Surfcaster

Power Pro 65lb, some reels spooled with yellow and some with green. Unless it is a Carolina Rig I use no leader. I honestly don't think the fish care what color your line is.

An older friend of mine loved fishing and made a dedicated effort to take the time to practice and try to be a tournament fisherman when he was younger. 3 wives and numerous zero tournaments later he just fishes when his grandchildren want to.

This is how I was taught to fish a "plastic jelly worm" when I was 4 years old. Swimming the worm slowly; all the way back to the fishing pole. It was the only way we fished it. My father would crimp a small split shot on the line about 6" above the worm and I had to have the weedless hook with the wire that clipped on the hook. I guess I was fishing a mini Carolina rig in 1973, but I tried to keep it off the bottom because mud and moss on the bottom of our pond. I did not want to have to clean it every time I reeled in. We caught a lot of fish like that. Now at the lake when I Carolina rig, it is with an egg sinker with beads and a long leader and the hook point buried in the worm body to make it weedless, or if I texas rig it is seems I toss it to the bank or log or bush and hop it a few times then reel it in fast so I can make another cast to the next piece of structure.

What type of trolling motor are you using on your canoe and how well does it perform on the lake in windy conditions. Also, I noticed on a different picture you have what looks like an anti-tip float. Does that allow you to stand up and fish.

There are only two colors that you will need to catch bass: green and green. If you must go with more than two colors you can also try green.

I have an 18' Old Town Tripper that me and my son take out on the lake and I have always wanted to trick it out with a trolling motor and sonar. After seeing your project, I may be motivated to upgrade our canoe. We have a Yakima rack on the top of our vehicle we tie it down to when we transport the canoe. With the extras that are on your canoe you will need a trailer.

Please excuse my ignorance regarding the co-polymer line subject, but is co-polymer the same as co-filament. I remember Stren selling a co-filament line called "Prime" and may still sell it. I used it back in the late 80's, mainly because Bill Dance pushed it at the time. But I did like the "Prime" line.

I have a VHS tape by Bill Dance from 1986 that I watch from time to time and will continue to watch as long as my VCR holds out and he says that confidence is the most important lure in the tackle box.

What is the normal yearly amount someone should expect to pay for boat maintenance done properly? I do not own a bass boat, but I am constantly looking at used boats. I have noticed when listening to boat owners talk they always seem to say that I had to replace this or that part or my so and so is not working and I am going to have the boat checked out. So I guess no repairs/service for 3 years on a boat is almost a death sentence.

My tournament partner has a new, 2014 18' Triton aluminum with a 90hp Mercury, and it performs and fishes out of very well. Will run 40-45 mph and good fuel economy. I think it was in the $20,000 price range.

Ike's Bass Class on the fishing articles section has a good article on Carolina rig fishing.

ZOOM Super Hogs - green colors and black w/red flakes. Mann's Augertail in electric grape and Mann's Jelly Worms at least one pack of whatever color you like for fishing or just to open the pack and smell every now and then.

I am not a fan of tattoos. But a person can write or draw what they want to on their skin, it is your decision to make, just don't shove something vulgar in my face. In fact, it is probably more common now to have a tattoo than not. I think the real issue is here is boat ramp and boating etiquette. I have been fortunate to have never been involved in any situations at the ramp or on the lake; I have always tried to steer clear of people that were causing trouble, and try not to do anything that would cause someone to think I was causing trouble, but I have witnessed some tense situations. Most of the time alcohol is involved which has loosened peoples mouths and could have possibly been the reason these people commented on your tattoos.

"Poodle Tail" grip aside, how do you like the 7' Berkley Lightning/Shock spinning rod. What action/power is it? Does is throw light baits good? I always thought the Lightning rod series was a good rod for the price. I think you can get the Shock rod at Wally World for about $40. Which again would make it ok to modify the handle without risking damage to a high $ rod.

I looked long and hard at a Duckett Ghost spinning rod last Saturday. It was $100 and felt good, but I did not pull the trigger. It was peer pressure though. A couple of buddies I fish with/against in tournaments have the higher $ Ducketts and they really like them.

I read an article about braid and leaders and I think it was Dion Hibdon who said he did not use a leader until his son said he should use a leader with braid and talked him into it. Now he always has a leader on braid but he did not think it made a difference in catching fish, it was more of a mental thing. Another top level pro, maybe Dean Rojas, said he uses a leader, but if he breaks the leader off the braid he does not bother tying on a new leader he ties the lure straight to the braid.

The first bass I caught that I can recall was 1974 and I was 5. We have a pond at my parents house and my father left his fishing pole with a Zebco 33 and black plastic worm propped against a tree. Some friends came over and their youngest son said lets go fishing. We took turns and on the first 4 casts we each caught 2 bass apiece that weighed probably 1-2 lbs. My father realized what was going on and came down and helped us get the fish off the hook. Growing up with fishing poles and a pond beside our house I am sure there were earlier bass but this is the earliest I can remember.

Fished a tournament on Shearon Harris Saturday the 18th and bass were on the beds. They were in the 2-3lb range. Someone told me the bigger fish had already moved off the beds. The tournament was won with fish not caught off beds.

Mann's Augertail in electric grape or Mann's Jelly Worm in blackberry or grape. Fish may still not bite, but these worms take me back to younger days and give me a good feeling.

What rod pairs up well with the Tatula?