Daniel My Brother

This is really a tough question. I revise my expectations every time out. I fish a private lake where 10 fish a day is a slow day. And I fish a larger reservoir where 5 fish is a good day. I expect to catch more in the early morning and late afternoon, but I still fish a lot of mid-day in the summer because I know the potential is there to catch something big. When I'm fishing with a partner I sometimes get competetive and I usually catch more, smaller fish. When I fish alone I'll try new techniques, or target bigger fish, and often end up catching fewer or none at all.

Nice fish Mike! And great pic for a camera phone.

Some non-tackle basics I keep in my big bag... Sunscreen Bug Spray Rain Geer First Aid Kit Sunglasses Pliers Scale Camera Flashlight

Matt, Those pictures are Mullet-tastic!

Jim, I've read a bunch of your posts and I've learned from you...and gotten a few laughs. You seem very old school in your approach to fishing, and that's a nice counter balance to those of us who get carried away looking for the next big thing. Too many times a jerk will give a good guy a hard time, then the good guy leaves and we're stuck with the jerk. Please don't stop posting. Dan

That's unreal. That would be my best SEASON ever...by far! Just another January day on Varner, huh? :o

With an older glass & wood boat, your biggest concern is keeping the wood in the floor and transom from rotting. Keeping that boat dry would be 1st and 2nd concern. If you can do it with a tarp (my neighbor does) go for it. Just make SURE it keeps the water out.

Craig, Thanks for a great post. I'm a little curious why bass prefer the north shore of the lake during pre-spawn. I've heard this before but have never heard a reason why. Thanks again!

I voted Rapala. Great finish for a lure in their price range. But my favorite deep diver is a Norman DD22

Ok, this is an honest question. What is it about magnesium that makes it a desirable material for spinning reels?

I've got the bionix graphite medium spinning rod in the 7' length. I paid $30 for mine and I feel like it was a good deal for the $. Lightweight. Sensitive. I'm a fan.

Here's my rule of thumb. If someone's already bought the equipment, I'll share facts based on personal experience, but NOT opinions. I won't say "Brand X is a piece of crap, and it's actually made by Brand Y which is an even bigger piece of crap" But I might say "I owned a Brand X reel and the anti-reverse went out after 3 months"

Electric grape power worms are my favorites. Green pumpkin w/red flake stick baits are a close second.

Great fish, great location. You're fishing around palm trees while I'm buying salt for the sidewalk. It IS good to be you.

Great Crappie. I see a bobber in one of those pics, we're you guys catchin' 'em on live bait?

You are living the life. Nice fish. Heck, nice run of fish!

I am AMAZED at how fast that bigger bass grabbed that goldfish. Just a twitch and the goldie disappeared. Pretty cool to watch.

You can waste a lot of time doubting numbers, especially when your gut tells you differently, but in the end you'll find that the numbers don't lie. Good thing is, we CAN do something about it. Look at what LBH is doing with CAST, around here we try to do the same thing with the girl scouts. Take a kid fishing! Better yet, take a kid CATCHING!

Thanks for sharing the pics. From the looks of the background in pic 3, that's got to be a beautiful place to fish in the fall and spring.

I've never had the lip break on a DT crankbait, but I have had 2 lips break on Rapala Shad Raps. First one was casting and hit a dock. The second just casted right off the bait. I've fished Rapalas a bunch and these appear to be isolated problems.

I also use the Okeechobee bag. In December I labeled the boxes and built a new rod holder. I can't wait 'til it warms up! Here's where I keep the tackle: Here's the labeled boxes (Avery VHS labels, with scotch tape to waterproof): Finally, Here's a simple rod holder. Just a board and some 1.5" PVC pipe

I would love to see that. I would actually like to see them go out in a canoe with one rod and a tackle bag and watch 'em catch fish, I really would. But how's that going to sell equipment?

Welcome to the boards. I was also a lurker long before I posted. btw, I noticed you're from Road Warrior's neck of the woods. If you ever catch him sneaking onto a community lake by the local Wal-Mart, grab a pole and follow him!

Jim, thanks for that link. I mostly tie a palomar knot.

Excellent idea. I hope it happens.