bman310

Very nice, congrats! Larger fish are on the horizon! -b

It looks like a nice catch! It looks like u need to get a digital scale. Believe me, you'll be happy when u get one. -b

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2080568/Human-remains-lake-American-shot-Mexican-pirates.html Link above tells about the dead body found. b

I was thinkin the same thing when I saw this thread. Seriously I'm right handed and it just feels better casting right handed and using the right hand to crank. -b

2011 was an excellent fishing year for me. I decided early in the year I was going to focus on throwing plastics during the year. I learned early on how I could go out and catch bass consistently (even as the weather and lake conditions changed) as well as catching quality ones. (I fish hi pressure city lakes too) Senkos, Baby Brush Hogs, and Yamamoto Kreatures became my go to baits. During the last weeks of the year, I added Rage Tail products and Roboworms to my list of go to's. My biggest gratifying moments during the year was getting my 5 1/2 year old son on a nice bass as well as getting him on trout throughout the year. My son now hooks trout on his own and reels em in, but the bass I had to set the hook and help him hold the rod. He started showing more interest in fishing towards the end of the year. (photo below of my son with the first bass he helped catch) Goals for next year: -Keep having fun at the lake -Teach my son more about fishing -Get my 3 year old daughter on some fish (she actually shows more interest than her brother) -Order a swimbait rod and catch my first swimbait bass -Get my first DD bass -Add a couple more rod & reel combos -Get my 2 kids out on a boat Wishing everyone here on BR the very best for 2012! -brian

That's a good idea, but I'd get jacked for my catches at my lake by one of the other non- C&R fisherman or park patrons.

I'm a bank fisherman and normally fish alone so I've been going with the laydown photos. If I try to take a pic of my hand holding up a bass it always comes out making the bass look much smaller. Here is a laydown photo I took yesterday morning. I also added another pic of a tape measure next to the rod and resized it and copied it with photoshop. I think it shows the catch was decent, but nothing compares to having someone take a pic of u holding your catch or using a tripod and timer Fat G does.

Very good advice mentioned. I also wanted to add one more. I used a Yamamoto Kreature Bait this summer at a couple different very hi pressure Los Angeles city lakes in two different colors....Black w/blue flake and Green Pumkin 297. I threw them weightless backwards or regular and threw them Texas rigged with 1/8 & 3/16 tungsten weights & glass bead. I nailed the bass in areas where there were rock piles and areas where they were in cover. Sometimes I could swim them like a jig or work em slow. It seemed like a high percentage of my catches were good quality fish too. I did recently at some Rage Tail products, but I haven't been able to use them enough to give any good advice on them yet. -b

In all honesty spending just under 20% of your income on fishing is excessive, but your only 20 and you aren't married. As long as your fishing expenses don't affect your bills or financial obligations, I wouldn't worry about it, Have fun and remember you are only young once! As far as explaining to your girlfriend, I wouldn't try to sell her on your hobby. If she asks, just be honest. If she doesn't like just move on. -b

That's a super & generous offer! Hopefully Doug takes u up on it. If he does, I'm sure he'll be sending u the money in no time. -b

That's what they are doing out here in California. -b

Hi, I haven't tried El Dorado since they started stocking swimbaits, but I've been hearing from some of the Eldo regulars the bass fishing has been tough there recently. I did stop by there last week for a couple of hours and didn't see anything happening there. I can tell you from past trout fishing experiences at Eldo, I've seen lots of bass cruising the south shores of the big lake. That's where a lot of the trout end up. good luck to ya! brian

. Lol

I do most of my fishing on the shores and I lip every bass I catch. To me it just seems like the way to go. I did lose a very nice bass earlier this year while getting ready to lip it, but it was before the sun came up and would have been too dark to get a good photo anyway.. At least that's my story.

I have a laser temp gun that works awesome. The laser shoots out far and it give instant temp reading. They are expensive, but I used to race cars and still had one of these collecting dust.

Congrats on the birth of your new baby Dman! I have free indoor storage for all of your stuff at my place! I'm in Southern California and will keep all of your gear in tip top shape as I will use them all winter. -brian

Like several others said, it depends on the hooks you are using. I personally use Owner Twistlock light wire hooks for my Senkos and I just reel in the slack and they are hooked. I also use a Revo STX 7.1:1 which I feel is a benefit for my setup. I've also noticed the EWG Owners require the same reel set too. -b

I've been using Senkos for the last 5 years and I throw my ripped Senkos in a box and they are left outside in the sun. I've never seen one get dried up or hard. The only soft baits I've had dry up are from Berkley. -b

Go out before the sun pops out and throw a Kanami 5" June Bug (or black with blue) colors and you should get some action. It also works in in overcast or dark waters too. As far as other Kinami colors, just use colors similar to what u are using on other baits. I generally use Yamamoto Senkos, but there are a few I use from Kinami because they aren't offered by Yamamoto or Yum. -b

I made the switch to Yo Zuri 8# Hyb (green) and have been ultra happy. No problems and it's very strong.

Very true! Get a scale and you'll know it was a great investment in no time!

I also agree with Marty. I fish a lake with heavy weeds & grass and caught back to back lmb on a 5" Senko right after another angler was working his lure. I threw the senko in an opening and caught a 4 lb bass after it hit the bottom. The very next cast I caught one as the Senko was dropping after the initial cast. This is at a high pressure city lake too! I've also caught lots of bass when I let the senko hang up in the weed edges (various depths in the water colum) and let it sit there, then I move the rod tip a few inches and wait for the line movement. Good luck!

I've been using the YoZuri Hyb 8 lb for the last couple months on my Revo STX for throwing creatures and Senkos and really like it. I've been using the KVD conditioner since day one and don't know if its helping,but I haven't had any line issues. At times I've also been using a Seagar flouro leader which I'm liking so far too. I'm probably going to downsize my leader to 6 lb and see what happens. Brian

That's your opinion.. I say you are missing out by not using any baitcasters.

Yes that is great info, but the OP specifically asked, I think its a very valid question if he's trying to get an idea of the weights he's normally throwing so he can get a rod that will be very close to his baits. I think this is a great forum and has a ton of great info, but sometimes the OP just needs a basic answer. Respectfully, Brian