Sam

Redline, I want to get the Bisonixunit, too, and have asked my wife for it for Christmas. If I don't get it I will purchase it myself after January 1st. And super news about your boat. Have fun but be sure to watdh for the legal speed limit on some lakes. Are you going to add any other accessories to the Ranger other than the Bisonix? I plan to have the wires installed under the decking and to the trolling motor and keep the unit in a compartment so I can remove it when not in use. There is an on-board unit in the planning stage but it will not come out until this coming summer. Please let us know how you do with and without the unit on. Many of us guys on the forum want to know. Merry Christmas

Jimmy Houston has forgotten more about bass fishing than you guys know. He is a very religious person and dropped out of the B.A.S.S. tournaments when they were sponsored by a beer company. I am glad he is fishing them again and could care less how he finishes. You are not going to find a better person in bass fishing than Jimmy Houston. And if ESPN decides to bring back Bassmaster University and Jimmy is a speaker, I strongly suggest you go hear him as he is extremely entertaining, funny and informative. Hey, if the national news programs can bring back old, retired military officers to discuss the war, I see no reason whey Jimmy can't discuss bass fishing and share his knowledge. So if you don't want to listen to Jimmy, then forget Uncle Homer Circle, too.

Our neighborhood UPS delivery guy is "Scott" and he loves Virginia Tech football which we discuss all year. I met his son in a Wal-Mart store shopping with Scott. When the UPS truck drives down our street and does not stop, we get depressed. When the UPS truck drives down our street and stops at our house, we all get excited. Thanks to Low Budget Hooker and all of the guys at UPS for making us happy this holiday season. UPS is a great company and we have NEVER had any problems with deliveries. Thanks again to all of those UPS guys.

OK, here is my two cents on the subject. Take some of your hard earned money and invest in the DVD Classic Paterns Master Series' Mike Iaconelli Tactics for Tough Conditions. Not only will Ike give you some wonderful pointers on how to fish the drop shot, but he also includes other fishing methods such as the shaky worm, split shot, stick baits, and other great "secrets" that you can use to your advantage. Ike's info on the drop shot rig was more informative than Rich Tauber's Bassmaster University presentation. Rich made the presentation right after he learned the drop shot method from the Japenese bass pros at a California tournament and Rich was telling us how it worked and how great the set-up can be. So do yourself a favor for Christmas and get the DVD. But please don't tell anyone else on the forum about it as it will help everyone make the Classic!!!! Merry Christmas

Well, that explains that! Thanks for the input. I was going crazy wondering why I could not find them. I am sorry, but I have no knowledge of these Japanese reels. So give one a try and let us know how it works, etc.

Your question got my interest so I looked at my 2006 Shimano catalog and also the 2007 on-line catalog and I can't find those reels. The Shimano reels starting with a "C" are baitcasters while reels beginning with the letter "S" are spinning reels, so it looks to me that either there are new reels out that have not made the 2007 on-line catalog or you are using incorrect names. Please check your information and let us know. Here is the 2007 on-line catalog web site: http://fish.shimano.com/catalog/fish/products/category.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302036590&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181270&bmUID=1166406017088 Please let us know. Thanks.

May I suggest trying the Shimano web site for a comparison of the items? I don't beleive there are many people on this site who use either of the two products. You would do better giving thought to how you will use either; their weight; features; etc. and make up your own mind. As you know, you can't go wrong with a Shimano product. Merry Christmas!

Yes, anything Ike publishes is excellent and very helpful. Read his book, Fishing on the Edge, to start, then graduate up to his CDs, etc. Check out his website, too. Good luck. We want to see your picture in the future issues of Bass Times!

Glad you had a good time. I have been trying to get on the water for two weeks now with no luck between work and shopping and social activities. Taking boat to BPS to have new three bank battery charger installed this week so maybe can go out after Christmas. How come you all did not try any jigs? There is some good wood on the Pamunkey and I would have thought jigs would have been in your lineup,especially with the sunshine and nice water temperatures. Also, do you know anything about a big alge plume on Lake Chesdin? At our open house today at my home two of my friends told me about a big alge plume in Lake Chesdin about two or three months ago so I was wondering if it is still there. Keep on fishing and Merry Christmas.

Fluids all day long. Tylenol as directed. Rest. Watch football games. If not better by Sunday see a doctor.

I have no superstitions whatsoever when fishing and that is unusual for me. My maternal grandmother was a Cajun lady who had a lot of superstitions and she would also put the "Grie Grie" on those she did not like. Even now I do not change positions when the Tigers are on a long drive or are doing well in a game. I also wear the same LSU tee shirt if the Tigers win their game for the next game and will eat the same snacks for the next game, too. When playing sports I always got dressed the same way and a number of my LSU college friends who played football for LSU would dress out for the games in the same manner. Pete Maravich (Pistol Pete) wore the same sweat socks all season for good luck. He never washed them. My baseball friends are totally overboard with superstitions. They MUST put on their uniform in the same manner; leave the dugout the same way; step on one of the bases each time; put their glove down a certain way; handle the bat in a specific manner; and the list goes on. Now that you have made me think about superstitions on the boat I will probably go crazy and end up in a mental ward. Thanks a lot!!!!!

Thanks.

Can you give us the contact information? Thanks.

A highly recruited high school football player was visiting schools to try and find the best college for him. His first stop was University of Texas, in Austin, Texas. When he got there, Coach Brown immediately picked up a golden telephone. After talking several minutes, he said, "Thank you, God" and hung up. This shocked the young man. He asked the coach what was so special about the golden phone. "Well, this phone is a direct line to God. And God tells us whether or not new recruits would be stars at University of Texas. The athlete asked if he could use the phone to ask God what college he should pick "Sure, you can! But it's going to cost you $1,000, calling Heaven isn't cheap." The fellow didn't have that kind of money, so he moved along. His next stop was at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. Upon entering Coach Fran's office, coach immediately picked up a golden telephone. After talking several minutes, he said, "Thank you, God" and hung up. The boy said, "Hey, I've seen those phones before. Can I use yours to call God and ask what college I should pick?" Coach Fran said, "Sure, but it's going to cost you $750. Calling Heaven isn't cheap." Again, not having that kind of money, the lad left. His last stop was at LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Upon arrival at the office, Coach Miles picked up a golden telephone, talked to God, and said, "Thanks," and hung up. The boy just had to use that phone, so he said, "Coach, I really need to use that golden telephone so I can call God and ask him which college I should choose. From UT in Austin, Texas it was going to cost me $1000. From Texas A&M in College Station, Texas they wanted $750. So how much will it cost me to call Heaven from here at LSU in Baton Rouge?" Coach Miles smiled and said, "Nothing, son. It's a local call."

There should be some blood that leaves a trail, on plants, trees or the ground. They are also hard to spot in the brush so you could have walked right by her. Sorry that happened. I know it is a bummer.

What is on your fishing Christmas Wish List? I am getting a new Pro Mariner three bank, 10 Amp on-board charger. So what's on your list?

Congrats on you getting your cup. LSU and Arkansas play for the "Boot," which is a big, gold, ugly trophy with the states of Arkansas and Louisiana on it. You can see it on TV this Friday at the game as I am sure the TV broadcast will show the thing. LSU and Tulane played for the "Rag" for many years until the Tulane people "lost it" back in the 60s. Since then I think LSU has won all games but one. There are many other rivalries around the country that have different prizes for the winning team and it is fun to hear abou them. While in college we played another dorm team in touch football for the Protective Cup. Even when we won we did not take the "trophy" home.

I have caught 8 bass and lost one on a Chatterbait. Last time I fished a pond and caught two in a row using a chartruse Chatterbait. I threw it for the fun of it as I thought it was the uglest thing I had seen in a while. Best results are on a Blue and Black; second best is the Pumpkin. I don't think size matters witht the bait. I use the trailer that comes with the bait but am thinking of experimenting this spring with flukes, etc. I just throw them out and reel them in like a crankbait. They are lots of fun to fish and you can get some good results.

Dynamite. Try dynamite. And then follow Roger, Dean, Dave G. and Jason and do what they do. Otherwise, just have a good time and learn the river. Happy Thanksgiving. See you Wednesday night at the meeting. Guess Who?????????

My 2003 Bass Pro 185 charger turns off automatically. It charges only one battery. I am switching it out for a two bank charger as I have added a second trolling motor battery and I want to charge them at the same time. Check with the Tracker service department at your closest Bass Pro Shop and they can help you.

Anyone tried the Kister line of rods? A few of my friends love 'em. My G. Loomis is excellent but I also enjoy my St. Croix's and BPS rods, too. Hey, my old Ugly Sticks are still performing very well. And the Shimano's are excellent, even the one where I broke one of the eyes. You never realize the eye is missing.

I stayed off the water and enjoyed a nice comfortable house and recliner as I watched LSU beat Tennessee. I then went upstairs and reviewed some river maps until the Hokie-Thug game came on later than night. Sorry Basspro48, but fishing in that type of cold weather is not fun. Now, for the questions: Was the water high enough to go into any creeks? Did you throw off any drop offs or by the mouths of the creeks? Did you use any jerkbaits? Let us know. Thanks.

1. Stay away from the carbs. 2. Drink a lot of water. 3. Reduce your sugar intake to a very low, if zero, limit. 4. Go with fish and lean meats and lean pork (avoiding honey-baked hams). 5. Continue your veggies but stay away from apples, apricots, berries, cantaloupe, grapefrit, peaches and pears and their subsuquent juices 6. Reduce your intake of diary and avoid yogurts, ice cream and whole or 2% milk. 7. Eliminate all alcohol. 8. Avoid beets, carrots, corn, potatoes (white and sweet) and yams. 9. Avoid nonreduced fat cheeses. 10. Avoid chicken wings and legs, chicken skin (yum). 11. Stay away from liver, fatty cuts of meat, ib steaks and brisket. 12. Stay away from carbs. When you reach your weight goal you can start adding these items back into your diet to see how they affect your weight. Good luck and be very careful with your diet so you will not be dehydrated or lose muscle tone.

Risk Kid, LSU got screwed by the officials at Auburn and self-destructed against Florida. If Tennesee can defeat Arkansas this coming weekend and the Fighting Tigers can win at Arkansas the day after Thanksgiving the LSU has a shot at the SEC Championship Game against Florida. Of course, Auburn has to lose another game for LSU to have any chance of getting to the SEC Championship game. But that's OK. I picked the Fighting Tigers to go 9-3 with a nice bowl. The Outback and Cotton Bowls are interested in LSU but I am still hopeful the Fighting Tigers can go to a BCS Bowl game. Doubtful, but hopeful. I am going the Alabama game this weekend to see Mike Shula for the last time on the Bama sidelines. The Louisville coach is supposed to be going to Arizona next year but now I wonder if he will change his mind and go southeast to Alabama? As usual, it is another great year for college football.

This is a very interesting thread. I see and hear old college and NFL coaches and playes on TV every Saturday preaching what they think is right or wrong with each team but they are not coacing nor playing anymore. However, their opinions are valued by everyone who loves college and pro football. I have Jimmy's DVD, Jimmy's Best Ever, which is outstanding. And one of my favorite all time bass fishermen is Uncle Homer Circle and I wish he would publish a book on all of his suggestions that appear in the Bassmaster Magazine. Just because they don't fish as often or do as well as they once did doesn't mean they don't know what they are talking about. They still have the experience and knowledge to help us all. And talk about old fishermen who may not do as well as before, check out Denny Brauer or Bill Dance or Stacey King or Lee Bailey, Jr or Woo Daves or Hank Parker. These guys know bass fishing and they are willing to share their knowledge with us. I strongly suggest purchasing these "old" guys DVDs and videos and watching them this winter. Along with Ike and Kevin's DVDs and videos you will learn so much that it is mind boggeling.