gulfcaptain

I learned that it doesn't matter if you have 1 fish or 5 fish, you weigh what you have because in most tournament circuits that equals points. Agree with everyone above about everything else. Hold your head high, and know you fished YOUR tournament. If you think about what everyone else is or isn't doing or you're much better then them you will spin yourself out the next time. 20th out of 120 isn't a bad finish either. That's a paycheck in most circuits.

I'd stay with the rosy reds (fathead minnows) instead of goldfish. I'd set up a tank to house them before feeding and feed them a healthy diet as so when you feed your two new pets they get the best nutritional value as well as you can kill any disease or parasites prior to feeding. Also look at ghost shrimp or if you can find smaller crayfish to feed them it will help keep them healthy as well. And they like crickets too. Variety is the best. Thought about doing the same thing with one of my extra tanks I have and getting a couple small fish to have in there before returning them the next spring.

Daiwa makes one (DX Swimbait rod) at about $109 and then Irod's Genesis II rods run about $150.

I use a San Diego Knot 95% of the time. Never been a fan of the Palamar knot personally and can tie the SD knot quickly and effectively Only use the Palamar when I tie a dropshot w/o the VMC spinshot hooks. Bluebasser's set up set up gives you two opinions of gear to use. And what you listed should work as well. Good luck.

I wouldn't throw a bait on a medium rod that comes in at over an ounce myself. Smaller swimbaits like this and S-Weavers you can use a MH style flipping stick. I use an older BPS Bionic Blade 7'6"MH to throw baits up to about 2.5oz. Want something in at least a 6 power rod if you decide to want to venture into some of the smaller large swimbaits (below 6") that you can fish at least 20lb mono on.

He probably had a hole right around there he was well holed up in. Or you could have spooked some crayfish or other small baitfish wading and the catfish was being opportunistic in feeding from you stiring things up. Or it just didn't like you.....lol

I agree.

I fill my reel with mono and only put between 100-125yrds of braid on my reels. Last reel I spooled (25 size EXO) I was trying a new braid and didn't even get the whole 150yrd spool on my spinning reel (10lb braid) No need to put on more then 100-125yrds of braid.

Braid to a fc leader with the braid colored darker at times right at the splice works well. Also have used the Vanish Transition line that changes to gold or a red color in sunlight without any problems as I always check my line to make sure there isn't any bad spots. Lots of members on here have used yellow for sight fishing as well. I just prefer to use the braid I have as most of it has faded to a lighter color anyways.

9.01 caught in July on a 8" swimbait. Had it been a few months earlier, she would have been a double digit fish.

This And this (refering to the A-rig I assume).

Yes it did. That injury hopefully won't keep him out too long. Denver capitalized on mistakes and the Pat's took away game changing plays with penalties. But hey, that first lose is in the books. It was a great game none the less.

Like all public aquariums, the health of the fish are in the hands of the person designated to look over them. Captive fish can live a long time and be healthy if they have swimming room.....which they do, have clean water....which they do, and are fed a balanced diet and not over fed.....which seems to be lacking. BPS and Cabelas would be better if they were to swap out fish (keep them for a few months and return them back to the lakes and rivers where they were donated by anglers). If they are big old fish that look like they wouldn't make it, how about donating them to a hatchery. But I don't see BPS investing $$$ into the fish they feed and making sure they are high in nutrition before feeding them, nor investing in crayfish, lots of night crawlers, and the man hours to devote to a set of 2-3 persons to make sure the fish in their stores are cared for. I'm sure there is enough "fish geeks" that would love this chance though. But unfortunately most are cared for by outside services (which may not hire those "fish geeks")which clean and supply the store with what they feel is best so honestly the fault lies on the people hired to keep those fish heathy and alive....not just alive. Caring for large fish isn't as easy as some would think. Where I am the Striped bass are lean, the bass overweight, the catfish and carp are healthy...lol, and the bluegill look horrible. Some fish are healthy while others aren't so much. I don't think the services they bring in have the investment, time, and attachment to those fish that need individual care and special feedings when it's about getting in and out. This is just my opinion though and observatons from someone who is a "fish geek" and used to run and manage a few major pet store fish rooms.....and not always the way management liked, but my fish were heathy and I had a lot of regular repeat customers.

The open holes around the top of the head are from "Hole in the head" disease. Poor nutritional diet as well as feeding them feeder goldfish (if they do). Oscars get it really bad if they don't have a really good balanced diet and people choose to feed them just feeders instead of a variety. I would almost be the other issues you see are probably secondary issues as well as most being older fish that may be in the tanks.

Looking like them Bronco's might just get broke in and saddled by the Pats......14-0 so far......hmmmm

If you're a team, wear the same jersey, but I would have a few different ones to change it up. If they make fun of you so what. Let your fishing speak for itself. Besides if they are making fun of you then their mind isn't on fishing. Good luck on your tournament season coming up.

Hmmmm, Take that Math class. And if you add that up it's 4 more then most of us.

Are you casting, pitching, or flipping jigs? I use several different rods in lengths from 7' to 7'6" (Med Fast to Fast Action) for casting and pitching 3/8 to 1/2oz jigs.

I don't think you have to be worried about being "forced" to put ANY boat you aren't willing to buy. Free market will decide. There are other brands and other older models to choose from. Only one that will be deciding on what you purchase is you. And Bass Cat has been around a long time. I remember seeing them put other boats to shame when they came out with the Pantera II around 1990. Skeeters were heavy, Rangers were slow, Nitro was just coming into the market, Champions were close to the top but noting rode as nice as that Pantera II did especially in rougher weather. I don't see Bass Cat folding in the next two years.

Popping frog or a buzz frog. Windy fishing and frogs aren't a great combo especially fishing from a boat without power poles. Line bow is tough to deal with to walk and work them correctly let alone the boat wanting to zoom down the bank. You can get bit though, just have to really work at it and pick your spots out of the wind if possible.

I think it's because they have so much on sale it's easier to add the 20% discount to the cart then reprice all the items on sale. Great reel at that price. So far the many I have are still going strong. No issues. Fished 2 for the last 2 years and the other 6 this year. No malfunctions at all.

I'm good. I spent over $1800 (would have been close to $3000 but I found some great deals on them still NIB) in the last 3 months on a couple new rods and almost a complete set of new reels....and I mean a dozen of them by a "set". My bait monkey is grounded for now and isn't allowed to talk to other bait monkeys.....lol But thanks.

I'd second Tom's post.

I do think they do it for then. Everything I thought about looking to get 20% off is excluded so I've caged the bait monkey for now.

No card deal this year. The gift cards are excluded.