Sam

I use Zoom chunks. I tried the pork in a tournament last weekend and I could not get the hook through the leather. Any suggestions, other than drilling a hole in the pork before leaving home? Thanks.

Fishing in Louisiana's Lc Des Allemands with my uncle when I was a teenager living in New Orleans was always a super experience. I remember when a big storm had passed through Southern Louisiana a few days before our trip and we saw a lot of water mocassins on the lake's shore and in the water that you would have thought they were having a convention. We heard them hit the side of our skiff as we went through the water, too. Lucky for us none decided to get into our boat.

I have found just about anything works on a good pond. Plastics, spinnerbaits, live worms, small live bream fished on the bottom, rooster tails, Beatle Spins and crankbaits. It seems the bass will go after just about anything.

You found the best site on the web, bar none. The guys are fantastic. Enoy!

You have come to a fantastic site with a lot of wonderful people. Welcome.

A turtle!

Thanks to all. I was told by the service manager at Bass Pro Shops in Hampton, Virginia, that my Tracker battery compartment should be left open while recharging the trolling motor. News to me as the people at James River Marine never said a word about it. Special thanks for the 12 guage extension cord. I will go to Wal-Mart and try to get one tomorrow. Thanks to all for your feedback. You guys are the best! All have a safe and relaxing 4th of July weekend. Sam

The on-baord trolling motor trickel battery charger on my Tracker 185 gets very hot and the red light stays on while it is plugged in to the extension cord and I am trying to recharge the trolling battery. Do you all think this on board battery charger is operating correctly or is it broken? Thanks for any feedback and advice you can offer. Sam

Bass Wisdom by Homer Circle is outstanding. It is designed for the beginner but it is a good refresher course for the experienced fishermen.

Can anyone help me post a picture for my profile? I can not figure it out. Thanks, Sam

This is by far the best fishing site in operation today. I have learned a lot of very useful information while sharing what little I know with others.

I never heard of measuring the Ph factor. How do you do it? Is there something you use to measure the Ph factor? Thanks.

I have caught fish all day long. There are too many variables to consider such as the tides in tidal wates; barometric pressure; cold front moving through the area; the wind; the sun; water temperature; water color; pressure on the fish due to tournaments; and just about anything else you can think of. Mornings have been great; evenings good; and success was had during the day. Just go out and try your luck.

You will never catch fish as long as you are a Tennessee fan. Go with the LSU Fighting Tigers and catch fish after fish after fish. Wear purple and gold in place of orange and you will see a dramatic difference in your success. And don't forget that we sometimes jive each other on this site with lots smiles and fun. Actually, I like UT except when they play LSU. Remember, BEAT FLORIDA!

When you feel the tap set the hook. Sometimes your bait will fly past your ear. But that's better than missing one. Check out these three videos to note how the fish suck in the bait, etc: Bigmouth; Bigmouth Forever; and Feeding Habits of Bass. To order write or call Wet & Wildlife Images, P.O. Box 480, Silver Springs, Florida 34489; 800/661-4286. Uncle Homer Circle introduced me to the Bigmouth video and I got the other two after I saw Bigmouth. Very interesting footage. Happy fishing!

You are very fortunate to locate a secluded pond. Have a fun time and let us know what you catch.

I have found that different Wal-Marts have different levels of fishing items. In Virginia, the Luray and Suffolk stores are excellent while the City of Richmond Wal-Marts are not up to the same level as Luray or Suffolk. So check out different Wal-Marts as I think their stock of fishing items depends on the local fishing and the demand for fishing products. As for Dick's, some are better than others. The one at the Stony Point Fashion Park is poor. I go to three places for fishing tackle - Castaways, Green Top and Bass Pro Shop in Hampton.

I have had no problems with joining B.A.S.S; receiving any promised gifts; nor any problems with the fantastic Bassmaster University program. In fact, when I bought my Tracker I got a free annual subscription to Bassmaster Magazine and since I already had a subscription B.A.S.S. extended my subscription for another year free of charge!

Every morning. Also a number of times a day during the days before I go fishing.

If you want to know what is the hottest selling item; what the pros are using; and get individual service with a smile, go to a small tackle shop. If you want to select your items by yourself with no help and know what you are looking for, go to Wal-Mart or Bass Pro Shops. Of course, Bass Pro shops top Wal-Mart in knowledge, class of clerks and items to select among. In the Richmond, VA area we have Castaways on Route 1. The pros hang out at this tackle shop; the service is excellent since everyone is a bass fisherman; there is the most complete collection of Zoom products; and the people are a class above all other tackle and bait shops.

The April 2005 issue of Virginia Game and Fish magazine has a fantastic article about barometric pressure and bassing written by Ed Harp. If you are serious about learning how the barometric pressure affects bass then please get the issue and read the article. Go to www.virginiagameandfish.com, for details on how to get a copy of the magazine. Or contact PRIMEDIA, Inc., Suite 110, 2250 Newmarket Parkway, Marietta, Georgia 30067. It is a super article that explains a lot about bass behavior.

Glen, after visiting my LSU sports website in the morning your site is second on my list. If LSU loses a big game, then your site is first on my list!

Yes, we are crazy, but loveable!

When fishing salt water, the chinch knot is great. When fishing fresh water, nothing beats the Palamor Knot. All my bass pro buddies swear by it so I use it all the time. Of course, it can be a challenge to use the Palamor Knot on large crankbaits or topwaters, but I do it the majority of the time. Have someone show you how to tie the Palamor Knot as it can be confusing if you try to follow the pictures.

To avoid backlashes, Denny Brauer gave us this suggestion at the February 2005 Bassmaster University in Richmond: Rig your line for fishing. Hold the pole straight out and let the lure fall by releasing the reel's spool. Keep doing this until you no longer get a backlash in your baitcaster. It should take only three or four tries before you have the correct balance of weight and reel drag. It is not necessary to adjust the magnetic pins. Only use your drag to balance the lure with your baitcaster. You can do this at home before you leave; on your boat; or fishing off the bank. Happy Easter!