RoLo

Bass are not only scrumptious, they're high in omega-3 fats. When I stop eating bass, I'll be on the dark-side of the sod. Roger

Starcraft is a quality hull, even at 20 yrs old. You might consider a Minn Kota Talon (it's a pile-driver not a cricket leg) Roger

I've spent a few decades trying to justify the need for different colors of the same lure. My subjective mind says 'maybe', but my objective mind says, 'stay focused on vital matters'. You know...little stuff like boat location, type of lure, lure depth, lure speed, lure placement ~ ~ ~ This much we know for sure, buying different colors of the same lure is good for the American economy. Roger

Yes, I'm familiar with that ongoing controversy, you make an excellent point. Based on photometric analysis, most if not all recordation agencies struck down Mabry Harpers world record, with the exception of IGFA. To your point, IGFA is arguably the most renown record-keeping organization. Doesn't this remind us of the world-record smallmouth bass? The IGFA struck it down, then later the IGFA reinstated the Hayes world record. In any case, it's 'their' enigma not ours. Roger

You don't just call yourself 'bankbeater', you're the real deal! Like your style ? Roger

In early adulthood, I trapped muskrats as a diversion (the trapping side of my firearm license). I used #1 jump traps and sold the pelts to Taylor Fur and Sears. I was living in New Jersey at the time, when Louisiana was marketing by far the most muskrat pelts. However, we had the the so-called “Jersey Dark Rat” which fetched a higher market price because they were used for simulated mink. I'd set each trap in 3” of water, then stick twigs around the trap with a tiny piece of parsnip on the end. In 3” of water, the front feet of a muskrat are swimming, which guarantees a hind-leg grab. Caught by a front leg, muskrats are notorious for wringing off their foot. My wife was always a good sport, and held onto the hind feet of the muskrat while I cased it out. Casing a pelt is tacky around the head & eyes, where it tears easily Roger

There you go boys On this particular day, I took a coworker after-work, to join me in bow-hunting for deer. While I was fetching my bow & quiver from the trunk, I happen to see Jim toss a sandwich wrapper into the brush. Rather than embarrass my friend, I waited for an opportune moment, then picked it up and tossed it into my trunk. On our following after-work trip, I hoisted my trunk lid, and Jim spotted the sandwich wrapper. He asked me: "Is that mine?". I replied: "Yes" Not another word was spoken (A word to the wise is sufficient). Roger

You were very fortunate, that had to be a fierce competition. In keeping with your story, I'll restrict mine to snapping turtles: My wife & I were fishing Lawrence Brook, NJ, when we heard splashing near the reeds. A snapping turtle had just pulled a mallard duck underwater. Instinctively (overzealous kid), I quickly moved the boat to where I last seen the duck. I poked a boat ore vertically up-&-down, and sure enough it made contact with a rock-hard object. Shortly thereafter, a water-soaked mallard appeared, and dragged itself onto land. Based on the sorry shape that duck was in, I should've minded my own business, and let the turtle finish his meal. Roger

Scorpion MGL

Holy Cow! Glenn breathed new life into the phrase: 'Wealth of Information'

I'm not aware of any single source, so I had to bite the bullet and do my own number-crunching. We humans like nice round numbers like “10”, which are little more than crude guideposts. For example, 10 lbs is deemed a trophy largemouth bass, but statistically speaking, a 9 lb largemouth bass is a trophy, while a 12-lb bigmouth is record-class. It's absurd, but the number “10” is also used for walleyes and even for smallmouth bass (c/o Billy Westmoreland). I gathered as much data as I could from tournaments, clubs, contests and the like. The same few waterbodies dominate record-class walleyes, namely: Columbia River, WA - Bay of Quinte, ON – Lake Erie, OH - Tobin Lake SK – Lake Winnipeg, MB (Honorable mentions: Cedar Lake, MB – Lake of the Woods, ON – Lake of the Prairies, MB) Numeric logjams soon appear, such as 14 pounds which is a formidable weight ceiling, followed by another weight plateau at 18 lbs, which realistically represents a world-class walleye. Roger

I gave your question serious thought, but keep coming in with a 3-way draw: Plastic Worm - Jig & Trailer - Soft Swimbait Roger

I'll go along with your Booyah Pad Crasher (popping version). For nonstop frogging in more open water: Stanley Ribbit Roger

One rod (maybe a spare rod in the vehicle) & one small tackle box (Holds a deceptive amount of junk). I've tried knapsacks & fanny packs for daylong shore fishing, but in the long run, I find it less cumbersome to hopscotch a small hard tackle box from spot-to-spot Roger

Sure, you can buy a technique-specific rod for every angling technique, but there's a lot to be said for getting to know a few rods real well, and making them talk. On most days, I can grab a 6 1/2 to 7 ft rod with med-hvy power and fast action, and never give my rod a 2nd thought all day. Roger

A-jay described the early Creme Scoundrel perfectly: During the 50s, it was the only plastic worm available in Jersey, which we referred to as 'rubber worms'. It felt weird buying a contraption looking like that, but they outfished every plug & spoon in the tackle box. Roger

I would give the nod to 'time of year', as being the most influential factor. During the winter (during the coldest water temps), natural bait typically outperforms artificial lures (Both in open water & thru the ice). Natural bait, such as live minnows, also tend to increase the average fish weight, Roger

That's the same number I had in mind, except my 6th place number would've been '5', not 8 Roger

Congratulations, that's a trophy walleye and gorgeous fish. WEIGHT CLASSES ADULT-CLASS: 3½ lb TROPHY-CLASS: 9 lb RECORD-CLASS: 14 lb WORLD RECORD: 22 lb 11oz Greers Ferry Lk, AR 3/14/82 Roger

Nick Creme Scoundrel (purple) Roger

Looks like an honest 4 to me.

When bass grow barbels, that's when I'll start using scent. Roger

When bass aren't feeding, they deliberately cruise the shoreline in plain sight of fisherman. This causes anglers to show them every lure in their tackle box. When they get hungry again, they know what to avoid Roger

Car doors, tailgates, ceiling fans & walls, that covers it pretty well. Sadly, I have one more spoil-sport to add to the list: "Power windows". I've seen a power window take out 3 rod tips, in one fell swoop Overall, I believe 'ceiling fans' are the worst offenders. I'm finally in the habit of switching off the ceiling fan before handling my rods. Roger

For years, I fished from a 10-ft jonboat with oars. Being a cartopper, there were no trailer woes. Roger