nwgabassmaster

Yea, that information is interesting. I would like to know something, and I guess that if I get the chance to call the DNR here in Georgia, I will find out what I want to know. LOL At the state park that I fish, I have caught bass as small as 7" on beds. I doubt that they had the capability to spawn, but I wonder if instinct drives them to go through the motions? For crappies, have seen crappies that are 5" long full of eggs. There is a pond that used to be slap full of 5-7" crappies. You could go fishing with ANY jig color and you would walk away with 100 crappie for your efforts.

No, never had that happen. Most times, the jugs floating around are for catfish. Very sad that someone would do that.

SenkoSam, I just sent you an e-mail with the specific information that you requested. Hope to hear back from ya, bud.

If I am not mistaken, the first knot is the ole Jimmy Houston knot. At least, that was the one that he used when he fished on his show. I use the Palomar knot exclusively. Never failed me yet.

Ooooooh! Jessica Rabbit! SHE'S THE BAIT MONKEY????? No wonder I end up spending so much money! :

Catfish cuts aka "Glory Wounds"!!!!! You aren't a true fisherman until you questioned a channel cat's genetic make up, and raising questions about his father's where-abouts. I have had more catfish tear up my hands. The best thing that you can do, as soon as you get home, is to either hit the alcohol (rubbing and/or drinking) or either get some anti-bacterial hand soap and rub. You might say a few choice words, but in the end, you will prevent infections. Yea, I did not really think that the whole slime thing worked. Then, by chance, when I was a young lad, I happened to get a decent puncture wound from a channel cat. My father reminded me of it, admist my gritted teeth and questions about the fish's biological make up, and sure enough it worked! No more pain. The only problem is that when I got home, I had to re-open the wound. It really stung but I flushed the wound out with alcohol.

There are two things that I would say to you concerning this: #1, it all depends on what you have to put on your resume. Have you fished any tournaments at all? Do you have any sponsors right now that you have done shows for, or seminars, etc? #2, it's not a waste of time to it together, however, look outside the box. So many people put emphasis on having their first sponsors being fishing industry related. Take the time and seek out others that might be looking to get their name out in the community. For example, there is a pharmacy in the town that I live in that I am going to approach. Of course, my family has been friends with the owner's family for years now, but that's not the point. Looking outside the box will open the doors to the chance of getting sponsors. With those sponsors, you can move up to bigger and better sponsors. Also, if you feel that you are getting a raw deal on the services that you are receiving as compared to the services that you are rendering, then do not allow that company to sponsor you anymore. For example, if you are doing 3 seminars a week, and you fish tournaments on the weekend, and they are only paying 10% of the entrance fee, in my opinion, it's not worth having that sponsor. There is a fine line that exists, and you have to make sure that you don't cross that line. That line being on asking for more than what you are working for. The whole point of having sponsors is to sell their products and to get their name out to places that it might not have been known, while in the process of helping the angler out with monetary or bait incentives. I hope that this helps you out. Of course, you are bound to have more questions and you should know that you are free to ask them.

If you don't have a lure in the water, you aren't going to catch any fish. Makes sense, doesn't it?

Wow, as this thread keeps growing, we are seeing the true nature of the beast! Great information and great advice. Yes, we do take for granted that we have a great place, such as Bass Resource, where we can broaden our horizons when it comes to tips and techniques, and that things can become way too technical for the beginners. The one thing that I have found to be one of the most honest truths about the fishing industry and the exchange of information is to talk to EACH person as if they are new comers. Keep the language simple, keep the terms simple, and explain everything to the fullest. There are a few times where a hot-shot will take offense to you being so simple about things, but the chances of that are simple. Most anglers that are more technically advanced will show you that they are by the questions that they will ask. Also, most anglers like to go back and refresh themselves on the basics of the things, especially when things were easier. If you take a step back from what you fish at this very moment..........rods, reels, lines, lures, etc., and think back when you fish picked up a rod and reel and went after a bass, you will realize just how much you have learned. At times, it becomes quite overwhelming!

Senko, that's one question that I have asked, and a friend said that there IS a problem with two sides attatching to one another. I am looking at the Lure Craft or Del-Mart 2 piece Senko molds. Naturally, there are several colors that I want, that can only be done by pouring one side at a time. If I did pour one side, attatch the mold together, and pour the second side............will it, for sure, be a complete and whole lure, and I won't have to worry about the plastic pulling apart?

The reason that they make that drumming sound is because catfish are part of the drum family. In my experience, anything under about 5 lbs. will do it. I have hardly heard anything larger than that do it. As for me, it doesn't matter the size, I will lip them. With blues and channels, you really have to watch out for their jaws. They have extreme clamping pressure, and can make you say a few choice words, and will cause you to bleed, and to lose skin. If you do happen to get stuck by one, do not resort to going home to medicate the wound. Take some of the smile from the catfish, and wipe it over the wound. It's an ole wive's tale, but, the truth about it, it really works. If you are squimish about picking up ole Mr. Whiskers, you can get a variety of grabblers, which can assist you in handling the fish. If that's not an option, why not get a Boga Grip? That way, you can lip them with it, and also get a very accurate and IGFA official weight on the fish.

Great advice! It's the absolute truth. Booth shows and seminars is where you can be made or broken. You have to be able to relay the information to the anglers that are coming to you for information, and you have to be able to answer all the questions that anglers might come up with. And the truth is, anglers that are new the sport will think completely outside the box when it comes to fishing, and they will ask you about things that you had never thought of, or things that you have thought about but deemed too silly to try.

Soft plastics: www.lurecraft.com www.del-mart.com For cranks, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and Pop-R's, etc: www.jannsnetcraft.com You can request a catalog from Lure Craft and from Jann's Netcraft. At Lure Craft, if you e-mail them, you wanna talk to Kim. She's very helpful. However, if you e-mail them, it might take 3-4 days to get a response. This is their busy time of year.

I agree with Senko. Although a 4 lb. bass is worthy of notable mention, not many sponsors care that your personal best is that big. All they want to know is that you can catch 5 bass, that will weigh enough to win tournaments, while you are wearing their logo, etc., and if you can push their products and make them money. I have talked with people from Esox, and I have found them arrogant and brash. They were unwilling to answer questions, and that type of attitude immediately pushed me from buying any of their products. However, I do not believe that you should pay a potential sponsor for the privilege of wearing their logo. In most cases, things of that nature are not worth your time, and should be left alone. At the very least, if you are willing to wear their logo on your shirts, boat, etc., they should compensate you for the advertising that you are giving them with a pre-determined amount of product. And with the addition of booth shows, additional advertising, etc., the amount of compensation should go up. Above all, if you sit down and read what they are willing to give you for the work that you are willing to do with them, and it doesn't seem right, or fair, don't do it.

How do you come up with that? If you have taken into consideration all the costs of getting all the things that you will need, then, there is no way that the prices are that far apart. If you get the mold from Del-Mart, for the Senko, for the 5" version, that has 4 cavities, you will be spending $62.00 on it. Lure Craft is now carrying a round Senko, and each mold has only one cavity, and they are $10 for the 1 cavity. Add in the cost of plastic, the dyes, the glitter, and the scents that you wanna use, then you could be spending a good chunck of change. It would take a couple of purchases to even get an even meet on the price.

It's worth it, if you are wanting to get a certain color. You might be able to find something comparable, but, nothing as specific as some could want. As for being cheaper, probably not, unless several years down the road. You have to buy the molds, the plastic, the dyes and the glitters, not to mention the stuff to make it with. Just get the basic stuff that I need to start the business I want to make, I will need $750, but, I have scaled that back somewhat, and now, I only need like $450. Just depends on your needs, to be honest.

No disrepect intended, but, get the grammar problems fixed, and then, put down factual information. Bodies of water that you fish, how long you have fish, the tournaments you plan on fishing, etc.

My advice to you, young Mr. Robin, is to not be so cocky. Sure, Bandit Lures and Spike-It are good companies to have an endorsement through, but, they can quickly decide to turn it back. Selling product the majority of the deal, but, it's not the whole deal. There are those sponsors out there that do want your face in the tournament scene. The only way that you are going to be able to compete in tournaments, and be successful is to practice the skills that it will take to consistently put you in the Top 10, or Top 15. I started fishing at the age of 6, but I did not start bass fishing until the age of 11. In the 12 years that has passed, I can say that I have went from fishing T-rigged purple worms and spinnerbaits, to fishing more things that I can count on fingers and toes, and learning how to effectively use those lures on mulitiple rigs. And there are still things that I have not learned, and that I have not gained a desire to learn. The biggest thing is the use of Rat-L-Traps. For others, they may be the most effective lure for catching pre-spawn bass. However, for me, I have used them several times, but never experienced a great deal of success on them. Also, another thing is to stick with companies who products that you use on a regular basis, that you have confidence in, and that you can promote to everyone without question or hesitation. Do not look for sponsors just because you think that you know how to use their stuff. The best way I can tell you to look at it is like this...............if a man, at any lake that you fish regularly, walked up to you, and asked your honest opinion of how, where, and what to catch fish on................think about his family. What if the man is looking to you help him put food on the table, but giving him reliable and accurate information. If someone walks up to you, don't promote something just because it's something that could gain you popularity, or a sponsorship spot. So, if you are able to get these two endorsements, congrats. However, do not act like a fool, just because you have them. Remain a gentlemen, speak with respect and wisdom, and don't run your mouth about things. If you can do all of those, you will go far. And not only will you show respect, but, you will find that you will be given more respect.

That is a sweet looking tube head! How quickly can you make one? Any plans to sell them?

That is a gorgeous bass, bro! Can't wait to see the pic of the head that you make. Good fish.

In my opinion, for what it's worth, I would stick with anything T-rigged. There are certain occasions that require a particular style worm, etc. However, as a man that has been fishing soft plastics for the last 8 years, almost exclusively, I find that I lean more toward the newer generation of creature lures that have come around. The Sweet Beaver, Smallie Beaver, Kreature, Baby Paca Craw, etc., are all lures that can be modified to fit any occasion. I use tubes, from time to time, mostly in spawning situtations. For worms, I don't use many of the twirl tail worms anymore, unless it's on a C-rig in the dead of summer. For worms, I almost use the Zoom Finesse Worm and Gambler Sweebo worms, exclusively. As for lizards, I use them during the pre-spawn and spawn, and then, during the dead of summer on C-rigs, only when I can't get them to hit worms. So, I guess what I am saying is that, try what you wanna try. LOL You will gain the confidence that you need in certain lures, and you will find ways of adapting them to each situation that you come across. As anglers, we can sit here and preach at you about what you need to use, when you need to use it, where and how to use it, etc. However, it's you as an angler that must decide what is good for you, and how you will use it. Just try different things. And when you feel that you wanna throw the rod in the water, always think that the next cast could yield that bass that is going to make you feel better about the particular lure or technique.

And when they do, there will be people on here, and around the world, that will dispute the validity of it. Personally, if I did catch a WR LM, I wouldn't let anyone know. Sure, the fame and fortune would be nice, and being in the spotlight would be nice, no doubt, but having people say that it was a setup, that I somehow fixed the fish, or the scales, or paid people off.......etc., I wouldn't want it. So, if he thinks that he wants that kind of attention, more power to him.

Oh yea, just for another thing................just because you don't see something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. How many of you all have seen a million dollars? Does that mean that it doesn't exist? How many of you all have seen a 250 B&C class buck? Does that mean that there isn't one walking the forests of this country, at this very moment, getting something to eat? Just because we do not have "proof" that a 20 lb. class largemouth exists in Georgia, doesn't mean that one doesn't. Just because we haven't seen one, doesn't mean that there isn't one swimming around. I know where a 15 lbs. class largemouth is swimming right now, and I know of another pond where a 12 lbs. class largemouth is swimming. Senko77, my buddy, cause a 14.7 lbs. bass. There are certainly those class sized bass swimming around, just that people aren't catching them. Oh yea, and we got one thing about our bass that them Cali bass can't touch.................ours aren't hand fed and called by name.

The only thing that worries me is the fact that so many people are going about calling people liars. It was 1930's, people. Sure, I believe the record is legit. Is there the outside chance that something was done to the fish, just like the poor muskie that ate lead (unwillingly)................yea, there's that chance. However, last time I checked, I am not perfect. It's almost like saying that if you were in the same shoes as Mr. Perry, that you would have done things differently. Kinda convienent, don't ya think? Sure, he tried to play the system, because ANY fish that is 22 lbs. is going to be talked about. Whether it be a striper, a catfish, a gar, etc. It will be talked about. Any fish that is much over 10 lbs., even these days, is considered a trophy fish. Is the record legit, yes, it is. You can have all the holes you want to have in the story...........doesn't mean that it's not legit. There were holes in the reasoning behind the 2nd war with Iraq............yet, it doesn't disprove that Saddam Huessin wasn't a dangerous man. You can take any angler on these forums, look at a picture that they post of a 5 lbs. bass, and there will be those few that will say it's not 5 lbs. Have a scale attatched to the fish, and they will still say it. Have them looking at the scale, on video-tape, with an IGFA certified scales, and there will still be people that say that the fish in question did not weigh what the scales said it did. They will claim that the scales were tampered with, or some other excuse. Get over it. Perry has the record. If you don't like it, keep it yourself. Until the day the record is broken, the record belongs to George W. Perry, and it was caught at Montgomery Lake, in Georgia. And even when it is broken, there will be people on here (except for all them Cali boys), that will say that it's BS.

A friend of mine sent me the basic stuff to start pouring my own soft plastics, and I found that I really do enjoy doing this. However, the molds that I have are not the best, and the lures are not as detailed as I would like. So, I have been thinking it over, and I am thinking about getting all the stuff that I would need from Del-Mart, and starting my own soft plastics business. I would start off with 5" Stik Worm, 4" N-Bug, 6" Finesse Worm, 5" Flukes, 5" Slugs, and the Super Chunks. I decided to get all the colors of dye that they have, and all the glitters. Do you all believe that there is a market for those lures, and that I would be able to turn a profit, after pluncking down the $700 for the stuff that I want? Thanks, ~ John