Sam

Just viewed the video. Really is good. The Bait Monkey just called and he wants to head out as soon as possible to pick some up. I have to get dressed. ;D

Brian, Super report. Thanks for the info. I will have to be on the lookout for the new baits.

Good story and pics. Was funny about the reel in the water. When you get a big bass boat be careful where you throw your rod and reel when getting the net or calming a fish down in the boat. I have almost let my rig go overboard a few times. So let's see, the score is not....Dad 21; Dave 1; Tie 1 Come on Dave, you need a good run at outfishing your dad a few times. ;D

Will Bret Farve sit on the sidelines? You all forgot that one. ;D Fishing as a professional is extremely stressful. When Ike goes nuts everyone laughs at him. The truth be told, Ike is very emotional and he shows it in a very, very stressful occupation. There are other ways amatures can bond with the pros. And I am not uspset at this turn of events and am taking the position that it came about at the request of the pros, themselves. After all, who needs to have someone in their boat, under foot, and trying to be nice to for a day of fishing and at the same time catch a bass on every cast and act professional? It is hard enough to be a pro fisherman and these guys just do not need the added stress of fishing with an amature. As it is they give a lot of time at shows, seminars, TV, and the write or are interviewd by magazines and newspapers so removing the amature fishing responsibilities gives them more time to learn the bodies of water they fish. Just my two-cents. Just my two cents.

An interesting study was just completed last year and the data was released about the daily life of a largemouth bass. Although I cannot remember all of the details, I do remember the following, which may be a little off since I do not have the data in front of me. What I recall regarding the ten bass tagged with monitors... 1 stayed in place and did not move. 3 moved from place to place each day within a small radius. 5 moved from place to place each day within a larger radius. 1 moved about two miles away. So to answer your query, yes, bass do have homes. I have also read that the larger bass will take the most attractive cover and structure and run the smaller bass off. And bass do have their various locations that they swim to and from during the day and week. For instance, a bass will stay in a tree; then swim over to a brushpile; then visit a hump; then go to an undercut along the bank; and then return to the original tree. So if you catch a nice lunker today, your chances of catching her again in about a month or so at or near the same location are good. Just add to this information the fact that largemouth bass will follow the bait fish into creeks and coves during the day and they have their favorite migration routes to and from the shallows. And you thought bass fishing was simple!!!! ;D ;D ;D

I normally do not buy stuff to eat at the movies and my wife and I bring in our own drinks and snacks. However, when I went to the latest Indiana Jones movie I decided to treat myself with a large drink and popcorn. During the movie I missed the cup holder on the arm rest and dropped the drink on the floor. The popcorn was not that great, either. But I did have a good time. Next up is Mama Mia followed by the new James Bond movie coming out in November. Otherwise, we rent movies and stay home and watch them.

The liquid is the magical formula that makes Gulp! what it is. A catfish and bream bait!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

May I suggest you PM the Reel Mechanic and ask him. He is a genius with reels and he can help you.

Tin, happy stuff doesn't sell newspapers. Blood, gore, depressing information sells newspapers. Editors have their own agenda and will push it via their reporters and headlines. It's like the story about the guy who escaped from a mental hosptial and attacked a young lady. The editor did not like the reporter's headline about the story and kept sending the reporter back to redo the headline to make is shorter. So what did the headline finally read? "Nut Bolts and Screws" OK, so it is a joke but you get the idea.

Keep that phot of your brother and display it at his wedding. He will be very happy you did it. ;D ;D ;D ;D Good pics and report. Keep 'em coming, especially when your girlfriend lands her first lunker.

Bill, glad you are with us and welcome. Send a PM to JCrazu4Bass as he has a wonderful blog with his family's fishing exploits in your area. I enjoy reading it from time to time and Jason is one of the most knowledgeable people fishing Northern Virginia. Can't wait to read your posts.

Took everyone's advice and picked up a Team All Star TAD827C, 6' 10" heavy with fast action rod yesterday at Green Top. I was seeking a 7 foot medium heavy but I really liked the heavy rod with the beautiful guides. It is light and it just feels right in your hand. Put my new Foolger President 6:3:1 with a base of fluoro with 50 pound Spiderwire braid and went outside to balance and cast the rig using a white SPRO Bronzeye frog as the bait. Man, on the first cast I must have put it out 40 yards. What a smooth casting rod and reel combo. Will put it to use on the Chickahominy River's pads and grass later this month and also at a friend's pond this Friday. First All Star rod and I may be a fan for life. Thanks for the advice, guys.

Anything from Barlow's is acceptable. Give 'em a shot.

Dave, So what's the score? Dad leads Dave 20-1-1. ;D ;D ;D Just kidding. Keep trying those ponds and send the pics of the big ones.

I agree with Tokoyo Tony and all I can add is that you fill the plastic bag or container with water (tap water, not lake water). For some reason this keeps them fresher and eliminates freezer burn.

The one of the fish jumping is beautiful. The one of the wake is extraordinary and something we never see in photos. Thanks for sharing.

Welcome to our forum. Just keep asking those questions. In the meantime, read, read and read. The correct spelling of the knot mentioned above is PALAMOR. It is a simple, overhand knot that is very secure. Check it out and after tieing it a few times you will get the hang of it. As for topwater poppers, tie your line directly to the lure. You do not need a swivel. And use Monofilament line as it floats. If you have light rods and reels go with the 6 to 8 pound test. If you are fishing heavy gear for larger fish you may want to go with the 10 to 12 pound test. Fishing for smallmouth on light rigs using 6 to 8 pound mono is a blast. Just throw your lure into the current and let it float back to you as you reel in the slack. Try twin tail grugs on a 1/32 jig head (orange if possible) or a small white grub on a 1/64 jig head. If you find some open water you may want to consider throwing a 1/4 ounce chrome with a black back or a blue back Rat-L-Trap. Just read the articles and the posts. You will up and running in no time. And have you head of the Bait Monkey? ;D

Susky, Beautiful fish. But arn't your clients supposed to catch them that size? ;D ;D ;D

Ole, I agree. But remember that if you are sponsored you are supposed to wear your shirt with the name of your sponsors on it when you go fishing or to fishing events. My friend is a retired guide but he still gets discounts from Pure Fishing and when I take a photo of him with his fish he has to put on his red and white fishing shirt with the Berkley and Pure Fishing logos on it. He then takes it off. He sends the photo to Pure Fishing so he can continue to get the discounts on their products. So don't be too hard on these guys. They are doing what they are supposed to do. After all, do you want them to wear a shirt that says "Winners Wear Bike"???? ;D

Tru hit it on the head. However, if you cannot put the back seat down then I suggest putting the handle on the top of the back window shelf and let the rod sit across the passenger's seat. Just be sure to secure your bait so you will not get the hooks in the upholstery. Beleive me, I know about getting the hooks in the upholstery. Please be careful not to let the rod tip stick out of the window and then forget it and raise the window. Done that before, too. Also, be sure that the rod tip is not in the way when you close the driver's door. Almost have done this. My wife lets me do this and if my wife lets me do this then you can do it, too. I now have an SUV and she has a Jeep so no more problems. And I carry two spinning and one baitcaster setups plus my tackle box in the SUV at all times.

Are you fishing it in deep water in a lake? Have you tried braid to see if that changes the action? I must admit that I do not fish deep lakes often and I fish the Shad Raps the most so hopefully some of the guys will have a better reply. But give the braid a try and see if that makes a difference.

I have kept them in their original plastic bags inside my house and out of the heat and they do well after a few years. Even my Gulp!'s do well unless I leave a bag open and then they are a mess. As long as you can keep them in their bags and in your house out of the heat you should not have a problem.

New, You rig the trick worm on your straight shank hook using a monofiliment test of 6 to 8 pounds. You can use a weedless hook or "Texpose" the hook's barb under the worm's skin to make it weedless. The worm needs to be weedless when fished. No weight is needed although you can use a small 1/8 ounce bullet weight when pulling the trick worm over pads or if you want to fish it just a little deeper. Cast the worm out on either a spinning or a baitcaster setup, and then reel it back to you, twitching the tip of your rod to make the trick worm act like a crazy snake or eel. The worm will dart up and down and go to the left and right and act crazy on the top of the water. Just keep twitching that rod tip as you reel. A suggestion action is to reel/twitch stop; reel/twitch/let her sink; reel/twitch stop; reel/twitch bump into a pad or wood or rock; etc. You can let it sink a little and fish it just below the surface. You will get the idea when you fish it. The key is to twitch your rod tip when reeling. And you may want to reel in "bursts" meaning reel fast and wait or reel slow and wait, etc. The secret is to use a light test mono and a straight shank hook rigged weedless or a weedless hook. Depending on the size of the bass you can go with a 2/0 or a 3/0 hook size. If you feel lucky going after the big bass consider a 4/0. This is a fun presentation and when you use a pink, yellow or white worm you can actually see the fish inhale the bait. You can use a trick worm for a Shaky Head presentation since it floats and it's rear end will rise towards the surface and that is what you want with a Shaky Head presentation. Give a trick worm a try, even in open water or along the bank, and see what happens. But the best place to fish it is in, over and through pads and grass or parallel to pads and grass. Let us know how you do.

Replace it and then take another whack at it and let us know what happens.

Ronnie, I know how you feel. On Wednesday, July 9th, Luke Bashore of Fork Union, Virginia, a rising LSU senior, was on his way home from a friend's house when his car spun out on wet pavement, did a 180* turn and slammed into a tree on the driver's side. It took the local volunteers and hour and a half to cut him out. What is worse is that his dad is the County corner and he was called to the scene, not knowing it was his only son. I am still upset at this loss. Luke was a fantastic kid; loved LSU; was respected and liked by his high school friends; and had so much to offer society. My prayers are with you and the family. I think this is something we will never get over.