jdw174

Go to Cabela's home page and request one of their Marine catalogs.

I got a small sample pack of GULP the last time I renewed my BASS membership. I opened it up in the house...BIG mistake ;D , and promptly tossed it. The stench off that stuff is incredible! I'll stick to something a little less rancid, thank you

I much prefer half-ounce, double gold willow leaf blades. Color: white, white/chartreuse, blue/white/chartreuse, blue/chartreuse, depending on water clarity.

I'll second this one. Don't pay it no never mind and just go fish

Here's how I do it. I usually divide the water column into three sections. If the Lowrance shows fish in either the top or bottom third....they're a whole lot more catchable than if they're located in the middle section. I've been out on days when literally ALL of the fish seemed to be hanging in that miserable middle portion > . In that case, it's "Houston we have a problem" ;D , cuz those are a huge challenge to get to bite.

The first time it happened to me I was about 8 miles down the Lake Erie shore from the launch. It was the day before I was to leave on a fishing vacation to Tennessee . There wasn't another boat to be seen, and this was pre-cell phone days. I just happened to pull it about halfway loose when I stood up to take off my life jacket and never noticed it. I finally had the old lightbulb come on and pushed it back into place and away I went......a WHOLE lot wiser

Nice rig!!You've bought yourself quite possibly the best rough water ride available. My first bass boat was a Champion and at just 17'6" the ride was WAY above the 18' Ranger and 20' Triton that followed. I'd buy another if I were looking.

I'm no mechanic but there could be any number of things that wouldn't let your engine fire. The first thing I have to ask is: Did one of your kids accidentally pull your kill switch loose :-? . And this is just an opinion, but if you fished a day and your TM batteries were "dead", I suggest that you put a tester on your batteries and see if you have a bad cell or two. If not, then I'd check out your charger. One days fishing would certainly pull down your batteries somewhat but I wouldn't expect them to go dead.

I can't believe that WalMart only has one jig in stock I prefer a 1/2 oz for most of my jigging, although I have them in sizes from 1/4 to 3/4. As for trailers, you can add anything you like, from pork to plastic. I'm fond of the Uncle Josh Pro-Cut Frog or any of the craw-type plastics that are out there. If the body is too long, just remove part of it. I don't like the trailer to stick out too far behind the jig. I'll also trim the skirt to just behind the bend of the hook.

Regardless of sunny/cloudy conditions, the first lure I'm going to start with is a topwater on points/grassbeds/brush/blowdowns. If it's cloudy, chances are I'll stay with topwater a little longer than on a bright day. If it's one of those hot/sunny days like we've been having around here lately, once the sun starts pounding the water I'll switch to pitching a lure into the brush/blowdowns or perhaps go to a med. running crankbait. If there's a breeze I might go to a spinnerbait, trying various retrieves. There isn't really a set "routine" other than hitting topwater early on. I don't program myself to a script

The next time you go, leave everything alone EXCEPT a lure that you haven't learned. (If you find it too hard to leave other lures alone, leave everything else at home ) Fish nothing but that lure all day. Experiment with retrieves/depths (i.e. spinnerbaits/jigs). It's hard to do, especially if you're not catching fish right away, but you WILL learn new lures that way.

I can beat that......I can remember 15 CENTS a gallon

Well, I guess I do have a dog in this hunt. Got an Aurora cover thru Triton when I bought my boat. It doesn't leak and fits like a glove. That's my Aurora experience.

Word was the the newer ones (made overseas) weren't the equivalent of the original lures made in the states. I can't vouch for that since I haven't bought any new ones lately. However I have a few of the originals in the box and they are great lures. I'm fond of the 100 series. The FootLoose can be a killer around shallow cover.

Currently 2.86.9/gal here. 50 miles away it's 2.75.9. With oil futures above $70/barrel as of yesterday, I expect to see another hike soon. :'(

Along with the ice I suggest some additives to calm the fish and help replace the slime coat. "Catch 'n Release" is one brand. There are a couple of others out there.

Not sure how well it would "walk" with the two props. It looks a lot like the 1/2oz Devil's Horse that I use when there's a good chop on the water. Try giving it a hard rip. From the looks of the size of those two props, that thing ought to cause quite a commotion which is exactly what you want in choppy water.

I second the "Texposed" for that hook style. Personally, I like the Owner straight-shank wide gaps for most of my worming. A few other tips: 1. Watch your line closely. Most of the fish I got on worms this year came when I saw the line move sideways. Never even felt the bite at all. 2. If you feel the tap, cross his eyes and do it NOW. If you pull a "Roland" and give it the, "I've got a bite....he's got it....he's got it.....I'm reeling down....I'm gonna set the hook..." (and on and on ad nauseum), you'll either end up hauling nothing but water or else you could well gut-hook the fish. The tap-tap is the bass crushing the worm in it's mouth. Once it figures out it's not real, it will spit it right back out. Elapsed time for this is so quick you won't believe it

I'm not sure how much good planting anything on a large, barren flat bottom would actually do. If you can find some points or ledges and plant your brushpiles there I think you'd stand a much better chance of success.

The X-125 has the same pixel count but won't shoot quite as deep. However, at bass fishing depths......it don't matter.

Pop-R's, Spittin' Image, Zara Spook, just to name 3 more....

Bill Norman, Cotton Cordell, Bandit.....they're good lures that won't break the bank for just one.

Johnson Silver Minnow w/pork or plastic trailer. An oldie, but a goodie . Another great spoon is the Mepps Timber Doodle.

I drive a 2005 Tacoma w/V6 and pull a TR20 behind it. It's not a 4wd and I have no trouble whatsoever getting up a ramp at the end of the day. I do have electronic posi-traction that I can engage if I happen to slip, but it hasn't happened yet. 20mpg around town/back and forth to work.....24 on long trips. About 15-16 while towing. If you're using dirt ramps that can get muddied up or paved ramps that might ice up then I'd say go for the 4wd. My personal choice would be the V6 for the engine, however.

At my end, early in the day is best. During the week, around 4PM when I get home from work, it gets so bad I just wait until the next AM to log back in. I imagine the afternoon sees a lot of traffic here and the band width has a hard time keeping up.