RoLo

Punisher Jigs use craft hair, not natural hair. The original Hoss Fly was natural hair, but has been renamed "Aspirin Head Jig" and now it too consists of craft hair. Avoid! http://www.punisherjigs.com/categories.asp?cID=15&c=0 Roger

If I'm not mistaken Pete, all natural hair is hollow (squirrel, deer, bear, fox) and therein lies the magic. There's also a synthetic hair called "craft hair", used in the toy industry for doll hair. I believe craft hair is solid hair though and I cannot recommend it (though it's used extensively in TN). The choice of hair jigs is very limited today, in the wake of the new-age plastics. Nonetheless, hair and marabou are inimitable materials. Having tried most of the hair jigs available, I think you'd be hard pressed to beat "Cabela's Hand-Tied Bucktail Jig" (without rattles). To each his own, but I like White/Red (011) and Chartreuse (096) in 1/8oz & 1/4oz (current-dependent). http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/common/search/search-results1.jsp?hasJS=true&_D%3AhasJS=+&QueryText=hair+jig&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.22&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=hair+jig&noImage=0 Roger

Thanks Chris, that'll work! I'm not sure it's PVC but it's "corrugated", which should be even better. Roger

Kudos Avid, you made several valid points that I visited as well. Remember the very first story, before it was reshaped? I do. After he landed that fish, someone else had to SHOUT aloud that it was "foul-hooked", before he ever acknowledged the fact. I'm not implying that he foul-hooked the bass on purpose. I'm implying that Weakley wanted it so bad, he could taste it! That's why bribery would even enter his mind. Would you have thought to offer another fisherman $1000 for the right to catch his fish. I give him no credit for admitting anything, he was trapped and had no choice. Hey, we've got "stand-up" guys right here in the forum, plenty of them. Don't go for the bait, and don't put this guy in our category. I'm afraid there's no Boo-Hoo here, and no room on my pedestal for Weakley. But of course, to each his own. Roger

I agree with that. A very sensitive issue in Florida are the coral reefs, which are carefully guarded against molestation. Also, I've read where a permit is required by industrial dumpers who might deposit toxins into the ocean under the guise that they're contributing to a reef site. But I've never seen anything in the regulations that restrict private freshwater reefs, something you'd think should be encouraged. After all, the FWC spends a lot of money doing the exact same thing. But of course, private reefs are on a much smaller scale and the best part, the coordinates are not public knowledge Roger

Chris, that sounds like a simple and effective approach. I did a google search and unless I'm looking for the wrong stuff, the best price I found for 6" flexible PVC pipe was $400 / 25-ft Pheww...that would be one luxurious penthouse Roger

Well, PVC tubing, cement blocks and poured cement will definitely be part of the monstrosity, but I did rule out treated-lumber. As Pete suggested, I'll pop some random holes in the PVC pipe to create some more nooks for the watery creatures. I Iike Matt's tire idea, which I know they use extensively for saltwater reefs in New Jersey. But since I live in the hurricane belt, I'd probably have to add cement to keep them in place. No big deal though, and there's a tire yard about 10 minutes west on FL-60. Guys, thanks for your suggestions, I learned a lot. Roger

Muddpuppy, That's an interesting design...no fish, no show. I do like the idea of cinder blocks, which offer a bunch of caverns and also pressure-treated lumber which has a natural texture. Roger

Hey this is GREAT LBH, I like it already :o8-) If I'm following you, the 3'x3'x1' cardboard box is the cement form, the 4 PVC pipe provides the tree limbs and the 1 PVC simulates vertical growth. I do have a couple questions: 1. About how heavy is the whole deal with the cement and rocks? 2. Is there a good way to lower the reef to assure that it sits upright? 3. About how long would you expect it to take for algae and barnacles to form and for fish to establish residence? Roger

You've said a mouthful (excuse the pun). The flavor of a given species may vary according to the lake source and method of handling. In any case, I have eaten largemouth bass that tasted better than any crappie or walleye I have ever eaten (catfish aren't even in the running). Furthermore, in spite of being a warmwater fish, largemouth bass contain a generous level of beneficial omega-3 oil, normally associated with salmon. Roger

My home lake was the epicenter of all 3 hurricanes during 2004 (Charley, Frances & Jeanne). The dynamic trio literally annihilated the offshore hydrilla beds that used to grow in 8.5-ft deep water. This forced the largemouth population to disperse along shoreline vegetation and bulrush islands. I've decided to construct a manmade reef which I'll locate on pre-selected GPS coordinates. I'd really appreciate your help with respect to the best trees, objects and materials to use for constructing the reef. It would be best if the materials used would satisfy a few requirements: 1. Small enough to be transported in a 16-ft center-console 2. Heavy enough to stay in place on bottom during a squall 3. Long-lasting and not given to rapid decomposition 4. Whatever else I forget to consider Any and all input will be truly appreciated, and something we all stand to benefit from. Roger

They are only more credible in that the uninvolved person has nothing to gain by being dishonest. Third party witnesses are more inclined to tell it like it was, which represents THEIR moment of glory. That's par for the course. However, if you had just applied for "World's Most Disciplined Driver", you should be denied that record, because your driving is no better than mine :-[ Action speaks louder than words. IMO, releasing the evidence speaks volumes. This whole event gives rise to a Big Question: "What would possess three record-hungry mongers to release the most unique bass in the world, the bass of their fondest dreams??" A. Retaining that bass would provide evidence that it was in fact a new world-record B. Releasing that bass would destroy evidence that in fact it was not a new-world record Roger

I'm not matt, but it goes without saying, any fish that is not legal must be released immediately back into the water (A little thing called "discipline", now apparently on the endangered list). It really doesn't matter what you or I "think". To validate a state record and certainly a world record, the scales must have been calibrated in the recent past. I live on a lake that has the potential to break the Florida state record. Right now, before ever setting the hook, I know the whereabouts of 5 "certified" scales nearest to my home lake. I see know reason to make excuses for anglers who were feverishly pitching treble hooks at a visible cow? I see no heros either. It works both ways. How many of us can say, merely by looking at a photograph that this bass is definitely over 22-lbs 4oz? This is beginning to get silly. Roger

Both structure and cover are very important, but which is more important depends on the species and on the season. For smallmouth bass and walleyes, structure is more vital than cover all year-round. For largemouth bass and chain pickerel during the winter, structure is more important than cover. For largemouth bass and chain pickerel during spring, summer and fall, "weeds" are more important than structure. In fact, in my home lake in Florida there ain't no structure...can you say saucer? They grow fat and sassy in the overheated shallows, but if you took away thier weeds, they'd CRY! It's the same thing in Canada, largemouth bass are buried in the weedy flats all summer long. Again, both are very important, but I'm just trying to isolate the most important. Roger

A scale is deemed "certified" only if it has been calibrated before the weigh-in. In fact the date of re-calibration must be submitted. I have never heard of calibrating a scale after the weigh-in. Whose is in possession of that scale???? Calibrating the scale now would not confirm it's accuracy during the weigh-in. Another bugbear that hasn't been addressed is the absence of a state biologist. In Florida at least, a state official "must" confirm the species in-person as an eye-witness. Many state records have been denied due to this infraction alone. Also, I seriously doubt that the IGFA would allow a photograph to substitute for the corpse. I've read too many instances where the IGFA failed to sanction record fish with fewer breaches than this fish. Not to mention that this fish was also foul-hooked!! If the IGFA sanctions this bass, my attention would turn to the "IGFA", not the bass (ain't gonna happen). Roger

You mentioned a river at the onset, so I presumed this was a riverine lake. I should have asked you whether it's a 'natural lake' or an 'impoundment' (manmade reservoir), it makes a big difference. If it's a large lake, the depth lines may be charted on GPS software. GPS software is better than a hardcopy, because you can plot the coordinates at home on strange lakes you've never seen. An example of a GPS disk is Garmin's "US Recreational Lakes". Roger

The depth at which a color can be percieved hinges on sky clarity (cloudy/sunny), water clarity, surface roil and whether you're in sun or shade. Under average conditions, red becomes difficult to distinguish from black below 6 feet deep. Though I don't like or use red fishing line, the red hue in a translucent fishing line disappears very quickly. Roger

There are many reasons why the mean size of bass may be small in a given body of water. Two of the most common causes though are inadequate predation and excess plant life. In the north, pike are sometimes introduced into a lake where the bass are stunted. Since pike themselves are highly prolific, this isn't the best solution. In the south, man is among the chief predators of bass, where underharvest can lead to stunting. When too few bass are removed, the end result is a multitude of "runts". Excess weed growth, like hydrilla infestation makes it too easy for prey fish to elude bass. The bass continue to propagate but become acclimated to a low-calorie diet, with a poor expenditure-to-reward ratio. Here again, the result is stunting. Roger

A hand-held scale does not qualify as a "certified scale". In addition, to qualify as a world record the fish must be verified by a biologist. Sounds like another Hee-Haw bass to me. Roger

The alka seltzer is for the "shark" Roger

The surest and most obvious location of course is the "River Bend" (left center). The river bend is a year-round site because the inside of the bend produces a shallow delta that provides warm water habitat, while the outside of the river channel carves a deep drop-off that provides cold water habitat (on that you can bet the ranch). Unfortunately, a lake chart without contour lines (depthlines) has only limited value. For instance, probably 80% of the stumpfields found in the arms can be eliminated at home, without wetting the boat. On the contrary, the best weed beds, the best wood, rocks and bottom breaks can only be pinpointed on-site. Roger

Welcome aboard Celandra, Red is the first color to disappear underwater, because it has the longest wave length (most vulnerable). But as long as the color red is perceptible underwater, studies have shown that it's the only color to incite a reaction in fish (Toreadors would agree). Roger

The post by quachitaBA reminds me of Round Valley Reservoir New Jersey. It was one of the few lakes in Jersey with a healthy population of smallmouth bass. Unfortunately, the largemouth bass population was slowly overtaking the smallmouth bass. In an effort to preserve the smallmouth fishery, the Game and Fish Division lifted all limits on size and numbers for largemouth bass. Articles were written by local editors pleading with fishermen NOT to return ANY largemouth bass to Round Valley Reservoir. Concurrently, stringent restrictions were imposed on smallmouth bass, both size & number. To make a long story short, in spite of unrestricted largemouth harvest, their efforts failed! Largemouth bass continued to overtake the smallmouth bass, which today represent a small minority of the bass, while largemouth bass dominates the fishery. Any bass over 6 lbs is more than likely a "cow". Without a doubt, releasing a 12-lb cow back into the lake is a highly noble gesture. All the same, it should be accompanied by the reality that her chances of seeing one more spawn are rather slim. Roger

I'm glad to hear that. My got-to tube has been the Yum Vibra-King (4.25"), which coincidentally is a compromise between 4" and 4.5" However, I generally use lighter weight than you (~1/8oz), but you're probably fishing deeper water than me (TN vs. FL). Roger

I like white tubes, especially in clear water (white or chartreuse) Even in dingy water I normally use "alewife" (yum vibra-king), which is white & herring blue, (satisfies dark & light shades for changing light conditions). Roger