cart7t

I'm getting ready to do a tackle purge myself. Way too much stuff I never use that just uses up space.

I sank my old Champ 16 1/2 Super V about 5 years ago. Pretty good too. ;D Once we got the water out of it I had no problems with the electronics working. In fact, the wire leading to the auto bilge pump switch was broken which is what caused the "incident" to begin with. Maybe you've got a breaker or 2 on that boat that tripped or perhaps fuses blew.

Good news. You're only 15 years old. You've got plenty of time to improve. It really sounds like you're making this w-a-a-a-y too complicated. First, I started out at an earlier age than you but I had zero mentoring. I had to teach myself how to bass fish with on the water experience and what very little written information was available at the time. I also didn't have much in the way of equipment. I owned an old Mitchell 300 spinning reel on a fiberglass rod that was given to me by a neighbor. My lures consisted of a few beetle spins and a couple of Roostertails. First, are the lake(s) you're fishing quality lakes? Do they receive a lot of pressure? If so you might want to start by changing fishing waters. Second, follow Big O's or Matt's advice and switch to a soft plastic and fish it only. Leave all the other stuff behind and force yourself to catch fish with one bait. A soft plastic is as good a bait to rely on as any. Third. Don't have preconceived ideas about how the fishing should be. Don't assume because conditions are ideal that the fish will be attacking your lure on every cast. Approach each trip with a blank sheet of paper. Don't be afraid to try something goofy or fish your one lure you take along different than the way it's supposed to be fished. Keep an open mind. Good luck. It'll get better once you start catching more fish.

There's supposed to be a Gander Mountain opening less than a mile from my house. Supposed to be Maybe someday It's been well over a year and the old K mart building that Gander is moving into looks pretty much the same. It's almost like they've employed 2 carpenters to do the whole job and then blindfolded them.

Throwing DD22's? Definitely the 7' MHVY.

I would definitely get that loan and then send the money to me. You'll have just as much chance of getting that boat out of me as you would that seller. SCAM. Happening quite a lot these days and Ranger is the usual boat of choice.

Cool front came in last night. Current temp 83 degrees. Dew point 80!!!!! Walk outside for about 10 minutes and you're drenched.

My biggest is about 10lbs, those suckers pull like a LM at first. Then you get them up to the boat and they do a roll over and surrender thing.

So who grabs the honor of being the first to pee on the back deck and motor cowling?

Keep it up and you'll be able to guide on that lake part time.

: I'm no night fishing expert. Especially in TX in the wind. Wind blowing 15-25mph at night? In these parts I wouldn't even bother going out but if that's you're only option, I think I'd take catt's advice as well as anyone else that fishes your types of conditions.

Pillow fights and whipped cream bikinis. Oh myy Plenty of order out food, doing their nails, talking about boys and watching a triple header of "Steel Magnolia's", "Beaches" and "You've got Mail".

Awww.... There's a jammie party at Blaines tonight. ;D

2 over my first time. Where's Mary Ann and Ginger?

It's amazing that even smaller bass like that one will try and take down such a large lure. .

you mean something like this?

When I was selling reels more often I test drove a couple of the older style Castaics. Very solid reel. I've used flippin switches before but the insta-gage took a little getting used to. Nice reel, excellent reel for those applications.

95 today. It's a steam bath outside. Feels like Florida.

Check around with your local taxidermists. Each guy does his fish a little different. Definitely ask if he recreates the fish as it is in your picture or if he has a standard way of painting each fish. Most importantly though, see actual mounts he/she has done and make your final decision based on that. Not on price.

In the spring and fall, far more than I do in the summer and winter. If it was up to me, I'd only have a plastic grocery bag full of lures on the deck and nothing else unfortunately, it doesn't usually work out that way.

Sensitivity? Who holds their rods that far back on the handle and as for weight, just how much extra would the cork weigh on a split grip if it was all cork? It's basically an "In" thing right now. I've used one and see zero advantages.

Have you seen a typical Nascar race or a NFL football game? Commercials pay the bill. A typical fishing show doesn't have very good ratings. It takes more commercial time to pay the bills. I can't recall ever wetting my hands before lipping a fish. I find the act of swinging a fish into the boat and allowing a fish to flop around on the floor of the boat while the angler dances around, screaming and whooping it up far more disgusting and damaging to a fish. That happens frequently during the telecasts of many tournaments. Nothing stopping golf courses from planting officials on the course and telling players to pick up the pace or get off the course. Re NASCAR: That is a common complaint among race fans. I love the contradictory rationale the announcers use in a vain attempt to justify them. A caution flag comes out. "We'll take a commercial break now so we can get back to cover the action in the pits." Then when they pit, "We'll go to commercial now so we can cover the action on the restart." While fishing doesn't get the ratings of NASCAR (which is declining) or football, WFN, ESPN, VS etc, do not have to pay the confiscatory rates that networks do for the much higher rated "sports". Re the handling of the fish: I do wet my hand, even when I lip a fish. Easy since I'm at water level sitting in my canoe. You are correct about the celebrating while a fish flops around on the deck. Not all do that though. Most seem anxious to get it in the well and the lure back in the water as quickly as possible. They have a vested interest in getting the fish back to the scale alive. Golf: They do have "officials" on the course to keep play moving. They call them rangers. Some courses do a better job than others. That however has nothing to do with the point that many folks tend to copy what they see the superstars of their activity doing. In fact, it proves the point. I'm not arguing your point, I'm more concerned about folks following the lead of athletes that are doing illegal things in their off hours or using performance enhancing drugs.

Wouldn't BPS be the best place to find out about the reel and what his options are? The Shimano forum actually has a Shimano reel mechanic that posts there.

4.5lbs, KY lake roadtrip on a jig. Caught out of the back of my boat while Speedbead fished up front. I took the day off.

Nice fish! 8-)