clipper

It's great when you get to fish with your son! My son lives in town and I expect to fish with him some during his spring break from college. He works and goes to college too, so his fishing time is limited. I still remember meeting my dad at Seminole on spring break, camping on Rattlesnake point, and fishing Spring Creek. It's also nice when you can catch a few fish .

Same for me too. The #5 Shad Rap is my favorite crankbait when the conditions are right.

Vanish was the first florocarbon I bought. I spooled it on my spinning reel, went out to the yard to make a test cast, and about 20 extra yards jumped off the spool on the first cast. I have switched to P-line and have learned to put my finger on the spool before my lure touches down to keep extra line from coming off the spool. There are some good articles on floro here that you should read. I think Triton Mike has a good one here. Also read the articles on knots for floro and then practice. It will save you losing lures because floro will cut itself if not tied properly.

Do a google search for "used boat prices" and you should get some hits on free sites that will give you the value of a particular boat in your area. You have to enter the information about the boat, motor, and accessories and your zip code. I think one of these is iboats.com. At least it will give you a general idea of what the boat is worth.

Try letting the line off behind the boat with nothing tied on it while the boat is idling at slow trolling speed. The water will pull all the twists out of the line that are put there as it is spooled on the reel. When you start getting the twists and tangles again repeat the process. It will make a big difference. It also helps to stop the line with your finger just before the bait hits the water to avoid extra line jumping off the spool. Make sure the line is tight when you start to wind it back on the reel as well, because that is where the loops will get wound up on the reel. I hold the line between two fingers to make sure it goes on the reel under tension until I have all the slack out. Also, backreel instead of letting a fish pull drag. Every turn of the spool on drag puts one twist in the line.

4 lb Ande green is the lightest line I use. When I get good enough to land an 8lb bass on 4 lb line I might try 2 lb test. I have heard of people using 2 lb test for bass but never 1 lb test. I can't see good enough to tie a knot with 1 lb test line, and my fingers are too clumsy to do it if I could ;. If all you are catching is 12" dinks you might not lose any on 1 lb test. Light line is fun to fish and it does cast farther on a spinning outfit. You also have to remember to retie often, especially after every fish or snag.

This is primitive but I cut some 3/4" PVC pipe about 4' long and closed one end with duct tape. I slide one over a rod before it goes in the locker and it keeps the tips from getting tangled. It works fine for baitcasters but doesn't go down all the way on a spinning rod. I haven't seen the rod covers 5Basslimit sells, are they advertised on this site anywhere?

I put them in my rod locker. I don't want dust and dirt from the road getting in my reels. My driveway is gravel and I spin sometimes getting up it. I also think you get dirt and dust from the highway as well. Just my opinion.

Being a grandfather, I have to wonder if the tradition of not talking while you are fishing has been handed down from grandfather to grandson in the interest of peace and quiet for the grandfather not the fish . As we get older we do appreciate tranquility more.

I got skunked last week too. See below.

If you are fishing shallow brush use a lighter jig head or weight. The worm will look more natural, you will feel bites better and the lighter weight will hang up less and come free better than a heavier head. For shallow fishing I use a 1/16 oz Charlie Brewer Snagless Slider head with a 4 or 5" worm. Of course if you are fishing a 14" worm for big bass you will probably need something with a wide gap hook but a lighter weight jig head or sinker will still get hung up less. You also have to use 8 lb line on spinning gear to cast a 1/16 oz jig head and check for line damage and retie often. Give light tackle (not ultralight) fishing a try, you'll like it.

I'd say you've got the right idea, especially if you put it in an area where it is the only cover. I've caught fish off smaller brush piles before. Bigger rocks would be better, but that's probably the only size you had available. You are really dedicated to haul concrete blocks on your bike. If you try it again, you might ask the local block company if they will give you a few of their broken blocks for free. Tell them what you plan to do with them. Sometimes that works. BE CAREFUL on that ice if it has started to melt and don't go by yourself! Hope your hard work pays off this spring .

I had a bass I caught in the 1950's and one my dad caught about that time. I treasured them both because my dad has passed on and I was with him when I caught mine. Both weighed about 8 lbs. They began to fade out, get cracks, and the fins were breaking. I was sad to see them deteriorate. I took them to a taxidermist in Cartersville to ask if he could do anything with them. For a very reasonable price he restored both to look better than they originally did. I was overjoyed. They now hang on the wall of my office and everyone who comes in remarks how good they look. I would go for a replica now, I think the replicas will last longer. Bassboy1, I will pm you the name of the taxidermist in Cartersville. Have your fish restored to remember your granddad by.

Thanks for the report. I have been trying to think of something I needed to justify the long drive to the Bass Pro Spring Sale next weekend and now I have it. To buy a couple of chatterbaits. I guess the bait monkey will get overtime the next couple of weeks .

That fishing sounds good enough to brave 20 degree temperatures. Glad you had a good day. What was the water temp?

I try to watch my line closely. If I'm fishing a finesse worm it will likely be a Slider head and 4" worm and often the fish will just swim off with the bait to one side or the other. When I see my line going sideways I know I have a fish on. Sometimes they will swim toward the boat and you notice slack in the line. I always try to stay in constant "touch" with the bait as well. I don't fish a jig much, but I think it is really important to watch for line jumps when jig fishing. A Senko or any bait you dead stick requires close line watching since most strikes happen on the fall. I will admit it is a challenge to run the trolling motor and watch your line. There are times, like when you are about to hit a boat dock(lol), that you just have to watch where you are going.

The snaps on one of my boats were attached with phillips screws. I removed them, did the sanding, and then put them back. Be careful not to overtighten the screws as the threads will strip out easily on fiberglass. Also, be careful not to sand away the gelcoat. Do a Google search for "Island Girl" and look at their fiberglass restoration products. They do OK on mildly oxidized gelcoat but severly oxidized finishes require sanding. I also don't think they will remove the clearcoat. Good luck, it will be worth it when your fiberglass is bright and beautiful again.

In the lake I fish you have to make your own cover. Christmas trees, rock piles, brush piles, etc. I've even seen a couch(I didn't put it there), cover made from corrugated 4" drain pipe, and car parts :-/.

Guys, from the sounds of their rules over there maybe we shouldn't gripe so much about jet skis and wakeboarders. At least we can launch a boat. The good ole USA is still a great place to live! It's also great to know that folks all over the world are enthused about catching "green" fish and we have some of them on this board. Good fishing, Cybasser . Before the days of bass tournaments we used to keep bass on stringers and if you keep them cool and separated they stand a pretty good chance of surviving. We didn't like to eat dead fish back then . Cybasser, why don't you tell us about how you fish over there, what the water and bottom are like, and what kind of tackle and bait you use.

Way to go guys. Catching fish in 46 degree water definetely builds your confidence. I bet you had the lake all to yourselves too.

Would this be a good question for the Bass Professor, Doug Hannon?

Before my dad bought his first flasher we would anchor on points (usually next to the bank) and fish split shot rigged Fliptails in deep water. When we had covered the point, we pulled up anchor and moved to another point. We caught fish. Try steep sloping points and shallow points until you find which one the fish are using that particular day. Also learn from local fisherman the local migration patterns of the fish (they follow baitfish) in your lake and fish accordingly for the time of the year. You can also use a cheap thermometer and find the warmest water in the winter and early spring and fish there, usually shallow coves or flats.

Learn to fish jig head worms - spotsticker, spot remover, slider heads. They each have their own application. Trick worms are effective also and did anyone mention the Senko. I think you will find articles on all known fishing techniqes on this site. If you are frozen in now is the time to read.

I'd say lake dink-dink, bling-bling has a good population of bass and shad . Great fish.

I fish Allatoona which is a different lake than Carters (where I assume you fish) but I use finesse worms on jigheads, Mini-Me spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, drop shot with finesse worm, crankbaits, and topwater lures. I try to keep my baits small most of the time as I like to catch numbers of fish. Triton Mike Bucca has written some great articles on fishing for spotted bass. Some of them may even be posted here or you can look up his website. I've probably caught ten times more spots on a slider head and 4" worm than any other bait I have used. Good luck on that deep, clear lake that has a reputation for putting the skunk on first timers.