gulfcaptain

You fished a team event. Only team events I fished were back when I was in HS in a Wed. Night local fishing club on the lake I lived on. My Dad would bark at me once in a while, but he was my Dad. My original partner that I had after even pre-fishing never yelled or screamed. I had a partner that was having a rough morning at the last tournament I fished, but it wasn't directed at me. I just fished and he appoligized for being a bit upset (had some things stolen out of his boat the night before the tournament) and was thankful I was easy going and we were good the rest of the day. You may want to have a sit down with this guy and discuss what you saw and the concerns you have if the two of you want to be a team. Communication is key and sounds like the two of you had ZERO communication prior to the event. You fished together but you didn't communicate and get on the same page.

Have to agree. Used it in water with less visibility then you stated...maybe 2ft if I was lucky with good success.

Bigger treble hook baits......swimbaits, larger cranks. Also have had fish throw buzzbait/spinnerbaits. Treble hook baits I seem to have better success rate when I change out standard round bend trebles and go with the EWG short shank hooks. The just seem to stay buttoned better. Spinnerbait and buzzbaits are a crap shoot.

You are the one fishing with it. You asked experiences and you have both sides. I've had more issues with Diawa's(all been sent in to have repaired since it's down the street) had to help work on my friends Shimano's, no experience with a Lew's. Doesn't mean that those companies are bad, they have a lot of people that love them. But in that 3 year period I have had ZERO issues from my Quantums. But then I take care of them and keep them oiled and clean. Do this with all my gear but yet had issues with other brands. Like mentioned on here, Quantum isn't liked by A LOT of members on here, but there are a few that love them. Sounds like a good deal, I'm sure you will be happy with it.

You do know the difference between flipping and pitching? Flipping is a more suttle up close action of pulling a set amount of line out and in a pedulum swinging motion dipping your bait into cover. Not much reeling going on unless you have a fish. Then pulling it back out by hand and dipping it into the next bit of cover. Pitching lets you "pitch" a bait say 10-30ft away from you with a light hopefully splashless entry and work spots without getting right on top of them. It's kind of an inbetween action where you're not flipping baits, but your not trying to cast far, kind of the middle of the road working targets and water within say that 10 to 30 ft range and work that water.

Any time there is cover around to flip or pitch to. You're in Florida so I would say that's almost all year. If there's cover you can pitch a bait into it.

Currently working in the Marine industry, not quite what I had planned but I'm utilizing what I went to school for and spent a lot of time on the water to recieve. Started in this field 23 years ago, flopped around like most 20 somethings do until you figure out what you really want to do. Only switched from the fishing side to the idustrial because I needed a steady paycheck after becoming a parent. Working in Gulf of Mexico in the oil and gas industry is a long way from the plans of being on a fishing yacht in Cabo.

There's still a few on beds here and there around where I fish. Most are done and one to the post spawn feed. The number of people fishing are dropping off as they are no longer able to sight fish them. Did get another fish on the Ned yesterday that happened to be on a bed tucked up under some floating grass. Took 1 try and he hammered it. Also got the Z-Man heads and some T.R.D.'s....give them a go tomorrow and see. Much smaller head and hook then what I was fishing so looking forward to see the difference.

Nothing like being pulled around by a 5-6lb bass and trying to keep him out of your feet as you land them. Great fun, love tubing although I haven't used mine in a couple years.

He wasn't happy but he was a determined frog. Chased my bait across one of the grass mats and tried to eat it 3 times....finally just decided I was going to let him eat it and catch him. Figured it would make a good picture. So I guess that would count as my first "frog frog" of the year.

Welcome to the forums.

Here's a few pics from today. Yes, even some frog on the frog action going on. Yesterday a catfish, today a nice 1lb bullfrog and a bass to go with it.

I have 4 of the older Smoke 150's. All 3 gear ratio's. None of mine have the above stated issues. Actually none of the Quantum's I've had (Codes, Accurists, Kenitic, Smoke, EXO, TourMG) have ever given me problems and are still in great shape. Are you looking at the older or new model Smokes?

Nature finds a way. Run off from other bodies of water, there is the notion that birds may transplant fish eggs stuck to their feathers or feet. And then there is a 5 gal bucket from someone that decides to catch fish from somewhere else and transplant them to a new spot.

Okay, now I feel your pain. Those look like big snow flakes too. If it makes you feel better I had to wear a long sleeve shirt today....it was cloudy and 64 out.

Yeah, I'm in that field. Wish it was a bit more consistant as right now it sucks. Nothing like a 25% pay cut, but beats unemployment. But even I am looking to expand my options and make myself more marketable by upgrading my Coast Guard License incase the oil/gas doesn't recover a bit this summer. You could always go with Lottery tickets, if you hit the jackpot.....become a pro. If not, well you can make a collage out of those tickets to remind yourself that school's probably a good idea. And no, I didn't go to college, but I decided to go "all in" in a profession of working as a Merchant Mariner. But still requires schooling to achieve higher pay and advancement.

You are really still getting snow? I wish I could say I feel your pain.

Wish I would have had fished that rig prior to that tournament at Havasu in Feb. I think I would have thrown it the whole time. Maybe next year if I get the chance to fish them again.

Old is when you have to carry an extra bag just for your medication on any overnight trip away from home.

And your shoe's laces are replaced with velcro straps.

For the price they should be. Must admit they are quite soft and collapse easy so getting a good hookset isn't an issue. Now getting the fish to eat the frog and not miss, nt much I can do with that one.

Well today decided to toss the frog around some shallow grass in one of my many places I fish. Well about 10min of fishing, first fish.....6-7lb catfish. Not quite a bass but okay. First catfish I've caught on a frog. Fished a bit longer, connected with a 3lb bass, then had a smaller fish come completely out of the water an miss the frog. Day ended with 3 bass on the frog, one very aggressive catfish, and 3 misses. Fish all ate a Black Deps Slither. First time I've really fished this frog. Happened to be the only one I had on me when I decided to give the frog a chance after looking at the conditions I had to fish. I must say I'm impressed with this little frog, not because it caught fish but it didn't take on water when fishing a lot of open water and was easy to walk. Looking forward to giving this frog a good workout up at the Delta in a couple weeks.

Gotta love that hard stiff plastic/rubber watch band. I wanted one that was in the bubblegum machine when I was like 9.

maybe one of them had pretty feathers on it. But totally agree.

Word of advice though, if you find bass stalking bluegill beds and are keying in on those fish only, you are going to have to throw something that really looks like a bluegill or even a bluegill. I have hit them with jigs, tubes, worms, creature baits and nothing...And i do mean hit them. They didn't move till I hit them 3-4 times. But only the one I hit would move, the rest would stay put as to not blow their cover. So if you think bed fishing is frustrating, well fishing for bass hunting bluegills on beds can be worse. Look for cruising fish....much easier to catch.