jdw174

This from another site: Western pro Rich Tauber sat down with another site at the recent ICAST trade show to discuss a new boat company that was formed July 1. Phoenix Boats is based out of Tullahoma, Tenn. and features a list of talent including former Stratos and Champion names Gary Clouse, Hank Baker and Teresa Johnson, plus boat designer Greg Strahm. Rich Tauber is a national sales representative. "We purchased Bumble Bee Boats, their 40,000-sq.ft. facility, along with their molds and remaining parts inventory," Tauber said. "A new line of boats will be available on September 15, 2007 and will be called the Bee Line Boats. This line will be our entry-level boat with a price point around $30,000. The first line of Phoenix boats will be produced and available in March of 2008 and will be our custom high-performance boat." Phoenix Boat Company is a privately owned company. "They want to keep it that way," Tauber noted. "We want to produce a quality product with a family atmosphere." An "entry level" boat with a price point at 30K?? Don't sound too "entry" level to me. I wonder what the newer "Phoenix" will cost?

Don't know why not. I'd opt for something a bit larger than a small wet fly though. Perhaps a larger streamer-type. That would emulate a minnow chasing the relatively small Pop-R.

The last couple of years I'd have to say that I've gone to fishing a lot more crankbaits, particularly shallow runners. While I haven't quit fishing spinnerbaits, the shallow cranks are getting tossed more and more into places where I used to use the spinners, with very good success. 8-)

There's a difference between a snap-swivel and a plain old snap. The first actually has a swivel as part of the rig, the second does not. That said, I ALWAYS use a plain snap on all my CB's.

The Frenzy CB's are a great bargain at retail. At the price you're looking at......it's a STEAL!

For fishing around grass/weeds, a Mepp's Timber Doodle, hands down.

Wild Grape in stained water. For clearer water, watermelon/red flake.

Well, I'm gonna catch flack for this one, but I'd have to say $15 and up crankbaits. Don't own one and never will. (That's my story and I'm stickin' to it )

You didn't give a size, only that it is SMALL. IMO, a small body of water that is choked by vegetation (from your description that's the way it sounds), may also be overloaded with small bass. After all, there's only so much food to go around. The heavy grass makes it easier for smaller fish to hide from the larger predators. If no one is removing any fish from the pond it could well be overpopulated, hence the small size. Not saying there isn't a big one or two in there, but I doubt there's a bunch of them. Your lure selection is right on. Keep at it.

For hardbaits, Duolock snaps. For all else, it's direct tie.

Chartreuse/black back

Try them as jig trailers....

Mr. Hannon has surely caught a lot more bass than I have, but I have to say that around here there are snakes galore. That includes watersnakes up the ying-yang, and my personal riparian favorite, the cottonmouth : . I've fished on days when these "no shoulder" critters were all over the water, but I've NEVER seen a fish come up and hit one. Not saying they don't, just never seen it. Therefore, why buy a lure that looks like one? A big ribbontail worm should be just as good, IMO.

Trim the skirts, fan the weedguard (sometimes). The fanning helps especially if you're tossing into a blowdown.

This is part of fishing.....it happens to EVERYONE.

Even though I voted for SM (having fished Lake Erie for years I'm prejudiced ), I'm surprised no one has pitched a vote for spotted bass. They can be a rip snorter Another scrapper is the shellcracker. On light tackle they're dynamite. For another education, try bluegill on fly fishing tackle.

If you want a good, sensitive rod that won't break the bank, check out the Team Daiwa Light and Tough series. About $120 for most of them through catalogs/internet.

I'm very fond of the Uncle Josh Pro Cut Frog.

Back some years ago, a friend and I used to make our own "tourist worms" by using 7" Fliptail worms. Using three #6 Eagle Claw hooks and heavy mono for the harness we would take a large sewing needle and using a snelling wrap would place the three hooks into the body of the worm. We tied directly to the loop we put on the end of the rig. We caught the snot out of LM with that rig Today, the closest I get to pre-rigged worms would be the "Plow Jockey". Using a large swivel at the end of my line (not a snap swivel), I take the loop on the end of the rig and pass it through the tie on the other end of the swivel, then thread the worm back thru the loop and pull it snug. The large swivel acts as a weight, albeit a light one, that will let the worm sink at a slow rate. Works like a charm.

If you're getting strikes but no hookups, I'd use the same lure, but change color/retrieve for starters.

Since you don't have the owner's manual, check with your local dealer and find out what the recommended water pressure is for your specific motor at idle and full throttle. If it's not giving you the proper readings, have the water pump and/or gauge checked out. You need it!

1. watch your line. 2. WATCH YOUR LINE! 3. Did I mention WATCH YOUR LINE??? Many times you'll never even feel the strike, but you will see your line move off to the side. When this happens....SET THE HOOK!! If you feel a solid THUMP...........SET THE HOOK!! If you feel TAP TAP TAP.......SET THE HOOK....that will be the bass trying to crush it in it's mouth. If you bother to "go on point", reel down, and then set the hook, chances are you'll haul water or air and not much else.

Once you get it running for the day, the bulb should stay pumped up. I would start by replacing the primer bulb. If that doesn't work, there may be a small leak in the fuel pump diaphragm.

I've watched smallmouth come zooming up out of 30' of clear water to smash a Zara Spook or a spinnerbait with a LARGE willowleaf waked on top. If you have it happen once, I guarantee you'll wanna go back for seconds

I've sold several rods on EBay. Never had a problem. Make sure when you ship that you package them right. I used PVC pipe and padded the inside with newspaper at both ends, as well as wrapping the rod itself. I glued the cap on one end of the pipe and fastened the other with duct tape (liberally applied). At that time, shipping via UPS was around $12 per rod, not including the cost of the PVC.