ejtaylor822

My Dad and "GrandDad". Have seen pictures of me fishing with them when I was proably 4 or 5 years old. Fished until early teens. They fished worms, minnows, corn, bread all on bobbers. Started again couple of years ago, but flyfishing. Neighbor got me started initially. Read some books and took a class at a local outdoor store here (Great Outdoor Provision Co.). Eddie

Good one!

I go through phases..... Start out very tactical - take note of the surrondings, cover, pattern, etc. Think about what they might be eating, or, wanting to eat and consider what the bottom might be - weeds, mud, sand, etc. I then select the lure I want to use - try to make an "educated guess" - guess that's the fly fishing part of me. But, if I don't get any strikes or hits after a "reasonable" amount of time I instantly turn into a big JUNKER. Start throwing everything in the tackle box at 'em until something works - plastics, cranks, stick, spinners, spoons - everything. If nothing is working at all I turn into the "product tester" and just start throwing my latest cool lures to see how they do and work on technique. Same is true for flyfishing. Try to notice what might be in the hatch, flying around, falling in, etc. and start with that. No luck after a little while and I am slinging whatever is in the box or on the vest. After that, I am working on technique and distance. As FiveBassLimit mentioned, I am definitely a "power fisherman" as I like to keep the bait/lures/flies moving. Not much of one to sit/stand and watch the water or things float. Bottom line, like others, I just LOVE to fish! Eddie

It makes some sense to me in the fact that the baitfish COULD be in the UV light. However, my PB and some other hawgs I have caught always seem to be around shady areas - mostly fish from the bank. Think the "white cup" was our Grandfathers' early attempt at the fish and depth finders we have today. Eddie

Hey, I catch 12" all the time on 6" Senko's and roboworms in our pond. I'm with Burley on this, size is not all that relevant as big baits catch all size of bass. I was using about a 6" crank recently and pulled in a 10" smallie. Totally amazed to see this thing going after something alomst 3/4 it's size. I called him Napolean. ;D Eddie

Sure sounds like it would be a pretty lake. If the water is that clear, probably be fun to fly fish it some too. Don't know how successful it would be, but, for me would be fun just to try to put a few big bugs and some wets near those reeds and see what would happen. Good luck and be sure to share how it goes when you get back out there. Eddie

How much cooler do you think it is? I can't imagine it being that "cool" in Florida - even if it is spring fed. If it is that cool, I would stay close to the edges and surface where its a little warmer - would try a buzz or surface/shallow crank bait with a fast retrieve. I would be throwing all kinds of jigs and plastics into and around the reeds where it looks like the hawgs might be hiding out. Would use a heavy line 15 to 20 lb; with a blue or green color to it around the reeds. Good luck. Eddie

I enjoy the ponds. Have a nice one behind the house that makes it very convenient. However, if I had a boat would probably enjoy that just as well. But, it sure is nice just fishing from the shore and not having to worry about trailering a boat. Enjoy going out on the lakes with friends' boats, but, can be quite a bit of work. Eddie

"On the fall" to me is when the lure hits the water and starts "falling" to the bottom. Most of my hits with Senko's and other plastics have been on the fall. Have gotten several on the retrieive, but, probably 3:1 are on the fall. Same with fly fishing. Most of my really good hits are right after presentation. It seems like to the uglier the presentation, the better the hit and fish - go figure??? Eddie

As much as the wife will let me ;D Seriously, we have a pond on the back of our land that I hit at least 3 or 4 times a week. Look to get on some of the larger lakes and rivers around here, but, just can't seem to find the time. The pond is awfully convenient with some nice bass in it. Eddie

Great post! I grew up fishing with Dad and Grandfathers. Grandfather and Grandmother managed a marina for several years where I caught a lot of fish starting around age 5 in 1970. Continued fishing until early to mid teens. Then other things caught my interest - girls, cars, girls, music and, oh yeah, I really liked the girls. The last time I remember going fishing was with my GrandDad on my 16th birthday. One tiny detail we both overlooked, at 16 I needed a permit. Game warden showed no mercy and gave me a citation - on my b-day. GrandDad tried to talk him out of it, but, he wouldn't hear of it. Funny thing, a few weeks later my Grandfather was at another hole and the same warden came by and asked GrandDad if he could jump his jeep - seems the warden left the lights on. No one else was on the river and he thought it would be better to help. So, he gave him a jump. As he was getting ready to leave GrandDad asked if he remembered him? The Warden said yes and sorry he gave me a ticket but was just doing his job. It didn't bother me, was a lot of money for a 16yr old at the time - $25, but, think it bothered my Grandfather more than me. He talked about that right up until he passed away. His memory started failing some the last few years, but, he never forgot that warden giving me a citation on my birthday. I miss my GrandDad. :'( Anyway..... Didn't fish a lick until little over a year ago. Now, hopelessly addicted. That is one thing I noticed when I started visiting this site: a lot of youngsters and teenagers that are regulars on this site and love to fish. The other thing I noticed is the caliber of these young people. Sure, there have been a few immature posts and comments, nothing overly serious. For the large part, and overwhelming majority, these young ones appear to be respectful, courteous and kind. They are also very serious about fishing and appear to be disciplined. I know a lot of adults that could learn some things from these kids. I think its great the young ones serious about fishing. They could be doing things that are a whole heckuva lot worse than fishing. Eddie

I agree. All of my hooks are de-barbed. I even de-barb the treble hooks. Takes some work, and I usually get a little stick but does make removal easier. Any missed strikes are mostly due to me and not the de-barb'd hook. Also, if you ever hook yourself, a de-barbed hook is much easier to remove and could possible avoid a trip to the ER. Especially fly-fishing - don't ask how I know that. Eddie

No bass champ nor expert here. But, have had good success with alternating between slow reeling along the bottom and lifting the pole to give a little vertical motion. Will also move the pole in various directions from right to left to center. (Do the same for non-C-rig as well). Good luck. Eddie

Bill Dance - educational and entertaining, can go to either extreme at times. Eddie

Very cool video. I like the strike at 2:30 as well, where the fish comes out of the dark right at the camera - very cool. Agree with the other post, gives a new perspective on how plastics look under water and how to work the retrieve. Eddie

Another short list: North Carolina Hope to have some luck in Tennessee this month or next and Georgia and SC this fall. Eddie

Right on, thatcher. Over the July 4 holiday I went down to our little pond around 6:30 AM. We are "in the country" so to speak, but, about 10 mins away from downtown - just pretty rural but changing fast. Anyway, that morning it was so peaceful - there was hardly any sound from traffic and a light breeze blowing the mist off the pond. All you could hear were the birds and others creatures stirring in the woods. It was like I stepped into an entirely different world and was trespassing. As I fished the edge of the pond, trying not to disturb the peace and tranquility, four deer walked out in the field across from me. I thanked God, the creator of all this, for allowing me to take it all in - was better than any session with a therapist or mind-numbing chemical - the fact that I bagged a PB from the pond that morning was a huge plus too! But, it's times like that one that I enjoy almost as much as landing that big hawg - would not have experienced what I did that morning, and other times, if not for fishing. Eddie

Chris Tomlin - cool 8-) Here ya go.... She wants to send him a letter, uh yeah yeah just to try to make herself feel better It said gimme, gimme a call sometime But she knows what that'll get her

Man! Sure am sorry you lost that one! Would love to have seen a picture of that one. Know it was a good fight and all, and was fun, but there is nothing like bringing 'em out of the water and holding one. Sorry you lost him. I have been flyfishing mostly for over the last year. I did have a big one break the surface last fall and take my fly. I wrestled him a while and he felt BIG. But, lost him. I de-barb my hooks, so, I guess that's the price you pay for ease of unhooking. I pulled a good sized one out of the water couple of weeks ago. He was hooked in the top of the upper mouth - through the lip. As I was reaching to grab him his lower jaw, he gave a big jerk/twitch and I thought for sure he was coming off. He gave a few more jerks, then as I was reaching for the bottom lip again, I noticed the hook was through the lower lip - guess he did come off, but, fortunately for me, I caught him again. Eddie