reaction-strike

I too get this pain. I have also been working out for the past 10yrs, 5-6 days a week. I also work construction. The only aches I get are from fishing... I believe it is from body position. I tend to hunch a bit when I have a rod in my hands. Your hands are in front of you for hours. I find myself having to stand up straight pull my shoulders back to get a little relief.

No, and Im glad.. I do not have to share my tackle.

After reading these posts Im now hungry..... I go with water, G2, PBJ and Combos.

Lol, Yes, drifting is very effective. Goes something like this, cast, going to make another pass, put your vest on, sit down, start the motor, drive the boat, kill the motor, stand-up, take your vest off, cast, repeat... I didn't mean running a trolling motor full blast in one spot ALL day, but there are times when you will want to hold a spot, perhaps a lay down. Positioning is key and it can become difficult.

Very! When I fish a tournament on a particular lake, I always research past tournament wins on that lake. I gather all the information that I can. What was used, temperature, time of the year, depth, etc..... If an angler won on Lake X using a particular lure, I will try that in practice. However, I will not buy a lure that was won on a lake across the country just because it was used in the win there.

I would give the slight edge to a lake. Reasoning, because holding a position in a river can be difficult.

This is the million dollar question. Personal preference, I would opt to stay in a spot longer, if I know there are fish there and its just a matter of time before the bite turns on. The more time your running, the less time your lure is in the water. If I caught fish in that spot while pre-fishing, it gives me more confidence in that spot, I know those fish are there and I would grind it out. If I have a non-productive pre-fish, I would opt for running and gunning and hope I get lucky casting to active fish. I find running and gunning plays with my head. If KVD says, 10min maybe I should change my way of thinking.

Congrats!

"You can not control the wind, but you can adjust your sails." My first ever bass tourney, I was fishing on the back of a club members boat. He was set up with the boat pointing where a small creek emptied into the lake. I figured that creek channel kept going out into the lake so I turned around and fired a cast to the deeper water. 3 Fish on 3casts! I finished with 14lbs he didn't catch anything. i finished first as a co-angler and 2 overall. You can get back boated, your boater can be chucking and winding while you want to present slow. Don't worry about what you can not control. Adjust, adjust, adjust. Confidence in what you are doing is huge. There will be times when you aren't going to catch anything, it happens, its fishing. Just stay positive and fish until the clock runs out. Learn to cast with both hands, it comes in handy.

Looks huge! Thanks for sharing.

I've caught a bat, gull and snapping turtle.

Thank you.

I searched the FLW website and was thinking of fishing a few FLW opens. Can someone clarify for me, do you need to own a Ranger boat to be able to win a Ranger boat? Sorry if this question was asked.

Vince, I wish I had a fishing resume when I was 12. I think you are on the right track. My advise to you, is to join a local bass club as soon as you are able to. I am not sure of the age limit of clubs in your area, if there are in fact any. Fish as much as you can. Learn as much as you can. Find products that you believe in, you do not want to push a product on friends that you think are no good. Go to fishing product trade shows. Talk to people. Get a part time job at a Gander/Bass Pro/ Cabeles or even a local tackle shop. Learn the business side.....Go to College/University and when you do this try as hard as you can to find a school that not only has your area of study but also has a bass fishing team. This would give you a sound resume. This is just my advise. Good luck to you.