Jeff_NHBA

How about this: As a right-handed person is flipping, the baitcaster is in the right hand and the line is in the left hand. As the line is let go during the flipping cast, the line stays clear of the reel handle since it is on the right side and the line comes in from the left. I say this because I'm left-handed and I use RH baitcasters. If I don't position the handle crank properly (in line with the rod), or turn my left wrist inward a bit, the line will get tangled in the handle. For regular casting, I find myself at an advantage since I don't have to switch hands after a cast. This is no doubt shear luck as most items are designed for left-minded (right-handed) people. (left-handed people are in their right mind) ;D S

If you can't find the Zoom U-Vibe Speedworms, you can make you own by cutting a v-shaped notch out of a paddle tail worm. s

Berkley has a culling system that includes a digital scale and color-coded culling tags. The tags have pinchers instead of the large safetypin type hooks (No need to punch another hole in the fish's mouth.) You just pinch the clip on the lower lip of the bass and hang the fish onto the scale. Since this is also a culling system, it will store the weights of each fish according to the color of the tag. It will give you total weight, avg. weight, and smallest fish (the one to cull). http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_89091_100011004_100000000_100011000_100-11-4 s

I like to use a 2/0 hook with a weedguard and a large enough split ring in place of a rubber o-ring. s

Since you live on a farm, I'll assume you have access to a backhoe or equivalent equipment. With that said, here's a thought... Dig a section away from the edge of the pond where you want the ramp to go. This will look like a small channel leading to the pond. Leave enough dirt between the ramp and the pond to act as a temporary dam. Put down whatever material you want for the bottom of the ramp (this area should be readily accessable since the channel doesn't extend all the way to the pond yet.) Once your happy with the grade of the ramp, dig out the rest of the dirt closest to the pond and flood the new ramp. s

It also helps to have a spinning rod handy rigged with a senko so you can cast to the area where the miss occurred. You know a fish is there and they just can't resist the temptation of a fluttering senko. (Caught some nis fish this way...) Tight lines. s

He thought he had a 7 or 8 pounder on the end of his line, ended up being two 3 pounders. Pretty cool to watch him bring those in to the boat. I'm surprised at this. I would have thought the second, larger bass would be DQ'd because it hit live bait, not the lure. the fact that an angler was lucky enough to stick a hook in it, doesnt' mean that he fooled the big one with an artificail. I'll bet there was alot of discussion before that ruling was made. Are you sure it wasn't something like happened to Tpayneful? That, in my mind is clearly legal. Both fish hit the lure, but the original post was also clear, the big bass did not see the lure he hit the little bass = live bait. Tim Horton was throwing a Rat-L-Trap and each fish bit its own treble hook.

Bass Boat Saver works great. Just spray it onto a damp towel and wipe down your boat. S

Comcast has DVR services available. ESPN2's Saturday programming usually features The Bassmasters, The Bass Pros, BASS Insider, and A Day on the Lake. "Versus" is the new name for OLN and has a lot of fishing shows. Basic cable from the wall right to your TV won't cut it unfortunately as you'll need digital cable with a with the Converter/DVR. The DVR is easy to program. S

Here's an interesting link from Gary Yamamoto's site for applying braid to a spinning reel: http://www.insideline.net/articles/spooling-spinning.htm Although it looks like your adding line to a baitcaster, the theory is still the same. He has knot suggestions for this procedure as well. S

Take your checkbook with you when you go to court. Ignorance is no excuse. >

He thought he had a 7 or 8 pounder on the end of his line, ended up being two 3 pounders. Pretty cool to watch him bring those in to the boat.

I second the use of bobber stoppers.

Don't forget to save some $ for hooks and tungsten weights.

Thanks again!

Boat US has an online course and exam that meets the VA Boater Safety requirement. Here's the link: http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/ You can print out a certificate upon successful completion of the course and test.

This is incorrect. The exact opposite it true. Wounds on fish will clot under water faster than in air. It's how nature works. Otherwise all naturally wounded fish would bleed to death. Also, although not mentioned here, do not revive a bass by moving him back-n-forth in the water. The gills are designed to handle water intake one way - when the bass is moving forward. Moving him backwards may in fact damage the gills. So move him in a circle in a forwards direction instead. Glenn, I think what he meant was to hold them in the water, then release, as opposed to letting them swim away immediately. I dont believe he was suggesting to keep them out in the air. Wayne Keeping the fish in the water was implied.

Instead of glue, just add a few layers of electrical tape along the reel seat on the rod. This will act like a shim and should eliminate the loose feeling.

I like to add Carolina Lunker Sauce to the packages of my soft plastics so they can aborb the scent. I'll put Mega-Strike on the lure just before I use it.

5" senko Zoom U-vibe speed worm Spinnerbait Pop-R type lure

For the price, you can't beat the BPS Extreme series reels. They have new models for this year that are much improved from previous models.

I've got both the Clarus and the Extreme rods. The Extreme rod for me is more comfortable since it has a larger diameter grip than the Clarus.

Tex-pose with EWG hooks and "Avid's famous push the hook through and bury the point back into the plastic rig" with straight shank hooks. ;D

Hi Avid, By the letter of the law, I think you did the right thing to release the fish. Eventhough the gills appeared to be damaged, I think I would have tried to revive the fish by moving the fish to keep water running over the gills. Assuming fish blood clots like ours, the fish would eventually stop bleeding. Also, if you know you are going to a C&R only pond, you could mash down the barbs on your trebles to make it easier to remove the hooks from the fish. Trebles are easy to replace.

1. Senkos 2. Zoom U-Vibe Speed Worms 3. Zoom Critter Craws 4. Zoom 6" Lizards 5. Horny Toads / Buzz Frogs