Sam

Fourbizzel, I learned a long time ago that you don't swim in waters where you can't see what is seeing you. Just a word to the wise......

Redline, I have no real fears but my maternal grandmother was a Cajun so I learned a lot from her about Cajun superstitions. However, when I am watching an LSU football game or other sports contests on TV and my team is winning, I will not move anything nor change positions in the chair or couch. There is a psychiatric term for this behavior but I don't know it. As soon as the team screws up, I will then move things or reposition myself. Hey, it worked for most of the football season this year, other than for the Saints. I also wear my religious medal that got me through Viet Nam with no injuries, although I did have a few close calls in **** Country.

twin2win nailed it. Finesse fishing. Get Ike's "Classic Patterns' Masters Series' Tactics for Tough Conditions" DVD and you will learn how to get bites on bodies of water with a lot of pressure. But don't tell anyone as this is a fantastic DVD and we don't want all the secrets to be known. ;D Great DVD to watch in the winter to get you ready for the first spring day!

Mack Brown left Tulane. Mack Brown left North Carolina. Now, the people in Texas can't get Mack Brown to move. Sort of funny. The owner of the Baltimore Colts for sneaking the team out of Baltimore at night and moving the team to Indianapolis takes the cake over anything any coach has done or will do.

The occupational therapist that visited my wife today (she has had back surgery) has a farm where she, her husband and their associates rescue pit bulls. A member of the organization told her that deer antlers are great for dogs as they do not splinter and are so tough that the dogs cannot chew through them. She asked her vet if this was true and he agreed. In fact, the vet gives his dogs deer antlers to chew. My wife is concerned that the dogs will pick up the deer scent and be off on their trail through the woods and streets. So what do you guys think? Has anyone ever heard of this? Is anyone giving their dogs deer antlers to chew? And other than going through the woods to find them or knowing a hunter who can get them for you, how would you go about purchasing deer antlers? Just wondering!

Actually, scorpions and snakes are very non-sociable animals and will do all possible to avoid humans. It is when they beleive they are trapped or being placed in danger that they will attack. Pit vipers will attack the fastest, like the water moccasins in the southeastern portion of the country. Other snakes will try to make a run for it before taking on a human or larger animal. Young snakes cannot control the venom flow which can cause additional tissue damage. Of course we all have to be aware of our surroundings and of snakes and try to avoid them. But being on the water or along a shoreline makes our probability of crossing paths with a snake or a scorpion or a spider extremely higher than the rest of the population. I had two episodes this summer when, while fishing close to the bank of two different rivers, something fell into the water through the brush right in front of me. Not more than three feet away. It was probably a snake sunning itself and when I came along and startled it, the animal headed for safety in the water. Glad neither fell in the boat with me!

Wow, what a question. I got to see Michael Vick play against the Washington Redskins last year in DC and he was outstanding. So I was very sorry to hear what he did and his attidude about it. He was a class act at Virginia Tech and everyone had such a high opinion of him and his accomplishments. Billy Cannon, Heisman Trophy winner from LSU and a very successful orthodontist, got into a lot of trouble for counterfieting US currency. Billy did not need the money other than for keeping up with his jet set friends. He was banned from entering the College Football Hall of Fame. Pete Rose, my favorite baseball player, really let me down. In fact, I don't follow baseball any more due to the attitudes of the players and what Pete did. Sad time for major league baseball. Magic Johnson, an outstanding NBA player, quit due to having AIDS which was sad in itself. How dumb can a guy with so much talent and wealth be when it comes to protecting yourself from diseases? My opinion is that the NBA players are thugs and not worth following. There are many others out there in all sports. So now my favorites are the teams and not the players. I could care less about the individual players. I like certain teams in each sport and watch their records and not the individual accomplishments of the players.

So sorry about the loss of your grandfather but this is how families pass the baton from one generation to another. You have some great memories so keep them with you at all times and share them with your children. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Similar story but I was using 4 pound line when she hit my one-inch white grub on a #1 gold hook at my feet as I was reeling in. Heart stopping and a lot of stress ensued until I let her play out and got her on shore. Congrats for experienceing one of life's greatest moments --- catching a large bass on light tackle. Now, if you can find a river holding smallmouth you can do the same with four pound line and have a great time. Those smallies can really fight.

Also, to continue what hawg caller said, may I suggest getting the three videos or DVDs, Bigmouth, Bigmouth Forever and the Feeding Habits of Bass. These will help you learn about your adversary and their habits. Wet & Wildlife Images P.O. Box 480 Silver Springs, Florida 34489 800.661.4286 Excellent productions and very informative. P.S. The bass in Maryland are deep and are staging near structure where they are just relaxing and waiting for warmer water to arrive.

No lag here with high speed internet connection. If the local area is inundated with users then I have a lag. The lag is for all web based sites and not just this one.

Outstanding. Glad you all had a good time. Now, if they were bass you would really be in heaven!!!! Keep those pics coming. It is always nice to see the One Fish Anna catches.

Being a non-boater in a tournament for money can be extremely frustrating. I have a friend who is a sensational bass fisherman who told me that all the saw in the boat on one of his Region's tournaments was the guys' big back. They boater never spoke with him or cared about him in any way. Now, this may be the exception to the rule, but if you are a non-boater just be prepared for the worse and hope it is not as bad as you think it could be. As for money for gas, etc., usually the tournaments have rules based on gasoline prices prior to the tournament. If you have questions, just ask. I am skipping my Region's tournaments as I do not want to go as a non-boater. I will continue to fish the FLW and B.A.S.S. tournaments with my club members and will do so as a non-boater if necessary. Believe me, being a non-boater in a tournament can be exteremly frustrating, especially if your boater is a jerk.

Have you "balanced" your reel with your bait? Suggestion - Rig up your bait as you are ready to go fishing. Reel bait to the tip of rod. Put rod tip at 11 o'clock. Release bail on baitcaster. Let bait fall to the floor. Bait is to fall to floor (not carpet) slowly and when it hits the floor the baitcaster spool is to stop. Do this until you have "balanced" your bait with your reel set up. Do this will all of your lures while at home before going fishing, on the shore or dock or in the boat before you throw the lure. Also, are all of your magnets in the "off" position? Please double check your magnet settings and put them all in the "off" position. Other suggestions - Spray your line with KVD's Line Conditioner to soften the line. Use Extra Smooth Trileen 10 or 14 pound line and see how that performs. Spary your rod eyes with DVD's Line Conditioner or silicone. Check each rod eye to see if it is nicked. Is your line going through each eye? Double check the rod tip eye as we all have missed the eye and placed the line through one of the side supports. Good luck and let us know if there is any improvement.

If man can cause global warming then why can't we cause global cooling? It is a lot of BS as far as I am concerned with the crazies, lead by that big loser, Algore, causing most of the problem with their retoric that the media picks up and praises as gospel. Go get 'em, Muddy!

Two teams that should be doing a lot better. Saints are a disappointment this year while the Falcons are not the Falcons of old without Vick. But it is football so it counts!

Less than 11 inches is a dink in my dictionary.

Friend caught a boot in the James River while we were fishing. I asked him if he wanted to try for its mate but he did not see the humor in my suggestion. I have caught mainly terminal tackle. Nothing spectacular like the rest of you guys.

When the kid was here, it was up around 6 AM, breakfast, and then gathering around the Christmas tree for him to had out the presents and we then opened them. Now, with him married, it is just my wife and me so we get up at 8 or 9 AM, have some coffee, then open the presents. Scott and his wife come over later in the day to get their stuff. My wife is always concerned we will throw something valuable away with the trash. Then, we take a nap and get ready for some football!

Thanks a bunch, guys. I started seeking out the Helix Buzzbait last summer and the only place that I found carrying them in Williamsburg, Virginia, was closed more than it was open so I never purchased the lure. It does look different and I was thinking it would put out a different sound. However, after what you all wrote, I will continue to use the Cavitrons. You just can't beat a Cavitron!

Can you tell us what information you would like to read about? General information? Specific techniques? Information from a specific pro? Getting to learn about the bass as a species and their habits, etc.? A scientific book on bass? We can then focus and laser in on the topics you wish to study. Thanks.

The major problem with Tim's future surrounds all of the hard hits he is taking in the Florida offensive scheme. I believe he will go pro after next year and it will be interesting to see what position the pros think he should play. Of course, coming in second to Georgia in the SEC East next year is not too shabby and playing in another BCS bowl, if things go as planned for the Gators, would be a good departure for Tebow. But LSU will win the SEC West next year so maybe LSU will play for the National Championship again or go to the Sugar Bowl with Georgia in the National Championship game. Hey, ask Satan, the I-Bowl in Shreveport isn't that bad should the Gators falter next season. ;D

A major problem with chat a chat room is that "non-fishermen" can join in and reallyl make a nuisance of themselves. The other reasons above are all valid as well. So I vote for no chat room. We are doing fine as we are and I hope we continue the same format. Good idea - but not appropriate for this forum.

When you are high class, it shows! Now Muddy, what in the world are you talking about?

Wait for the after Christmas sales or the late January and early February sales at your local tackle shop, Cabella's, Gander Mountain or Bass Pro Shops. You can get a higher priced rod within your price range. Then, take the advice of the guys on this site regarding the rod to balance your new reel. If you are asking the clerks at any tackle store, be it the big ones or the small ones, be careful as the guys on this site have forgotten more than the clerks know. So guys, suggestions????? And I guess Kistler, Loomis, and St.Croix are out of the picture?