CJ

I'm suprised that most of you wouldn't pass up a spot that has been fished.I have fished with alot of guys who say"somebody is already there",expecting me to go somewhere else.I caught a 16+lb. limit last year working a bank in behind a couple boats.Like some mentioned,they were fishing different and I had confidence in my pattern. Fish Chris,even though I fish dinkland compared to your stompin' ground,I like hearing your unique view.Probally not unique to Cali but you guys play a different game.I'm gonna have to check it out one of these days.

Probally a good guess.

You just made me aware of it.I looked it up and they didn't mention cause of death,just that she collapsed in a hotel in Florida.

I think it takes more knowledge and skill to catch big fish.

Are you scared to fish in behind other angler's or where other angler's just fished?Maybe scared isn't the word for it,but in other words,say you pull up and somebody is just leaving your,honey hole,stretch of bank,ledge,hump,etc.Do you go on assuming it will not produce or do you fish it anyway?

I fish big water and a 18' regardless of driver will not run with a 21'. The weight of the boat is going to make a difference as well. Scernario: Ky.Lake,winds N at 20 mph.Most guys in anything smaller than a 20' would do good to get out of the bays on a day like that.I fish a Stratos that measures 20'10".Not only does a longer boat ride better,the length and weight allows it to fish better for an offshore guy. As for the original question,they all wanna get there first,RW.I can say that I have a 21'w/250 H.P Merc.It will hit 80 but I drive 65mph at the most in tournaments.There's always that guy who is trying to win the boat race.The boat race is usually all he wins.

An Ultimate Jig that I paid 2.99 for.Doesn't sound like a good deal but I won almost $4000 off of it.

Muddy,I spool my baitcasters like Gman mentioned.I was just going to add that when Gavin(my little guy)isn't around to help,I just leave the spool in the box and hold it with my feet.Sounds silly but with the aid of a buddy or device it can be tough.Good Luck on Fork,Muddy!

I put Smelly Jelly(crawfish anise)in with my jig trailers.Don't know that it helps but I know it don't hurt.

It still looks like you guys have left out RW's "go-to" bait. Without a doubt RW is "DA MAN"!

I will look into this. For right now I'll guess that the average wieght will be somewhere around 8-9lbs for FLW or BASS. As for a club's winning average:15-16 lbs.

22 degrees,winds 10-15mph out of the north.In other words "IT SUCKS!"

Welcome to the Forum. This topic has been discused in the "Tournament Talk" category before. Anyway,it's hard to say what would have worked in your sitiuation,having not been there.I may have tried a smaller spinnerbait than what the boater was fishing or a shallow crankbait.I would have thought plastics but you mentioned the boater fishing warp speed.Regardless I would have been thinking finesse unless the boater was whackin' em' on the spinnerbait.One thing,I feel,for a back deck angler to do is fish to his/her own element whether it is the same or different of that of the boater's. Other things I may have tried: swimming a jig or finesse worm buzzbait or spook rat-l-trap

I missed this thread somehow.Back on topic: This is a list of lures that I caught fish on last year. jig-about 12 different styles and sizes crankbait-about 20 different ones spinnerbait-8 different ones jerkbait-6 different brands and colors plastics-30 different styles and 6 different rigs topwaters-15 different types That would be a close guess on how many lures produced.This list will be smaller next year,I think.

I agree night fishing will help your ability to detect a strike. You are referring it as "line watching".I call it "line detection".Sometimes you feel it before you see it,sometimes you see it before you feel it.

Luckycraft D-20 is worth it because it will dive 20ft.

Tennesse Shad,chartuese/green or blue back,American Shad(chrome sided),green back/pearl sides,Citrus Shad,just to name a few.

I've been sold on the craws and chunks for a couple years now.I fish both the regular and baby on a t-rig and c-rig.There are alot of plastics that catch fish and the Paca is one of em'.I use mostly green pumkin.On my jigs I only use 2 different types of trailer,the old style chunk and the Paca chunk. Yum and other companies are coming out with their versions.Usually when other companies try to copy a lure,it's a good one.

Even on the worst days there will be more than one way that will catch fish.The first lure I pick up will be a jig.Alot of times I find fish hugging the bottom,in or close to cover.I definantly will slow down my presentation. What I may concentrate on is locating deep fish for a post cold front,but alot of that would depend on the staging point of the fish.If they haven't started prespawn staging then I'll fish the deep points at the mouths of bays and may end up throwing a deep crankbait,jerkbait,jig,or tube.

There are alot of quality jigs on the market.I feel the most important feature for a jig is to have a quality hook such as a Gammakatsu,Mustad Ultra Point,and some manufacturers are now using Owner.I have pretty much quit buying name brand jigs and now buy a custom made jighead and make up my own skirts.I get a jig with a Gammy or Owner hook and make my own skirt for around $1.50/pc.

Me too!

Please explain why not. I am with Sam on this,hardly ever during rec fishin',always in a tournament.

There are no rules that say you can't leave your boat.Only that you can't leave your boat to fish.Clay Dyer fishes the FLW and Stren.He has to jump in for a swim to cool off because of his disability.In the BFL you are not allowed to leave the sight of your angler or co-angler.You are also allowed to be late as long as you are paid up and even some open tournament directors will stick around for tardy anglers. I haven't fished a tournament that would allow you to use a stringer.

Welcome!You win some,you loose some.It happens to the best!

I'm a Kistler guy too.