CJ

Bite Me makes some good ones if you don't mind spending a little money. I buy some that a local tackle shop pours up with Mustad hooks in them and they are alot cheaper.

I'm a roofer! :-[ Just started my own business. Gave myself the day off or well kind of.

WOW! Now that's a trophy!

It was my question! J/K She's starting to get the hang of it. I told her hooksets were free too. Then the other day we were out and I was fishing a t-rigged worm when I felt some brush. I gently lifted my rod and got it to come through clean when a bass nailed the worm while falling off the brush. If I had set the hook on the brush the bass would have probally scattered. It seems I get alot of bites right after I clear a rock, brush, or stump without having to jerk it or rip it out. It's got me wondering, are hooksets free? Teria has set the hook on several types of cover. What if she would have come through the cover lightly? I think it takes sly techniques to fool mature fish. I like to present my lure as natural as possible alot of the time. Especially when conditions aren't favorable.

I see where ya'll are coming from but, how well will that work for someone who is fishing different types of water? I'm not saying I disagree but there has to be more to it. Over thinking is a problem with myself sometimes. But for me it's not as simple. I fish thousands of acres of water. The migration routes are more than a mile. Last year scientific facts that I had learned on this website got me back on fish. We had a drought. The current was very little for a few months. The once stacked ledges were dry. Yet Ky. Lake's grass has been making a tremendous comeback. It was actually simple, the bass had moved into the deeper grass. Maybe because of the D.O. levels there or the bait went there? Then in October I had found a great grass flat out on the main lake. It was loaded! Come tournament day the lake had risen 2 ft. Where I was sitting in 18 ft. was then 20. Where I was casting in to 6 ft. was then 8. I had to move the boat back up to 18 ft. and get back to casting into 6. The bass had moved on up to stay at the depth they were adapted to. I'm still with ya though. You can't do the science and always get the answer.

Interesting thread. It could get deep! I feel there is a basic knowledge for bass science if an angler is wanting to excel in his/her results out on the water or off the bank. Though there are days you can take all the "text book" info and throw it out the window cause bass don't know the rules. There are too many factors and elements to try to find an equation for which one will dominate the bass' location or feeding mood. In other words, what will turn them off, what will turn them on, what makes them migrate, etc. Yet with good bass education, you could salvage a bad day. But I don't think it takes a genius to figure it out. Just an open mind, confidence in yourself, patience, and perseverance. You can read all the articles and books in the world but nothing will top your own "on water experience". Yet, even I want to know "why" when I do good or when I don't. Problem is, there's usually a handful of reasons and the question then is, which factor was the main reason? JMO, CJ

Though I hadn't seen him run, I saw the interveiw with his owner on ESPN. The guy was so sure of his horse. I also missed the race today but, from what I had heard he was supposed to blow the other horses away. Maybe Big Brown needed his roids they didn't give him? Or 1 1/2 miles was a quarter mile to long. I guess that owner got his bubble bursted or it was rigged.

Dang it!!! Would the Cubbies start their downward spiral already! BTW, I like today's name Burley. Wasn't the originals Micheal Hayes and Jimmy Garvin?

I've ran into bulimic bass. You know they eat it and then spit it back out but, I ain't never seen any anorexic bass. : LOL Joking aside, I would try grubs or tubes.

You're right Kent! She's purtier than me. I'm really humbled by this honor. Thanks everbody! CJ

Horny Toads, and senkos t-rigged weightless or with a tungsten weight. Tungsten's smaller profile comes through a lot cleaner.

Maybe but, I have found that warmer water temps are what start up the deep water bite for me.

12" BPS Squirmin" Worms Shakey heads w/6" finesse worms C-rigged brush hogs And ofcourse 1/2 oz. black/blue jigs with Paca chunks

Pretty cool ending! Kevin Snider got second. He fishes my BFL division. Anybody who even qualifies for this event deserves a hand. It's tough to get there.

Hmmm......I think it's about time the Cubs start falling apart.Perhaps one of the curses will start kickin' in!

I agree with Randall, Raul, and Catt. Really the sitiuation dictates. All within a few hours fish may respond to larger profiled lures or the presentation. There's to many factors that may dictate. But the fish's feeding mood has alot to do with it. Just yesturday the fish went from wanting a small 4" tube or 6" shakeyhead worm to wanting 12" worms. The difference maker was the fact that the TVA started releasing water at noon.

Water depth is a big factor. Question though: Was the fish hitting the lure on the fall? Fall rate is a big factor for me from shallow to deep.

Yup, rod butt got her. That and the 3 tap method! ;D J/K...definantly JUST KIDDING! Really though, not bad for a newbie catching em' 12-15 ft. deep on a 12 in. worm. Great Job Momma!

It's a key chain holder my grandpa had. Just one of the things that brings back memories and I am the only one who wanted it. That's a nice gun collection he left me aswell. He was the foundation my love for the outdoors was built on. He was my Papa and best friend. We lost him two weeks ago. He was 85 years old. He lived long and lived well. Sorry to get off topic. I was planning on posting something about him as soon as I got a picture scanned. CJ

Welcome! A big thank you for your service sir!

Russ, I thought the third tap was me smacking you on the back of the head? Anyway, I told her that and she mentioned a fourth tap. LOL

Great post hawg caller! RW, your right. The problem has been the fishing conditions. Post spawn, finnicky fish + lack of current= plastics. This weekend the TVA is predicting some flow. Maybe a big spinnerbait will do. Teria, your going to have to get used to a joke or two if your going to fish with me! It's part of bass fishing. Don't worry you'll be whackin' em' before long! Just have "some" patience. Like hawg caller was saying, you need to learn what every contour and cover feels like. Then if it feels different, it's probally a bite....or, the bouy line.....or, my line......or, dad's line. CJ

Man you're killin' me! Nice fish! You're on a roll. CJ

That's fantastic! Hope I get to see the episode. Sounds like it was a great day fellows. I guess I need to contact my local cable company about WFN. Way to go guys! CJ

Amen Fluke!