Sam

Ever hydroplane while towing your boat? It happened to me after a rain and to this day I go s-l-o-w during or after it rains. The car went left; the trailer went right; I held on and both finally straightened out. That was very scary. You have no control over either the car/truck/SUV or boat. All you can do is hang on and hope for the best.

If the water temperature is "hot" you definently need to keep a jug of ice, tightly sealed, in your well. I use distlled water when possible. The fish get stresssed in the well and the cooler water calms them down and also helps with the oxygen levels. Here is what Dr. Keith Jones says in his book, Knowing Bass, on pages 256, 257 and 260. I suggest purcashing this book as it is a wonderful guide and will help you catch more fish. "When surface water conditions are good, it is advisable to open the system and regularly flush new water through the holding tank. This removes any metabolic wastes put off by the bass (mostly ammonia and carbon dioxide) before they can build up toxic levels. However, when surface conditions are poor, or when they differ considerably from deeper waters where the captured bass have been residing, then it is wiser to close off the system and isolate the fish. Even then you should replace the water in the tank at least once every three hours. Through effective aerators, these systems can be physically hard on bass, especially if the water jets constantly strike the fish. I would suggest installing a spearate bubbling type aerator into the livewell. From the bass's point of view, these sytems are gentler, kinder means of aerating the water. It always pays to have a backup aeration system, should one or the other fail. Either way, the water in the livewell should be continually aerated as long as it contains live fish. In the summer, for example, when surface waters are normally much warmer than the bass's deeper haunts, it is advantageous to cool the livewell water by 5 degrees in order to keep from thermally stressing the bass. Unfortuantely, bass boats do not come equipped with chiller units for the livewell so the only real option is to add bags or blocks of ice as needed. Closed loop systems also provide you the option of chemically treating osmotic stress with commercial livewell treatments. When used at the recommended dosages, the treatments are advertised to do one or more of the following: alleviate stress calm fish promote slime coat replacement pervent fungal infections heal wounds remove harmful chlorine reduce weight loss add oxygen For better results, use standard noniodized table salt to reach the desired concentration range (as outlined in the book). Commercial sea salt and rock salt can be substituted for table salt if desired." Dr. Jones also suggest putting three to five drops of Oil of Cloves for every 10 gallons of water in your livewell to calm bass down noticeably within minutes. Sorry this post is so long but if you purcahse the book you can read what Dr. Jones suggests and also learn a lot of things that us bass fishermen beleive that are not true.

My biggest bass is still swimming in Lake Gaston, Virginia, with one of my favorite Bandit shad crankbaits in his mouth. He took off and never looked back. I had the drag set too tight and he popped the line. Otherwise, I did land a 4 pounder two weeks ago at a private pond on a 5 inch Senko.

Contact your state's game and fish department and ask to speak with a fish biologist. The biologist can tell you what it is and if it is harmful. The biologist may also want to know what occurred in case this is a problem in your body of water or in other bodies of water and it would be another piece of the puzzel should there be a problem. I have caught fish with sores on them but never what you described.

And something else to consider. If you have a backlash, you can damage the line when repairing the backlash. In addtion, I agree with the suggetion to run your fingers over the line after every fish or about 20 casts. You can feel the knicks and tears easliy. I have seen my spinnerbait continue out into space when the line snaps on a cast. I was using YoZuri linewhen this occurred, and even though it was probably my fault, I have never used YoZuri again. I have also kept the rod tip down towards the water or in the water to keep the bass from jumping. It seems to work for me if I hook a "jumper." Thanks for the method to set the drag. I have lost some nice fish by forgetting to reset the drag and having it too tight. I will try that 2.5 pound bag trick (20% of line poundage) from now on. If my wife sees me weighing the line with a paper bag she will know I am totally out of my mind.

I have weighted Christmas trees with concrete blocks and put them in a pond. Not easy; you will get wet; but it seems to work and provide some cover for all types of fish. If I recall reading on this site a few years ago, I think someone said not to use pine trees. I think they suggested Spruce trees as being the best. So tgwo yeafs ago I tied a very large Spruce Christmas tree with two concrete blocks (used wire) and dumped it into my local pond, about 6 feet from shore. Catch anything off of it? Yes, mostly baby bass last year. I have not fished it that often but when I throw my Senko or Zoom finesse worm at the tree I usually catch either a bass or I lose my bait in the tree. Not big bass, but it seems the baby bass hide in the tree. So it does provide some cover. I caught a three pound female near the tree last year so she may be using it as her home, too. We have other submerged trees and brush piles all over Virginia's waters. Some are marked while others are not. I caught fish off a submerged brushpile in Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) and in one of the Chickahomony River creeks. So yes, sink things that they can use as structure and cover in your pond. But be very careful not to plant weeds or grass without your Department of Game and Inland Fisheries expertise. You can easily have the grass take over a pond and then you will have a problem fishing the pond. Let us know what you decide to do.

Everyone needs help in the yard. So put on a nice smile and offer your services to help them work in their yards, etc. As for freebies, I am sorry to say your attemps will be unscessful. Unless you can find another bass fisherman in your area who wants to take an interest in you and teach you how to fish you probably will not obtain much tackle free. I agree with Avid. Go out and grab the bull by the horns and do some work to earn some money. Funny thing that work ethic has on people. They make money! They save money! They use the saved money to purchase stuff they want! And they enjoy doing it!!! Go for the gold, kid.

You need to go to the various topics on this site (check out bar at top of home page) and read, read and read. Each season; body of water; weather conditions; structure; and many other variables will mandate what equipment to, baits to consider and techniquest to use. May I suggest you suscribe to Bassin Magazine? It is excellent. Also, consider purcashing some good fishing books on the market. Check out other posts about fishing books to obtain others' suggestions. So, everyone, all 10,000 of us, can give you tips and advice but it is the way you fish; the bodies of water you fish; and the time of year you fish that will determine what equipment and baits to use. Just read, read and read. And then hit the water to experiment and fish, fish and fish!

Enjoy their beauty and leave them alone.

Check out Sure Shot Bait for Catfish Post for more suggestions.

Sounds like Marty nailed it for you. Check out the web and let us know what you find out.

In the James River where you can catch them up to 50 pounds (average is in the 20 pound range) we use either 1) cut up mullet or bait fish; 2) live bluegills or bream; 3) any fish meat cut up into chunks and basted overnight, or for a week, in a salt mixture to make it stink. Remember, a catfish is a large tounge. It can smell with its entier body so you need something to attract it to your bait. They also like salt. So, you can take chunks of cut up fish and layer it with salt...fish then salt then fish then salt then fish then salt. Regular table salt is great but Kosher salt can be better. Give it a try along with the receipe you were offered in an earlier post.

What pier were you on? My favorite pier in Poquoson blew away and my second favorite pier in Sandbridge is just too far to drive. Were you at Virginia Beach? Sam

Its either a Toad Fish or a Blow Fish. I think it is a Toad Fish by the pictures. If it inhaled a lot of air and pumped up its belly then it is a Blow Fish. We catch them all the time in the Chesapeake Bay. They are bottom dwellers. Won't hurt you. Jut throw them back.

No body put down Tulane as their favorite team. I wonder why?

There is going to be an intenal investigation regarding the effects steriods have on people and was the "mental snap" based on steroids and the other drugs he was ingesting. It is time the wrestling industry cleans up it act, like the NFL , and NHL are doing and the NBA and MLB would like to do. Wrestling may be staged but it takes a special athlete to be a pro wrestler and this event has given all professional wrestling a nasty black eye. Stay tuned. I think it is about to hit the fan in all professional sports about taking steroids.

1. Firetiger crankbaits. 2. White and chartruse with two silver willow blades spinnerbait. 3. Senkos 4. Zoom finesse worms. 5. Gulp! products. 6. Chatterbaits. 7. RICO for topwater. 8. Buzzbaits. 9. Ribbits. 10. Topwater frogs. 11. Creature baits. 12. Lizards rigged Carolina style in early spring. 13. Rooster Tails when things get slow. 14. Nightcrawlers when I take others fishing to make sure they catch something.

Hey George, Sounds good. Thanks for the advice. Sam

Shimano Curado 100 and a good 6'6" medium heavy rod. When spooling the line on the reel, run it through a wash cloth sprayed with Kevin VanDam's Line and Lure Conditioner or pure silicone. This helps stop backlashes. Good luck.

May I suggest not following the vehicle ahead of you too close? I have learned that it takes a longer amount of roadway to slow down and stop the vehicle while towing the boat. Also, I try not to go 80 MPH while towing on an interstate highway just to keep up with traffic. I have been known to cut cross country over back roads just to avoid the interstates. Too many crazy drivers out there on our big highways to make me feel comfortable. I also double check the hook up to the car. I had the trailer fall off the ball one time and that's all it took for me to be extra careful. Lucky for me it was the first stop sign out of my neighborhood when the trailer came unhitched. I could have made the evening news had I been on the highway at 60 miles per hour. Live and learn!

Has anyone out there installed or used an "alarm" on your boat in case people start to break into your compartments while at a motel or on the road? I heard a few "horror stories" about bass boats being vandalized and burglarized while parked at motels. I think I will go to Radio Shack or another place and try to find the alarms you can put on your motel room door so when it is moved it explodes with sound. At least I will know if a person or animal has tried to go under the boat cover while at the motel. Any suggestions?????? Thanks for your feedback.

Dr. Keith Jones in his book, Catching More Bass, discusses the future of our lures. We will be seeing some new stuff coming out to help catch fish. Most will employ some sort of electronics to attract the bass to the lure. I would agree that a "glow" bait would probably scare all of the bass away. Remember, they are very careful and spook easily and I would think that something glowing out of the ordinary would attract their attention but I doubt if they would bite it. After all, how often do they see anything glowing in the water? I do believe in Spike-It on the tails of my plastics but that stuff does not actually glow. It does stain everything you spill on it so be careful. Have fun!

Love those RICO's! Great bait. Spooks a distant second. Also, have you tried the Ribbit? Great action. Had a bass come out of the bushes and hit at it yesterday evening at a local pond but he missed it. I will continue to throw it in place of the buzzbait just to see if I can entice any strikes.

Hey, Look on the good side of your two weeks: 1. You did not hook a dead body in the Jersey waters. 2. You can now work (yikes!) and earn some money to get a new rod and reel combo. 3. You did not break or sprain anything at wrestling camp. 4. The summer just started so you can still go to Wal-Mart and find a cheap pole and spinning reel (Shimano) and put some nice XS line on it and go fishing. 5. You can ask your parents for a "loan" and get your new equipment. In the meantime, get a good book on the fish itself or how to hunt them down and sit by your local pond and read it. It is a lot more fun than wrestling! ;D

You hit the right place to learn about bass fishing. Just read, read and read some more. Dr. Keith Jones' book, Knowing Bass, discusses the bass's skin and how temperature plays an important part in the fish's life. You may want to get the book and read the "skin" chapter and find out about the water temperatures since you live so far up north where it stays cold 11 months of the year. Welcome aboard. Great guys and even better information.