fourbizz

LOL! That was the first thing that I had thought of as well. I am just concerned that it will peel to easy and not stick all that well. I am sure that the spray on bed liner ( rhino liner, tuff liner) would work but that would cost more than the boat is worth. I am not sure if the roll on stuff will stick well enough. But that is another vote in the direction that I am leaning in. Thanks. Does anyone have any other suggestions, or back up the roll on bed liner idea?

My buddies boat is a twelve foot aluminum, flat bottom, but v shaped prow. The thing leaks all over the place, you can't really pinpoint leaky seams or rivets. does anyone know how I could go about just sealing the entire interior of the boat? I was going to redo all the seats and decks, so I would have an empty hull to start with. Any ideas? Thanks guys. FB

flip beavers and jigs in the tulies. run traps/cranks along rip rap walls. blades around outside weed edges. that would be my plan if i was hittin the delta tomorrow.

I dont use the exact same one, but fundamentally mine is the same as Dan's. Definitely a good thing to have on board, and it has payed for itself a few times over.

I got my actual video camera and tripod all set up to film my trip this weekend and left it beside the front door > You guys almost had a video of my buddy nailing a 10.15! I was pretty bummed I didnt get her on video, but we did get some stills.

I don't use frog hooks. But I haven't had any problems with placing trebles along the back or belly.

I just realized that it made it sound like I wouldn't use Matt's lures. I think that they will work great. I have a little bit of troube fishing the bass in heavy cover, but the shape of the bluegill, IMO helps keep it from snagging. I think Matt's baits are the best bait to gain confidence in when you start, and an indispensible tool later. I just wanted to show how you could fish a Huddleston in your specific situation. The hudd colors aren't great unless you fish the trout. In trout free waters, matt's colors are far superior. His six inch trout will outperform Hudds under certain conditions as well. Keith: As far as building your own bait: I have built my own and I am very happy with the results. Without the tools ( I am a carpenter) It would be very time consuming and tedious. By the time I bought hardware and painting supplies, I had spent more than a pre-fab bait would have cost me. I have one of these baits, they are real big, but pretty cheap. They are 11" , I've never been bit on it, but I haven't really threw it. http://www.muskyinnovations.com/images/hot%20headtop.jpg

I think that you should use a a Hudd. ROF 5 so it stays shallow. Don't run a hook off of the belly hanger. Run a treble off of the line tie using sevenstrand cable. this keeps the hook on top and the bait shallow. If I was in florida, I would run either the silver, or brown back colors, rigged as above. Also the AC plugs manufactured by optimum are a pretty good cheap hardbait option. 9" 29.99 at TW. 7" 24.99 at TW

I have fished these states for bass: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Missouri, Washington, Florida and California. I honestly think that in all aspects of bass fishing, California is my favorite. There are times when you might feel crowded, but all you have to do is take the boat out on the delta on a week day. Miles and miles of water to yourself.

Personally, I think that that is the best thing to have controlling a big bass. ;D

The only times my hands get torn up is from bass thumb, or better yet TOAD PALM!!!

She can catch fish too! Although BOTH these ladies are mine I outweigh Russ by 40 pounds! WOOHOO!!! Only problem is I'm probably a foot taller than him :-/ Didn't make it out today, long day at work, I'll see what I can do about a video.

See now, thats the way to tell me I'm skinny, and have it be funny. I'll take the vid cam out tomorrow and have the girl video my yoked out self. I'll see if I can get a swimbait fish. I'll prove that you can catch 2 lbers on them! Here it is 1 mo' time. Enjoy the gun show sucka's http://s65.photobuck...ent=pond003.flv

I need someone to make a large, pretty simple mold and pour me some baits. I will pay well, using paypal. Nothing fancy, just not something that is available. I don't have the desire to buy all the stuff to do it myself. I would rather just pay someone who is already set up.

You can't take that to the bank. Its a bank statement, its from the bank!

I use Imageshack. it is pretty straight forward, then you can just link the URL. i only have one video, so i don t know if its worth reposting it here or not. if everyone wants them centralized then I will.

Dude, for your age, you are way way far ahead of the curve! If I had been as on top of my game as you, I would have pictures of alot of fish that never made it to the net! Great advice!

No. We fish extremely clear water in lakes that receive the highest big bait pressure in the country. We have smart fish that can see you from 20 feet. Throwing a "tora tube" anytime except bed fishing, is not the big fish tactic some people make it out to be. I don't know any big bass guys that will spend time fishing giant tubes, except on beds. I have just started trophy hunting. In all the time I have done it, I have only caught one fish over 10. That one fish wasn't even caught on a swimbait. A swimbait wasn't the right tool for the job. They aren't a cure-all or silver bullet. But I bet 12 out of my 15 biggest fish have come off of swimbaits. People don't see all of the work put in. All they see are Donkeys with Hudds hanging out of their mouth. It may be feast or famine, but alot of us go hungry. But let me tell you guys, there is very little that is as exciting as a swimbait bite or watching a giant fish cruise in all the way to the boat while she's checking out every spot and fin on your bait.

It was so great getting that blowup. probably only a 4 or 5, but it wasnt a dink. blew up right at my feet and i jerked the bait out of her mouth. (super)Matt was like " DID YOU JUST GET FREAKIN BIT" as I was dancing around like a little girl jumping up and down. too funny. I can see what you are talking about Matt, this could get consuming. I work construction and roughed it out when i was bored one day. thing weighs like six ounces and its real tiring to work. so it sounds like bait making is pretty much the same as swimbaiting. lost sleep, no money, obsession. you're playing both sides of that coin, thats gotta be tough!

I don't have any pictures of it yet. I'm working on another one now. Besides its not great looking. Nothing like some of the stuff I've seen here. It was just really cool to get bit on a bait that size that you built from scratch by yourself.

fan-friggin-tastic! that is what I was lookin for, thanks! I used an industrail primer sealer on my first giant topwater bait. it painted up nice, but i dont think that the durability will be there, since the bait worked, I am planning on building some more. thanks again FB

HA HA, That is how I always refer to myself!

Wow! I feel overwhelmed by all of the options put forth!

Call and talk to him on the phone. That will give you a very good idea of what to expect. If he seems like your average straight forward guy, go for it. Assuming you are an adult man, I don't see much to worry about it. If you are a young guy, you might want to check him out a little more thoroughly. Keep a pocket knife handy in the extremely unlikely case that something goes wrong. The guy probably is just a normal fisherman. I mean he's rockin a 21footer, he probably isn't broke so i doubt he needs to rob anyone or something ridiculous. Just have a phone conversation. Make sure he isnt the booze/smoke pot type of fisherman. If at anytime throughout the day you become uncomfortable, you could arrange for someone to call you with an "emergency" if you text them. That way you have an excuse to get off of the water. Meet him at the marina, don't catch a ride from him. My best fishing buddy was met off of an online fishing forum, and we have since spent a couple hundred hours on the water together. I would go for it.

My biggest pet peeve in life and on the water is quite simply : PEOPLE! just people in general. The one I really like is when a guy in a monstrous inboard tub of junk thinks he is going to be a nice guy and go by at 1/3 throttle instead of going by fast... Full throttle=little wake. 1/3 throttle=mini tsumani. Thanks for the consideration MORON!