Fish Chris

Wax on a bassboat ? What the heck is that for ? Does that make the bass bite better ? Peace, Fish

you didn't say how BIG the fish was ? ;-) 19 hours on the water for 1 fish is quite normal for me... but if it's a DD, its worth it :-) Peace, Fish

Wouldn't be caught without one ! I carry a Cabelas big fish net. I guess its like a 28" hoop..... but have been considering the rubber mesh type for a long time.... Comes in VERY handy when I have to land a big Catfish..... or pushing my boat back off of the shoreline when I have purposely beached it..... or grabbing a cleat on a dock when the wind or current is trying to blow me away from it, etc, etc. As for netting big bass with it, well if its only an 8 or 10lb'er, it's not such a big deal.... but when I finally get that 19lb PB next to the boat, I don't want to be messing around with it ! Oh, and here's another scenario you might not have thought of..... Last week I had a 9 lb'er get me around a limb > just deep enough that I could not get to it with my hands < but I was able to get down to it with the net, and was able to land it.... {oh btw, it had whiskers ;-) ....but the idea is the same for bass, right ? Don't know how many times I've watched somebody fighting a fish > they never expected to hook in the first place < and the first thing they will tell you is > "And I don't even have a net" ! ...... Dude ! Where was your head at ? Hasn't anyone ever told you that any time you cast a line in the water, you never know what you might hook ? Not bringing a net is about as crazy as not bringing a camera, or a scale. It's just essential equipment. Peace, Fish

Much thanks again guys ! I'm kind of surprised that Phleugers are getting so much attention nowadays. I guess they have been kind of moving up in the fishing world for the last few years. SirSnooks See now, I never really thought you were such a bad guy ;-) .....and certainly not a bad angler !So, I guess I will have to hold / play with a P. President..... And then based on my past great experiences with Daiwa, I might have to consider a Tierra as well..... Speaking of Tierra, if I'm not mistaken, that's this models name :-) Normally I prefer to fish by myself, but for her, I'll make an exception ;-) Hey..... I just had a fun idea.... I haven't been to the new BPS store in Manteca CA, only about 1 hr 15 min from me. Might be a good place to go check out a bunch of reels in person.... soon. Peace, Fish

Right on. Thanks guys. Yes, I definately have enjoyed my Okuma's. I primarily used the Inspiras, but also had one VS. Like I say, I'm just in a position now, where I can try some other stuff just for kicks, and if I like it, fine. If not, I can get some more Okuma stuff, or whatever. Anyone follow me on the Shimano's having that "more pressure required to turn the handle" feeling ? I mean it doesn't feel rough... or like a malfunction.... it just feels like say, closing the door on a bank vault. Totally solid, very precision, and you could probably do it with 1 finger...... but because it weighs 3 tons, it takes a bit for it to get going..... I dunno' how else to explain it.... I do want to go play with some of the new Daiwas too though. I swear with those, you could darn near spin the handle by blowing on them ! Peace, Fish

Paul ! I'm sorry, I almost let this one get by me. Not trying to be rude.... just scatterbrained as usual :-) Anyway, nice fish man ! That looks like one of those long torpedos that often fight like mad ! Stay on em' ! Fish

Any talk about the sensitivity of a graphite rod is basically pointless, if you don't use braided line...... as a 40 year old fiberglass rod with braid, is a WAY more sensitive setup, than an IM27 Helium Super Zippity Do Da rod, used in conjuuction with rubberband.... er... excuse me, monofilament. Who... me opinionated ? ;-) Okay now, so you say, "But Fish, I do use braid....." Well cool then ! Stop worrying about the super sensitivity of the rod, and just pick a medium priced one, that feels good in your hands, and has some pretty wrapping that appeals to your eye / looks good with your reel ;-) LOL Because in fact, > super sensitivity and lightness of a rod has a price < That price is brittleness ! Which you don't even want / need if your using real line anyway.... Doh.... their I go again.... I meant to say, braided line :-) Peace, Fish

Alright now, for starters, I want to explain my sponsorship status with Okuma.... I had a really good relationship / sponsorship with Okuma for about 5 years. They always took really good care of me, and I had very little problems with my Okuma reels. In fact, I NEVER had even 1 of them completely fail on me, causing me to lose a fish. A couple bail springs I think.... and an intermittent slip of an anti-reverse bearing, but nothing major, even with as hard as I was on them. However, unfortunately, their whole sponsorship arrangement changed, so that few, if any sponsees are directly sponsored by the HQ anymore. It was spread out to regional people who are now in charge. Supposedly nothing was to change, but in fact, everything did. So, to make a long story short, now I'm free to use whatever reels I want to. Sure, I'll keep using the Okuma reels I have, and I might even buy another 1 or 10 in the future. Furthermore, I have no problem leaving the Okuma name / link, on my website... on my e-mails... at the bottom of my posts.... etc. ......Unless I were to get picked up by somebody else ;-) Now that would just be business :-) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So, what are you guys favorite choices for spinning reels in the $60 to $100 range ? The size I'd be most likely to try first would be one of the large ones, as I still have a few brand new UL and ML Okumas right here on my shelf..... and remember, I'm the whacko that uses spinning reels to throw 5 ounce swimbaits ! So needless to say, I'm murder on my big spinning reels ! I picked up and played with a Shimano Sahara 4000. It felt solid, smooth, and well built..... However {and I experienced this very same thing 15 years ago with my old Shimano Stradic} the pressure required to turn the handle feels "heavy" ??? I mean, yea' sure, it feels silky smooth, and very precision, it just takes more pressure to turn than my Okumas did..... and WAY more pressure than my old Daiwas did. {I used to be pretty much a Daiwa guy before I got picked up by Okuma} My local tackle shop doesn't even carry Daiwas.... what the heck is up with that ??? So anyway.... I dunno'..... but I'm open to anything..... How are the $60 to $100 Daiwas nowadays anyway ? How about Brownings ? Quantums ? Phleugers sure look nice nowadays too. But is it only cosmetic ? Any input will be greatly appreciated. Heck, I haven't even picked up another brand of reel in 5 years, let alone used one ! Much thanks, Fish

would you guys believe I've still never thrown a Senko in my life ??? :-) I know they work. I've got fish over 16 lbs on my website, which were caught on Senko's..... I've just always felt that I could more easily catch the fish I was after, on a trout patterned swimbait..... and if I had to finesse them with something, then I'd use a tail hooked, fly-lined crawler (or a wad of them). But I guess the real reason I have never thrown a Senko, is that they became SOOO freaking popular, several years back, and I HATE to do whatever the crowd is doing, as I'm not after the fish the crowds are catching. Anyway, stick a BIG one :-) Fish

Am I a multi-species guy ??? X's 10 ! :-) If it will bite my hook, and pull on my line, I'm always down with it ! :-) From Bluegill, to Sturgeon, to Bat Rays, etc, etc.... Fear no fish ;-) Peace, Fish

Hey Paul, your experiences have been "exactly" like mine. A "trance like state" describes it perfectly (describes some of my co-workers perfectly too ;-) LOL Peace, Fish

Ya' know Hammer, that's funny you should say that. (Oh BTW, I was throwing crawlers yesterday, not crawdads) But for the purposes of this discussion, the effectiveness of crawlers and dads, overlap about 75% to 90% of the time anyway..... So anyway, first off, 20 years is a long time. I think a guy could start to remember that he caught a fish on every cast...... when it might have just been really good fishing, where he caught one every other cast ;-) However, if your sure you just never missed, here's what I'd say about that.... The closest thing to a population of bass that just would not say no to a dad I threw at it, was in situations with a lot of overpopulated dinks + tiny dads, on the micro-light. Stepping it up to nice 3 to 7 lb fish, during the hottest live bait bites, it was more like 30% of them would eat it (during a good bite) Climbing on up to the "BIG" 10 to 13+ lb'ers, and your talking maybe 20% > in the lakes where live bait works well < although I can show you one lake {which, BTW, is full of crawdads} and yet I never once was able to get a big bass to eat 1 :-? :-/ ??? Ya' know, I'm forever trying to educate people about the truth of fishing with live bait. And while I'm not doubting that somebody, in some lake, with a ton of "small, hungry fish" might actually have fish fighting over anything they throw at them, that is just almost never the case in these highly pressured waters..... Most especially for the big fish, which is mostly what I'm concerned with anyway :-) Peace, Fish PS, And if somebody tells me, "Yea... we caught BIG fish on every cast...... It was SO easy, we just got tired of it, and started fishing with artificials just to make it tougher"..... Chuckles. Okay Oh BTW, where is that place at ? I'll be right there :-)

Yea', I hear what your saying, but also consider this.... One premium bait maker (I'm buddies with the CEO) told me that he had considered using premium hooks, but that no matter which hook he used, a lot of guys "only use" brand X. (note; I don't prefer the premium hook he had considered either, so this just backs the point he was trying to make) But then, if he went with brand X, he would have a whole bunch of guys (like me) who only use brand "Y" complaining. He ended up going with hooks from a company that many might not even consider to be a premium hook..... but the hook manufacturer made them specifically "per special order" and they are actually very good hooks, for a good price as well...... even though my buddy knows that a LOT of guys will just toss them and replace them with their own personal favorite hook brand anyway. Of course to produce a line of lures, and give the buyer their choice of 3 or 4 premium hook brands would not be cost effective either..... and even if it were, still, not everyone would be happy. So anyway, I think you see my point... Peace, Fish

Sorry, no 'photo fish'...... But kind of an interesting trip though. Went to my trout-fed trophy lake, and the big ones were not on beds........ but even when they are, this place is so murky, your lucky to find a big one shallow enough to bed fish. Of course I really don't care. I actually want them to hurry up and finish spawning, so I can start sticking them on swimbaits ;-) Here's the thing though, I saw probably 8 bass from 8 to 13 lbs, suspended, out in open water, like 1ft from the surface (otherwise I would not have seen them) but 30 or 40 feet straight out from prime spawning areas. So, they are not "defending a bed"...... but not thinking about food either :-/ In other words, all but impossible to catch. I did stick one 4 lb'er on a crawler, and one 9 lb Channel cat, both on the micro-light, so that was fun..... And tell me if this ain't a b####...... I see one of those nice suspended fish (to be honest, not the 13... but maybe an 8 or 9) I flip a weightless crawler out by it. As it wiggles, and sinks down out of view, this nice bass, turns, and follows it down ! My heart speeds up a bit, as I intently watch my line ! ...... but after a couple minutes, nothing :-[ So, I go on and reel it in, and the crawler is mashed, and dead as can be ! Darnit Jim ! It's very common for a bass to swim up and look at a crawler or dad, and not eat it (waaay more common than most guys who don't use live bait, would ever believe) but I have to say, it's a lot less common for them to suck one in, chomp it up, then spit it out :-/ ......and I never saw as much as a tick on the line. Oh well. Had fun anyway. Peace, Fish

Hey, I know I already answered with, "Moving back to Cali" (which I still stand behind)....... and I see that several people have also responded with BIG philisophical answers as well. But one more thing does come to mind...... Probably the next best thing I ever decided to do with my fishing, was to use nothing but braided line. I just never break fish off anymore. And when your fishing specifically for big ones, that's even more important. Saves me lots of time, worry, and $$$ too. I remember how I use to always have to stretch my mono before every trip, to try to get the coils out... and test for weak spots, and then have to replace it every 1 to 3 trips.... Ha ! No more. I change my braid about 1 or 2 times per reel, per year...... and that's just because I'm sponsored, and have 'miles' of braided line on my dresser, and in the closet. TUF-Line XP baby ;-) Peace, Fish

Not much into freshwater fish, for eating. Flathead catfish, and sometimes Channel cats, are really good, if prepared right. Crappie too. Oh, and Sturgeon. I'm really more of a Saltwater fish eating kind of guy :-) Lots of good fish out there. Salmon, Halibut, Yellowfin Tuna (grilled) Mahi Mahi..... Fish

Freshwater; Musky big Lake Trout (Makinaw) Golden Trout Nile Perch giant South American catfish (Redtails, or any other over 100 lbs) a 40 lb+ Pacu (it would be like fighting a 40 lb Bluegill ;-) European Wels catfish New Gunea Black Bass Saltwater; Well Black or Blue Marlin, sure..... But nobody mentioned a straight up Sword Fish ! Did you guys know their are guys who have caught all kinds of Marlin, but are still trying for their first actual Sword Fish ? A big Hammerhead, Mako, Tiger, or Thresher shark. Great Whites would be cool, but I think they are pretty much totally protected, in most waters, so that you can't even fish for them... even if you intend to release them. Tarpon Alaskan Halibut (at least a 100lb'er) Bluefin Tuna Wahoo Roosterfish I'm sure I'm forgetting some... but anyway. I'm always down for a new species :-) Peace, Fish PS, I watched a guy catch a 12 to 14ft Sawfish the other day on one of the fishing programs. How cool would that be ??? :-)

Right on buddy ! :-) That is a very big Koi ! I remember I caught a solid, bright orange one, way back in the day, that was pushing 15lbs (on a crappy spring scale) but that one looks to be over 15 lbs to me ! Very cool catch :-) Peace, Fish

Great catch ! That is one solid, beefy looking bass right there ! Big congrats on the new PB :-) Now get back out there..... I can here a 10 plus calling for you ;-) Peace, Fish

Now that's what I'm talking about ! A girl who knows how to catch em', and is not even afraid to hold a big ol' catfish ! :-) Congrats Nikki :-) Peace, Fish

Holy $#%$ !!! That is one of the most awesome trophy sportfish, of any species, that I've ever seen ! I am so freaking envious ! One things for sure, I'd be getting a fiberglass replica, for sure ! Congrats, Fish

Moving back to Cali ;-) Fish

Man, you beat me to it ! I came over here just to talk garbage about last nights fights ! :-( Really disapointing. But now, I purposely skipped the last PPV, and the one before that wasn't great, IMO either :-( What the heck is up with UFC lately ??? The last really good edge-of-my-seat fights I saw, were the free "Fight for the Troops" a few months back. For the last few years I had really been getting into UFC's a lot. But lately, my interest is starting to fade. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it just seems to me that too many of these guys are not fighting to win.... but rather, fighting not to lose. I think they need some kind of better incentive to let it all out there, and take more risks. As it is, they just seem to be playing it safe, way too often. Hmmmm..... Fish PS, I think the most fun we had, was joking about the 'Tale of the Tape' for Antoni Hardonk Strong points..... Devastating from behind ! ;D ;D ;D

Darn, you guys are ruthless ! Whether I agreed with Hannon, or not, I don't think I'd go so far as to call him jellous LOL The guy has couple more than just a few big ones himself. (I think I have him by a half a lb or so though ;-) Not that I'm a better angler. It's just because ours are trout-fed. Mattlures is right though. I remember reading that thier had not been any proof that that was really a photo of Perry's fish..... but that the guy in that photo "was definately not" Perry.... Hmmmm, Fish

Ya' know etommy, not to sound liike a smart arse, but in reality, you could have seen > 6 fish on beds, with all of them over 18 lbs, and their still might not be a single fish over 20 lbs... let alone over 22-4. That's just the way fisheries work. We have a lake here in Cali (my home lake Berryessa) which has produced at least 30 bass over 16 lbs..... with at least 10 of those being over 17 lbs, but yet the lake record is only 17.5 lbs. 17lbs is just about where they top out in this lake. Not to say that Berryessa, or Okeechobee couldn't produce a 20.... or a 22-6... but if either of these places (or any other place on the planet) does produce a 22-6 or bigger, it will have as much, or MORE to do with the exact fish in question, than it does the body of water it came from. Peace, Fish BTW, about that photo of Perrys fish, that is a very hard photo to judge the weight of the fish with. Perry is holding it, not in front of himself, but rather, in front of a small child (who knows "how small"). That's a big bass no doubt, but judging by the photo alone, I wouldn't give it more than say 16 lbs, and that would be stretching it. I think it could be "as small as" the 13 lbs that others have suggested.