Sam

Ever notice the color of those small aluminum boats used for hunting and fishing? They are olive drab. I always wondered why they were olive drab and thought that maybe it was so the ducks would not see them. However, I am thinking they are olive drab to help them blend in with the surface of the water. I swim and it is amazing to go to the bottom of the pool and look up. You can see the ceiling and the people and the other swimmers. And the surface is bright and clear so I guess that is what the fish see. I would suggest looking at the Ranger and Triton, etc. boat ads to see what colors their boat bottoms are to get an idea. Great question. I wish I had the answer.

Being late for anything is an insult to the person you keep waiting. For some, it is a sickness. These individuals cannot get their act together to be on time. It is self centered and self serving to be late, especially when the other person has gone to a lot of time, expense and trouble to have you involved in the activity. We have friends who are habitually late so everyone tells them that the party or dinner starts either an hour or half hour earlier so they will be close to the designated time. I agree with the philosophy to just go on with the party or fishing trip and if the individuals continue to be late cross them off your guest list. Especially for fishing when you have only a certain time on the water.

Easy question; difficult answer. What is your state federation doing? Are they staying with B.A.S.S. or moving to FLW? This is a question that many may not want to answer on the thread. Whatever Hillbilly Hooker says is probably correct so take his advice. For now, my bass club belongs to both. But in 2007 that will change.

Thanks for starting the thread. Excellent information. I should have studied biology in college in stead of rocket science!

Have you seen the Bass Matrix? That tries to tie together the weather conditions, water temperature and forage to offer some suggested baits. As for your theory, it seems to have merit except, in my humble opinion, you are dealing with a wild animal that has strong instincts and a mind of its own. Something like a wife. Are you married? But I digress. I think your theory needs to be sharpened for various areas of the country since there are so many variables that I would think it almost impossible to calculate, even with one of those 5 billion a second computers at LSU. But give it a whack and see what happens. Also, please use paragraphs as it is difficult to read one large paragraph with words that have more than two sylables.

Since I am a classic Type A personality, I throw out the worm and let it sit. I then take an ultra light and throw it trying to catch just about anything that will hit a white Rooster Tail. I fish the ultra light by feel; I keep looking at my slack line with the worm sitting on the bottom. Does it work? Well, I have not had to jump out of the boat which is a good sign. Catch anything dead sticking? No, not yet. It is still hard just to let the bait sit on the bottom and not move it or mess with it. Since I don't smoke or drink, the only thing I can do is either listen to a football game on the radio or fish the ultra light.

Daphs, Go on line and Google Florida bass clubs or Florida Bass Federation. These sites should have a listing of all the bass clubs in Florida. Or, call one of your local launch sites or tackle shops where the tournaments take off and those people should have some information on bass clubs in your area. Good luck.

In a word...FANTASTIC. I have seen Ike, Houston, Brauer, VanDam, Nixon, Menendez, Zell Roland, Hank Parker...and the list goes on and on. The information is outstanding. I have missed two during the past seven years but plan to go to the next one in Virginia this January or February. The pros are funny and the information is priceless. So go. Learn. Get autographs and photos taken. Get the pros' latest publications and DVDs. Listen, take notes and learn. It is worth every penny.

Boat Monkey is Biat Monkey's cousin. Great you are getting to meet the entire family. Keep it up!

Please spend some of your hard earned money and purchase these three videos: Bigmouth Bigmouth Forever Feeding Habits of Bass You will find the key to your query and a lot more of interesting information about bass in these presentions. Call 800/661-4286 and order them from Mrs. Lau. The photography is outstanding and the information priceless.

P.S. I was also told that the number of hours of sunshine can have an affect on the fish, too. So it is both the water temperature and hours of sunlight that determine how to fish your geographical area.

I was told not to watch the calendar but watch the water temperature. As the cold fronts move in and the air temperature drops the water temperatures will do the same at the same ratio as the air temperatures. However, it is important to note the water temperatures so you will have an idea of what the bass are doing and what are the best baits to throw. Some guys throw buzzbaits constantly during the year. I was taught to stop throwing buzzbaits when the water temperature reaches 79 degrees and lower. So it is not the calendar that starts winter fishing; it is the water temperature that starts each season's fishing.

Change your motor's lower unit oil yourself. It is easy and much less costly than having the dealer do it. Go to yard sales and estate sales looking for fishing stuff. You will be surprised at what you can find at these sales; and the items are very cheap as the people have no idea of their true value. Buy spinnerbait skirts in your favorite colors and change the skirts using the same base head and hook over and over again. It is a lot easier than retying each time you want to try a new color and much cheaper than buying various spinnerbaits to get the skirt colors you want. Check out the local hand made spinnerbaits and buzzbaits as they are less expensive than the brand names. Do not fill up your reels to the max with line. Fill them only 1/2 or 2/3 of the way full with your favorite line. Read the cost cutting suggestions in Bass Times and in bass books and see them on DVDs and videos. There are a lot of smart people out there offering their cost cutting advice to everyone.

1. Gaftop saltwater catfish right after being caught. 2. Redfish. 3. Anything stuffed with shrimp and crab meat. 4. Speckled Trout.

I thought you were going to suggest using dynamite. Good advice. Patience, patience and patience. Think like a bass. Thanks for Bass Fishing 101.

Be very careful when picking up a bass by the jaw if you have either a trailer hook or a treble hook in the fish's mouth. Here is what Uncle Homer Circle says in his outstanding book, Bass Wisdom, pages 198-199: Jaw Grip This is probably the most popular and the surest method, the one used by mose experienced bass fishermen. It's popular because when aptly done, it paralyzes a bass, making it both safe and easy to land. However, there are some pointers to remember before using it. NEVER reach for a bass's jaw with your bare hand if any treble hooks are hanging outside the jaw. One powerful shake of its head and you could be caught instead of the bass. This is a painful situation, especially if you are alone, so choose one of the other options below. There is a right and a wrong way to grip a bass's lower jaw. Grab only the jawbone and a big bass will flop around and lacerate your thumb. The right way is to lay your thumb well over the center of the lower jawbone, curl your forefinger under the jaw, and grip tightly as you push upward on the tongue. Pushing up on the tongue exerts pressure on the bass's central nervous system and paralyzes it. You can feel it go limp, incapable of any movement, except for minor twitches of the fins. Now you can safely hold the bass while you extract the hooks. Get Uncle Homer's book and read it. It is excellent.

Although this is fun, it is really too early to start saying who will win the BCS. Too many good games on the horizon, especially in the SEC and ACC. Then there is the BCS championship game that can mess everything up when the favorites, like Miami of Florida and Oklahoma, lose. However, until they lose, I am voting for the LSU Tigers. I may be voting for someone else next week if the Fighting Tigers can't get by the Auburn War Eagles/Tigers/Plainsmen/Whatevers.

I agree with Burley. Please have a cushion. One for each person in the boat. Check with your local Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for the needed items you should have on the boat. They should have a check list and you can go from there. Be sure to register the boat with your DMV, too. You will find out what you need as time marches on. Things like tools, cell phone, lock and chain, etc. Have fun; but please check the weather reports as your boat may not be able to withstand strong weather (wind and waves).

Hey Burley, I have never heard of freshwater jellyfish. I have never seen them in our eastern Virginia lakes. Thanks for the input. I will now not freak out if I see them one day. So, how was your fishing trip? What did you catch?

I saw them with my own eyes! Last fall we were fishing the Mattoponi River in Virginia in a local bass tournament when we came across a school of fry. Yes, they were baby bass from a second spawn. Talk about being surprised. My buddy said that he has seen the bass spawn a second time before but it was a first for me.

Can you contact the manufacturer and find out what they suggest? Or call a Bass Pro Shop service department and get their input? Or go to an independent boat repair shop and find out what they would do? I would hate to see you start to sink while out fishing. And what caused the cracks? Old age? Did you hit something? The reason may have an impact on the best way to make the repairs in an affordable manner.

Timmy hit the nail on the head. You need to take her out for a spin and get that compression check on the motor. Pllus have her completely checked out by a company authorized service rep to make sure she is in good condition.

I received a marine slow trickle battery charger from my wife this past Christmas and I love it. I set it up and it turns itself off automatically. I charge all three of my boat batteries one or two days before I go fishing just to make sure they are ready to roll. My fishing buddies like the Wal-Mart yellow batteries. They say that these batteries are longer than the standard marine batteries so you will need to modify your battery holders to accomodate them. I need to clean my battery connections, too. I have not done this in three years but so far all is going well. I hate to "fix" something that isn't broken, if you know what I mean. I also carry an "extra" cranking battery in my jeep just in case I need it to get started. My pro bass fishing friend carries one of those yellow car chargers with him. Its the one that gives your battery a jolt so it will start. They cost around $60. We have one of those, too, and I may consider taking it with me on the boat. Of course, it weighs an arm and an leg and I am trying to lighten the load in the boat so I have not decided on adding it to my collection of useless stuff in the compartments. Let us know which battery charger you get.

I have never caught a rod but a friend of mine has; and on his first try to save it. Another friend got his rod back when his fishing partner hooked onto it after knocking it over in Lake Gaston. So that's two guys that I know retrieved their own rigs. I do not know of anyone who just hooked a rod and reel. Finders keepers! Enjoy the rig.

Burley, Woo Daves BPS series is excellent. Woo discusses worm fishig and other techniques. As for jig fishing, Denny Brauer's Jig Secrets to Huge Catches, is very good.