Sam

When discussing "insurance," which is the transfer of your pure risk of loss exposure on a unilateral basis via an unequal financial contract of adhesion to a professional risk taker, there are two coverages we need to discuss. First is the direct damage to your personal property, meaning the boat, motor, electronics, and tackle. You can either 1) assume the loss by not transferring the risk; 2) limit the exposure by taking your boat out of a secured building and using it very rarely; 3) transfer the risk of loss to a friend or a relative who will replace what you lost or had damaged; or 4) avoid the exposure by not buying a boat in the first place. The second coverage is actually much more valuable than the loss of your property, which has a specific value so you know what your pure risk property loss will be. It is your Watercraft Liability Insurance. I suggest getting at least a $500,000 primary limit and recommend a $1,000,000 limit for third-party bodily injury and property damage. If necessary, and you have the funds, purchase a Personal Excess Liability policy for at least $1,000,000 over and above the primary Watercraft Liability limits and include your personal liability and auto liability in the excess limits. Some homeowners policies will cover your watercraft liability, but most, if not all in today's world of "nuclear verdicts" either excludes watercraft liability or limits the coverage to 50 HP and lower and watercraft less than 26 feet. So check out what coverage your homeowners or renters policy provides, but do not rely on this coverage to protect your assets from an accident on the water. A Watercraft Liability insurance contract is designed for the use of your watercraft and one of its major coverages is removing your sunken boat if it is a hazard to boat traffic if it sinks. This is the only insurance policy that will provide this important coverage. So ask your agent or your insurance representative what you have coverage for, your limits, deductibles (risk assumptions) and if there are any warranties mandating you do specific things to have coverage like having a Power Squadron inspection annually, taking the boat on inland waterways, only, using your boat for specific months, not going on the water based on the weather, etc. Now, a word to the wise when reviewing insurance contracts: LOOK AT THE EXCLUSIONS FIRST! Yes, that's right. Look at the exclusions so you will know what is and what is not covered. Then check out the insuring agreement and the additional coverages the insurance company throws in for free. Do this for all of your insurance policies and if you find an exclusion that gives you heartburn talk with your insurance representative about it. So how much Watercraft Liability coverage should you carry for accidents? Tell me who you are going to hit or what property you will be destroying and I can give you the limits you have to carry. Since we do not know the answer to this question, you get the highest limits you can, just like with auto insurance. There is a big difference if you hit a brain surgeon with your car or boat as opposed to an Alabama fan in a canoe. Sounds funny, but it is true. GET THE HIGHEST LIMITS YOU CAN AFFORD BASED ON THE LIMITS NEEDED TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR ASSETS FROM LEGAL ACTIONS. Now go and review your policy, noting its exclusions, warranties (very dangerous area), property loss assumptions (deductibles), watercraft liability limits, etc., and consider making changes to the contract. Things happen so fast on the water that a close call can become a disaster in a New York minute. And we do not want anyone on the Forum to find themselves in a serious financial situation by not having enough property or liability limits or to void your policy by violating one of its warranties to protect yourself and your solvency. Just a few words of wisdom from an ole goat who has been around the block a few times.

Mixture of half mayo and half ketchup. Great with fried fish of all types. Of course, you always use Tony Chachere's Seasoning Blend when cooking the fish.

Southeast Productions, Inc deeply regrets to announce that the 2021 Richmond Fishing Expo has been cancelled at this time due to ongoing concerns with Covid-19 and current State of Virginia occupancy restrictions. Limiting the event to 250 patrons at one time does not allow us to make it successful for the participating exhibitors nor a value to the attendees. We encourage you to visit your local marine dealer and tackle shops and explore the opportunities of getting your family “HOOKED” on fishing. Don’t miss out on the perfect way to social distance with your family and always remember…. Life is Better With A Boat. Make plans now to visit us next year January 21-23, 2022 or visit The Bass & Saltwater Fishing Expo at the NC State Fairgrounds January 8 – 10, 2021. With over 20 Marine dealers from across the state it’s the largest fishing event in the southeast. Come get “Caught Up In The Action”

What a bass' favorite food looks like in a defensive position.

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No, its not what you are thinking. Yesterday, we drove to Hubs Nuts in Sedley, Virginia from Richmond to buy our peanuts for the winter and for my wife's peanut brittle. On the way home, we stopped at the Virginia Diner in Wakefield for lunch. So far, so good. When we asked the waitress for our check she told us that someone had picked it up along with a tip. We had no idea who did this, but I was watching a guy at a table in the front of the restaurant look at us and I kept thinking I knew him, although he had his mask on for most of the time he was at the restaurant. Floored by what the waitress told us, we did not know what to do. Then, the gentleman who was watching us came to our table and the guy was a business associate with a Third Party Administrator that I use for self-insured group health insurance programs and he admitted to picking up the tab. We spoke for about five minutes; he refused any money; and he said all the times we went out to lunch and I refused to let him buy me lunch to avoid any conflicts of interest allegations that this is the best he could do. It was a nice Christmas present.

Matthew, bass strikes can be: 1. A "tap-tap." 2. Nothing other than seeing your line move to the right or left. 3. A hard hit. 4. The bait feeling "heavy." 5. The bait stops while falling and there is nothing around to stop it from falling. 6. The bait "feels different" in any way. Keep a finger on your line at all times to feel the bites. Set the hooks for plastics hard over your head. Set the hooks for treble hook baits by swinging rod to left or right. And as stated previously by Hank Parker and the guys on the Forum: setting the hook is free so if you fell anything "different" you set the hook. Good luck and please keep us informed about your adventures and what you catch. Welcome to the Forum. P.S. To get more strikes you really need to wear something purple and gold! Geaux Tigers!!!!

Motor powered spooling machine.

Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico when growing up in New Orleans and me and my two cousins were having a blast catching white trout from the back of my uncle's 42-foot Chris Craft. All of a sudden we started hooking the trout and ending up with only the heads. Seems the sharks had moved in and were attacking all of the white trout we had hooked. Never saw the sharks but we knew they were there so we did not go swimming later that evening off the big boat.

Fishing at my friend's double secret farm pond in April I had a big lady clobber my Bandit chartreuse with blue back crankbait and she took the bait when the line snapped. Disappointed that I did not land her and very upset at losing that crankbait. Fast forward to October of the same year and fishing the same pond when something along the bank where I was fishing caught my eye. Yes! It was the missing crankbait. One side was white due to it being bleached by the sun and the other side pristine like the day I took it out of the box. Still have the crankbait but have not thrown it since my recovery. Maybe next year when I need another big lady for a tournament I will throw it.

Kicker, I think you are correct. No Richmond Fishing Expo this year. Too many plans need to be made by the vendors and seminar speakers which could be dashed by the Governor at any time so we will wait for later in the year or next year.

That is a shame. Thanks for letting us know.

KVD is a true bass fishing ambassador. He is a wonderful person who will speak with you if you see him at a show, The Classic, or a Bass University event, and he is glad to have his photo taken with you. If you think KVD hawks his sponsors' products, I suggest you watch Ike on Facebook and see what he markets for his sponsors. And did you know that Ike was the first professional bass fisherman that went out of the industry to get sponsorships? I remember when he got Toyota to sponsor him. Now Ike does promos for all types of products.

As stated before, Tom, the fish have no idea of how much your tackle costs. My old fishing buddy could clobber anyone he went against using very low priced rods and reels. When one broke, he would throw it away and buy another one. I can't count all the tournaments he won while he was in Virginia using low priced gear.

I caught a 4.4 pounder on the Historic James River on a baby brush hog.

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The fishing world lost another incredible man. The unbelievable impact Ron Lindner made on this world will never be forgotten. Thank you for everything Ron. RIP Ron Lindner.. This picture is from the AOY event in Mille Lacs a few years ago. Just one of the many Ron memories I will cherish forever! - Dave Mercer

Hi Glenn, and yes, we still have the ghost. So far this year he has been quiet, although we see glimpses of him in the hallway. Once you get used to him there is no problem. Wish he knew where the bass are hiding when I go fishing!!!!

Saw a guy today who is schedled to have a booth at the show and he told me that there will be an email sent out next week about the show's 2021 future. He will let me know what he is told. Right now, he was informed that the Commonwealth of Virginia will allow 225 individuals into the arena at a time and the show will be selling tickets on a first come, first served basis. We will find out next week if this is a show killer. At this time, the odds are against the show, which is a bummer as it is a highlight of winter before the season opens in Virginia in March.

Used to put in at Hicks but my club is going with Hopyard if we fish the Rapp this coming year. Thanks for the info.

Toxic, what ramp is shown in the photo? You really did great. Congrats on that one fish in the photo. Looking forward to hitting the Rapp this summer as I have not been on that river in three years. Happy Thanksgiving!

Suggest you consider throwing a spoon or a small lipless crankbait about the size of the size of the shad directly into the ball and letting the bait fall for the bass under the ball to consider eating it. Good luck.

Of course I have a lucky charm. It is a St. Peter charm that was blessed by a Parish Priest in Cut Off, Louisiana. My Cajun aunt gave it to me when I went to Viet Nam in 1969.

Maybe, but we have the rest of November, all of December and half of January before it happens. I would think that if it is postponed or cancelled we would know in December since the seminar presenters need to have a definite date. Would be ashamed if we can't have the event.

One Fish Anna strikes again!