Sam

Branson, you need to read and study bass habits, especially the effects of water temperature on our cold blooded friends. The bass will hit the beds starring around 62* and if the water temps drop they will move back to deeper water, only to return to their beds when the water temps increase to around 62* and higher. Catching bedding bass is a very difficult challenge. The big females have already eaten before the spawn; do not eat during the spawn; and will go off and recuperate after the spawn for a day or two before getting back to their normal feeding habits. Be patient. Remember that bedding bass are not feeding. Think what lures you have that you can drag through the bedding area that will aggravate the smaller males and the big females to pick up your bait and move it away from their bed. After spawn is over you can start to catch them as they will begin to feed once again. Forget "pre-spawn." Look for late winter into early spring and then spring to decide what baits to use depending on water temperatures and the specific spawning schedule in your area. And start some conversations with Senko lover. Kyle is an excellent bass fisherman for his age and he has a lot of knowledge and insight he can share with you. Plus he lives in North Carolina which means he has an understanding of the North Carolina waters, even though the state is very diverse in topography.

And the same to you and your family and everyone on this Forum on this high holy day. May everyone have a quiet day and take a break from fishing to give some thought on why you are here and what is your purpose in life. Think about your future as you are now getting a second chance and the slate is wiped clean. Then go out on Monday and clobber those bass!!!!!!!

You have a G. Loomis machine that needs repairs. Go to a pro to have it done. Our own Delaware Tackle can help you with this project.

Fish the C-rig any where any time. Use lizards. Colors of your choice. Don' fall for any "special" set ups. Get yourself some 1/2 ouch weights; some strong swivels; some clear glass beads; a good heavy rod; and load up that baitcaster with 20 pound fluorocarbon line. Use Palomar knots to attach the lines to your swivels. Go out and throw that sucker all over the place.

Bass fishing is about confidence. You have to get that confidence back. Try new techniques and baits and then go back to what you have confidence. The fish are there. You just have not hit them when they are feeding.

My wife.

If Zona is on the Forum he hopefully will share some insight into the back rooms of professional bass fishing, without all the glamor, and how bass fishing is a difficult and extremely challenging career. Also looking for his humor and outstanding information on bass fishing and life. Welcome Zona to the Forums.

She just got finished spawning and will not eat until she recovers. You did nothing wrong. Happens to me all the time after the big ladies spawn. They just sit in one place, not interested in food or moving. You can hit them on the head with our bait and she will not be interested. She will be fine in a day or two and you can go back and see if she is still in the area, although she will probably swim off looking for something to eat.

Issue: Is it legal to walk, run, bike, drive, paddle, fish or run a boat on or over property of others if: 1. there are no trespassing signs; or 2. if there are no trespassing signs posted? Do homeowners rights extend skyward or are they just for the actual land? I side with the homeowners, if they have No Trespassing signs posted.

Wow! What a sad surprise. Only 66. He must have been really sick. The photos show him swollen. Wonder if he was on a steroid drug. Another good person passes away. RIP.

Jig Man, this is his first post so I agree, probably a young man in middle school. Maybe he will introduce himself and bring us up to date on his bass fishing experience, where he lives, etc. We are here to help with most fishing and fun related questions but this one takes the cake. Then again.........................................

Good one. Stupid is as stupid does.

Wonderful. We are all proud of him and his accomplishments. Keep us posted as he moves on.

Red, fishing in college can be fun but I will tell you what I tell all the young guns heading to a school of higher education: Class work comes first. No if's, and's or but's. Fishing comes in a distant second, third, fourth or fifth. Here is your new list of priorities: classwork; girls; fishing; girls; classwork; girls; fishing; girls; girls; girls ;girls; classwork; and the list continues. So here is what I suggest: Living in Pennsylvania (unless you are in Erie, Colorado) you have the luxury of selecting among so many great schools, from little Slippery Rock to the big State Penn, with many selections in-between. Now is the time to do your homework on the computer and decide which schools offer the major you want to enroll and if you can, find out if they have a club fishing team. You then go for a formal tour of the school with your parents and ask about their club fishing team and who to contact. When you visit the campuses try to set up a meeting with the club president or a local member since you could be visiting the campuses during the summer when school is out. Your parents need to know about the team, how much time is involved, the costs and all the details, plus the probability of you actually making it up the ladder of success to fish club and higher level college tournaments. As penned above, go to the web sites for college fishing for both BASS and FLW and read all you can about past tournaments and what schools have bass fishing clubs that fish the BASS and FLW tournaments. Call the club presidents with the understanding that many of the club's web sites are outdated and the guys listed have graduated or moved on. I will be frustrating but you can do it. Subscribe to Bass Times as this publication covers the college fishing tournaments plus it is one of the best bass fishing publications in the market today. The main goal is to find a school that offers your major and has a STABLE bass club fishing team. You have to find out about the team coming and going so when you enroll you will know the team is stable and will continue for the five or six years you are in school. And after you find out if the school has a bass fishing club you then need to ask if you need a boat to compete on a high level to move up in the tournaments. Guys will be paired together when August rolls around, leaving those without a boat out in the cold. You can still get a ride now and then, but for the most part you will be a nonboater without a boating partner until you score high in club tournaments as a nonboater or make friends with a guy who has a bass boat at school. Clarify how the club operates regarding nonboaters and moving up to be paired with a guy with a boat. If you have a boat then you will be treated like gold. Storing a bass boat in a safe environment is costly as you will need to rent a storage space to keep the boat and your equipment safe and out of the elements. Check this out with your parents to understand the financial outlay and what watercraft liability insurance requirements are needed ($300,000 watercraft liability for starters; $1,000,000 limits are the best) Whatever you decide just remember your number one goal is to get that degree. After attaining that level of success you can have a successful career, make a lot of money, pay a lot of F.I.C.A., buy a new Ranger with a 250 four-stroke Mercury along with having money for gas, oil, upkeep, big garage to store the boat and equipment, upgraded trailer, your G. Loomis rod collection, Steetz reels, Japanese baits, the newest generation of electronics (6-D by the time you graduate); a beautiful wife; lots of kids; private schools; braces; trips to Disney World every year; paying taxes; a big white house in the suburbs of Pittsburgh or Philly (Main Line, of course); Mercedes SUV for the wife; BMW SUV for yourself; a Ford F-350 to tow the boat; lots of jewelry for wife; private school for kids; concierge doctor for family; and on and on and on and on and on and on and on..................

From this past November, 2015 to March 18, 2016. Put boat away; put tackle away; put maps away; put fishing away; and got ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This past Friday I caught my first two bass from a client's pond while waiting for the meeting. They were not big. The first one was a beautiful bright green fat dink and the second about a pound and a quarter. Caught both on a spinnerbait. Missed a small one on a Zoom shaky head trick worm. But they count! Now, waiting for the weather to warm up to hit the lakes, rivers and ponds.

Welcome. More and more Virginia guys and gals are joining the Forum which is great. Please add your physical location to your avatar so we can help you better by knowing what part of the country and state you fish. Ever fish the cement pond at Shenandoah University? Never caught anything big in that water but there must be a few big ones in it.

Ask your boat questions in the boat section. Welcome. Always nice to have another Virginia guy or gal on the site.

Yep. Definitely.

You are da man! Congrats. Keep it up as we freeze our fannies off this weekend in Virginia.

No. This only happens to you. No other person in the world has experienced what you have experienced. OK, seriously, what you are seeing happens all the time all over the world. to everyone, sooner or later. So what is going on? First, forget the term "prespawn." Think early spring and spring. Base these two times of the year on the water temperature of the body of water you are fishing. Early spring is under 50* while spring is 50* to 75*. The bass will start their spawning rituals when the water temperature hits 60* to 62*, although Catt has seen it begin in the 50's. Use baits for spring. As you know, when the water temperature hits the level the bass like, the males will make their way from the deep part of the water column to the shallow bedding grounds using structure to get from one place to the other. After they fan an area for their girlfriend the girls move up lay their eggs. During the early spring they will feed like crazy to go through the early spring and spring periods. This is the best time to get your personal best as those fat ladies are feeding to get ready for some fun in the grass. Unless, of course, you are off kilter with the dogwood trees and the females have already eaten like they have nine rectums and they are no longer thinking of food. They have other things on their mind that are better than food. You will understand this as you get older. But you know all that. So what do you do in Virginia? You watch the dogwood trees. When the dogwoods are fully bloomed the bass are on their nests. Simple as that. No if's, and's or but's about it. As the dogwood trees' blooms start to form and open the bass will be having good thoughts about the next generation of little green monsters. Follow the blooms to their final opening and blossom. Right now in Virginia the blooms have started to open but this cold front and storm will keep them on hold for the rest of this coming week. Does this mean the bass could be on their beds next week when the temperatures warm up and the dogwoods finally bloom? Yes, it does. it also means that if the flowers have not blossomed then the bass are not on their nests. Simple as that. So forget water temperature; water clarity; early spring; spring; summer; full moon phase, water depth; current; crawfish colors; square bills; homework; your prom; SAT's; SOL's; the next James Bond movie; taking your girlfriend to the Mardi Gras (you missed it); what type of baits to use; flouro or mono; spinning rigs or baitcasters; and the list goes on. Just watch those dogwood trees and fish accordingly based on how their flower buds are progressing. One last note: you know that a cold front can shut them down. With the warm weather we have been having the bass in our area may be somewhat confused. Check the water temperature and determine where you think they should be in their spawn efforts. Then double check your water temperature with the progression of the dogwood trees. Let us know what you find out when we get some better weather in your area. Maybe we can catch up this summer and go fishing. Depends on the dogwood trees!

I haven't a clue where "The Grove" is located. No home location or other information given on your avatar. Please add it. If you can catch one of the bugs I am sure your state's department of game and fisheries can tell you what you are seeing. Some type of bug's eggs hatched and their young are on top of the water getting ready to sprout wings and fly away. Give your game and inland fisheries a call and ask for assistance. I am sure they can clear up the matter. Otherwise, fish below them just in case the bass are tracking them. Good luck and let us know what you find out.

Kansas vs UNC in final. Kansas wins! Then again......some funny upsets in the second round highlighted by Yale beating Baylor and as usual, Arizona bowing out early.

1. Use live bait. 2. Use corn kernels out of the can or small white bread dough balls on small gold hooks to catch bream and bluegill. Kids don't care what kind of fish they catch, only that they catch something. 3. Remember that kids have a short attention spans before they get bored so make sure they get a bite on every cast. 4. Don't force the kids to touch the fish. If it is their first adventure fishing they need to see the fish, and then work up their confidence to touch it. Have them throw it back but be careful that they do not get stung by any scales or fins. 5. Celebrate every fish caught and keep count. Try to keep the count balanced. The kids will be keeping count especially if there are more than one and the kids are 5 and older. 6. Introduce the boat and tackle to the kids before you start to fish. Make sure they wear their PFDs on the bank, dock and in the boat. Also have sunglasses, caps, sunscreen and hand wipes for each child, plus water and snacks. 7. Make the trip as much fun as you can, even though you are going crazy not fishing and working with the kids. It is difficult to not fish but it is more rewarding to show a kid how to fish and the excitement that goes along with catching something. 8. Show them nature. Birds, bugs, snakes, fish, trees, flowers, dead bodies (if fishing the Historic James River in Richmond), piers, docks, other boats, people, etc. Give them an appreciation of nature. Post pics of your adventure. Have fun.

Good idea. Needs lots of planning.

The best thing about his commercial and posters is when they were used to form a base to poke fun at others. Otherwise, I will not miss him.