king fisher

I know a kid that can out fish me many days, and all he has for gear is a soda bottle for a rod, reel and a home made lure made from a toothbrush. It's not the gear it is the fisherman. He also has time to fish every day and has endless patience. Two things I don't have. I am not going to give up my bait caster, or stop being friends with the Bait Monkey. I haven't tried to make my own lures from a tooth brush or start saving empty soda bottles. I have spent time watching his retrieve, and where he fishes. I pay attention to where in the water column he is fishing, how fast, his retrieve is and what time of day he takes a break. My point is you may not want to limit yourself to outdated tackle, but you should try and learn all you can from your friend. A good fisherman can catch fish on practically anything, but having good gear can make catching fish more enjoyable. A good fisherman's knowledge is worth more than all the tackle you can buy. Your own experience is even more priceless. Learn what you can from your friend, and experiment on your own. Observe everything you can on the water and read everything you can while you are at home. Also having a Rapala, and Mepps spinner in your box can keep the skunk away on almost any body of water any time of year.

Yes, and I hope it is me.

I broke a three piece Diawa travel rod tip. !00% my fault( not really it was the snags fault). I called Diawa to buy a new tip piece. They wouldn't sell me one. The man on the phone insisted I send the broken rod to Diawa and they would sell me a new rod for a discounted price. The hassle of sending a rod back and waiting for another one from Mexico wasn't worth the effort. I simply bought another brand new Diawa travel rod. Now I have a three piece rod that is a four piece rod in a tube just taking up space in my house. What a waste. Sure would have been better if they had simply sold me the piece I needed.

If legal to fish with two baits Keep the hooks on the front deep diving crank bait. Attach it to the main line with a sliding dropper, or three way swivel, make the dropper line 4 to 6 inches. Attach a floating Rapala to a four foot leader and troll. I have had good luck with a Rapala but you can substitute the Rapala with many different baits, only limited by your imagination. Many times you will double with fish on both baits. A heavy sinker as the dropper works well too. If they kick you off than I guess I'm gone too

If I gut hook a fish, so deep I don't think I will be able to remove the hook without injuring the fish, or if the fish is bleeding badly, I eat the fish. If I were fishing a place where it is illegal to release the fish, I would try my best to remove the hook, or cut the line depending on the situation. wound and release does not help the fish population. It doesn't hurt to keep a bass now and then, and they taste great.

Does he have a boat? Does he take co workers fishing in his boat? If the answer is yes, than give him the crankbaits for free.

I was randomly watching bass fishing videos. Imagine my surprise after a couple minuets of watching this video I recognized the lake. It is my favorite lake, and is only about a mile long. The lake has been discovered since this video was made, and the fishing is not as good, as it once was, but big ones are still there. I lost a monster there recently. The bass were illegally planted in this lake, so no idea where the original stock came from. The commercial fisherman have been trying to eradicate the bass, but thankfully haven't succeeded yet. I'm glad I got to fish it during its peak. I'm positive there are more undiscovered lakes like this in Mexico. I'm hoping to find one before videos like this are made. Not sure where to post this, I just thought members might like to see some big bass caught on buzz baits.

I went bass fishing for the first time in a month, at my favorite big bass lake near Tepic. I ended the day with 8 small bass and one 4.5 pounds. I didn't catch any big bass due to poor angling skill. The rainy season started early this year, and when I got to the lake the visibility was less than a foot. The water was still low, making it tough to decide where to go. In the past when the lake is high and dirty, the bass move in to the flooded pasture flats. Meaning bomber casts with buzz baits and frogs to cover lots of flooded grass. When the water is low, with better vis. I find them on humps drop offs, and suspended in off shore trees. After trying a variety of locations and techniques I found the bass tight to the many barbed wire fence lines that are submerged, or partially submerged depending on water depth. I have found this pattern before at this water level, but always with clearer water with larger strike zones further from the fence. I dread fishing the fence lines for many reasons, including barb wire shreds any kind of line. ( Bait Monkey loves fences), When I do fish the fences, I usually am able to catch bass with buzz baits, spinnerbaits, or square bills fished parallel to the fence line passing close by many posts with one cast. With the moving baits, I have more of a chance keeping the bass out of the fence once hooked, and if they do get tangled it is usually in the top wire giving me a fighting chance. Yesterday the bass wanted nothing to do with moving baits. I found they would bite a weightless 7 inch Senko on the fall or immediately after hitting the bottom, tight to fence posts in 4 to 5 feet of water. I was proud of myself for finding this specific pattern for getting big bites, but I failed to land the bigger bass. If I fished parallel to the fence line I got less bites, and the bass quickly tangled me in the bottom wire. Casting perpendicular to the fence at each individual post worked best, but I still lost all my big bass in the wire. The problem was they wouldn't hit the Senko, unless it fell straight down within a couple inches of the post. I would cast well past a post and reel the bait on the surface until it was on my side of the wire, and give it slack to fall straight down next to the post watching the line to detect any strikes. I tried faster sinking T rigs, witch would have allowed for a vertical presentation with a tight line, but only got bites with a slow weightless fall. The problem was the strikes were quick and aggressive. The bass instantly would grab the bait and move to the other side of the fence wrapping the line on their way. By the time I set the hook and felt the bass I was tangled in the wire. I lost 3 big bass that I didn't even fight long enough to see. If I didn't give the bait slack and kept the line tight in order to instantly move the bass away from the fence, I didn't get bit. Finally I got a bite from a bass that was easily over 10 pounds and could have been in the teens. The giant grabbed the Senko the second it hit bottom, ran away from the fence to open water, and jumped. My rod was almost jerked out of my hands do to my lack of concentration. After it jumped it slammed my rod tip down to the water and was gone. When I reeled in the worm, I saw the hook was still skin hooked. It hadn't even penetrated the worm. It was then realized I hadn't even attempted to set the hook. I was so surprised, I just held on for the ride. I let the bass of a lifetime play me instead of me playing the bass. After crying and throwing a temper tantrum I switched to wacky rigging my bait, and I landed a 4.5 pounder, plus a couple smaller bass but still lost a couple more in the wire. This is the second giant bass I have lost this year due to not paying attention. When the strikes are few and far between, I have the tendency to day dream. I need to learn to concentrate 100% of the time if I am going to fish for trophy bass. Like my little league coach used to always say. If you are going to play the game, you need to always pay attention, even if you are in right field. I should have listened to my coach he was a wise man.

Glad to hear your fishing gear is ok. Did the Bait Monkey come along?

I was guiding king salmon on a river in Alaska. Fishing was on fire and I was side drifting though one of the most popular holes. A guest hooked a 42 pound king when we landed it, the fish was tangled up with some line attached to a fishing rod. I got the king off the hook and handed the client the rod. I told them they should keep both the rod and fish. The guest started to reel in the line on the rod then realized there was still a fish hooked to the line. They reeled in a 30 pound king. The rod was a G Loomis, and the reel looked to be an almost new Ambasador 6500. It didn't look like the rod had been in the water very long, and the king that was on the line still had lots of fight. One of the boats still fishing that hole most likely lost the outfit. Not a bad catch, two kings rod reel combo, and a pre Rapala Magnum Wiggle Wart.

I have ran Jet boats of different sizes, and hull designs professionally on rivers for over 30 years. I prefer flat bottom jon boats for smaller rivers with tight turns. I also prefer to steer the motor with a tiller handle on the motor over a steering system. Tunnel hulls with steering wheels are fine for most rivers, but it is best to be able to slide the back end of the boat around tight corners if you intend to use the boat in the smallest water. I'm not saying you can't run the most technical water with a tunnel, you can and I have, just saying flat bottom is better for small water with sharp turns. A flat bottom jon boat with the motor installed correctly will go in less than 3 inches of water. The quick instant response of tiller operation will significantly help in maneuvering in very tight places. Tunnel hulls turn similar to a prop, which can be a plus for control, but makes it harder to slide the boat for quick turns or if you have to do a emergency 180 when a another boat is met in tight place head on. V hull, or semi V hulls can limit shallow water performance depending on the individual hull. The stern must be flat, or tunneled in order to get the best shallow water performance. If you have to drive through lots of weeds, a jet is not for you. If you are not comfortable driving in shallow water on step than a jet is not for you. Jets only go through shallow water while on plane. At, sub plane speeds they need as much water as a prop. Larger heavier boats with more power need more speed to plane, and require more boating skill to run in shallow water. If you do not like buying gas, a jet is not for you. All things being equal, a jet will go through much more fuel than a prop. Some manufacturers currently rate the power of a jet at the pump, and others sill rate them at the motor. You need plenty of power to get a jet on step quickly. Unless you have to travel a long ways, overall speed once on step is usually not an issue. You need deep water to get on plane and if you are in a tight place a low power motor will not get you on plane quickly before getting to the the shallow water. If you reach the shallow water while still trying to get on plane, you will come to a quick stop and could damage your engine and or stern of the boat. Extra weight such as live wells, etc.. can also make getting on step a longer process. If you are going to fish larger rivers, smaller rivers, without ridicules' tight turns, don't load you boat to heavy, and don't need the ultimate in shallow small water performance, the boat you are looking at with a 40 horse power rated at the pump would be fine. It will safely get you to places you never dreamed of going with a prop. If the motor isn't rated at the pump, than you will be severely under powered, with a 40 horse, and you might not be able to get on plane with much of a load.

Only one way to find out, besides you can't have to many rods.

Way to much, but somehow not enough. 1-Anchor, 2-Fish finder, and battery 3-flash light 4-whistle, flare, flag, and first aid kit 5-sunscreen 6-insect repellent 7-Anchor 8-scale 9-marker buoys 10-Fish grippers 11-Camera 12-phone 13-pliers 14-split ring pliers 15-knife 16-scissors 17-TP 18-lure retriever 19-lunch 20-Water and soft drinks 21-4 rod and reel combos 22-spare reel, and line 23-Tackle is way to much to list, so I will simply say the Bait Monkey is a passenger at all times, but some how I only have one of the hot lure for the day. 24-One sore back from loading and unloading everything.

I always use a swivel with inline spinners. The swivel does not hinder the lure in any way, and does help with line twist. The reason Mepps spinners don't come with a swivel is the same reason why jigs don't come with a trailer. No need to when people can add their own. I add a barrel swivel to every inline spinner I make. Spinners may not twist other peoples line, but they sure have twisted, my clients and my line many times.

I have a Coastal SV as well as A Coastal 200. I prefer both of them over my Tat Ct. As others have stated, the Coastal SV is not a distance caster. I can bomb casts with the Coastal 200 but that might be because of the rod, and size of lures I use with it. Both reels get used on a regular basis in salt water, and are like new condition after 3 years of use. I just saw this post, and all ready the bait monkey has climbed on my back screaming Coastal 80. He has been screaming in my ear for over a year about the new Zillion and I have been able to resist. I fear I may cave on this new Coastal. Has anyone used the Zillion in Salt Water? Any opinions on durability in Salt compared to a Coastal?

I'm not sure, but my guess is Green Pumpkin is what caused motor oil to become extinct, while at the same time Black Grape evolved in to Junebug. I'm sure Motor oil works as well now as it did when green pumpkin was a pumpkin that wasn't ripe, and watermelon was something you ate on the 4th of July.

Tackle Warehouse lists 120 different Senko colors, but doesn't offer Junebug in the 7 inch size. Last I heard Junebug was one of the most popular color for all soft plastics nation wide. They have 120 colors, but don't offer one of the most popular colors in all the sizes? I'm down to my last pack, I guess I will have to try one of the other 120 colors.

Blue fox Vibrax # 1-5 with #3 my favorite, Mepps Aglia #1-5 On days the French blades don't work try a Panther Martin they get down deeper, and have a unique vibration. Any color of body or blades work. I prefer gold blades, but have caught bass on sliver or colored blades too.

No, and I don't buy jeans with holes already in them either.

There was a time when the Bait Monkey only lived in Magazines and the Bass Pro Catalogue. He was small but just as strong as he is now. Then he found the internet and multiplied. Now he is everywhere. His whole family hangs out at UTube sites such as Tactical Bass'n. AJ is not the Monkey, but looking at some of his tackle porn he posts on this site, I'm positive the Monkey lives in his garage. The Monkey lived at my house for years, until I got married and my wife kicked him to the streets. It was a sad day when my long time friend limped out of the house with a bloody nose. Now he only comes in my house at Christmas, and my birthday. He hasn't given up. Every once in awhile he knocks on the door when my wife's car is gone, and tells me a member on this site highly recommends I try some expensive swimbaits. I simply tell him I saw the post, but have to pay some bills. I also tell him he will get more than a bloody nose if my wife catches him showing me pictures of DD bass caught on any bait costing more than 10 dollars. He still hangs out across the street and I meet up with him once in awhile for a beer.

Yes, because the Hobie Mirage drive, is a superior propulsion system.

There is a reason the Hobie Outback is the most popular pedal kayak in the world, and it isn't because they are inexpensive. They are stable enough to stand in or launch in surf, or fish offshore with. The Mirage drive is simple, efficient, small, light, powerful, and fast. The only down side is you do have to pull a cord to go from forward to reverse and back. Being able to simply pedal backwards is a huge advantage the propeller pedal drives have. Now that I am used to my Mirage drive, I will never own another pedal drive system. The Outback is heavy, but is also loaded with accessories.

Fishing was slow, but I was able to find a couple King Salmon for a client on the Togiak river.

As a general rule, the owner of a business should not be tipped, and employees should be tipped according to the quality of service they provided. As with anything to do with fishing, you can not go by general rules. One problem is many guides are the owner and only employee. They should only be stiffed completely if the service was sup par. a small tip if service was average, and the sky is the limit if the service was exceptional. You should tip for the service, not simply by the size and numbers of fish caught. A lazy guide can have a lucky day and catch you fish, but a good guide will never give up if fishing is slow and give you extra time on the water if that what it takes to get fish in the boat. You should learn something from a good guide, and feel like you would want to fish with them again, regardless of size and number of fish caught. If you feel like you would not want to fish with them again, then they did not do their job. They should be able to provide exceptional service for any factor they have complete control over, such as lunch, drinks, safety ,boat handling, teaching ability, and general comfort. The factors they can't control like making the fish, bite they should demonstrate exceptional knowledge, skill and do their very best. All the outfitters, I have worked for both hunting and fishing would give any tips they got to their staff. If the owner is the only employee, than they probably depend on tips to keep in business, and you should tip something unless they did not live up to the service they promised when you booked the trip, were rude, didn't try their hardest to get you fish, or you simply did not enjoy your day. Tipping is a very personal matter, and no one but the fisherman can determine what they should tip. I have had clients that tipped almost nothing for unbelievable days in the field, or on the water. I look forward to taking these anglers out year after year regardless of how much they tip. I have had others, that tipped far more than I expected, but I would dread having to ever take them fishing again. Remember guides usually guide for the love of the sport, and hope to some how make a living. For every great guide, there is a great client, and for every poor guide their is a poor client. I have always tried to be a great guide, and if you want to be a great client, a big tip may help, but being a fun person to spend a day on the water with is more important. A good guide will know the fishery like the back of his hand, not be intimidated by sub par weather, or water conditions, and be be able to adjust to any skill level of angler. They will be an excellent teacher, and a fun person to spend a day on the water with. If he or she does all that, then a generous tip is a great way to show your appreciation. What you think is generous is personal, and will vary from anger to angler. If your guide works for a lodge or outfitter, the owner should be able to give you an idea, of what they consider and average tip. Please never ask the guide how much to tip. It makes for a very awkward moment, and most guides will simply say whatever you want and you haven't found anything out anyway. Also, guides can always use and appreciate any gear from lures to waders, and most wont turn down a beer at the end of the day.

Anything with pictures. I like to read, but sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Especially a picture of a giant bass or a well stocked tackle box.