SPEEDBEAD.

^ That's a nice thought, but I don't believe life can always work out that way. Just because you "do" something for 5 years, doesn't guarantee you are going to become proficient at it. There is a reason that many start-up businesses fail and I don't think it's due to a lack of passion. I'm a big guy. I like to cook and eat. I've been preparing my own meals for 15 years yet no one will ever confuse my food for a Battali dish.

Don't judge a book by its cover. My depth is rooted in facial hair.

LOL, thanks man. I have my moments of clarity. I also have many moments that are the complete opposite.

Don't really have to say anything. Good luck in your recovery. True grit. :salute: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/15/20980647-grown-men-began-to-weep-wounded-soldier-awakens-in-hospital-to-make-salute-seen-around-the-world?lite

And Brian, I agree with your first statement. I don't imagine that the legitimate people were the ones participating with this.

No offense, but I put a bit more time into this topic than just my trips to a store. Don't let the beard fool you. I agree that there are improvements that can be made to any system, assistance programs especially. All we can constructively do is continue to address the problems and unfortunately, HOPE, that someone at a higher pay grade makes the changes. While BR has a ton of members, anyone who has the ability is not coming on here to seek out ideas for welfare reform. Blowing off steam about an upsetting situation is understandable. I get hot under the collar. I want my complaints to be heard. Complaining to the people on a bass forum merely amounts to "biching" (yes, I know it's not spelled correctly LOL) and while it may feel good to get it off your chest, does nothing really for furthering any real change.

Nope, better than I ever could have planned. Happy, healthy family, food on the table, shoes on my feet and a few big bass in the livewell on occasion.

I agree with this being a deplorable situation. What I don't really like is all the misconceptions being tossed around about people receiving food stamp benefits. In keeping with "calling a spade a spade," many of you dont know a thing about people receiving assistance. The "welfare stereotype" is a thing of the past, TRUST ME. You will always have the women with multiple fatherless children who can't seem to stay vertical long enough to get a job. But what you dont see is the MAJORITY of the people receiving the assistance HAVE JOBS. They pay taxes. They just simply don't make enough to completely feed their families or themselves. Sure, some of the folks would probably benefit from a money management class or ten but I dont know that it warrants dusting off the pillory. Should the people who offended and stole this food be punished? Absolutely. Should this be a reflection of the folks legitimately using the benefits they are eligible for? Absolutely not. I've talked about this very topic with quite a few people on this forum. I believe I have the personal experience to discuss this topic.

Don't feel bad. I'm having a rough go of it lately. Keep on 'em. You already did the hard part in finding the fish.

PSU-Altoona campus has a bunch. Wife was shooting wedding pics there this weekend and they were running around. Very cool indeed.

Sitting here right now with the aches and pains of lifting/playing football for over 10 years, personally I still got more out of the organized team sport aspect than I had to give. Would I like to have shoulders and knees that don't hurt in the morning? Sure. Would I like to forget all the, ahem, benefits that came from a starting position on both high school and college football teams? No sir. I dont think I have to worry about my daughter playing football but when the time comes, if that is something she seems interested in, then I feel I would owe it to her to have an open discussion about whatever sport/activity she wanted to participate with. I'm glad my mom didnt automatically shut down my interest in football. I feel my daughter deserves the same consideration.

Had to...

Just for a little positive feedback (admittedly rare from me), it seems you put some effort into writing this up. You seem excited when talking about your club too. Put that energy into becoming the best you can be and also helping your club be the best it can be. Like David said, you've got plenty o' time.

Trust me, you should be able to feel something with the Extreme/braid combo. There is either nothing there to feel or it's you.

<----Taking notes. Thanks for taking the time to explain in such detail.

Are you sure you are hitting something that you can feel? If you are dragging it through weeds or through a muck bottom, you might not feel anything until you get bit. Just a thought.

Good to see another PA guy around. Welcome.

Start keeping some bass (legal length and creel limit). Find someone who will eat them or fix them up for yourself. It's gonna take some time but if you've fished it as many times as you say and you are asking us if there are big fish, then you have neither seen nor caught any there to confirm it. That would lead me to believe that you've got a stunted population for sure. There might not be anything of size in there yet but it's possible with some work.

Whoa! I gotta stop with the catnip then. Absolutely no recollection....

I use a snap on baits I intend on "working" If fishing like a jig or a straight retrieve, I tie direct.

Not sure if he went back home yet but a member named "Deep" did VERY well in NoVA throwing swimbaits. Just keep throwing them around likely ambush spots. They'll get bit.

^ LOL, you really went there? <------claps hands three times and screams "Goodnight Irene!!!"

Fixed that for ya J.

In my hands

Caught my PB during the "super moon" this year.