AUTgrPilot

I don't feel direct advertising has an effect on me. However, when I see something that looks good, I'll give it a shot. The banjo minnow, walking worm, and Chuck Woolery's lighted lure shows don't even get me thinking about buying those lures.

Not me.

Here's one that might start some discussion. Does anyone ever take some of the smaller legal bass home and fry'em up?? Show of the new studies show that 100% catch and release can/will hurt the size of bass in a particular lake. The numbers will be high but most/all of the fish will be smaller. Does anyone take a particular species home and cook'em?? Some lakes don't even have a minimum on Spotted bass trying to encourage anglers to eat'em up. Thoughts??

I own a Tr-186 w/175 Optimax. I love my boat. There are only two things I would have done different. 1. I would have gone to a different dealer (hind sight is 20/20 on this one). 2. I would have stepped up to the TR-196. There's an extra storage compartment and a few other niceties. Overall it's a great boat. Pretty quick and handles rough water well.

I agree whole heartedly, keep your distance from other fishermen best you can. However, I will add this, I would rather someone blow by me at 50 creating a small wake than to cruise by at 10 throwing the biggest wake the boat can possibly throw. I've had this problem more with pleasure boaters who think they're doing me a favor by moving at less than "plane-off" speed. Most fishermen know their boats and are fairly courteous.

I saw the new Lowrance LCX-104 the other day on a pros boat. Impressive system, but d**n is it expensive.

Triton TR-186 w/175 Optimax

I do use painted lead, but I buy it that way. I only buy black as well. It's probably just a mind game but the black just looks more natural on the dark colored plastics I use. Not a huge deal to me.

I don't have a combo but I really do like my Lowrance 3000MT GPS. The variety of electronic maps I can make is awesome and the HotMaps from Navionics work like a charm. I recently saw the new LCX-104 combo on a pros boat. EXPENSIVE, but what an incredible display.

I'll argue that one. My guess is that Motorguide sponsors more folks that Minn Kota because Minn Kota doesn't need to. Just a theory. My cousin has a MotorGuide and he hates it. I've got a Minn Kota and have no complaints.

I have all kinds of plastics, all kinds of crankbaits, but I notice that I only buy Terminator spinner and buzz baits. They're impossible to tear up.

Well, the highland resevoirs in Kentucky and Tennesse don't freeze over. I'm taking a trip to Norris Lake in the beginning of January. It's interesting in the winter to go there because they drop the lake level 40-60 feet. It's good to take pictures of the places I caught fish and I can study why I caught fish in those spots. Plus the fish, as expected, are highly concentrated.

Couldn't have said it better myself. There are only a few times during the year that I enjoy fishing for smalleys--early spring when it's jerk bait time and late fall when they binge. Dragging a tube across the bottom of Lake Erie or St Claire is just boring.

One dislike I'll add is an aspect of Fishing with Roland Martin. Roland focuses tooooooo much on the Product Showcases. I realize the sponsors pay for the show, but I think he gets a bit excessive.

I actually a salt water show the best--Addictive Fishing w/Capt Blair Wiggins. He's extremely entertaining and he does one thing that most of the fresh water guys don't genuinely do, that's get excited. Other than that, since I'm trying to get more into tournament fishing and learning how to break down new lakes (I travel a great deal with my job), I like Schooled by Denny Brauer. I just wish they'd make the show an hour long and go into detail a little more.

I think my net has scooped up more trash than fish (that was sarcasm). I do my best to pick up everything I see. I was once at a stoplight and saw a lady throw a McDonald's cup out her open window. I got out of my truck, picked up the cup, walked up to her window, and threw the cup back in the car (ice and all). I probably could have got into trouble but I sure felt better.

Okay, I'm going to contradict a few folks, but there is a time for every technique. I've found that a short striking fish or a following fish is the best time to actually speed up the buzzbait. It forces them to commit before the bait gets away. You'll either start whackin em or they'll not make an attempt at all. Either way, you learn something about their mood. Anybody else??

I use Terminators so the titanium is hard to do anything with. However, I always trim the skirts down to the back of the hook. In open water I'll add an upside down trailer hook (the hooks point in opposite directions). I'm usually fishing deeper water, so I drop the blade size by .5 or 1 so it runs a little deeper.

I like the Zoom Brushhog series--all 3 sizes. If I happen to be fishing heavy brush or grass, I rip the front arms off so it slides through easier.

When I flip, I'm usually within 1 to 1 1/2 rod lengths of my target. I also don't release the spool on my reel. I grab the line in between the reel and the first eyelet and pull out the required amount of line to reach my target and depth. When pitching, I hold the bait in my hand, release the spool (and hold it with my thumb), then swing the bait to the target. Accurate pitching will get me 3-4 rod lengths.

I currently have a 2003 Triton TR-186 w/ a 175 Optimax. I'm extremely happy with both. This is my first boat so I would do a few things different. 1. I would have stepped up one model and got the TR-19 (now the TR-196). There's an extra storage compartment, and a few other features. 2. I would have chosen a different dealer. I'm extremely happy with Triton, I just picked a bad dealer.

Cumberland and Norris don't freeze. I'm going to go to Norris before the spring rains fill it up again. They normally drop the lake 60ft, which as you can imagine, really concentrates the fish.

Dayton, OH normally Got sent to Florida for a couple of months Usually fish Erie, Cumberland, Norris, and a couple of small lakes in central Ohio

You've described everything I do.

I'm hardly an expert either but I've fished many of those lakes including Dale Hollow, Cumberland, Kentucky, and Norris. I'll add these two things: 1. Don't think like a large mouth, smallies are almost completely different fish, with the exception of a few times of the years. 2. Those deep canyon reservoirs can be extremely difficult if you've never fished them before. I recommend a local guide your first time out. Most of the guys in that area are extremely friendly and will do they're best to educate you and not just "put you on fish".