RoLo

Not offensive - Not funny - Nothing I feel that the commercial is just plain stupid. There are far more clever ways to be funny. PS: When I seen those hideous shapes, I went "GULP"! ;D Roger

If your shallow cove was electro-shocked, I think you'd be real surprised by how many big bass live there throughout the spring and summer. Only two things come to mind, that would drive bass off a protected flat: 1. Dead vegetation that reduces the dissolved-oxygen content (a fall affair) 2. Receding water level A falling water level however, does not change the depth of bass, only their location. Provided they've got green weedy cover, I believe that big bass will be found in 2 to 4 feet of water throughout the spring and summer. I've found this to be true in Lake Huron, Ontario which is farther north than Rhode Island, and it's certainly true in Florida. The only season that might find the mother lode on the front lip of the cove is winter. I really don't visualize the big bass as venturing into the shallow bay, but setting up camp right in the cove. Great question, by the way Roger

I agree that it would be very helpful if the 'Location' and 'Age' fields were automatically displayed on the front interface. I find myself clicking the "Profile" button very frequently just so I can provide a more helpful reply. There will be members of course, who for some reason would rather not reveal their Age and/or Location. So not to impose our will on them, they can be instructed to simply omit that information on the data form, so it will not appear. Roger

The Eyes Have It. Begin by observing the angle of the bank, the bottom content, changes in bank angle and changes in bottom content. Look for entering creeks and pay particular attention to all forms of cover: weedy, woody & rocky. If other anglers are present, note their whereabouts and how well they're doing. Listen for the splash of a feeding bass and look for piscivorous birds such as ospreys, kingfishers, green herons and so on. The bottom line of course is fish contact. Roger

The area of my home lake is 7,500 acres. I believe I've got the bass pretty well figured out, but I also think they're beginning to figure me out too ;D ;D Seriously, if you're getting on the water about once a week, it will probably take several years to fully understand their seasonal patterns and weather-related disposition (maybe longer, maybe never) As Avid pointed out, who also lives in Florida, the hurricanes have changed everything. After the 3 hurricanes of 2004, it was like starting over for me. Lake Walk-In-Water went from a lake that rivaled the Stick Marsh in 1999 to a vast lake with a handful of boats in 2005. My home lake was a storehouse of lush hydrilla beds and now it is literally barren of vegetation. I've been waiting 2 years for the hydrilla to return and still nothing! On top of that we're in the midst of a severe drought, and the pool level is down several feet. It has now reached the point where I may only be able to launch my 12-ft rowboat, while leaving the 16-ft center-console on dry dock. So you see, figuring out a lake in a Goldie Locks environment is one thing, then there's the real world. Roger

I'd love to live in central Florida, and be surrounded by superb freshwater & saltwater angling. Alright, so I already made my move 8-) Roger

The first lure I throw would depend on water temperature, time-of-day, wind conditions, water color, what my wife is fishing, the cover at hand and so on. I rarely know beforehand Roger

As BassWhacker said, about the only thing you can do is keep the line-of-pressure low to the water, even plunging the rod tip underwater. Even at that, once a bass has made up his mind to jump, there isn't too much you can do to stop him. Then you've got Bill Dance, who intentionally applies upward pressure on the bass to induce several jumps for the camera. I've often read that it's best to bow to a jumping fish but lowering the rod tip during a jump takes pressure off the fish. I do just the opposite, and apply more pressure when a fish takes to the air. This makes it more difficult for the fish to shake the hook out of the keyhole, and lessens the chance that he may fall on top of the line. Since I'm not a tournament angler I look forward to a bass jumping and I'm disappointed when they don't. But why is it always the biggest bass that come unbuttoned? > Roger

I'm sure that most of the statements made in this thread are accurate and true, but I think the application of knowledge can vary a lot depending on the "intent of the angler". In keeping with the spirit of this topic, I'd like to describe one of my favorite fishing habits, and one of the main reasons I go fishing. When my wife & I begin fishing in the morning, I'll always ask her what lure she intends to fish, and then I'll intentionally choose something different. This has been a ritual now for several decades. If I'm dead set on the same lure that Lois wants to fish, I will at least choose a different color. If we spent our fishing time casting the same lures and same colors, the big button marked "Learning Experience" would be in the OFF position. We all catch bass more often than we learn something new, for this reason, experimenting and learning is just as much fun to me as catching bass. I take it a step further If a given lure or color is the clear winner on my boat, I will deliberately switch away from that lure or color to confirm that it's indeed responsible for the difference in action, and not mere chance. In my opinion, an angler should never tout a given lure or color if that's the only lure being used. The success of a lure or color can only be confirmed by the failure of another lure during the same time frame. Roger

What you're experiencing is pretty common, and something that we usually deal with every year. The transition between the spawning season and the summer season is normally a pretty tough period. The hot spring-bite is a hard act to follow, which only makes the ensuing slowdown more noticeable. Although the action in shallow water slows down significantly, most of the bass that were shallow are still shallow, and most of the bass that were deeper are still deeper. As we approach summer, the temperature of shallow water rises above the comfort zone of bass before that of deeper water. That is to say, bass that already reside in deeper water will be insulated from unfavorable conditions by the extra layer of water. The difference in behavior between shallow bass and deeper bass creates the illusion of a bass migration, but bass can usually be found in all depths most of the time. During the pre-summer period, bass lying in shallow water will not be as catchable as bass holding in deeper water. But as we all know, when bass are in a negative mood, they might as well be gone because the end result will be the same. The lakes in central Florida are predominantly shallow, in fact a high-percentage of lakes have a maximum depth of 10 ft or less. Regardless, the same phenomenon takes place in shallow lakes, but on a smaller scale. For instance, the difference in bass disposition might involve bass in 2 ft of water versus bass in 5 ft of water. Here's The Upshot: As soon as conditions are favorable for shallow water, the bass still holding in the shallows will become more catchable than the bass holding in deeper water. Leave it to Mother Nature, she covers all bases. Roger

That's a good question. During the heat of summer (some Florida lakes are already in the 90s), my favorite lure by a long shot is a 7.5" action-tail Plastic Worm, T-rigged on a 4/0 hook with a 1/16 oz slip-sinker (thare pure moyda) Some years ago two fish-camps in Florida conducted a comparison of best summertime lures. They found that plastic worms handily outfished live minnows, and did so for both size and numbers. Naturally, this is not the case during fall, winter and spring. Roger

Raul, we often see the acronym "LOL", but I was literally "LAUGHING OUT LOUD" Roger

There's no doubt whatsoever that senko-type worms are obscenely productive! However, I honestly don't believe that a senko is the most appropriate lure for a rank beginner. Yes, the senko has a provocative waddle, but it's a very fragile waddle that is easily dampened by a taut line. You'd have to explain to a beginner that a tight line would kill the action of his lure, that he must maintain a semi-taut line during the freefall, somewhere between taut and slack. You'd have to further explain that because he may not have total contact with his lure he must watch his line so he knows when a fish strikes the lure. The beginner may just look you straight in the eye and say, "You're Joking Right?". Just rig him up with a 6" Original Culprit ribbontail worm, but first slide on a 1/16 oz bullet sinker to assure that the worm tail will remain constantly active regardless of whether the line is taut or slack. Also be sure to give him or her the option to choose their own color. Though it's usually founded in myth, 'color' is a great confidence builder. After all is said and done, there is no surefire method that will always guarantee a bass, well at least that's what Kevin VanDam believes Roger

That is HILARIOUS! I think I have the same video. Roger

Sorry Raul, anything to do with that profane primate is sheer Pornagraphy Roger

Bridgemaster hand-poured 5.5" Paddletail Worm - Watermelon Pepper (locally available only) 1/16 oz Bullet Sinker, Texas-rigged on 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG Superline Hook Roger

Great Message!

You're fortunate in being within easy striking distance of Lewis Smith Reservoir. If I were you I'd bone up on spotted bass as well largemough, because Smith vies with Martin and Lanier as being the nation's best trophy water for spotted bass. In fact, during the late 1970s, Lewis Smith Reservoir yielded the former world-record spotted bass: 8 lb, 15 oz. Spots are a terrific gamefish, gorgeous and hard-fighting. Most of the nation's finest lakes are "heavily-pressured". Not to worry, the pressure is only there because the fish are there. The so-called "replenishing factor" means that a "holding site" today will be a "holding site" forever. When one trophy is removed from a sweet spot, another one takes his place, the void is filled with surprising efficiency. Roger

If I counted correctly, we're now up to 27 members who reside in Florida. That's a nice cross-section. Roger

That makes good sense to me. It may be too easy though... Placing the bass in a bag and then removing the bass from the bag is extra handling that may knock off valuable slime, similar to a net. Roger

I totally agree Darold. I wish I'd read through the responses before posting, I plumb forgot about the Boga Grip :-[ Thanks to you guys, the "Boga Grip" is already on the list for my next online order. (pheww....what a price discrepancy between the 30-lb and 60-lb caps!) Roger

My first choice is the hole made by the hook itself. If that isn't feasible then I'll pierce a small hole in the tough membrane behind the lower lip, the same as a hook would do. This is tenacious membrane designed to withstand abuse and the possibility of infection is highly remote. One thing you never want to do is mess around near the delicate tissue that forms the gills, which is an external set of lungs. Roger

Well, he may have ruined your day, but it was only 'one' day. With his attitude he will likely spoil many of his own days. In fact, with that un-business demeanor, his Boat Rental business is on pretty shaky ground. Roger

Frankly, I don't care one iota about Weakley, he's just an intermediary. My interest lies entirely in the bass, its validity or lack of validity. I have reiterated precisely what I have read. Based on what we read, everyone forms their own opinion, and everyone has a right to their opinion. What puzzles me most however, is why you feel so compelled to staunchly defend Weakley? Roger