Sam

Megastrike is correct. You have to watch your line when fishing Senkos or finesse worms. When the line starts to move count 1-one thousand; 2-one thousand; 3-one thousand; and then set the hook HARD. See where the hook is placed in the fish's mouth. If it is deep then go to 2-one thousand. If jus hanging onto the lip, go to 3-one thousand. Keep line as tight as possible and don't take your eyes off the line. I use weedless hooks since I throw my Senkos and finesse worms into cover and structure and grass and weeds, etc. I also will use a #1 gold hook on my wacky rig, as I did today. Have fun.

Vince, Go on-line and look for B.A.S.S. clubs and FLW/TBF clubs in your area. I know there are a lot of bass clubs in Mississippi so try the two (2) federations. The Mississippi Department of Fisheries (or whatever it calls itself) may have some individuals who know some of the people in the Federations and they should be able to give you some contact information. Good luck. Good luck.

Dave, I think you need to go back to making tackle. ;D

Gulp! Have them in storage. Will use them when taking kids fishing if I want to drive them nuts with bluegill and bream hits all day long. The are great with catfish.

Anything Shimano. The Curados are nice. The CORE even better. ;D

Keep reading. You will be surprised at the amount of free information you can gleen from this site. Congrats on your catch. Isn't it great when you land a big one?

Bassin' Can't be beat.

Super outstanding. Keep it up and sending us those pics.

You are letting them run too long. Once your line starts to move, count 1,000 and 2,000 and maybe 3,000 and set the hook over your head, hard and fast.

Welcome to the best fishing forum on the web. Is "MS" Mississippi? Like in "Go to Hell Ole Miss, Go to Hell." ;D

May I suggest you PM the Reel Mechanic regarding your reels? The guy is outstanding and he may be able to give you some insight into the problems you have been experiencing.

I suggest reading articles on "finesse" fishing. I also suggest using your sonar and take a week to map out the lake, looking for bottom structure such as humps, holes, points, rocks, hard bottom areas, underwater islands, creek channels, roadbeds and drop offs. Also try to find natural cover such as grass, pads, brushpiles, weeds, wood and where creeks enter the lake. Look for man-made objects such as concrete blocks, brushpiles, and any othe structure you can find or that you have placed in secret places in the lake. Keep the map secret. Then, try your luck on the places you find. The bass may be holding in 10 to 15 feet of water or next to a drop off or an outside portion of an underwater creek channel or where two creeks intersect. Look for deep areas that have an easy route to the shallows as the bass will hold in 10 to 15 feet and then dart to the shoreline for a meal, as you know. In other words, study your body of water, taking the time not to fish but to conduct research. Then...use finesse presentations such as the drop shot, split shot, shaky head, hollow body swimming minnows, mojo, small/skinny worms on light line give it another try. Flouro test from 6 to 8 pounds is also helps the presentations. As for worms, try the *** brand to present a different type of worm action. Now, after all that, consider using baits the fish have not seen much, such as a Chatterbait, the wonderful Rage Tails, a swimming worm and even a jitterbug. If all of this does not work, you may have to consider trying to get the lake stocked once again by your state agencies. Good luck and let us know how you do.

Simon, There is a launch site by the resturant, Sunday's, on the lake. However, I think you may have to live in the subdivision to use the ramp. There is another place to launch but I forgot where it is. Somewhere in Brandermill. Check out a map and see if you can find it. Maybe you can put in off Genito Road? Otherwise, you may have to know someone to put in. :'(

Hey Beast, Did Burley catch anything?

Link, Sounds better than Lake Rooty in Innsbrook. Have a fun time and post some pics.

Spoke to a guy today who fished up that way. He threw a jig head with a chartreuse single tail grub and said they caught smallie after smallie after smallie after smallie. He said he threw into the current and let the jig just float back to him. Give it a shot. Probably a1/32 jig head with a chartreuse grub. Personally, I like an orange jig head with a double tail Motor Oil grub. Have fun and enjoy Tech. Great school. Best five or six years of your life!!! ;D

Jbmain, I have read about the coffee flavored tubes but never thought much about them. I wonder what the fish like about the taste? Maybe one day I will try them to see how they perform in Virginia waters. I would think fishing them on a Carolina rig or split-shot setup would work, too. And what about during the spawn? They could produce during the spawn if the bass actually like the smell or flavor. I would think we would not use any attractants on the coffee tubes. What do you think? And how deep were you fishing them? And do they come in different colors? Just asking as I have not seen them in any stores around here. And who makes them? I can probably find them in the local tackle stores if I know the manufacturer. Thanks for the great story. It is amazing what these different baits can do when you use them.

At least you have one. I still know people who want to get one. Keep on typing!!!!

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana Grew up fishing Audubon Park Lagoon and saltwater fishing. Still have family in NOLA and I try to make at least one LSU football game each season, although it is getting to be a hassel due to all the people on campus and I don't care for crowds. Also used to ride in Sparta during Mardi Gras, too. I just know the area although it has changed some over the years.

Actually you are leaving football and heading to basketball. ;D

Ok, so where are your posts? Keep 'em coming.

La Freniere Park is off Interstate 10 past Clearview Parkway. Take I-10 from the Central Business District and head towards Baton Rouge. Exit at Clearview Parkway and stay right towards Lake Pontchartrain. At Veternas Highway, turn LEFT, go back under I-10, and look for Downes Boulevard on your left. Downes Boulevard will take you right into the park. At least it used to take you right into the park. If you are renting a car at Louis Armstrong International Airport you can exit the airport (do not speed) onto Airport Road and get onto Veterans Memorial Highway and look for the park and Downes Blvd. after you pass the Magnolia Shopping Center on your right. Get a map of Greater New Orleans that includes Metarie and you can find the park just before Kenner, where the airport is located. To go back to the French Quarter, take Vets Highway until you come upon an entrance back to I-10 towards New Orleans or get on Clearview going away from the lake and hit I-10 from that boulevard. Good luck and hope you don't get lost. ;D

We have these rules in our club for our club tournaments. 1. You have to be at the meeting or have a friend declare you are fishing the next tournament or you will not be allowed to fish the tournament. 2. If you are drawn out as a nonboater you must remain a nonboater, unless there are extenuatiing circumstances, which have never occured in the history of our club. 3. Should a boater fail to arrive for the tournament his nonboater will be placed with another boater. 4. If a nonboater fails to arrive for the tournament his boater can fish alone. Simple rules. Sorry to hear that your club rules were not followed. A new precedent has been set, which may not be good for future tournaments. Clicks and playing favorites can cause the death of a fishing club. :'(

Only bass that do not have teeth are from West Virginia. ;D (Sorry, could not help myself)

Catt, Did what Way2Slow tell you work? Just wondering.