Sam

Ghoti is totally correct. Remove all reels and stand the rods straight up. Not against the wall but straight up without any pressure on the tip. And loosen your drags and brakes on your reels to allow the grease to spread. I use a BPS rod holder in my home's upstairs office. They are safe, out of the cold temperatures and they are fun to look at during the winter months. I also take them into the shower with me to wash them off after a fishng trip and then I dry each one and spray each guide with Kevin Van Dam's Line and Lure Conditioner.

Basspro48, those are all mine. Can I have them back? The last one I found was mine that I got caught in the roof of an old tin shed on the Chickahominy. The plastic worm was in bad shape but the hook and sinker were in excellent condition. I did find a yellow spinnerbait in the James River by my house a few years ago when we had a bad drought and we could walk across the river. I just looked down and there it was. I look in the trees, too, but usually its not for lures. Its for snakes, bees and wasps in addition to poision ivy and oak. And I can see a few of my lures in a tree on the pond I fish. I put everyone there, too.

Competition. I guess BPS got a better financial deal on their brand of Chatterbaits than the originals. My brother is an attorney and he told me once that patent attorneys make their money going against companies that steal your ideas. After all, once you get a pattern no one can reproduce the same product for 17 years. But overseas, those people do what they please and it is very difficult to stop them. There are other Chatterbait types of lures out there, such as the Booyah Boogie Bait. It's all about the money.

According to the research I have studied, bass are nearsighted so they do not see the bait very sharply until they are upon it. They rely on contrast against the background. However, Uncle Homer Circle writes about bass sight in his book, Bass Wisdom, as follows: "Sight is our primary sense. Not so with bass. Look at the eye. It's big, bright and you would think super-sharp since it's on such a superb predator. On the contrary. The next time you catch a bass, lay it flat and place your hand over the eye to block the light for a few seconds, then quickly take it away. The iris stays wide open; the burst of light has no effect. Do this to a human eye and the iris quickly contracts to reduce the sudden flood of light. Like a camera lens, our iris opens or closes to focus on an object to sharpen our vision. But since the bass's iris stays wide open, the fish is myopic, or nearsighted, with limited vision." So the bass sees the outline of the lure, be it bulky or slim and it either resembles a crawfish or a baitfish or a frog or a lizard or just something that aggravates it. Now, Uncle Homer continues to write, "Color perception is a moot point among both scientists and veteran anglers, but we know that a bass's eye has the same rods and cones that enable humans to distinguish colors. In numerous tank tests, ichthyologists have proven that bass can discern even pastel shades of red, blue and green." Fly fishermen "match the hatch" with colors and some colors work better in specific situations based on the water clarity and wind conditions. Remember when you were a kid and went swimming in a swimming pool and looked up towards the water's surface from below? It is the color of silver so the bass see your bait against a silver background or the gras. wood, structures or bottom, etc. and they strike at your bait based on their interpetertation of what it is and can they eat or kill it. And you may note the colors red or orange on the bottom side of many lures and I know for sure that chartreuse added to the tail of a lizzard or worm entices more strikes. So we know they can see reds, blues, greens and yellows. So yes, bass can see colors. That's why we change lures as we fish, even staying with the same type lure but changing its color as going to a Firetiger crankbait or to a shad color spinnerbait or a green shade for a worm. If you look at the research you will find the writings very interesting about this animal that seems to be smarter than us. As long as we present lures that look like natural forage and add some tricks of your own, we will always trigger strikes. Now gettig them in the boat is another discussion!

KS Bassin, Wow! What a sale! We don't have Chatterbaits at my Wal-Mart and the plastics selection is not that great. You did really good. Congrats and the Bait Monkey loves you.

Hey Low Budget, There is an advantage to being old and educated. You did good.

I hit the local Wal-Mart this morning around 6:30 AM and other than for one display in the center aisle no fishing products were on sale. I did pick up a Mann's Baby 4Minus Brown Craw for $2.50; a Terminator 3/8 shad spinner bait; and a Hart white and red with a gold blade buzzbait. I was going to modify the buzzbait this AM but it is so pretty I may leave it alone and modify another one. The baseball stuff is now out taking up some space and the fishing stuff is down to both sides of three aisles in the sporting goods department. All of the free Virginia Fish and Inland Game freshwater fishing regulations booklets are gone. I agree that Wal-Mart will continue to sell anything FLW but I am concerned about the quality of the rods and reels. They are not top of the line but they are great for people just starting to fish or wanting some gear for a weekend adventure. These types of fishermen do not need the high end rods and reels. Please keep us posted on the Wal-Marts in your area or that you visit while traveling around your state. It will be interesting to see if Wal-Mart continues offering quality fishing items.

I have had good success with the Chatterbait and I like fishing it. I have fished it in wood on rivers; ponds; and lakes. My best results have been on the structure in rivers along the shoreline and in ponds. I have yo-yo'ed it; reeled it slow; reeled if fast; and reeled it at a medium pace. I still have memories of the one I lost on a Chatterbait on the Pamunkey River which would have placed me 3rd in a tournament. I ended up 7th. She hit the Chatterbait (white and chartruse), jumped clean out of the water, and threw the bait back at me. What a bummer. I hate when that happens.

Great info. Thanks for sharing it with us. As for me, the best ice fishing or ice driving, etc. is at home, on the couch, watching fishing videos or DVDs and staying warm.

Glad you made it back safely. You then had a successful fishing trip even though you did not get your limit. I was taught to use the 1/3 fuel rule. Use 1/3 of the tank going out and 1/3 of the tank going back and save the last 1/3 for emergency use. I can understand why you were upset with only a 1/4 tank left and then finding out you had a leak. I am glad you did not have a fire on board. Give that boat to your wife and go out and get a Ranger. I am sure your wife will fully understand.

Now is the time to be looking forward to some global warming in about 60 days or less. Just keep counting the days. Your time will come and you will probably score your personal best this year. I took two and a half days to organize my tackle, which I found to be rewarding and a challenging. So winter days can still be a lot of fun "fishing" even if you don't leave home. I also am on a diet; working out with a personal trainer to lose 25 pounds; attended Ike's seminar; read VanDam's book plus two others on bass fishing tricks, secrets and techniques; and have been watching some outstanding DVDs on bass fishing. Now, all I have to do is put line on my reels, set up my rigs, put all the stuff from my boat that I am storing in my home and garage back on the boat, start the engine, and go fishing sometime in March.

Beautiful water. Where is that place? As for you son, he looks sort of "over dressed" for bass fishing. And I am glad he did not fall off the seat and out of the boat while sleeping. So where are the pics of what you guys caught on the trip????

Thanks for sharing. Lake Gaston is very big and there are sooooooo many places to fish. The only thing that bothers me is that I do not see any personal floatation devices on you or your friend in the pictures. I know you would not venture out without them so they must be under your jackets. Right?

No tatoos for me or my wife. If anything happens I want the authorities to go nuts trying to identify me. And in my line of work I have to dress like a banker when I visit my clients so tatoos are out. Your wife has her Ph.D. and is still married to you? She is a fantastic lady! You are one lucky guy.

Wal-Mart store managers stock their stores to reflect the type of fishing that is done in their region. For instance, the Wal-Mart store close to my house stocks catfish, crappie and bream items along with some saltwater and bass supplies. That is because I live one block from the Historic James River where the catfish fishing at the Pony Pasture is outstanding along with large and smallmouth bass and bream. The Wal-Mart store in New Orleans that I visited was loaded with salt water fishing equipment and supplies as salt water fishing in the Gulf, Lake Pontchartrain and coastal areas is a big business. I am now wondering if the Wal-Mart executives are changing the fishing department profiles to reflect more of the local area than trying to carry items for all types of fishing? After all, how much additional space do you need to sell jockstraps?

So I can do the same thing as the PETA people and not go to jail. Great precedent setting case! Here kitty, kitty, kitty. Here doe, doe, doe. Here fawn, fawn, fawn. Here squirrel, squirrel, squirrel. Where's the ammo, Mom, I got some work to do!

I use the Berkley Spooling Station also and it is great. My next Christmas present list will include the more expensive electric model. I have never had any problems with the Berkley Spooling Station and I suggest investing $25 and getting one. It is well worth the money.

You did good. Just don't kick them overboard by accident!

Oakley's sunglasses are some of the best on the market. I know some pros like the Cocoons, too. My optomologist (I go to a real MD for my eye checkups) told me to be sure to get Polarized sunglasses that can protect your eyes from both the A and B rays. The same is true for sunscreen. Get the type that protects your skin from the A and B rays. I am thinking of getting Oakley's as I just got my eye exam and I need new glasses. Thanks for the input on the quality question. I guess the Wal-Mart special just does not cut it.

Yes, James Madison University (another Virginia school named after a dead person) won the 2004 Division I-AA National Championship and I pulled for them in every game to win. It was a great season for the Dukes and all fans. However...Division I-AA does not compare with Divison I-A in speed, size and talent. A I-AA team can and has and will conitinue to defeat weaker I-A teams but overall, the talent separation is so great that this will not happen on a regular basis. Some I-AA teams schedule I-A opponents for the publicity; to allow their players to play in a big time stadium against a big name team; and for the money. Some of the I-AA teams LSU has played is paid more for playing in Baton Rouge than they will take in for all other games. So the I-AA teams play the likes of Alabama, LSU, Georgia, etc. to have some fun; see how they can perform against a better team; and for the $200,000, $300,000 or $400,000 they get for the game. And if the Hokies would play JMU the Hokies would get killed by the press as to how "easy" their out of conference game is and that Tech has no business playing JMU (or William and Mary or Richmond or Tulane). And I also like JMU's colors, too. That purple and gold is a sure winner.

My wife and I use the BPS VISA card exclusively, as does my office. I have had enough points to get $125 hunting boots free; points to purchase a lot of merchandise; and right now I have an $80 balance on my card so I can't wait for the BPS sale. I suggest obtaining the BPS Credit Card and use it, only. The points will mount up and you can take the Bait Monkey as your friend when you go shopping!

I have great memories fishing the Atchafalaya bur what stands out the most in my memory were the water moccasins. They were big and ugly and they kept hitting the side of our alumnium skiff. I can still remember the "ping" sound.

Like it or not, the Hokies are the "new kids on the block" and they belong on the block. The block has such members as Southern Cal, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas, LSU, Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, Auburn, etc. A very exclusive neighborhood. No Tulane's on that list! It is fun to go to a game in Lane Stadium. The seats have excellent lines of sight to the field and the fans are nice and polite. Now Burley, go to Baton Rouge and you will eat, drink, cuss, dance, eat, drink, listen to music, eat, drink and see some fantastic football and did I say eat and drink? The Hokies are learning how to be great football fans and the test will come this September 8 when Tech takes on the Fighting Tigers of LSU in Baton Rouge. LSU brought 10,000 to the game a few years ago in Blacksburg so I am very interested in how may tickets Tech will sell for the Louisiana contest. Love them or hate them, the Hokies are here to stay.

Geese can be formidable opponents, especially if they are nesting or have young. I have been chased by them but never bitten or messed on. Now, when they charge at me, I just hiss back or just say "go away" and they usually back off. I learned how rough a bird can be when I used to raise Macaws. With their wings flapping and their claws and beak grabbing at you they are a very agressive animal that usually will win a debate with a human. Can you imagine getting into it with an eagle? I think the eagle would win that battle.

I don't have any phobias. But I do believe in ghosts and will not go upstairs in my neighbors home as it is haunted. My house is also haunted as my wife and I will smell tobacco smoke every now and then and we don't smoke. There is a missing slave cemetary and a white cemetary in our area dating back to before the War Between the States and for all we know our home is built over one or the other. But being from Louisiana I know ghosts will not hurt you, I just don't want to meet any at this time in my live.