VAbacklash

Double DITTO for everything Sam wrote! Nearly thirty some years ago, that map book was my best friend. It and the fact that the buoys are numbered saved me from a lonely night on the lake. Allow yourself plenty of daylight to get back into the landing.

Google "traction tape" and you will find a number of sources for it in different widths.

I agree with Way2slow. I used that on my older trailer and it is great for traction. It's not that expensive and can be cut to fit most anywhere.

Thanks everybody for the help. Fished my club tournament yesterday and the Booyah Boogee chatterbait impressed me and put six good keeper bass in the livewell. Amazing! The bite shutdown after a couple of hours, but boy it was a blast while it was on. I didn't win, but at least my slump is over!

Mann's Hardworm has to be number one on my list. These things were hard plastic worms with a jointed tail section and had a small diving lip like a jerk bait. I had about a half dozen of these things and I couldn't catch a cold with either one of them. My tackle box was stolen and I was scared to death that the thief would bring those things back.

Chatterbaits must be the topic of the day, so here I go. I've got a small club tournament this weekend and need some tips on the proper use of a chatterbait. I'll be fishing a fairly clear lake with lots of weeds and grass out to about ten feet deep. I have several of the 3/8 ounce chatterbaits and expect to have a few of the 1/2 ounce Booyah version on the way. Any advice will be appreciated.

I guess I'm "old school" if there is such a thing where Carolina rig fishing is concerned. I use an Abu Garcia 5500 C3 reel spooled with clear/blue 17 pound test Stren mono and 6 & 1/2 ft. Shimano heavy action trigger handle rod. I use coated wire leader, that I make myself, that has glass beads, brass bullet sinker and noise maker. To this I attach a 14lb. leader about three feet long with swivels and with a 3/0 or 4/0 Owner offset worm hook. Wally World has a wire sinker rig similar to what I make that is called a"Clacker" that would work just as well. The are many variations as to how and what rig you need to fish Carolina rig style. Some times we fishermen tend to make things more complicated than they need be. I consider the way I rig my stuff to be pretty basic and simple. My point is: try the basics first and then refine it to your likeings. That way you wont have a ton of money tied up into something that doesn't work for you.

Burley, what machine shop makes those 25/0 hooks? Can't find'em in my area !!

Bubba, I can only tell you what works for me. I prefer 3/0 or 4/0 Owner hooks, depending on the thickness of my bait. I plan on trying Gammy wide gaps this year on certain plastics such as Senkos, which I have never used that much before. Maybe some of the other guys and gals here can give you better insight on what to use. Good fishing!

I suggest that you follow the advice you have been given by other members and see what kind of reponse you get. Probably money, or lack of, was the deciding factor in the dam not being repaired when the damage occured. Communities have to set priorties for fund expeditures. If the response is negative, form a citizens group to mount a drive in favor of the repairs. You have to show that there are many people in favor of spending the taxpayers money for what may not be considered essential for the good of the community. If all else fails, start a matching fund drive. Approach the city or town officials with an offer that they match any funds that your citizens group can collect. You got to remember that this also is about politics. Try to get as many leaders of the community to support the cause.

If you had added that you caught it on a Zebco 33, how much would that endorsement have paid? :-/

I guess I should say that this was my strangest day fishing: Caught a 15 pound Carp on a crankbait, then caught a 3 feet long water snake on the same bait, then to finish off the day, I got into a school of bass and boated over thirty in about 45 minutes. Problem was, not a single one of the bass was legal size. They were all within 1/4 inch of being the same length. Fun anyway, except for the snake!

Welcome! Jump on in and get your feet wet!

I second all the advice preceeding this post. All are on the money. I would add that if you can master jig or Texas rigged plastic worm fishing, you will be ahead of the game. Both require patience and full attention to your your lure. When you hook your first fish with either of the two, you will feel that you did it all on your own. Best of luck !!

I'm gonna try senko77's tip and go with the #1's. I think he had suggested this to someone else before and I was looking to replace mine.