CJ

Here's one of my son Gavin.He pulled this fish out of the brush!

Hunny.....I swur..on my life.........I wasa.........frog giggun'.

One way to see this is that when a superstar signs a big contract,he hurts him or herself trying to please his/her fans and owners.Just playing to hard can take a toll on the body.In other words,trying to do to much.MLB pitchers are a prime example.

Spinnerbait Chug Bug Small jig honorable mention:Rat-L-Trap

Exactly.If there were 2-3 lbers there then there're still are.Water clarity will cause cause mature fish to become tough to catch if your not working the right lure and presentation,especially if you don't have the right weather conditions. LBH is probally going to be able to help you more than anybody.

Bomber's Fat Free Shad in Tenn Shad or Citrus Shad I fish big water(Ky.Lake)most of the smallmouth are deep.

Way to go,Kelley! Everybody will watch that "one" get away......I know I have. Congrats! CJ

Well a congrats is owed to the man!It's his fish,he may do what he likes though I lean toward C/R.Obviously not the same fish the markings prove it. I am with RW,I don't think Cali will produce a WR smallie.Not that it's impossible,looks like there's plenty bigguns' over there.But when the right chemistry hits the Tenn or Cumberland chain such as improved vegetation the new WR smallie will grow but will she be caught?

Won't go into to many details and sorry to get off topic but I was down your way,the lake is low and watch out for those shallow points.They got stumps and rocks on them! Thank God for good insurance.

Wow!I have missed out on this thread this year.Muddy the Mets are lookin' great!The whole National league central looked bad(with the exception of the Brewer's early season),now we have a tight race!The Cubs would be favored but I am pullin' for my Cards!Probally missed it but Ankiel has made for a great baseball story.He hit another HR today.Where did this guy come from?It's obvious he was born to play the game!CJ

Probally something to do with the water clarity or have you noticed any other factors that differ from last year?Is this the same time of year you were successful last year?Have you tried anything different?Successful patterns may change year to year.

Deb,Way to go!Nice bass!Those drums will get your heart pumpin',huh. Been meanin' to take you and Joe out but I tore my lower unit out.My insurance is gonna freak when they get the estimate Tuesday morning,$8K!

Guys,I am getting to live it up right now.I gotta 9,6,and 2 year olds.The baby is a girl.Gavin is the middle boy and he is the bomb with a rod in his hand. The first time I heard those magic words"Dad!!!I got one!,I nearly knocked over everything in the boat going for a net just to make sure that 14" smallmouth didn't get away!Gavin did everything on his own and had caught it on a tube bait.Without doubt,the greatest fishing moment of my life! CJ

Not to get too technical but a Rapala floater isn't really a crankbait.Some would call it a jerkbait. As for your question,I like a bagley's Bang-O-Lure.And for shallow crankbaits I like a Bandit 100 or a Lucky Craft RC 2.5.Crankin' these down and running them hard into the stumps can draw very aggressive strikes.

I have read that a crawfish is a bass's "preferred" meal.

I think you would want to consider what,such as cover,and where,such as water depth. I wouldn't recomend a football jig in grass,for example. I haven't fished the JigX or a jig that ties on differently.The first and most important part of a jig is it's hook,IMO.

Hmmmmmm....... BS They want you to pay $200 for something they won't even show you?

I believe the next WR will come from the south on the Tennessee chain.I think any of it's resevoirs has a shot at it if somebody can get it in the boat.

I don't want to sound negative,there may be some good smallmouth in the lake but I would think if you inquired with local tackle shops and other anglers it would help. Justfishin's advice is on the money.Current is their element.

We have definantly had problems in the last 2 years on Ky./Barkley.The 2 guys who were caught last year got fellony charges and pretty stiff sentencing.Along with more frequent polographs at charity and team trail events,have cut back on the cheaters for now. On the other hand,we still have our "cry babies".Since the 2 cheaters were caught,there have been sore losers "cryin' wolf" everytime a big sack is weighed in.This is becoming a problem due to the increasing quality sizes of Ky.Lake's bass.

Suspended fish that are that far off the bottom,in a negative mood,are nearly impossible for me.A spoon fished like Rebbasser posted is the only way I have caught fish suspended under pods.I think they were a little more active.

I have had a number of bass spew in my livewell.You would be suprised at the size bluegill even a small bass will eat. Schooling white bass or stripes are worst at this.I have heard of guides that don't even let them in the boat they're so bad about heavin'.

Fred Young's Original Big O made a pumpkinseed color.

Momma always said,"stupid is as stupid does". Feel sorry for the woman though. Welcome aboard green_eyes

Chris at Tech,is right.Slow down,try a larger profile lure with less action like a 7" senko or a 10" worm.Big fish are looking for an easy-to-catch,larger meal.You may need to make several cast to an area to induce a strike.If there is no grass,try a jig.Good Luck CJ