Alpster

The Bassbuss rolls at 5:00 AM. See you all at Guntersville. Everyone travel safe. See ya there! Ronnie

This is my "dream trip" also. Hope you get to make it. Ronnie

I agree with Burley, it's the "Flash" animation in the Allstate ad. My performance only lacks when that ad is running. Ronnie

Mike, If I had the list I would send it to you, but I don't know what happened to it. Sorry! Ronnie

The rod I built for fourbizz had almost $250 in parts alone. If you gave a decent rod builder all the parts for free, he couldn't afford to build the rod for $70. JMHO Ronnie

What's the line size? Sounds like you are using a small diameter line (20lb?) and it's digging into itself. You may want to try going to a 50lb test line. It behaves much better. Also try to keep some tension on the line when you reel, like after a backlash. I hope this helps. Ronnie

Micro, I haven't fished a Revo yet, but you are right about the Shimanos. They are smooth, sweet and "hell hath no fury" like one. Ronnie

Way ahead of you, fluke. Me & Wayne will have some Road Trip video for you. Some Pics along the way also. Ronnie

ALL DINNER PLANS HAVE BEEN MADE! Monday night - Muddy man's meatballs enough for 30 people. Those who have signed up and communicated their intentions will be served first. If anyone else shows up, they will be welcome to what's left if any. Tuesday night - Ghotti's camp delight. Also enough for 30 people. Those who have signed up and communicated their intentions will be served first. If anyone else shows up, they will be welcome to what's left if any. Wednesday night - We have a total of 25 signed up and paid for the BBQ dinner. I will try to get anyone else who shows up a place at the table, but please don't count on it. If I can work it out, you will have to pay cash at the dinner. NO MORE PAYMENTS will be accepted via mail or paypal and there is no longer a guaranty that late comers will be able to eat with the rest of the group. SORRY, I did my best. Due to the fact that we were unable to get the minimum number of 50 members signed up and paid, we will not be having the buffet dinner which was originally planned. We are having the plated BBQ dinner instead. This only requires a minimum of 25, which we have. In order to uncomplicate refunding the difference in the cost to the 25 members who have paid, I have arranged for the following: There is an additional cost for the cash bar to be open. We will be meeting in a private room with a bar. The additional cost is for the servers. 2 servers, dedicated to our group costs $15 per server, per hour. Everyone will pay for their own drinks at the bar. There will be plenty of funds to cover this with the difference in the cost of the dinner. Using the number of 25 who have already paid and is our minimum commitment, we will use the overage to pay the bar tenders. The total difference in cost is $196. 2 servers at $30/hour from 7-11 PM would cost $120 and will leave an extra $76 to pad the tip or cover any unforeseen expenses. Or we can give everyone a number and have a drawing for what is left. I would much rather do this than to administrate a 3 or 4 dollar refund to every individual. I will of course, provide a strict accounting for all monies collected and spent. I am closing the books on this part of the trip so I can prepare the bassbuss and get ready for the trip. As always if there is anything I can do to help you along the way, please let me know. Ronnie

Reminded me of one of them National Geographic specials about the ice breakers. You guys were making a new Northeast Passage. LOL Nice fish and cool video. You guys have invented a whole new technique. "Ice Crankin". 8-) Ronnie

Peanut butter cheese crackers. You can toss one in your mouth and continue to fish. 8-) Ronnie

I should stay out of this discussion. Same as you, CJ I was driving around our property and launching boats, cutting the grass with a tractor and even operating some small construction equipment. I was well supervised and never did anything that was illegal nor was there ever any injuries as a result. The only danger, and I understood it very well, was if I did any of those things unsupervised. In which case I would be disciplined severely. I have driven everything from a dirt bike to a tractor trailer over 2 million miles and 35 years with out a single accident or a ticket. I believe I owe it to being taught at a young age how to properly handle and respect such equipment. My oldest daughter started practice driving at the high school parking lot when she was 12. She is 24 and has worn out 2 cars without an accident or a ticket. I have contempt for parents who turn their kids loose in car at age 17 or 18 with no more than a 'drivers ed course' at school, just because they are old enough to get a license. Flame suit on! Ronnie

Excellent post CJ. Especially the last sentence. It's true no matter what you are doing. Ronnie

I was going to post this on the road trip thread, but I was afraid too many members would miss it. If you have been keeping up with the trip plans you will know that all the members going have been knocking themselves out and going the "extra mile" for each other so that everyone's plans have worked out. Members have paid for each others dinners and moved their room arrangements around to make room for others. Driving out of their way for airport rides. Sharing their boats, you name it. It has been pretty amazing for me to be a part of it all. I have to tell you about one particular mook who is not going on the trip, something about being 'hen pecked' I'm not sure about all the details. Dominick the 'Muddy Man' has spent a sizable pocket full of coins and considerable time making his 'now famous' meatballs & gravy for the guys who are going to Guntersville! Speedbead met him somewhere in the middle of PA this evening to get the food for he & I to haul to Alabama and they both had to drive a couple of hours to get that part done (thanks Wayne). I don't care how you slice it, this is one amazing, generous thing to do for us and I want to be sure to shout out a HUGE THANKS! to Dominick for going way beyond the call of duty. You are the one and only DUKE OF MOOK! Thank you Dominick! Ronnie

Mike, Don't worry about a snack cooler, I will have an extra in the bass buss for you to use. That way you won't have to give or throw it away and won't have to bother with it on a plane. Ronnie

I talked with Muddy about an hour ago. Speedbead was sick today, so the "Meatball Connection" will go down tomorrow. I am going to write a book and make it into a movie. Wonder if I can get DiNero to play Muddy (You talkin to me??) I had to chain the bass bus to a tree, keeps trying to leave without me. Are we there yet?? Ronnie

Like RW says, Wayne & I will be in the BassBuss (AKA Bass Pro Shops on wheels). We will have pounds of plastic, etc. I will have a dozen or so rigs that are pretty decent, they just look funny because the guides go around the blank. Ronnie

Jimzee, The bassbuss is pretty full. I am having trouble finding a place to put them crankbait boxes I got from KB. ;) ;D Ronnie

It was a pretty day today, almost 60 degrees. I spent most of the day loading up the bassbuss and getting her ready to go. All the cooking stuff, pots, pans and the ice chests. Cleaned and polished and vaccumed, made sure all of the provisions are in place. Made all the beds with fresh linens. Checked all the fluids, changed the oil, aired up the tires, installed the GPS, MP3 player and XM-Radio. Next Saturday at this time me & Speedbead will be on the road to riskkid's place to enjoy an evening of food and fellowship. Sunday morning, it's on to Guntersville! Life is good and I am blessed! Ronnie

Congrats on the new gear! Hope you tear em up tomorrow. Post some pics if you nail em. Ronnie

Hey Mike, Last year at Fork, because I got screwed pretty hard by "Ricky the boat renter" I did all my fishing from the back of another members boat. I HOPE I THANKED YOU ALL PROPERLY!!! Everyone knows I have XXX number (way too many) rods/reels. The average boat won't hold all the crap I've got, so I chose 2 bait casting setups and one spinning rig and my big Okachobie bag. (one bag only) so I could share my baits with my partner for the day. I also have a little soft six-pack cooler to carry snack crackers, candy bars a sandwich (and one to share) and a couple of sodas/bottled waters. Don't count on being able to stop and buy lunch, have it with you. Be respectful of someone else's boat by being careful not step on the seats or spill stuff on the carpets. Always put on your PFD when the gas motor is running. At the end of the day help clean up (pick up all the old torn up plastics and lunch trash, etc.) and help get the boat ready for the next day. $20-25 a day should cover your part of fuel unless you do a lot of running. Best thing you can do is ASK. "Hey can I help you wash the boat?" "Are you sure that's enough to cover the gas?" etc. I am sure you know what to do. Let me tell you, DON"T WORRY! These are some of the best people you will ever run across. Last year I got to fish with flechero, BigHead and Art Pasley. We had one slammin good time. I would jump at the chance to fish with any of these guys anytime! You are going to have the time of your life! I hope this helps. Ronnie

I am a C & R advocate as well and haven't kept a bass (except stripers & hybrids) to eat in almost 20 years. I must tell you honestly however, that it's more because they aren't very good to eat compared to other species. LOL The wildlife officials who decide on seasons, daily limits, slots, etc. are marine biologists and you should have a little confidence in them. If he is catching his limit every day, 7 days a week, then the fishery is pretty healthy. I don't know of any public fishing hole on earth that produces so well without dynomite. LOL If this guy is not breaking any rules or laws, you are out of line trying to lecture him. One guy is not going to single handedly cripple the fishing in your lake without breaking some rules. JMHO Ronnie

Hey Brent, NICE TACKLE BOX! What kind of mileage does it get?? Ronnie

Another ebay veteran is born! Go get em Zel. Ebay doesn't like snipers, and will do anything to discourage the practice, but because of the bogus way THEY have set up THEIR system to work, it's the only way to make a good deal anymore. The more you know about how the system works the better your chances are to make it work for you. You can still make a good deal on ebay, but you have to beat them at their own game. Ebay has some community message boards that will give you a lot of insight into how ebay works. Here's a good one to start with... http://forums.ebay.com/db1/forum.jspa?forumID=124&anticache=1205528882426 Ronnie

Think about what you are saying here. Ebay's computers can somehow respond to a sniper's bid, which must be sent across the internet, faster than it can recognize a max bid number that is already stored on it's server. That just doesn't compute. The service rep doesn't have a clue. Ronnie