bronzeback_NW

I have heard so much about these guys not being prepaired and bludering this whole thing and so on.Yes these guys are BIG trophy fisherman but can you even come close and imagine what they felt when they saw this beutiful fish?I don't think there is more than maybe 2% or less of us that would have freaked out over the site of this fish.But to keep your composer and be able to sit there and fish for it all that time.This was something that probibly has never happened before and these guys were right on top of it.I easy would it be to get caught up in the moment?These are just my thoughts.I have read and heard interveiws of these guys and had read about them before on other fourms before they had a shot and this fish,I beleve they are OK guys.GB..Jim

Ok we can almost all agree that the spawn can start as early as 55 all the way up to 70+degrees.I was out float tubing in 37 degree water on Monday, 1st I hit a 4lb largemouth in about 3 ft of water with no signs of spawning or anything which is what I would exspect.But then in the same temp and same depth I hit a 7.1 which to me is a very nice fish.Now this fishes tail had all the signs of spawning already,red blood color,all beat up like she had been on a bed or something.But lets remember the water temp was only 37degrees.I tried to check the cover she was in,it was some stick-ups that just came above to the surface but the water was to stained to see the bottom.Now could this fish have been starting the spawn or maybe something just got ahold of her?We do have fresh water otters up here along with other critters that would mind chewing on a bass.GB...Jim

How did we get on plastics? OK back to the topic.When was the last time you had a smallie roll over and give up on you?I do alot of float tubing for both smallies and largies time and time again the largemouth will quit.3lb smallies vs a 6lb largemouth I think the smallie is still much more of a fight IMO.And the battle is about half as long or less catching largemouth over smallmouth.GB...Jim

Sorry about that.Tight lines and God Bless..Jim

I don't think the largemouth return long distances away.Before this past season started the Wash.Fish@Wildlife try to put a stop on catching LM during tournaments just because of that reason.They said the populations were being hurt do to people not returning the fish to where they caught them.It took a petion and alot of presure to get the state to lift that ban.The waters that were being effected were the Columbia Riv. and Banks Lake.And I know up at CorteLane(I know I spelled it wrong) in Id. chain of lakes they have a law that your to return All LM back to where you caught them.As for myselfI don't beleive SM in the Snake or Columbia are being hurt at all and do find there way back.But if they don't there is so much good water for them it would'nt make a diff. unless your taking them off beds.GB..Jim

Float tubes are great.You can get back in water thats boats can't get to.And it makes you fish slower there for you get better in your technique.I have caught almost all my big fish in a float tube including a 7.9lb LM.There are some places here in Washington on wildlife refuges that you can only walk into and are great places for float tubing and one special one that I know could hold the state record and NO boats.As for the scaring or spooking bass while tubing is up for debate.I have friends that I don't like going with any more because they just want to hang way out away from the weed line and throw their 7in black power worm and thats it.Granted for the last 10 years this bait has brought fish out of this pond pushing over 10 lbs.But for me I want to do other things.I the early spring I will be right on the weed line flipping into every little hole I can find and right into the russian olive tree's we have here.I would bet that 3/4 of the big fish I have hooked I had no more than 8 ft of line out.And during the early summer I will use buzzbaits out front and follow it up with the black worm.This is where my friends say I spook their fish.So as they paddle off I will sit in one small area and hammer them,some times as many as 6-7 fish in that area on both baits.So IMO I don't spook them.I have sight fished and had the fish swim around my flippers go back to the tight shore line and have still caught them.Hope something I have said help's you Bugman.GB...Jim

Your going to want to use a reg size brush hog unless your fishing for smallies which I'm sure your not.I reason is that with brush hogs there are alot of times their just going to hit the back end of it.Thats the reason for the 4/0-5/0 hook.And alot of times big bass are only going to give you 1-2 times to hook them then that will be it.There is a place I go on a small pond in my float tube that I KNOW I will gei 1-2 good hard bites and that is it.I know the fish live in this area and they are big.Almost every time I go there I will get a hit on the 1st or 2nd flip.If I miss it is over,but when I hook-up I know there will at least a 5lber all the way up 9lber on.Have to make the best of your early chances.

4/0 EWG with Junebug Brush Hog.This time of year I would never sug to go smaller.I don't know what the temp of the water is where your at but if it's inbetween 45-55 that is what I would do.These fish don't want to put out alot of energy for small amounts of food.Give them a reason to want it.And I pond fish AWHOLE BUNCH.Once the water hits 40degrees I will be out there flippin and pitchin.Make sure your using a trialer on your jig as well.

Out here on the Columbia and surrouding areas we fish 4-5 club tournaments a year.Only two are ussally on the Local river(columbia)and the others are on lkes or bodys of water we don't fish much.If we were to avg a 2.5 fish with a five fish limit for each tourny you would be right up in the top 5 or higher.Spring and late fall we will bring in 20lb bags of smallies and the OK.But in the dog days when were trying to fish in 102 degrees it gey real tough and maybe 10-12 bag might be the big sack.We don't have an =medium out here.

Thanks for posting that Glenn,I kinda fogot to even say where he was out of.My home of Kennewick Wa.I can only dream of fishing Dale Hollow and Pickwick and a few of those others.The guilds you guys are talking about are only in my dreams.lolAlong with GIANT SMALLIES...Gb..Jim

If they are way out west around the Columbia River have them look up Bob Atkinson.Bob resently picked up a 7lb 9 oz smallie on the Columbia.He guides the upper REACH area as well as Patterson and Crow Butte area's.Ask Glenn abot Bob I think he know's him.Alot of people think it is only a matter of time before the next state record is caughtin THE REACH up at Hanford.GB...JIm

I float tube a couple large and small ponds that I know hold 9+lb fish.For me it is more of strutcure fishing then it is knowing whats on the bottom.I have fished these place for many years and at least 90% of my fish have come on the structure or islands in the the ponds.I will fish all timber(russian olives)and hit all stick-ups I can find.With the water at 45-50 I would be using pig&jigs(black&blue)with a trailer or a junebug brush hog.

Athletes should never be looked at as role models.But that does'nt change the fact that our childern will look up to them.Example-I'm not going to try and pass judgement here but at the height of the Kobe Bryant rape trial he became the leading vote getter for the allstar game at the guard position.And as I read alot of open fourms at that time there were many young people and kids voting for him because they thought he was so cool.Now to me that is a major problem in our socitey.I have four very young childern 7,6,3 and 8 months.I have to watch what I do very carefully because I see my boys watching me very close.My actions are being copied and studied by these two little boys very closely.I never had a dad to look up to,so I winged it through life and did'nt figure it out until about 9 yrs ago and I'm 42.Like the song says"The Jesus he see's will be the Jesus he see's in me".It's a tough job we have as parents.If we drop the ball we have fail are kids and hurt are society for the future.GB...Jim

Mr.Jay Yelas,talks the talk and walks the walk.Thank you Mr.Yelas.

7lb 8oz lagremouth. And a 6lb 9oz smallmouth caught this year on oct 10th during a tournament.