Jnamo

I really like the Rangers...But those Allison's are Bad A**! I voted Ranger though, I would fish all year in one of those Caddy's and like to take the Allison out to smoke a few wanna-be dudes on the lake! The guys with the Donzi's or Intimidators that hit around 80. Pull up next to them in an Allison and punch it...Bye Bye!!!!! Jeff

I like the idea of not knowing until the morning of the event. But I believe it should be drawn out of a hat or something, not left up to one person to know. Not that anyone would cheat, but it eliminates any possibilities. Any more help out there? Thanks

How does your club go about picking a Classic location. Our club lets the Tourney Director pick it the morning of. I don't like the idea of one person getting to pick a location. I would appreciate any ideas. Thanks!

If you get KVD's dvd/video or book and do exactly what he says, you have to catch fish. I am totally perplexed by this. As you can probably tell I love spinnerbaits and use them in ultra clear water with a lot of success. I have been to BASS U. and heard KVD's spinnerbait/jerkbait lecture and if you listen to what he says it is pretty much the same thing in his books. There really is not much of a secret here. VYRON is on the right track and gave you some good advice and a place to start. Wow, 28,000 casts? Maybe the one guy was right, try tying the bait to the line?! 28,000 casts??? :o Good luck-Jeff P.S. the bait on the left is the same one that is in fishy fishy's mouth. They do work, something ain't goin right? 28,000 casts?????

I am suprised no one asked what time of year this tourney is taking place. I know you mentioned the spawn but it is very important to take into account what stage of the spawn the fish will be in during your tourney. If you could post a date, we all might be able to help you out some more. Jeff

I also realize that the type of pattern that is being fished makes a big difference also. A flipping and pitching bite will definitely favor the front of the boat. But if your out in the middle of the lake fishing structure or grass, then the accuracy of the location of the presentation is not as important. Again, I am just looking for ideas to offer up to members to help eliminate the "front ending" and make it a fair playing field. Hillbilly-don't sell yourself short. Confidence is key, be humble but with the attitude that your gonna stick em'!!! ;D Good luck this year! Thanks, Jeff

I thought I read somewhere that Perrys bass may have been a Striper and he didn't know the difference. I remember reading somewhere that a member of this site did a lot of research on Perry (maybe it was EW77) and that they had a lot of unanswered quetions about Perry's fish. I too have trouble excepting a fish without any pics. Those eye witnesses of Perrys may not have known the difference between a striper and a Largemouth. Who knows for sure??? Nice 13 pound bass...NOT Jeff

What has been your opinions as far as clubs fishing team style vs. individual weights? This would be fishing with the boat owner and a draw for a non-boater type of tourney. Is there ever a fair opportunity for the non-boater to win in a club like this? It would seem like the non-boater is going to bet front ended all the time. I realize that some clubs let the NB take the lead for half the day, but some guys wont let their boat be run by the NB. I need some help with this...Any suggestions on how to make it fair? My opinion is that the tourneys can be team as far as weight for the one event. But as far as the season goes, each bag can be weighed individually and the totals for the individual angler can still be kept. You only add the weights together(boater/NB) to declare a winner for that one event. Everyone still keeps their own weight. If done like this, the boater will feel obligated to get his partner on some fish for the sake of the one tourney. But he still wants to get the largest bag possible. Seems like that would make it a little more even as far as the NB goes. Any Ideas? Jeff

I used to read the Detroit News papers and laugh. On the front page there would be an article about Ford or GM recalling 100,000 vehicles because of some problem. Then on page nine in some little blurb of an article there would be the story about BMW recalling 350,000 because of seat belt failure or something. Same with the Japanese companies, all of their recall articles were in the back of the paper in an article about 3x 3. The big 3, it gets front page in 3 tall letter type. This was in Detroit! Makes me wonder?

I agree that enough is enough... Unless you have something new to add. I have read most of the posts and everyone seems to be speculating and giving opinions about the same stuff. : Which is why were here, to give our thoughts. But the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over... If you have something new to add, highlight it and start a new thread. It sure would be appreciated! Jeff

The difference is that I have a choice to buy an american car or a foriegn one. If you can show me a company that makes shoes in America (at a normal price), I would buy them. The only reason I dont is ignorance on my own part. Not a conscious decision. My shoes are Sonoma ( made in China) sold at Kohls. I hate nike shoes, they are overpriced and cheap. Here we go again, Jeff

You all are right about my mis-use of words. I fixed it and apologize to anyone that I may have offended. I have several generations of family members that worked for the American auto companies and I live in SE Mich. whose entire economy is based on the sales of American automotive companies. I have a question. Why is it that whenver someone says they drive a chevy or ford, that is all they say. But when someone says they drive a Foreign car, they have to add about the reliability and the jobs that these manufactors created? Is it shame? Are you embarrassed and need to justify your reasoning? By the way, I have owned 2 Tauruses and both had near 200,000 miles and 12 years on them when I donated them to charity. All they ever needed was routine maintenance and alternators/batteries. My 94 dodge minivan has 160,000 miles and is running strong. There are a lot of cars out there with a gazillion miles on them. The foreign car owners like to huff and puff about them in what I believe is a guilt motivated justification. The majority of those cars are sold in Southern States that don't have all of the salt and winters to contend with. Just my thoughts, have at it boys! Jeff

FORD. As long as it is a Ford or Chevy it is cool with me. You can keep your Non-American cars > Jeff

Between 3-4 in the afternoon. Bites later in the day usually do run bigger for me. Maybe it is the 12:00 noon rule that allows me to relax!

Sounds like a good opportunity to model and use "I" messages. You might come to a resolution with this gentleman and it would be a great chance to show your youngsters the effectiveness of being a democratic citizen! ;D Tightlines...Jeff

T_P, I live a little north of you in Mich. and I have already caught several bass this year. It was just a small pond and the fish average only .5 to 2lb. but they are still fun. I commented about this topic in another post so I apologize to anyone reading this if it seems familiar...But, I used a drop shot, I put a small cut-tail worm about 12-14 inches off bottom and worked it really slow. I never really felt a bite, only a small tick or just pressure. I have a balanced 5'6" Bionic Blade that I hold directly on the blank for extra sensitivity. Use flouro line and have fun!!! If you are fishing creeks or rivers let me know, I can help you out. Jeff

Not to come off as confrontational, but that is that exact attitude that the treehuggers love to see. It is fuel for their fire. We are just trying to promote some awareness, not save the planet. That is what Hollywood actors are for!!! Jeff

George Welcome Please read post #24

Soft Jerk baits work well. The zooms hooked texas around that grassy area might be something to try. All it takes is something to break the flow of the current to hold fish. A rock may not seem to big to you but it might break up the flow enough to hold a fish. Try and find slack water and put your baits in the current going by those areas. This is all relative to the size of the river and speed of the flow also. Get out there and do it. That is the fun part! ;D Jeff

I agree with all of you on the B.D. thing. I also don't really care for the way that tourney fishermen throw their fish in the boat and then allow them to flop around while trying to grab them. Again, like MattFly said, the fish have a slime on their bodies that protect them and is detrimental to their survival. If the fish is bouncing around in the bottom of the boat they lose all of their slime. Also, how about the effect of living in water your whole life and then being brought several feet up in the air and dropped into the bottom of a boat? Ouch! :'( I like the idea of rubber nets, or landing by hand whenever possible. Boga grips too have a great advantage. You can land a fish and never have to touch it. Just something to chew on. Jeff

First of all, if you spook the fish or at least they see you, forget it. You must be more stealth like. Second, I would try casting way past the fish you see or to the side of them. If you lure splashes near them, chances are you will spook them...due to the fact that it seems like these fish are quite nervous. Try using a translucent jerk bait (white or clear). The water (I am assuming) is gin clear. Bold bright colors don't look natural to them. Maybe a zoom jerk if you like plastic. If that doesn't work, through a worm past them, bring it to them and let it fall right through them. Don't forget to try some top water lures also. Again, clear or white bottomed lures. This is the fun part of fishing... knowing they are there and figuring out how to catch them!!! Never give up! Jeff

I live in SE Mich. and fished a small pond like the one you described on Sat. The Pond had ice on it last week and this weeked it was in the 50's(air temp). Drop Shot was the key. 12" off the bottom with a small cut tail worm. Make sure your line is tight, just tight enough to not allow any bow in the line and so your sinker doesn't move. The fish don't hit it...they gently suck it in and taste it. There is sometimes a lite "tick" on the line but usually you just have to feel for weight. Caught a few including a 2lb.er (big for that pond) My buddy was jerk fishing with a small white pointer. He only caught one. Super long pauses. It was nice to get out. Good luck if you go. Hope this helps. Jeff

By being here, I think we are all on the right track...Educate, Educate, Educate...

This topic is a very sensitive one on many different websites. While I have never personally read any research based material on the topic, I have read the posts and talked to biologists that have read and produced such material. To sum up the information that I have been exposed to and have personally witnessed,... By removing the "Buck" from the nests, smaller pan fish, salamanders (sp?) and other aquatic creatures eat the eggs in the nest (not to mention birds that eat smaller fish, fry). Unless there are 2 fish on the nest, you are catching the male whom is guarding the nest from the fore mentioned predators. Smallmouth do not procreate every year. I believe on average only 30-50% of available fish actually spawn. Out of that only a small percentage of the eggs actually become fry, and out of the fry, only a handful if that survives. :'( I believe the same effects happen to largemouth except that they produce more eggs and in turn have more fry, etc... Smallmouth populations are more fragile, especially in rivers. I do not tell people to leave beds alone because I feel the need to be a killjoy. > I just love fishing and want the fish to be there so that my son/daughter can enjoy them too. ;D If your lake is loaded with fish, go ahead and tie on a tube bait (contrast the color to the bottom of the lake-usually white works well) use one with an exposed hook (don't Texas rig baits for spawning fish) and go for it. Like catching fish in a barrel!

Whenever I see these questions, it worries me. Please keep in mind the populations of the bass on the lake or river you are fishing. To put it honestly, anyone with the slightest amount of skill can catch a spawning bass. The question should be, Can my lake or river support the loss of bass due to people fishing the spawn? If you fish a river for bass- do not fish the spawn, or at least go and fish deep water (10ft or deeper)to catch pre or post spawners. Let the bass do their thing and make more bass. River populations are much more delicate than lakes. If you are fishing a lake and it is absolutely loaded with bass, go for it, just make sure you CPR- catch photo release the fish. Chances are the nest will be heavily raided by the time the fish returns but at least you made an effort! If you ever get a day when the water is smooth and it is sunny out and you can see the fish, use a lure without a hook and play them a little. Just watch the fish for a while and learn something, appreciate what is going on. You don't have to catch them to have a good day. These are my thoughts, not yours-do as you wish, Jeff