Logan S

If the pics were wider angle, you'd probably see all the boats too ...My boat is in the background of one of the other pics...No secrets there ?. I did catch 2 fish in clear water on the main lake though .

Well, the FOBA Black Hill tournament went on as scheduled on Saturday. We had a good turnout of 10 boats considering the weather and fishing conditions...Several guys here tried to get in and I'm really sorry we couldn't get everyone entered, we just ran out of boats and members that were committed to fishing that day. There's another one at Black Hill on May 8th, same format - And I'd expect a much higher turnout there. I'll post about it as we get closer. The fishing was pretty brutal - 20 anglers and only 22 total fish were caught. It was cold, windy, and the fish definitely didn't cooperate for the most part....But some fish were still caught and 4 people made a little spending money. Water was clear and 43 to 45 degrees at launch and for most of the lake. Yours truly figured out a little something and had a decent bag , but it was certainly not easy and could have very easily gone another way. Caught 2 on a jerkbait in the wind before getting way up a creek to find muddy water. Caught the other 3 back there on shallow cover with a jig and spinnerbait. When it's cold, mud makes it easier to find em . Had 11-15 with a big fish of 3-10. If anyone cares, full results and some pics are updated on our site. If it's seen as too spammy to post it someone yell at me and I'll quit doing it...I just figure local guys might care and it's easier than copy/pasting. https://www.fishonbassanglers.com/Events/Derbies/2019/March-FOBA-Derby-Tournament---03%2F16%2F19/Results

Mine is kind of lame...It was a 2lb class fish and it actually made it in my boat because my co-angler caught it. The story needs a little framing... I'm a tournament guy, nothing super high stakes just local stuff with my club and various others. 20-ish boat tournaments with occasional bigger ones and smaller ones...But my goal every year is to weigh in a limit on every tournament day. I've never done it, but it's a pretty tall order when you have 17 to 20+ tournament days during the season on many different bodies of water and ranging from March thru November...You need to be really dang consistent to pull it off - and that's why it's always my top goal. So in 2011 I came up 1 single fish short of doing it. 18 tournament days that year, so I went 89 for 90. March thru late October and on 8 different fisheries...Ranging from shallow, tidal river largemouth to deep, clear mountain lakes for smallmouth and almost every water type in between - So I am a little proud of coming that close, but that 1 fish I didn't get is all I remember. It was the 2nd day of a tournament on Smith Mountain Lake and I was having a rough day. I had 4 fish early and then went a long time without getting another keeper bite. It's essentially the end of the day and I spotted a fry-guarder on a dock post. Normally if I see a fish I'm targeting I tell my Co about and ask him to let me have my chances at it before trying..However I didn't do that this time. I pitch in there and the fish bites, I miss it and it balls up my worm...I reel in to fix and make the next pitch in, but as I'm doing so my co-angler unknowingly pitches to the dock piling - The fish eats his bait and he lands it...Only had about 5 mins left before weigh in we basically had to leave right after landing. So I know with almost 100% certainty I would have hooked and landed that fish to complete the 'perfect season' . It burns a little more since the exact fish came into my boat and got weighed in, just not by me ?. It's 100% my fault for not mentioning the fish to my Co...Who is actually a good friend of mine, he didn't know and had every right to make a cast there without knowing the situation. All I had to do was what I normally do, "Hey there's a fish here, give me a few casts at it before casting up here," and I know he would have been fine with since we've both been in the same situation before. I've come close in several other seasons, 2 or 3 fish off the perfect season...But never just 1 fish and certainly not with those circumstances. I've obviously lost some giant bass over the years that hurt, but my disappointment is maxed with this stupid little fish story here ?.

I almost never weigh fish if I'm not in a tournament...Don't even have a scale in my boat. A nice fish is a nice fish and if you're not in a tournament and/or it's not a record (state/lake/world/personal/otherwise) there's no real significance to knowing the exact weight of a fish. I guess what I'm getting at is, if you catch a nice fish be proud of it...Doesn't matter what the number on a scale is (or isn't if you don't weigh it). If I'm posting or showing off a fish I didn't weigh I generally don't bother with a weight estimate unless someone asks. It's a shame when a guy catches a nice fish only to be 'disappointed' if it doesn't reach a certain threshold...Especially newer anglers if they fall just short of 'milestone' sized fish. Like a 4-15 not cracking the 5lb mark or whatever the local benchmark number is for a big fish. Bass weights can be funky, especially LM vs SM vs Spots and also at different times of the year...I've weighed in mixed limits of Spots and LM where my heaviest fish was a Spotted Bass, yet it looked like one of the smaller fish in my bag. For pictures I always hold my fish out and try to make the center of attention...Why not make them look good? The fish is the reason for the picture in the first place.

Yea...How dare they introduce an optional accessory to provide additional features that customers want? Even if Livesight isn't on par with the latest Panoptix...There are TONS of Lowrance users out there that now have a relatively cheap and easy option (compared to buying/installing an entire Garmin unit + Panoptix) to add this feature....With the added bonus that the unit with Livesight will part of the existing Lowrance network on their boats and not isolated like it would be with a standalone Garmin unit to run the tech. Not bad for a first attempt...Once they are officially released and 'real' people can starting using/reviewing we'll know exactly how well it stacks up to Garmin.

Green Top sporting goods down in Richmond is a great store, better selections than BPS or Cabelas for both fishing gear and gun stuff if you're into that too. Right off 95, I occasionally stop in on the way to or from Gaston/Kerr or anywhere else down south since I drive right by. SFT is awesome too...I just have a hard time making the drive since their free shipping is basically next day to us since we're so close, no sales tax either. I order from the frequently. Definitely worth a drive if you want to look at stuff in person though, they have almost everything...It's the east coast TackleWarehouse equivalent.

Work, home stuff, and winter weather all combined at just the right times to make me start this season much later than normal...Had a decent first day on Monday though. Caught a few like this and some smaller ones. Third year in a row this same little balsa crank has captured my first fish of the year, I think it's officially a tradition now.

Watched the vid, thanks for linking and giving the timestamp @Mn_Moose The HS anglers were likely fishing a tournament themselves...Two anglers and the 'coach' (adult in the driver seat) is the standard HS tournament format/look. The big question is...Were they planning on fishing that area anyway and yielded to Latimer until he moved off -OR- Were they trying to cash in (literally and figuratively) by locating the pro tournament leader (and perhaps others) and fishing his waters instead of relying on their own skills/experience/knowledge to succeed in their tournament??? One makes them look pretty respectable, the other makes them look awful. In reality, the only people that will really know the truth are those HS anglers and their coach. Latimer's comments about getting a reputation and that stuff leads me to believe he thought they were doing the latter...I don't know since I wasn't there, but I do know that Latimer has a reputation as one of the 'good guys' in the sport and isn't known as a high-drama person. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt for thinking there might have been 'other than honorable' intentions on the part of the other boat. No matter what though..."That's not cool," is hardly an outburst or something to hate a guy over. He said what was on his mind and didn't go overboard.

I love using the GoPro and I'm not really into the videos that much...The action shots are great and you don't even have to try. A lot easier getting fish pictures, especially alone...Just hold it up and screen capture later. I've found it's great when taking my daughter fishing too...I obviously want pictures all the time, but stopping and trying to pictures takes away from the moment. GoPro solves it and also gives you good pictures you wouldn't otherwise know of or be able to take, like when she was trying to drive us around on the trolling motor for the first time .

The 'un-named' and 'unspecified' baits are sort of the new way pros are dealing with this and I think it's a nice change....Some pros handle it better than others. When Martens won on the Chesapeake he admitted on camera he wasn't using a Picasso bladed-jig even though he's sponsored by them, he said the ZMan was better for what he was doing. Lots of other examples out there of anglers being honest too. This was one of my favorite posts related to the topic after Lee won the classic...Everyone knew what the jerkbait was but Lee never mentioned it specifically .

On March 16th FOBA is having a semi-open tournament on Black Hill (Little Seneca Lake). I posted about these a while ago but we were't sure if the March 16th one would be held since the park was doing causeway repairs....The repairs are done and the ramp is open, so the tournament is on. March 16th - Black Hill Regional Park 7:30AM - 2:30PM (weigh in will be on the water in front of the boat rental docks) 5 bass limit, 12" minimum size Catch-Weigh-Release (MLF style) - Scales and official weigh sheets provided by FOBA. Boater/Co-angler divisional format (not team) $25 per person entry ($5 from each entry goes to FOBA as fund raiser) 80% for 1st, 20% for second. Boater and co-angler divisions have their own pots Must be two anglers in each boat (no solo boaters) and one angler must be a FOBA member (due to CWR) Obviously the entry is low...This is meant to be a fun, early-season icebreaker type thing before the full season kicks off. Non-members are more than welcome if they want to check us out or just want to fish with us, no strings attached...We just need 1 FOBA member per boat, mostly for familiarity with our CWR process. FOBA's Tournament Director is running the tournament and we have been using the CWR system for many tournaments for 2 years now, so it will be a well organized and run event just like any of our normal tournaments. Anyone interested can shoot me a PM or post here...We want non-members or people interested in FOBA to check us out so we'll try to pair up non-members with members to fish (boater or co-angler). Can also use the contact info on the event page here... https://www.fishonbassanglers.com/black-hill-open I've got an open back deck as of right now and I know at least a couple other boaters do also.

I have one of those SimpleHuman trashcans too ...Was a wedding gift. We love it! For me, I splurged on a pair of Hestra ski gloves about 8 or 9 years ago...Even on sale they were like $150 I think! Anyway, they're obviously great for snowboarding (which I've 'retired' from), but I use them all the time when it's cold...Especially when fishing. Running the boat when its freezing out side can turn your hands to ice, these gloves completely negate that so I can still fish and run without my hands stopping me. Even just working outside, hiking, or shoveling snow they're fantastic. At the time, I had a little buyers remorse for spending that much on gloves...But now all these years later I'm thankful for them.

No problem....Just keep in touch about it once we get closer.

Sort of, more for Conowingo than the Bay...The issue is going to be the fact they are random-draw tournaments, so getting a particular co-angler would be luck of the draw. You could try arrange a practice trip with any co-angler or boater though before the tournament. There's also an option to fish as a co-angler for those, but as a boater you go to the back of the priority list to get on a boat and you'd still be competing against the other boaters. While both places definitely have navigation hazards, it's pretty easy to stay in safe areas on both for newcomers with a little guidance. There are plenty of boaters with experience on both that'd be happy to break out a map and give you a run down of things at a meeting....I'd do it myself. Conowingo is really easy to stay in safe water with some quick guidance. The Bay is a little trickier, but still not too bad with a quick primer.

Not much...Standard BASS/FLW format, 5 bass limits...But catch-weigh-release would be a nice addition. Pro tours have the logistics to do CWR, they already do with MLF/BPT and the BASS Bassfest tournament. Another one would be no restrictions on boats. If a guy wants to run a jet boat or anything else because he thinks he can use it beat everyone else...Let him do it. I don't share the opinion that many others seem to have regarding boats, electronics, gear, and practice time. I actually believe that by limiting that stuff you're watering down the competition level and innovation... Let the anglers have whatever stuff they want and an appropriate practice time and then turn them loose on a lake and see who figures out how to beat the rest of the field. The biggest thing for me isn't really format...Its locations and timing. All of the big tours, even the Opens/Costas, go to basically the same rotation of places at the same times of year. I love how they are fishing early in the year now where it's still winter in some places, but it would be cool to have more summer and fall events again. If you go back and watch old Bassmaster and FLW shows...They went to SO many more places and at different times of the year. I know it's all about the $$$ from host cities now, so there's little chance of it happening...But if there's one thing I could change it'd be this.

Just go fish how you fish. The fact you're asking means you're probably a normal, decent person so I'm sure you won't have any issues. Pretty good advice above. The open compartment for the Co is nice because it clears up space for both of you...Although I wouldn't unpack the boat if you've got it full already. Sometimes, especially when it's colder, I have a lot more gear in the boat so I might not have an open compartment. If you want or need to turn the console graph off or put on standby, that's your call. I like to put mine on standby. Didn't know it made me 'that guy'.

Mepps Comet. No joke, on my very first cast for bass. Had fished for and caught plenty of bluegills and other sunfish along the banks of a pond with bait...After several trips my dad told me there were bigger fish in the pond but I needed to fish for them differently. He took me to a tackle shop on the way home one day and picked out a few things, including the Mepps Comet. Next time at the pond I rainbow-lobbed (first cast, I was really awkward ) that Comet way out in the middle and about 3 cranks into that first cast a bass smashed it. It was the coolest thing in the world to me and hooked me on bass fishing right then and there. I was probably 7 years old? Don't really remember but I was in 2nd or 3rd grade I think... Pretty sure its the only bass I've ever caught on a Comet too...And I only ever caught a handful of other bass from that pond in many other trips before moving away. That first cast bass was just meant to be or something .

Some that I've used and would consider excellent choices. I've owned and used all these pretty extensively. Dobyns 736 CB Glass Daiwa Zillion 7'2" MH/R Glass Megabass XX Diablo Spec-R Megabass Black Jungle - Deep Crank/Slow Roll (7'1" MH/R) <--My current favorite I currently use both the Megabass models I listed. The Dobyns and Zillion performed great but the lock rings dug into my hand/finger to the point where I decided to sell them - Just the way I fish I guess, would still recommend either since most other people don't seem to have that issue. The Dobyns is the most powerful of these 4 rods.

Those are pretty big lakes you'll be fishing...I think you'll appreciate the extra foot of length and more HP on the Nitro. I agree with Tom that they are two different classes of boats.

I was about to write up full post, but remembered I made a similar post about a year ago so I went and found it...Pics still there and everything. This is my old boat, a 20' Stratos. Get a bunch of clamps, weights, furring strips, and you'll be ready to go. On a smaller boat like your's it probably won't be near as bad as my old boat...Which was nearly all compartments. As for what weight carpet, if you can't find the original spec you'll have to guess. Just be aware that if you go too thick (higher oz) the compartments will be very tight. As for how much to buy...I bought a carpet roll the width of my beam and then added 3 feet to the overall length, so I bought a 23' x 8' roll, and it was a perfect amount with a little left over. I bought 2 gallons of DAP Weldwood Contact cement at about $30/gallon and I had 1/2 gallon left...I bet you could get away with 1 gallon. I really liked this stuff and would recommend, just make sure you set it up right! For the trim...The existing trim was riveted in so I drilled it out. I replaced with adhesive backed trim and then put some small screws in at intervals to help keep it locked down. Bassboatseats.com is where I bought all the materials except glue.

I've got a couple Scorpion DC's that I've had for over 5 years now. Been beat up in my rod lockers and on the deck, baked in the sun, frozen in cold weather, and soaked in downpours....Haven't had to do anything to the DC system at all. DC is pretty reliable technology IMO.

I'm sure there are some clubs around you, I just don't know of them specifically. If you can't find one or the existing ones are closed, you could always check FOBA out. Info and a similar questions are posted in this thread.

Guess keeping fish in livewells for a normal tournament isn't that bad since 6 of the BPT'ers are doing it for this tournament....Not to mention the Classic too.

Regular tournaments have rules and minimum requirements for boats for legitimate reasons. Safety, livewells, ability to accommodate a co-angler, etc. I don't kayak fish, but I can see where a canoe likely has larger storage capacity than kayaks...Probably some other legitimate/competitive reasons too. You could always fish a tournament as a co-angler if you actually want to try them.

Used most of the different types over the years...Eventually just settled on regular old Plano 3700's. I can fit more baits in these than any other type of the same size and that's the biggest selling point for me. I do use a Bass Mafia Coffin for terminal tackle, but everything else is standard 3700's. Can find them anywhere, they're cheap, and they fit perfectly in pretty much every type of tackle organizer or bag. I do take the important boxes out of the boat if it will sit more than a few days and bring em inside. If it's a really rainy day I'll take them all out and leave them open to dry out (inside the house). Don't have any rust issues.