KyakR

For now, whine about not knowing when the Roadtrip is and whine about my back being out......for later, obsess on Roadtrip, practice casting, go to gym more and learn how to put a reel back together properly after cleaning it

Wept at this myself. I've read this whole thread, which began before I joined. I'm amazed and inspired by your courage and endurance, the love and support of all those around you, the determination of your friends here to help you focus on the big picture, your faith, love, and life itself. I retired from nursing (25 years) and I know for sure (statistics bear this out) that people with your kind of support have high success rates. Your docs have brought out the big guns because their prognosis for you is good. They're a realist bunch. Your family, especially Kit, is in a focussed fight mode. What a gal! What love between you! And those on BR think of you every day, as I will myself. Your world and all the love in it will bear you up when you are tired or sick. Let it. As many here have said, this is truly like running a marathon.......pacing oneself, enduring pain, keeping your thoughts on the goal. And try to remember: the times when your body feels most horrible are the times the Ca is dying. It has far less resistance to chemo and radiation than you do. When you can't eat, it's starving even more. If I were the nurse with you, I'd be going back in the breakroom with the other nurses and we'd be smiling and saying, "This guy's gonna beat it." Stitch, your story here is a gift to me. It puts things in perspective and helps me to let go of the small stuff.....to remember what really matters. I'm praying every morning for you and your family with gratitude and hope. Laurie

You're not old enough to remember microfiche! And you can even spell it

I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the iCast conventions! Some of these meetings are about the development of sales strategies based on fishermen's behavior, regional preferences, etc. The expertise that goes into marketing gear is enormous. People's livelihoods depend on it! My guess is that many reviews are just accurate enough when given by a pro.......these companies want their lure to work, and I think they invest lots of time and effort generally. But in the hands of a KVD a tablespoon would catch fish! I think only time and many, many casts under different conditions and different anglers is what matters. Even so, I love to read reviews and am a sucker for something shiny

I think the "spookability" of bass is generally dependent on a combination of factors at any different time, mostly mentioned here already. IMO bass also tend to be more wary in shallower water, especially in highly pressured lakes. X2

What's the HELP position?

Get my courage up and join a bass club at long last! The experience of comradeship and learning from others I've had on here has inspired me so much I can only hope a club is like that too! Mike (DVT) is making me a rod.....gonna practice casting this and my fly rod .......especially want to get down a good pitching technique from a kayak Get a new Shimano Chronarch 50e reel Fish in CA when I visit my son while snow flies in Maine! Buy one of J Franco's boats (jk....I wish)

I've experienced both, too......wondered if I was doing something unknowingly. Schooling fish like crappie and white perch up here do seem to behave differently. Wayne P., that was a super-informative explanation of side imaging! Thanks

Maybe I'm an old fogey, but there's something about an A-rig that creeps me out

Welcome from Maine:) I read here for a long time before I posted....am so glad I did! This is like a family.....support, encouragement, and sometimes an affectionate kick in the pants when needed

I'm in the same boat, Caylub! I've fished alone for many years, and it wasn't 'til I got on here that my fishing really improved Nobody ever calls me a bass goddess....

I think you might find Golden Shiners around more because they tolerate a wider range of temperatures than some of the others. Wish bluegill as bait was legal up here! Wish I could fish down there!

Very nice fish! How was the fight? You guys down there were only allowed to catch the dinks I thought......

Andrew, I've never worn a PFD, despite having my son send me one every year. My family nags me, but I've ignored them all, even though I fish in cold weather and sometimes at night, always alone in my yak. Your post changed my mind. I have no doubt that you would have died that day.....I can't imagine how your death would have reverberated down through the years in the lives of your loved ones, and others. I think I've been in denial. Guess I lack imagination for some things when it comes to danger. I'm so glad you survived. Your family must have been in as much shock afterward as you. Your posts are not only informative, they're full of kindliness and humor......would miss them. You are hereby an honorary Mainer.

Finesse fishing shines here! There's a reason ice fishing "works" ( though not as well for bass as pike)......it forces a slow presentation with smaller lures or live bait....finesse. One key for me is remembering that as the water gets really cold and the first ice forms (up here anyhow) the fish take up positions deep on drop-offs and will have a tendency to move vertically to feed (less energy expenditure). Getting a bait to fall slowly down a steep, deep drop-off has often worked for me in the past. Like Tom says, it's important to know where they are. Dead sticking like J Franco X2

Oops. Arkansas.

Berkely Lip-Grip is like a Boca and is what I use.....it's a bit unwieldy at first, but fairly accurate. Better on the fish than the hook kind, I think......and it sure helps me with those trebles and pike ;D

4 and 5 LMB up here ain't bad!

Bill, you were the first one who reached out a hand to me when I came out of hiding and actually posted here for the first time. I remember quaking in my boots! It meant so much to me to be encouraged right then! Ever since I've loved reading your posts. They're full of knowledge, a love of the sport and the highest standards when it comes to craft. Add to that a poetic appreciation of the beauty of this world, a love and respect for all people and you have a mighty fine guy. Hey, you made all the difference Ace,does this mean I'd be even better at finesse after some whiskey?? I am Irish, after all

Read an article about the Spring River in LA......many people have fished it for food since the late 1700's and their descendants do it today despite the pollution. No amount of pressure from DFW about the danger stops them....the river is so clear and beautiful they don't believe it could hurt them.

Hey, let us know how you did !

Awesome looking fish, Mainebass! When I hired a guide some years back to take me on my first ice fishing trip this is what I thought ice-fishing would be. He had a nice little hut out on the lake, and at first it was great......learned about augers, tip-ups, etc. But then we sat in the hut. He hauled out some Allen's and Fireball whiskey and after 20 min called his family....out they came on their snowmobiles.....brought a firepit and more Allen's. Every now and then they'd notice the flags and would howl and fall and crawl over to haul a fish out. I left early and nobody noticed

X2 This will add to the kids' happy memories of being with you out on the water

Mainebass, holy cow! What beautiful fish!! Hey! You took my fish and left me those pickerel in the shallow end! Smokinal, I never made it to Little Togus....wnybassman, loved your pic of the crinkly water

I thought about this topic for a long time! As I tend to finesse fish, the best advice a friend gave me was to try to never put more energy or movement into a finesse bait than a living thing that size would be able to generate. This slowed me down and focused me. It worked