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.

I wish we had Lillys on the Columbia but we don't that I know of.And I have lived on the river or near by it all my life.

Welcome srv,this is probibly the best bass site you will ever find.Use it as much as possible.It is awsome to see your kids catch fish.My little boys look at me when they hook one and say"Dad he's fighting me what do I do?Fight back son,fight back".It is great.GB...Jim

I have a 3yr and a 5 yr boys that I take out with me.My 3yr is already a fanatic.I do find that I have a very hard time teaching and I feel bad about it.Like someone already said I can fish for 12 hours without catching a fish but have a hard time haveing the patience to sit there and go over stuff again and agian.This is something I need to get over,my boys will need me to teach them.The look on their faces when they hook a fish and bring it in is pricesless.They both love bassing so much already and I don't want to sour that by showing discomfort with them while their fishing.With adults it is much easier for me.I will take them out to my favorite spots get them set up explain what we are doing.The most important part is keeping it simple.If they catch a fish or two right away they will want to learn faster.GB..jim

That is awsome.I hope you have a great time.Maybe someday BASS will remember there is another side to this great country and let us bassers in the Northwest in on some of the good stuff.Once again,get everything out of it that you can and have fun.GB..Jim

I could only wish I had water that warm right now.When the water was that warm I was having pretty good success on sweet beavers,but I was fishing for smallmouth.With water in the 50's I like junebug brushhogs or redbug.For smallies the baby brush and for largies the reg.brush.How nice it must be to fish water like that this time of year.Catch some for me.Jim

Bassattack,I live 5 mins from the river(columbia)and have been bassing it for about 5 yrs now.I am in Tri-Cities if you can let me know where your at I would be happy to help you out as much as possible.Just send me a message or whatever.By the way I was fishing a tournamet in oct when the water was really low and caught more largies than I had ever before.There is time for largemouth up here but what you want to consentrate is the smallmouth.You rarely will catch a largemouth in the 10lb class on the river.I do know of some caught down in patterson that hit 10 but again that is rare.I fish alot of ponds up in the basin that hold monster fish and do very well.If I'm on the river I want big smallies.A friend of mine got a 7.9 smallie late in the season,now thats a dream fish.Some of you on here know Bob Atkinson(guild) from here,that was his new record smallmouth.Feel free to contact me if you want.GB..Jim

Thanks Guys.

Hey Squid, I talked to Jim S, he is sending me out a bunch of info on the Trail. I'm going to go over every thing real good and see what I can come up with. This will all be for next year or so. I think the west is really a untaped area for this type of trail. And it seems like Jim has it going in the right dircetion. My goal would be to get all of Washinton and other areas of the Northwest involved. As you can see I have many dreams and at the age of 41 I need to get busy. Always good to hear from you.GB...Jim

Thank you for your responce.All starts and ends with the Lord. What happens in the middle is up tp us and how we conduct ourselfs on and off the water. This is a dream of mine and some day with the Lords Blessing it will come to pass. GB....Jim

I'm just following you every where tonight Nick. Yes the columbia is an untouched resource for BIG small mouth. I saw bags from my club derbys last fall that went 22.00-25.00lb. now those are GREAT bags no matter what kinda fish your after. I will be going out starting March 20th or so for big SMALLIES at the mouth of the Yakima River pouring into the Columbia. I know of one fish caught by a client of a friend of mine that went 7lb12oz. And that was right in town. Some day I will make it to Dale Hollow. Was at a seminar with Mr.Yelas last winter and he said that he thought that the smallmouth on the Snake and Columbia was 2nd only to Lake Erie. I tend to beleive Mr. Yelas when he says that.......Jim