RoLo

If you're getting hits that you can't convert, then you answered you're own question, try a trailer hook. If you're not getting hits on the spinnerbait, then maybe Chris answered your question. There's a time and place for every lure. In spite of their tremendous popularity, I personally fish spinnerbaits 'only' in stained and murky water, In clear water I'll reach for something else. Because of its superior vibration (in dingy water), I use a Single Colorado almost exclusively. Roger

I'm in Lake Wales, Florida, and though we didn't have your water level problems, we did experience the same water color change. Lake Walk-In-Water was crystal clear before the three hurricanes and now it's tannin-stained and amber-colored. The real problem though was the loss of hydrilla, which dealt a mighty blow to our bass population. The stained water is actually a benefit on Weohyakapka. The rule of thumb is the darker the water, the darker the lure. I haven't seen the Clermont Chain since the hurricanes, but white and bubblegum may be too light for your stained water. However, if your water visibility is 3 or 4 foot, lure visibility shouldn't present much of a problem. Roger

10,000 casts without a bass, suggests to me that there are few if any bass in that water.

When I first started bass fishing in my early teens, I used to catch more bass by accident during the springtime, than I caught the rest of the year on purpose. Bass are shallow water creatures, that's their niche, but I think you may be fishing "too" shallow. I've done some bass fishing in upper New York, chiefly Black Lake and the St Lawrence River. After the bedding season, the bass abandon the shallow flats. But even so, the deepest "largemouth" bass I've ever caught in northern New York (dog days of August) was 15 feet deep. That's not the rule though, in fact it was caught accidentally on a jig & minnow while pike fishing. For what it's worth, here's what you might want to try. Using a lake chart, pinpoint the areas that display the most rapid depth change (convergent depthlines) in the 5 to 10 feet depth range. When you're on the water, concentrate on the trial sites with the richest weedbeds (in NY: cabomba, underwater cabbage and vallisnaria). It's not possible to keep doing this without breaking luck Roger

Buzzbaits are the epitome of excitement, and really peg the needle on the Fun Meter. I used to fish them much more often, but now I only think of buzzers in warm water in the 70s. Like any lure, buzzbaits will catch bass practically all year, but only during a relatively short season are they the best lure to throw. I don't mind winding my fool head off if I'm banging bass, but if I go 30 minutes without buzzbait contact, I'm already thinking of about 3 other lures. Roger

With respect to water temperature, fish are lucky and they're unlucky. Unlike warm-blooded animals, fish do not have to maintain a constant body temperature to survive. Contrary to conventional wisdom, a fish is comfortable in all temperatures of water, that's why they're lucky. Of course, temperature extremes may produce a secondary emergency that will cause discomfort. That is to say, when the water is so cold it freezes or so when it's so hot it cannot hold sufficient oxygen. In sharp contrast, warm-blooded animals such as us, experience discomfort when the surrounding air is much higher or much lower than 98.6 deg. Why are cold-blooded animals unlucky? They're unlucky because unlike us, temperature dictates their metabolism and disposition. It's a trade-off, while fish may be comfortable at all temperatures, they have no freedom of choice. For us it's exactly the opposite, though varying temperature do not dicatate our level of activity and our appetite, it does make us mighty uncomfortable, in fact it can kill us. Do fish seek warm water during the winter...NO (they're comfortable in cold water but very lethargic) Do fish seek cool water during the summer...NO (they're comfortable in warm warm) Do most fishermen believe the above facts...NO Roger

I believe that the single-most critical element is "Water Temperature TREND", even more important than the current temperature level. In my opinion, temperature trends (up, down or sideways) exert the greatest influence on the disposition of cold-blooded animals. With regard to fishing, I feel that the current temperature trend plays a key role in the "depth" and "speed" of lure presentation. Granted, there's a Whole Lot More, but I'm adhering to the confines of your question. Roger

http://www.navionics.com/HotMapsPremium_06.asp?RegionID=2 Roger

Thanks ReelMech for confirming my suspicions. Roger

I only mentioned Saddle Creek because it's so popular, but in my opinion it's overrated. I feel pretty much the same about Tenoroc, all those regulations can be a real pain. Close to you is the Winter Haven Chain. From what I've read and heard, Lake Smart (275 acres) is arguably the best bass lake in the chain. Just two years ago it yielded a 14-lb and two 13-lb bass. Visiting anglers prefer Lake Eloise (1,150 acres), the largest lake in the chain (Cypress Gardens). Also close to you is Lake Hatchineha. I think it's a sleeper lake because the Big-K (kissimmee) bears the brunt of fishing pressure. Fairly recently an electroshock study on Hatchineha produced larger bass than they shocked-up in Lake Kissimmee. Roger

That's not the way I got it. I heard that they took her out to the middle of the lake, buried a hook solidly in her mouth, tied a line to the hook, then buoy-marked the jumbo spool of 50-lb mono, and then released her. JUST KIDD'N.....JUST KIDD'N ;D ;D > > ;D ;D Roger

I think we were lucky to see her once, but we've apparently seen her twice. She's a legend in her own time, but she's not immortal. I voted NO Roger

Scott, I realize that one case in point is almost worthless, but this has been my own experience. I've owned two Humminbirds in my lifetime, and both of them were disappointments. The first one corroded internally and the second one malfunctioned to the point where the cost of repair was slowly overtaking the original cost. Okay, that was a long time ago, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. I have a short fuse with product dysfunction, something like two strikes and you're 'out' (blackball list). Lowrance on the other hand has never disappointed me. I've owned several lowrance units for both fresh and saltwater use, and I stand by Lowrance. Of course, there's an equal and opposite opinion for every negative report, but that's my two cents. Roger

FL-fisher, No, I have never fished Lake Marion, though it's only 15 miles from my house (as the crane flies). Since you lived on the lake you probably know, but I tell you anyway. Marion is a historic bass lake that used to produce a lot of whoppers during the 1960s and 70s. From what I've read lately, Marion has lost it's lunker status but still produces good numbers. Today, Lake Marion is highly touted for its superb crappie fishing. Now that you live in Lakeland, you've got Tenoroc WMA, Saddle Creek and the whole Winter Haven Chain : : :o 8-) 8-) Roger

I agree flechero. By the way, I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your reply. With enough time invested, I would imagine that most cows could ultimately be coerced into inhaling the lure. Nevertheless, it's still safe to say that the overwhelming majority of time will be spent without success. Mac's bass was no exception, except that it wasn't just a bass, but the heaviest bass in recorded history! Every time that bass tipped down on his lure without actually picking it up, I can empathize with his anxiety. Even if she picked it up and promptly blew it out, that would only add to his frustration. I'm not picking on Weakley, because I'm pretty sure that you and I might be a tad frazzled too (I know I would). Despite playing dumb, Weakley knew full well that a bass in California was only legal if hooked in the mouth area. Still, the idea of snagging the mouth to ****** the record would cross the mind of any angler (save comatose). The reason I have a hunch that he actually tried to do this was based on the outcome, the bass was indeed foul-hooked. It can be difficult sometimes to snag a fish intentionally, so the likelihood of snagging it by accident is even lower. I realize that it was very likely an accident, but remember we're only talking about gut feelings here. It goes without saying, I have no idea what happened and I never will. More importantly, my gut-feelings shouldn't mean anything to anyone. I only mentioned that casually in reference to another post where I pinpointed Dixon Lake as the best Californian hope (before the Mac incident). The weight of buck bass tends to plateau around 6 lbs, whereas cow bass grow significantly heavier. Statistics have shown that when a cow bass reaches 9-lbs in weight, the odds of her participating in one more spawn are stacked strongly against her. Okay, the bass in question was a freak, a bass with undeniable genetic superiority and exquisite physical fitness. In my view, she already accomplished more than I'd ever expect from a super bass, like a cat on her 9th life. Her recent ordeal and long stint out of her element, to my mind was her swan song. It's really not as sad as it sounds, because I'm sure that other world-record bass have gone belly-up without any recognition at all. I'm really not trying to be pessimistic, only realistic. Roger

I'm missing your point. It's pretty obvious that "this" bass DID NOT INHALE IT, otherwise Mr. Weakley would now be the new world-record holder. When I stated having a gut-feeling that Weakley was intentionally trying to snag the cow in the mouth, I was giving him the benefit of the doubt. The alternative is worse! All good things come to an end. I wouldn't get my hopes up too high for the reappearance of ole Miss SnagSide. It's my guess that she's in Davy Jones's Locker :'( Roger

I never felt that the current world record largemouth bass was devious or dishonest. To my knowledge, George Perry fulfilled all the obligations necessary to qualify his fish as the world record. There is a question that does comes to mind however. If that same bass were caught today would it qualify as a world record under the new more stringent IGFA regulations? In any case, George Perry has grandfather rights and remains the rightful holder of the world record largemouth. Now then, whenever new evidence emerges that suggests that an old record may not qualify by today's standards, that record goes under scrutiny. Such was the case with the former 25-lb world-record walleye taken from Old Hickory Lake, TN. It was ultimately sticken from the record because it was shrouded by mysteries and inconsistencies. Although the current world-record largemouth has often been challenged, Mr. Perry's record bass remains intact. The IGFA is very tough, they stripped the David Hayes world-record smallmouth from the books, only to eat humble pie and reinstate the record. In the final analysis, George Perry's record may be non-conforming, but it it's good enough for the IGFA, it's good enough for me. Roger

I know very little about combination units, but I'd just like to remind you that if some reason the unit ends up in the shop, you'll be without two electronics. IMO, I think you're probably better off with a Garmin handheld GPS and an Eagle Depth Sounder, which is the Lowrance freshwater division. I'm pretty sure you can keep costs within your price range. With regard to depth sounders there are 4 basic display technologies: Digital Graph - LCD CRT. Digital sounders are unexcelled for rapid data processing but are not very efficient with bottom readings and fish signals, a big No-No! Graph sounders display the most resolute details but are poorly suited for rapid data interpretation. In my view, this narrows the choice down to CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), which both offer very good graphic detail. The CRT is the same technology used in TV screens, and LCD is the same technology used in watch dials. CRT affords high contrast in low light but tends to washout in direct sunlight. Therefore CRT sounders are only advised when they're covered or out of direct sunlight, which I feel gives the nod to LCD. Roger

Just place yourself in the same situation. It's the task of the buck to protect the nest. Sometimes the male bass must be physically removed and placed in the livewell in order to get a shot at the cow. Even when the cow is alone at the bedsite, she'll try everything to intimidate a nest intruder without actually inhaling the lure. If you've done any bed fishing, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Like a big apparition she'll be hovering over the intruder, time and time again. It can become very frustrating when the cow bass refuses to actually pick up the lure. Every time she tipped her nose down to bump the lure, I can picture him ripping it upward in the hope of snagging her in the mouth area. Again, this is purely a gut-feeling on my part, but I don't believe it's at all far-fetched. His blood-pressure was probably running about 200/125 and after all, she was snagged in the body. Roger

Lake Wales, Polk Co.

That's possible, because these fellows are understandably obsessed (I'd be too). In my gut I feel that Weakley was doing his level best to foul-hook the big cow IN THE MOUTH, but unintentionally snagged her outside the mouth. I made a post shortly "before" Weakley's unique catch: I believe that the real story here is the potential of Lake Dixon, a potential that will wane over time as it has in every other case. I also believe that Mac's 25-pounder is in Davy Jones Locker. Roger

In freshwater, the term "channel" normally refers to the depression formed by a natural river or creek. In saltwater, the term channel refers to the manmade ditch that is dredged through a shoal area where the borders are indicated by so-called "channel markers". The term "ditch" is a word loosely referring to any depression, underwater or above water. In a canal, the ditch is manmade, whereas a drainage ditch may be naturally formed by erosion. The term "drain" connotes a ditch formed either by natural erosion (drainage), or a manmade ditch in the hope of diverting runoff water during heavy rainfall. All that said, the three terms are essentially interchangeable, and offer no clear definition by themselves. A question or two is usually required to verify the exact meaning. The truth be known, the "misuse of words" is the reason for all the confusion. It forces lexicographers to add every popular misuse as yet one more sense of the word. Roger

It's really not hokus pokus but is based on the length of the light waves, which are neatly delineated by the color spectrum seen with a prism. The order in which colors disappear, whether underwater or above water, is Red - Orange - Yellow - Green - Blue - Indigo - Violet Violet is the last to disappear, but that doesn't make it the best color, only the last to disappear. Although I don't buy into the match-the-hatch theory, I do buy into the red-reaction theory. I've never read a study refuting that red induces a reaction in bass apart from the visibility factor. It may be because blood is red, but no one really knows. Unfortunately, red becomes black rather quickly underwater depending on available light. Which is to say water clarity, sky clarity, surface disturbance and whether it's in the sun or shade. Roger

I couldn't tell you from my own experience, but from what I've read it can vary considerably but ballparks around 15%. For example, a 7-lb cow may weigh 8-lbs when ripe with roe. After finished spawning however, she'll weigh less than she weighed before she was ripe. Roger

A healthy forum (such as Bass Resource) consists of a protracted series of pro and con contributions. We have moderators who oversee the forum, just in case a given topic becomes overheated. However, I've yet to see a moderator squelch an orderly topic just because he felt "enough was enough". With all due respect, the above quote is not about "enough is enough", but only serves to fan the flames. To be credible, any attempt to suppress a thread must come from someone with a neutral unbiased stance. However, the quote above vehemently defends one side. I also noticed you live in California, hmmm : Roger