youngsters). Also, the more I heard this kid speak, the more I realized that Ike knew his stuff, someone you can actually learn from. There's still one thing about Ike I do not like...He thinks that the best fishermen are from the north. If that were so, someone should remind Ike that Kevin Van Dam is from Michigan, which is further north than New Jersey ;D Roger

Many hold seagulls in low esteem, but I have the utmost respect for their ability to locate food (Wendys or 25 miles offshore) I well remember when Boston Whalers inundated the Jersey coast, joined later by Makos and Wellcrafts. Anglers in two-piece Helly Hansens spent half their day donning binoculars to chase after gulls and terns. I'd be less than honest if I didn't admit that seagulls have put a ton of fish in my boat. Like Most Things, It Works Both Ways: Though we've spent hundreds of hours fishing in large flotillas, I much prefer to be fishing in some lonely spot by myself. Before too long, I would generally tire of the mob scene and punch out into the big blue to find my own fish. It's a great feeling to come off plane over your own secret little ridge, without a boat or seagull in sight. If all goes well, somebody sticks the first fish and plops it onto the deck. Then just like magic, two seagulls appear out of "nowhere", then it's six gulls, then it's a couple dozen! In this situation, the gulls have now become 'The Enemy'. It's only a matter of time when some angler will spot the gulls, and a new fleet will form around your boat > After all is said and done, seagulls remind me of that ole expression, "Masters of all they survey" 8-) Roger

Great Tip, Matt! In the north, any Puddle Duck (AKA: puddler & dipper) will lead you directly to good weeds (like coot & gallinule). Unlike "diving" ducks, which can dive several yards underwater, puddle ducks merely tip-over without leaving the water surface. In waterfowling jargon, a "tip-up decoy" mimicks that little pyramid you see poking above the surface (the business end) Plant life topping out deeper than ~18" is out of the reach of puddle ducks, who are limited to the distance between their feet & bill. Puddle ducks include the mallard, wood duck, black duck, baldpate (widgeon), green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, shoveler, etc. "Diving" ducks like scaup (broadbills) and canvasbacks feed essentially on fish and snails rather than vegetation. All the same, the presence of forage fish, mollusks and crustaceans is frequently associated with good weedbeds. Furthermore, diving ducks can reach depths of 15 feet or more, so they're better indicators of offshore holding sites. I should also point out, that once the freshwater inland lakes and ponds freeze-up, all ducks (puddlers and divers alike) are forced to the saltwater marshlands along the coast (when gunning on Barnegat and Brigantine really heated up). Mucking up the situation is the fact that puddle ducks under the stressors of winter will often switch to a piscivorous diet. On a number of occasions, I've had puddlers in my boat that spewed killifish (saltwater killies) on the deck. Bottom Line: During lean times, the presence of any water bird might be worthy of investigation. Roger

The sequel to: "Power fishing, why not spinning gear?" Roger

Aluminum Boat - Kool Music - Spinning Outfit - Hooded Parka - Large Bass Hmmmm...Now who could that be? Roger

I'm afraid we anglers place a little too much emphasis on fall fishing, as though it were a big improvement over summer fishing. Compared to bass fishing during the summertime, fall fishing is typically erratic and unpredictable, but not without cause. For starters, the major temperature trend is "down", which progressively reduces the metabolism of the entire ecosystem. In addition, the lake stratification that took place throughout the summer months is completely undone by the "fall-turnover". After the lake turns over the Thermocline and Oxycline are both "gone". During the post-turnover period, the water temperatures and dissolved oxygen are essentially homogenous throughout the entire lake. For this reason, bass may found at any & all depths, which puts an unusual strain on the locational factor Find Bait And You've Found Bass? Yes and No. Both baitfish and gamefish have free reign of the lake, but the location of baitfish will hinge more on prevailing winds (which moves plankton) than on water temperature. Here's the upshot: the biomass of baitfish far outstrips the biomass of gamefish. As a result, it's not unusual to find bait without bass, but it would be very unusual to find bass without bait. Roger

FREE In Florida you don't have to be "OLD" to fish for free, but you do need proof that you've had 65 birthdays. Roger

With the exception of a large, professionally maintained aquarium (i.e. Bass Pro Shops), placing wild fish in a small home fish-tank is essentially self-serving. It places a hardship on both the caregiver as well as the captive who is living in an unnatural situation. There is a halfway house however, that I believe is a more acceptable way to keep "pet bass" (in fact, I plead guilty). In 1992 I had a home built on a 10-acre wooded tract in Rico, Georgia (greenbelt of Fulton Co.). For a small fee, the bulldozer operator dug-out a tiny landlocked pond measuring about 40-ft long by 20-ft wide with a maximum depth of 3 ft. The pond iced-up every winter, but amazingly a mere 35" of water was enough to sustain the bass through the winter months. We stocked our tiny pond with bass that my wife & I had caught at local farm ponds (six in all). They lived in our pond for several years and were a pure joy, and they fascinated everyone who came to our house. On the downside, the bass lost their fear of man, and would follow anyone who walked around the perimeter of the pond. I can honestly say that I learned a lot from those bass, for example their love for frogs, but they're disdain for toads and snakes, which they invariably whacked but later ejected. Most amazing to me was their remarkable adaptability and aggression. Let Me Bore You With A Little Story For the most part, the pond sustained all the bass without our intervention, It was 50% cloaked with duckweed on top with pickerelweed and water lilies along the shoreline. The pond was lousy with food year-round, cycling between minnows, tadpoles, dragonflies, frogs, newts, etc. Strictly for our own enjoyment, I would occasionally feed the bass store-bought minnows. The Fairburn sport shop would place them in a clear plastic-bag filled with oxygen. One-by-one, I would flip a minnow to the bass and watch the action. I rested the clear plastic bag in about 6" of water and steadied it with my one hand, when "suddenly" I was startled by a LOUD splash. Our largest pet bass "Walloped" my hand and the plastic bag, which busted the bag and freed about two dozen minnows, and this triggered a feeding frenzy that was over in less than a minute. The little rascal actually drew blood from my hand, so I suppose that was my most intimate moment with a largemouth bass Roger

Sam, I think you nailed it! The zero-sum game has the lowest margin for error ;D Roger

I've never found a spinnerbait that satisfied all the criteria I sought...I am always forced to SETTLE. That is, until Ain't Texan dropped the name "Heavycover.com" some months back (they allow you to design your own spinnerbait) I should add that I'm not a big fan of spinnerbaits, and only throw them in dingy to muddy water (never in clear water): 3/8 oz Heavycover Spinnerbait Single-Colorado - #6 Smooth Gold Blade Black Craw Skirt Roger