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Ours in Fl. are normally very cool and sometimes stop you just to see if your catching any. One time I ran into a real tool. He was waiting for each boat to come into the ramp. This guy was like a ss nazi on steroids. He had shiny boots, shiny gun, aviator sunglasses, marine style haircut and his chest puffed out like a WWE wrestler. He was determined to give everyone a ticket at the ramp. He went through my boat like a tornado. Scared my 2 year old son to death. First he told me he was going to give me a ticket because he could see me across the lake going too fast in the posted area close to shore. I told him from this dock you cannot tell how fast or my exact location without high powered binoculars, which he did not have. I said I always obey posted areas and was on the outside of the restricted speed area. He finally agreed. Then he wrote me a ticket because my pfd was locked in the dry storage. I had just locked it up on the idle back in because I did not want it stolen while walking out to get the truck. People will steal right out of your boat if you turn around. He knew I was telling him the truth, I showed him where it was and my son still had his on at the dock. He continued to write up everyone for any minor thing he could find. I paid the ticket, and then sent a detailed letter to the state office. I am not sure if it helped, but I felt better.

Double check your hooks. Some of them come out of the package with dull hooks. If you bend the hooks out slightly that can also help.

Does anyone know why all of the old school lure companies used to paint many of their products with a white body and a red head? How did that get started and why? Just curious?

You may be correct. I should have made that a more generalized statement. I lived half of my life in the north around lakes and walleyes, and half in the south on bass waters. Walleyes generally are in clearer water. Sunlight must reach fish eggs to enhance the developement process. In clear water sunlight reaches greater depths. I assumed walleyes could reproduce at a greater depth. I have seen thousands of bass nests, some so shallow the females dorsal fin is almost out of the water. Walking many shorelines, I do not recall ever seeing a walleye spawning or swimming shallow. If any professional fisheries people are on here we could get the true scoop. I know sight fishing for bass is huge and has won many tournaments. I have never heard of sight fishing for walleyes, maybe it is illegal?

There is evidence in the Smithsonian of the earliest humans using crude means of catching some fish. Before that, there were most likely more and larger predators to help balance the fish populations. In the early 1900's the earths population was a just a fraction of what we have today. If those practices would have continued without catch limits and fisheries. It is likely that some species would be extinct. Many bird populations were not protected and we now have about 1200 that are extinct. That number continues to rise even with some of the newer protection laws.

Grimlin, I respect your viewpoints and your thoughts on this topic. I simply ask you to respect mine as well. It is ok to disagree. For a moment, Just look at the title of this website, (Bass Resource). The bass is most likely the number one most sought after freshwater gamefish in the world. Just look at the number of members on this site and where they live. That adds up to alot of fishing pressure and with the skills, high tech equipment, and information shared here. Our members are catching more bass all the time. If a few more anglers can be persuaded to release their catch it can only make the sport we love improve for all. Yes, some fish will die from injuries or handling. It is a part of the sport. Studies by B.A.S.S., FLW and several state fisheries have proven that C & R when practiced correctly, does work. I simply love this sport and encourage all to do their best to make it even better. Just my humble opinion. To return to the original topic, I also hate it when a fish gets mortally wounded during my time on the water. I do my best not to let it happen. Sometimes it just does.

Sorry, but I do not agree that they are the same level of survival. Walleyes reproduce at greater depth and spend almost their entire life in deep water closer to the bottom. Few predators are found at those depths. A walleye will grow quickly to a size where it can survive most other fish. Bass reproduce shallow and are found shallow much of the year. As eggs in the nest many are consumed by raiding bluegills. In shallow water they become food for every bird of prey, eagles, hawks, osprey, etc. Every wading bird will also comsume small bass, egrets, herons, woodstorks, anhingas, cormorants, etc. Small mammals along the shore can catch fry. As they grow, larger bass, pickeral, gar and in the south, gators, will consume many more. A bass must overcome a great deal to become trophy fish and that is why C & R becomes more important. There may be many in the lake, but I doubt there are many that are truly trophy sized bass. I am not saying people cannot keep a bass caught within the law. It is your right. I simply wish that all anglers would educate themselves to appreciate what that fish must endure to become a true trophy that all of us would like to catch, and if you release your catch more people may have that opportunity.

I have heard from some of the guys at the local hatchery that full grown mature adult bass are normally between 3-4 pounds as the average. Larger ones are possible but rarely go much over 5 pounds. I also heard a general charateristic deals with the lower jaw being a bit more narrow and protruding out slightly more than the female but it is not a true indicator. Either way, nice catch!

If I am with a friend or my dad then talking and laughing is part of the fun and we normally catch fish at some point. There are times I like to go by myself. I can concentrate and think about things and enjoy the peace and quiet. I am more relaxed by myself, because I decide where to go, how to fish, what to use, and when to leave. If I am with someone I will let them make those decisions. I usually catch a few more when I am alone, but noise or talking is not the reason.

These species, especially bluegills and yellow perch reproduce very quickly with a low mortality rate compared to bass. They can even reproduce too much and overpopulate a body of water quickly. Bass can do this too, but normally only in smaller ponds. These species also consume different food and have little competition for their food. The walleye may have to compete with pike, but normally will consume other prey at different depths. If you are talking of harvest for a food source, bluegills, perch, crappie, and walleye are considered a better tasting fish than bass. The walleye is usually considered one of the best tasting freshwater fish on the planet and are even commercially raised and harvested for the restaurant industry in some areas.

I have to agree with tdz on this. I hate to seriously injure or kill the fish that I spend much of my time and money on catching for the fun of the sport and the great feeling of releasing her back for the future. In our past history, fishing was mostly for food. Times have changed, you will save time and money getting fish at the store and you will be ingesting less mercury and other contaminents. I believe it all comes down to education, values, and traditions. When you learn the extreme odds in producing one big bass it is amazing we have any. With all of todays high tech fishing equipment, I personally feel they deserve a second chance. If you catch for food that is your legal right, I simply ask you keep an open mind and see both sides. A great photo is hard to beat and it really does feel good to see a champion fish swim back to his underwater home.

It can work. Just be sure to check your states fishing regulations closely first. In many states it is illegal to use a gamefish as bait to catch another gamefish. Bream are considered gamefish so just an FYI.

Walleyes are a good species to fish for. I have caught many in my time. It is a different kind of fishing and not even related to bass fishing. If you catch walleyes on something totally artificial you are a true stud. They are wiley and more cautious in their feeding behavior. It usually requires a worm, minnow, leach or some other critter attached to a spinner or bottom bouncing jig that is trolled or drifted over underwater humps to catch any numbers. Bass fishing to me is just more fun and can be accomplished in countless presentations, even fly fishing. Many will disagree, but I believe bass fight better when hooked. The walleye I have caught feel like a dead weight until they see the boat, then they dive. A bass will shake his head, roll, dive, wrap into cover, and even take to the air to fight for his freedom. I feel it is just a different type of angling and any fishin is good fishin.

Saw the Storm Kickin Stick at the store. Looks good and not a bad price for a hard swim bait. Didn't buy because I have had some others similar that were duds. Anyone have experience with this bait good or bad? Thanks.

I would add a pack of flukes to your list. The dying baitfish action will catch fish almost everywhere.

Cheap baits and expensive baits will catch fish under the right conditions. I have been schooled by both. I do believe a better quality lure will get you more bites on a consistant day to day basis. The reputable companies spend alot of time and money on development and research and testing. Some of that cost is passed on to us. Like others have stated the better paint jobs and quality components can help you land more fish. If the baits were similar, your friend may have been working the lure differently or at a different depth sometimes controlled by speed and line size.

I agree, it does seem a bit strange. That is natures way. A single female bass will only spawn once per year, except for extreme S. Fl, Mexico, and Central America. The male chasing and eating some of the weak fry will not hurt the numbers. A single female bass will lay thousands of eggs. All of the bass in a lake do not spawn at exactly the same time. They come to the shallows in waves usually on full moon nights when the water temps have warmed back up to between 50 to 60 degrees F. We have spawning activity for several months in the south. The eggs normally hatch in about a week. The large number of eggs insures that some will make it to adults. The male gets a few, and predators, like birds and other fish take many more. Strange, but it works and it keeps the genetics strong and viable.

Many species of fish will consume their young. In the case of LMB, the male will guard the fry from bluegill and other nest raiders until they reach a certain size, then he will turn and chase them to go out on their own. He will eat some. The ones easiest to catch. That is natures way of getting rid of smaller, weaker, sick or genetic problems. Basic survival of the fittest. I hope that helps to answer your question.

When they keep posting record profits somebody is getting the short end of the stick. Any guesses?

Do the older original floating rapalas work better than a new one? Why are some of the rapalas from finland and some from ireland. Are some of these knockoffs or seconds? Just curious, I still like fishing the floating rapala minnow.

Which is your favorite of each type, and how do you decide when to throw one type over the other type?

What size and color were you using? Were you just swimming the jig back or bouncing the bottom? Please share. Thanks.

I was wondering in this new setup how do you save and then later visit your favorite posts? It was easy before the change, now I can't save a favorite and find it again? Thanks.

Hit the link in the post above. Chris has it right. It is an older version of the motolure "The motominnow" that is sold an endorsed by Chuck Woolery.

If you post some pictures of the stuff you question, I am sure myself or one of the many anglers or collectors on here can give you lure names. Lure values vary in different areas and depends on finding the right buyer. I am sure we could give a ballpark value as well.