Flukeman

They do, he is in a junior club.

Up here a lot of people still use the jig worm in open water or before the weeds take over.

The deal states that they are supposed to be working reels. The Classic gets so crazy at times I don't think they have time to check them all. They are given to kids fishing groups, so please turn in working reels. My Junior Bassmasters group received some of the reels one year. Many were good working older reels and some non workers the kids chose to try and repair. I was especially proud when my group chose to pick a couple of reels and donate the rest to a local schools fishing club. So they go to very good use for kids who may not be able to afford a reel to fish with. It is a great program!

I guess you have to ask yourself "am I having trouble with my current hook?" and "are these the only option to fix my problem?" If your answer to both is yes, then i guess you better buck up. My experience has shown that usually people have hook problems because they are using the wrong style for the application they are fishing. Or they do not take care in how they store their hooks. The reviews I have heard are marginal at best when you consider the price. The keepers are nice, but at one time some one showed me how they duplicated the keeper. i will have to try and remember what I was shown and maybe I can post the process.

Not sure what the excitement is about this pricing. Around here our Powerbait prices are $3.99. For an extra dollar you get scent and a detailed bait. These baits look like remakes of older model baits from other companies. It looks like they decided to save $2 a pack on the design detail and lack of scent. And then turn around a give us a $1 break on the pricing, nice marketing trick I guess. Very disappointing

I've played this game enough years now, I find myself pairing down. I used to buy all sorts of new stuff when it came out and found I was not using a lot of it. I have narrowed my gear down to 4 colors and lure choices that work just about everywhere. Now a days I do buy something if it will work to meet some condition on the water that my current lures won't address exactly right. It makes me laugh when I think back to all the items I have donated to my Jr. Bassmasters club.

I still use my Dad's Abu 5000, the round red one. It is spooled with 14# Ironsilk and I usually throw lipless cranks with it. It casts a mile but as you can imagine the drag is a little hinky at times. I still have the leather case, instruction booklet, wrench, oil, and a spare parts tube with spare parts.I think I can remember him using it in the early 70's. So I am guessing it is a late 60's or early 70's model, but not sure. Anybody have any idea how far back these reels go?

You will need to go and try the different lenses. Everyone's eyes are different with the different lens colors.

The first major reason they don't double up anymore is the cost factors. Then you can look at the two organizations going to the overlapping dates the last few years and lastly sponsors. When FLW went to those big sponsor teams it benefited some BASS guys to switch over to those teams. It is so expensive to fish either trail anymore, especially when you have to put up the whole shot up front. With that format you couldn't pick and choose individual events as easily as before. Now to survive you probably have to pick the trail that plays to your strength to assure you can continue fishing. That's why there are so many good fishermen not trying to go pro anymore, got to be rich to play or willing to risk everything. Especially considering the sponsor situation these days, a lot of the luxury deals are gone or cut back now.

Mine would be either the drop shot or a split shot rig.

Exactly!!!! I think the new management is already showing they are listening to the fans with the AOY change. Why not see how the All-star event works, and if its not that great, let them know you'd like to see a different format. I think this is something new they want to try, and maybe tweak it after a go around. I think the 12 number was just a carry over from last year. I say lets give them support and see how it goes before passing negative judgment on their new idea.

It does not matter if it was 8,10,12, or 20 plus four. The four is just a way to get the fans to play and be boat eligible. This is just an All-star Week no matter what they call it. The real post season is the Classic, that what everyone is competing for all season. And when you fish the Classic is just logistics, end of year or beginning of next, just makes fishing a spawn tourney.

I think the whole thing is great. We get an AOY based on the season like it should be. We still have the top 8 guys and we get to pick four wild cards. Not to mention some average joe is going to win a boat. I think it is great for everyone!

Did something change this year for BASS? I thought I read a thread on here last year about all the new guys that jumped on board to fill last years field, and they did not qualify through the opens and had no wins or winnings? Maybe it was a different forum?

I fish DT's all the time banging off rocks, wood, and weeds on bottom. The only time I have broken (2) was when I had a brain fart and tried to slap the weeds off them on the water. My bigger problem is the zebra mussles fraying my flouro on the bottom stuff or cutting through lighter flouro when it gets stuck.

I stopped by ours today and picked up DT's, X-Raps, and Husky Jerks for $2.50 - $3.50 a piece. Packages of Tru-tungsten worm weights from .29 - .89 a package. And some Chatterbaits for $1.25. And a spool of Invisix Floro 4# for $6. Also 2 6'6" MHF St. Croix premeire rods for $39 each!

Neither, I like shows that teach you something not just push products. And I don't want a show were a third of it is the weigh-in. I watch shows that show techniques, tips, and actual fishing, instead of reality show type gibberish. I like to watch: Linder's Angling Edge- versus The Bass Pro's-versus Pro Team Journal-outdoor ch

Clubs come in all shapes and set ups. Some are federated/or not, some fish big water, some only fish small water, some fish a team events, some pro am, some split time, they all have different payout systems, some have junior clubs, some do a lot of conservation work/some do none, some only meet on the second Tuesday of the month and maybe you can't make Tuesdays! So what I did: 1.) Make a list of why you want to join a club. 2.) Make a list of clubs in your area. 3.) Start visiting those clubs. 4.) Ask other fishermen about those clubs. The one that matches your personal criteria the closest will probably be your best bet.

This sounds like some of the informal night tournaments we have around here. Most of our locations the tournament director or in some cases "average joe" running the tournament can't even see all the boats after they are pulled for weigh-in. Not to mention many of these are only run by one or two guys doing the weighing. So I am not going to rip a tournament director or some guys stepping forward to run something for a group of guys. If people want to cheat, they are always going to find ways to do it. You can't watch everyone 100% of the time. You just hope the system works and culls the bad eggs.

Not sure if your state is the same as us here in New York. Our NY Bass Federation voted to stay with BASS. Our State Federation is larger than both of the other groups and actually discussed going independent back when the divide occurred. Going with BASS has worked out well for us concerning sponsors, conservation, and youth. As far as tournaments, folks can fish our Federation trail, the Federation Nation weekend Series, or the TBF trail. We draw about a 100 boats, weekend series draws 40-70 depending on where they are, and the TBF draws 7-20 boats. Here the TBF never really got traction after we decided to stay with BASS. This year they have tried for a second time to get up and running. This group of guys seem to have it going in a positive direction. Some of our guys have fished their tournaments and said they did a very good job. I know in some states the TBF is the larger group. I would look at which group is stronger in your state. Then contact clubs from both sides and ask about pluses and minuses. Then as a club look at the national tournament process and see which one fits your needs best. As far as getting answers. You have to remember both are going thru or shortly will be going thru changes. It may take some time for everyone to get back up to speed. I run our Federations tournament trail and handle our membership. I have not had any problems getting answers from BASS. But to be honest when I used to fish the BFL I never had any problems with the FLW. I think it is great having all these options for anglers. There is something out there for everyone! Good luck

Angling Edge Classic Patterns In-Fishermen Bass Pros Next Bite I like shows that give technical information I can use.

Don't let Jack scare you(people in Texas must not be as nice as people in NY, lol). I have fished as a non-boater with over a 75 people during the years I have tournament fished. I have had maybe 10 people who where not nice guys to fish with. I have learned from all of them, even the guys who were less than stellar. I learned a long time ago that you "reap what you sow". It is true that different trails draw different types of crowds. You will try them out and draw your own conclusions to the crowd you want to run with. There are even some clubs out there that offer formats that foster boaters and non-boaters to work together. There are so many trails out there you will find one that fits your style or desired format. Now if you live where Jack lives, surrounded by cut throats, that's too bad. Here in NY you can fish Bassmaster Opens, NYS Federation, multiple Anglers Choice Trails, Weekend Series, 100 plus clubs trails, Northeast Bass, several open trails, and even weeknight jackpot trails. There are probably some I am not even aware of that are available for me to fish. I found the BFL here to be the most cut throat. And to be honest it was not the guy I was in the boat with most of the times. It was other boaters crowding you, cutting you off, or boat waking your area. What will effect your fishing is the different styles. If you draw a dock pitching guy, you get a lot of used water to fish at not so great angles. That's part of being a non-boater. And that leads to non-boaters buying boats and becoming boaters when they can afford it. But if your not in that situation, non-boater is the way to go. Keep an open mind, treat people how you would like to be treated, and you will be fine.

If you enjoy competition you will like tournaments. It is also a great way to meet people who enjoy your passion of fishing. The thing to remember is you are fishing the easiest part of the year right now. Most tournaments around here don't start until late June and the fish have changed locations and are less aggressive. So don't let it frustrate you when this change occurs. Simply look at tournaments as another way to enjoy the activity you enjoy, learn from some new people, and a way to enjoy some fun competition. Make sure you are prepared for any weather condition, once your out you will not be coming back in until the end of the day. Bring water and snacks. Have fun, good luck!

I remember a handful of years ago watching a Bassmaster show where they electronically tagged a fish and followed her movements and showed her path of return on one of there shows. I can't remember how long it took her to get back, but do remember I was amazed how far she had gone back just in a weeks time.

Very heavy as rods go.