Zel

Let me know if there's anything you are short on. I've been getting some stuff together. Too bad the mods locked your Armageddon, Global Warming and the Economy post, cause I figured it out. It's a Jeopardy Question. And the answer is What is the ultimate End, a hyped up Trend, and something in need of a Mend.

Russ, ever find anyone or all they all still hiding from you?

Don't know about northern NY but I do like Greenwood in southern NY and Oneida in western NY. And seeing all the Coney Island Whitefish washed up on the beach really put me off any NYC fishing. :-X

Both grandparents on my fathers side where born in Slovakia and emigrated to the US, and my mother was born and raised in Ireland. My mother was still a citizen of Ireland when I was born, which allowed me dual citizenship if I wanted to also get one from Ireland (don't know if that applies these days because of the EU rules). I once looked into it in the early 80's and got the paperwork, but the Irish government wanted letters of recommendations from either a politician or a policeman, and a Catholic priest (so I was out of luck LOL).

Just something to consider. If fishing is your passion, you can fit it into your college education if you really want to. Look at the National Collegiate Bass Fishing and the colleges that participate and transfer to one, or organize your current college to participate. Get a degree in marketing or communications, which will help you in a potential fishing industry career, and the degree is general enough for other types of careers. If you really want to make your remaining time in school enjoyable, you can do it. http://www.collegiatebasschampionship.com/Schools.htm

The first water I usually hit in the year is a smallmouth lake. Lures are LC Chart. Live Pointer, 1/4 ounce Kastmaster jigging spoon, and a 1.5 smoke Slider Grub.

I live with FEAR every day but sometimes she lets me go fishing.

If you do come for a visit to the Northeast, you might want to try Beck's Land and Sea House in Nazareth, PA. The steaks are fantastic. I recently took my mother there for her 75th birthday for some surf and turf, and she said it was the best meal of her life. I guess there is a reason the racing Andretti clan frequent the place.

Fishing jigging spoons and blade baits is my favorite way of fishing (okay, so I'm crazy). Cold water, deep (25' to 35') bass, and schooling bass situations always brings out my spooning rods. I use both casting and spinning 6' rods, either a baitcaster or spinning reel works just fine (but the reels should have no back play when setting the hook), and either 10lb or 8lb fluorocarbon line is best. And knowing your electronics is key to good spooning. Bottom line is, it all comes down to feel, and this can't be learned from articles, only time on the water. Below are a couple of good articles on jigging spoons, and although some are geared at walleye, the information also works for bass. http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/hard_metal_rap.html http://www.insideline.net/2001/sak-spooning.html http://www.flwoutdoors.com/article.cfm?id=137016 http://proxy.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/members/insider/bmmarchive/column?page=b_col_bass_basics_BMM0702 http://centennialbass.homestead.com/Tips.html http://www.fishingworld.com/News/Read.php?ArtID=000021072 http://www.thelakecaster.com/news/2007/1201/Columns/017.html

I got my Mauch Chunk Lake map many many years ago at Four Seasons Sporting Goods in Jim Thorpe, PA. It was a 8 x 17 photocopy topo map of limited quality, and I don't even know where I have it any more. You might want to give them a call and see if they have any. If not, I'll go through the basement (Yes Muddy, I even have fishing stuff in the basement, because the garage isn't big enough LOL) and see if I can find it amongst the old fishing archives. Four Seasons Sporting Goods 29 Broadway Jim Thorpe, PA (570) 325-4364

Many states offer Free Fishing Days. It's a great opportunity to take advantage of some bordering states fine fisheries, without having to pay for a license. I'm familiar with PA, NJ, and NY, and have listed their 2008 Free Fishing days below. If you know of other Northeast states Free Fishing days in 2008, please add to the list so our members might take advantage of these opportunities. Also be aware that the state rules and regulations must be followed, so it would be wise to look at their regulations online before utilizing their free days. Pennsylvania Fish for Free Days May 24, 2008 June 1, 2008 New Jersey Fish for Free Days June 7 & 8, 2008 New York Fish for Free Days June 28 & 29, 2008

First three letters of my last name yawwwnnnn!

Interesting scenario fishing with an Elite Series Pro and not knowing where you are going to be fishing. In order to fit the scenario, and out of my current tackle, here's my choices: Rod: Kunnan 7' Casting MH Reel: Browning Aggressor Line: 16 lb Stren Magnathin 5 baits: *** 5" *** (solid black) G.Y.C.B. Fat Ika (green pumpkin w/black flake) Berkley 4" Power Finesse Worm Hand Pour (watermelon magic red glitter) Rattlin' Rapala (blue shad) Rapala 5 1/4 Original Floater (silver/black and with Suspend Dots)

Robby, Harvey's Lake has been so-so for me for a while now. I only go there when a friend invites me when he prefishes it for a tourney, or at night when they occasionally had big name concerts there at the Bud Light Amphitheatre (no better seat in the house than in a bass boat fishing and watching/listening to Crosby, Stills & Nash; Deep Purple; or Black Sabbath). I have my best luck there fishing old abandoned docks where only remnants of structure remains, some specific docks, and slow rolling spinnerbaits in deep structure. Grade = C. Fairview is a great small lake. Very small but unlimited HP. There is a state launch, but only enough parking for about 10 cars/trailers (and turning around there to get the tralier parked is nutz), and I don't think you can launch before 6 or 7 am. I stick to dropoffs, rocks, a big old tree in deep water, lily pads, and the hump area. Really quality Smallmouth and the largemouth aren't slouches either. One great place to practice your jigging spoons and blade baits. Grade = B+.

I can't really tell from the story if the Juniors will also be fishing Oneida Lake, NY. Buy in the event we have members that have kids, or friends, that will attend, and want to see a free contour map of Oneida Lake, here they are (east & west). http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/oneidalkemap.pdf http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/oneidalkwmap.pdf

Robby yeah I know the area near where Country Junction was, my nephew just bought a home there recently. You must be really familiar with Beltzville Lake It's almost in your backyard. Fish any open tournaments held there? - - - - Lakes I fish: NE PA: Beltzville, Mauch Chunk, Nockamixon, Tobyhanna, Wallenpaupak, Fairview. Harveys. NJ: Mountain Lake, Merrill Creek, Spruce Run, Round Valley, Hopatcong, Schwartzwood, Areoflex.

Here's another one that's kinda funny.

Shipped off this morning. Also, reporting small town postal workers have officially shifted from slow to a snails pace. Plus adding in discussions of aunt Mary's gout, various Christmas cookie recipes, and the poor selection of holiday stamps, makes for a long process over 15 minutes and I was 3rd in line, Geeezzzz!

And if you don't have a pool, there's always the redneck swimming pool.

Swimming is one of the best exercises there is! And no this doesn't count!

Muddy's my brother from a different mother doesn't count!

Yeah, it's only humor. I have no friends.

A friend and I were out in the boat fishing the other day, when he suddenly turns to me and says, "I'm going to divorce my wife. She hasn't spoken to me in 3 months." I told him "You should think hard before you do anything. A women like that is hard to find."

Okay, here's one for those NE (puke) fans: A man decided to write a book about Churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and started working east from there. Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign, which read Calls: $10,000 a minute. Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to heaven and if he pays the price he can talk directly to God. The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee and all around the United States, he found more phones, with the same sign, and the same answer from each pastor. Finally, he arrived in Massachusetts. Upon entering a church in Boston..Behold - he saw the usual golden telephone. But this time, the sign read Calls: $0.35 cents. Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor, Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to God, but in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads only $0.35 cents a call. Why? The pastor, smiling benignly, replied: Son, you're in Boston, Massachusetts now, home of the Red Sox, the Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and Boston College! You're in God's Country, It's a local call.

I live just down the road fromt he Blue Mountain Ski Resort, about a 45 minute drive south of you.