BuckMaxx

I was watching an old BASS tourney from back in 98. KVD mentioned he hooked a fish deep and hoped he wouldn't die. So that sparked a question which I am not sure about. If you catch a fish and he doesn't make it thru the day... Can you cull the fish, If he is dead? If you are going to pay the penalty of a dead fish anyway would you or could you bring in alive fish and hope to gain that 4 oz penalty? I am not sure if there is a rule against it or it is looked at as unethical?

Its looking great now when you outgrow that...your gonna have to buy a boat to haul it all. My boat it a traveling walmart fishing section.

Suspending Rouge tuned just right..generally clown is the flavor.

I googled "suspending a crank bait" and had more reading then I could do in a night. But it gave alot of ideas. I am definitely going to do this. I too had thought about a shad rap I am going to first try to hit glue flattened lead shot to specific places along the bait to get it to sit flat hot glue to get it perfect then will epoxy or superglue for final. Probably on baits like a ff shad.I am also going to do some dd22 in different rattles. I was thinking about taking a silent and putting several #9 lead shot. This year I am going to work on one tactic... cranking. I often go out and junk fish every day on the water until I catch fish then I get so wound up catching them I don't experiment. We go thru a pretty bad summer slump where it is almost a waste of time to be fishing. So I might as well get some good out of it and might stumble on a good summer pattern.

I have a ton of cranks. I been thinking about starting a new project of creating a box of my favorite cranks... that suspend. I am going to experiment with lead wire and upsizing hooks to get them to sit rock solid horizontal in the water. We often get those fish that want to follow but not chase it. I think this might be the ticket for a early season presentation as well. I'd like to hear some thoughts. Thanks

A little frog on frog action...

I am pretty fortunate to be in good health and my job keep me physically fit. The thing I have been working on the most is my mental game. I have found Gerald Swindle's videos very helpful. He has an 8 part seminar on westernbass.com as well as some youtube seminars as well. It explains how the mental game and effect how you face situations. He does something every year to stay focused like he will have an etch I sketch in his boat for 2014. Not because he needs something to do before blast off but more to remind him that everything is new and to be able to shake off the old and instantly start a new task. I am going to find or make a small white board and stick it on the panel in the front of my boat. This is where I will write one short line or word for how I feel that day like FOCUS or FIVE IN THE BOX.

Wasn't it last week??

I grew up on Table Rock and haven't been back in 12 years. We are going to be there all week to watch and fishduring the BASS. We will make the weigh ins most everyday.

7500 new bass boats doesn't seem like very many for a single year. IMO There really is no sense in buying a brand new boat. There are soooo many really nice 5-10 year old boats out there for 1/4 of the chedder. They all might look pretty new but they don't catch any more fish then a used one. I have a 20 year old boat that is in fine shape and I got her dialed in with all the same features as a 50k job.

ranger with a merc

I have lost many girlfriends over hunting and fishing. It eventually was the demise. I drag my feet about marriage because there really isn't a good time. Spring summer fishing, fall winter hunting deer. I think this time I found the right deal, I have a girl that will stand next to me all day in the front of the boat and cast a baitcaster as far as I do. That's what it takes.

I was out in the boat trying to organize some tackle. I discovered a couple of spinnerbaits that needed the blades changed out. After struggling with the little snap rings and barrel swivels. I was curious as to if anyone had ever changed out the barrel swivel to a a basic snap swivel to make changing blades on the fly a quick ordeal? I am going to pick up some tomorrow and give it a shot.

The last post is what makes me want to wear a helmet even more. Thanks for the description of the events. The least of my concerns is going skipping across the water at 65. I have faceplanted many times at 40 on skis and can tell you it hurts like a mother! I contemplated all the scenarios and decided on a modular over a full face. With the modular the whole front lifts up. Hopefully there would be a better chance of it ripping up on impact with the water.\ I am more concerned with objects flying around in the boat or slamming my forehead into the wheel on a roller hit wrong. If a jet ski hits you that console or a save phace is going to help you.

I was thinking about this topic yesterday. I was looking at the save phace masks and I am curious as to why more guys don't wear helmets when running their bass boats. There have been times running in the rain or late in a flight and just get beat to death. Our bass boats get bigger and faster, more idiots are on the water running around on jetskis. I have read all "whatifs" and "couldbe" scenarios but keep going back to we are concerned about our safety when riding a atv motorcycle or bicycles but we don't in our bass boats. I wanted to get your guys take on it. I purchased a full faced modualar helmet yesterday probably won't wear it all the time but I believe it is $50 well spent.

Guys in the old days were using long crappie rods to reach way back in the brush and flip with em. Kinda silly to outlaw that sort of stuff if you ask me. There is no length limit on rods in either of the clubs I fish so my square bill rod is a cabelas 9' medium action steelhead casting rod. I can sling a 1.5 about 3.5 miles. haha

I am going to the BASS tournament in April there.I can let ya know what I find out after that. I grew up on that lake and haven't been back in 12 years. I can tell you in htat time frame a silver black back zara spook would be tied on as well as a punlinseed looking jigor punkinseed chomper tube to be skipped under docks. The big girls will be hanging with the bream as they should be on the bed about then.

My choices were with you until I ready high muddy water then all of them went out the window. That situation to me screams rattle trap fished really slow. I typically key in on rip rap as winter structure as well as it warms faster in the sun. Everyone has tough tornements keep your chin up

I would start with about 2-300 of them and work up from there. I use about 3 of 'em is all. haha

One of my favorite baits to go to when they just wont bite is a 1/ 2 oz football in black with a black craw with blue pinchers. I drag it slow and steady enough to leave a mud trail.

I forgot to add I got a recessed trolling motor tray and a dual Teleflex trim/jackplate blinker switch. I installed these yesterday all went well for the most part except for the Chinese crap screws that comes with the switch. can't wait to get on the water

When I was a kid we used to catch em by putting our finger on their tail and as a defense their tail rips off then they regenerate it. Pretty cool mechanism mother nature designed. I have never seen them in the water but I can tell you any lizard when a bass is spawning is going to get killed! I find they don't eat them because they are hungry...they hate them.

I wanna know what all your bass addicts like me got under the tree!?! My wonderful girlfriend got me a GoPro Hero 3 black with remote and A Pro qualifier rain gear jacket (bibs will come next month for my birthday) a new pair of NB sneakers because I am always b****in about my lower back after a long day on the deck in the junk shoes I buy. My Dad bought me a IM8 7' drop shot rod with a Diawa reel. I bought myself a Cabela's 9' medium steelhead casting rod with a lews reel. That is going to launch a crankbait into orbit. So lets hear it!!

Thanks for the input. I like FIT carry all that stuff in my boat. Its funny you mention a push pole. I also made an adapter out of a paint roller that fits on my PP for a lure retriever. I also carry a swim mask incase I have to swim for a favorite crankbait. Yes I was talking about hooks sinkers swivels weights ect. I try to pick up an extra package of things when I am at the tackle shop.(which is a lot) It only adds a couple bucks on my tab when its over. Terminal tackle is about the only area that I struggle with.

I have broken my normal chaotic terminal tackle box up into 4 broken down boxes. Now I have room for more stuff. Does anyone know where the best place to buy this stuff in packages of 25?