Valascus

I am really stoked about the Cards and Mets series. Should be a pretty good one. Last time the Mets were in town was May 16-18, and the Cards took the series 2 games to 1. However, the Cards weren't experiencing their pitching hiccups then either. But nonetheless, it could most definately be an NLCS preview. Hopefully we can slow down the Mets a little .

HA...don't make me laugh. The 'Stros are 3 games under .500 and can't hit a beachball against teams that can actually pitch. 14-1 win? Yeah, super...IT WAS AGAINST THE PIRATES...THE WORST TEAM IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE!! They have the worst third worst team batting avg. in the entire MLB. They have the 4th worst slugging percentage in the MLB despite playing home games in that retardedly shaped Minute Maid Park where lazy fly balls are homeruns when hit to left. They flat can't hit...not even picking up Preston Wilson last offseason or Aubrey Huff this year has helped boost their anemic offense. Yeah there pitching is still pretty good, but not even Roger Clemens can win in Houston. Brad Lidge has finally started to show his vulnerability. The 'Stros aren't good enough this year to mount a comeback even for the wildcard, not when the NL West is as strong as it is and Cincy slowing no signs of slowing down. Yeah...I remember last season...the Cardinals got beat by themselves, making costly errors and giving up uneraned runs, which ended up being key in every game they lost, with the exception of game 6 when Mulder imploded on himself. I also remember the 'Stros getting absolutely manhandled in a 4 game sweep by a far superior Chicago White Sox team. Sorry 'Stros fans this year just ain't yer year.

Someone needs to beat Izzy in the head...I was a little disappointed by the game, mainly becuase I was hoping it would be a good pitching duel. But it turned into an absolute slugfest. I am a huge Cardinals fan, but I gotta say, I see a lot of vulnerabilities in this years team. Vulnerabilities that could very well lead to an early playoff exit. LaRussa and Dunc need to be collaborating to figure out someway to get things under control NOW so that things don't blow up in our face in the playoffs.

I believe it was Nick_Barr. That was a couple months ago I think. Maybe you can ask him how it went and get some specifics from him.

Yeah, yeah...they also did it against a Jason marquis who was trying to accomplish God knows what by overthrowing everything and showing a complete lack of concentration. J/K. Although I was not about Marquis...he flat sucked last night. Nice job by the Reds in putting that loss behind them and coming to play ball. That catch by Freel was psychotic. Tonight should be interesting. Carp vs. Harang. i think the last time those two hooked up it ended in a 1-0 victory for the Reds. Great pitching duel.

After how many big fish you have probably caught in your time as a guide, I think you are allowed a mental error or two as far as remembering sizes of certain fish. He didn't say the fish was small, troutfisher. He just said he got the weight of the fish wrong and corrected himself. I am pretty sure an 11.5 is a beast in anyones neck of the woods (Cali may be the exception ). Heck, in some peeps home states ,such as LBH's, that's a new state record, I think...I may be off by a few ounces.

I have never eaten bass...never had any desire to do so. Catfish, crappie, and walleye on the other hand all make very tasty tablefare. Catfish are the main reason for the use of the cleaver. Their hides are tougher than nails sometimes.

I have always used a big and very sharp meat cleaver to lop off the head in one swing. THWACK!! Done. Doesn't get any faster or more humane than that in my opinion.

Zebco hit the nail on the head with the larger worms idea. Bigger baits do generally catch bigger fish in MOST situations. Just be prepared for the possibility of a skunkin' when you are specifically targeting larger fish as smaller fish will probably be intimidated by a larger bait. Your main focus should be FINDING THE FISH. That is half the battle right there. As soon as you find a larger fishes haunt all, then you just gotta get it to bite...which isn't always an easy task in and of itself. Good luck.

There was something mentioned in another thread concerning hooksets that I think bears mentioning here again. A firm hookset with soft plastics is important, but what may be more important is the speed of the hookset. As soon as you feel eveidence of a fish on your lure a quick, yet firm hookset, is essential. A powerful hookset does not penetrate the flesh as much as a fast one.

Heeeeeeeeeeere's yer sign.... ;D

This is a fantastic idea!! Now that I am back in the game send that sucker my way and I'll sock it full of some "Show-Me State" MOJO!! LBH, you never cease to amaze with your seemingly constant brainstorming to keep fishing a fun and fresh experience for all and to find ways to bring all of us forum members together under a cause. Once again, excellent idea. Nice job gettin' the MOJO started on it! Dan, Avid, and Capt. Cali: Nice job keeping the MOJO Train rollin' with some solid feesh. And avid, nice to see you back in the game as well. Go get 'em!

Well...in the state of Missouri the state record largemouth is 13lb 14oz. I'd take that one 15lber to crush the state record.

HA HA HA...The Reds got whooped...BY JEFF WEAVER!! HA HA HA!!! And now their playoff hopes aren't even a lock...the Dodgers are tied with them for the wildcard. 13-1...yeah...I'd say that is a catastropic failure muddy_man...ahhhhhh by Jeff Weaver...that's still funny. ;D

Righteo then, thanks for the info Russ. Nathan

That is a pretty nifty anology for fishing. Next time I am out I think I will try that line of thinking. Nice job.

there is a time and place to fish any body of water depending on what equipment you have at your disposal. I love fishing any body of water I can cast a lure into. If I have a boat at my disposal, I will fish larger bodies of water or larger rivers. If I don't I prefer to fish smaller bodies of water such as ponds, small rivers, or creeks that I can walk around and cover a lot of water from the banks. I like 'em all...if it hols fish, and I can catch 'em...then I like it. 8-)

I guess my question on this matter is, when you have completed a challenge from the person on the list before you, does that person challenge you again, or do you get your next challenge from someone different? Also, if you have completed a challenge how long before you can do another one?

Man...Jim knows his stuff. Incredible amounts of info inthat noggin right there.

Now, I am a diehard Cubs fan and they suck this year, but did they not just sweep the Cards this past weekend or was I watching a different game than you? Nope...I saw the same games unfortunately. But a sore loser I am not. My hat is off to the Cubs and Dusty for pulling of an impressive four game sweep. In fact, i wil say that over the past two seasons the Cubs have had the Cards number. Good thing we won't see them in the playoffs anytime soon.

HOW ABOUT THEM CUBS?!?!

I have also noticed it. I know for a fact I have the email notifications turned on and haven't gotten any for quite sometime. Eh...no biggie. I am sure it'll be ironed out son enough.

Same thing as a lot of the previous replies on this thread. I do get skunked sometimes, but I usually catch at least one fish out of pure stubborness. I would say if I go out to fish (to me a good trip is about 6-10 hours), on the big long trips I rarely get skunked. Sometime on those long trips I get good numbers, but times I don't get good numbers (which is usually the case) I usually get at least one. On my long fishing days I usually get 3-8 fish. I rarely have days where I get more than 8 fish and if I do they are dinks. Now I have gone on shorter trips (45mins - 2 hours) where I get skunked. I get skunked WAAAAAAAAY more on the short trips. I guess it's cuz I have less time to deduce how to catch 'em. The more time ya spend on the water the more likely ya are to not get skunked...ya figure 'em out eventually.

I did a google search on the subject and came up with these two articles. Man...this heat needs to break. It's getting crazy. http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1154497923138030.xml?starledger?nmx&coll=1 http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1154443515175990.xml?starledger?nmx&coll=1