Cephkiller

Oh yeah. The best solution is what Redtail said. I got caught up in trying to explain the fancy little technique and forgot the most obvious solution to your problem.

I think the quality and the numbers are skill, just different skills. Generally, one targets numbers or quality, but not both at the same time.

I saw Clunn talk about this on a fishing program recently. He was fishing a 50 yard stretch of bank in the '84 Classic. The first 2 days he killed them with a Bomber crankbait. The third day, he couldn't get a bite. Just as he was about to leave the area, he decided to throw a Shad Rap. He caught the heaviest stringer of the tournament that day and went on to win. Slimmer profile, no rattles, but still a crankbait.

I don't know if this the tip to which you are referring, but I read it somewhere. Reach up through the gill on the side closest to the hook point. Grab the line with your finger and pull it down. This should turn the hook around and allow you to remove it. If not, cut the line and hope for the best.

I really think it is all a big self-promotion ploy, but it sure works! I can't say I would be above such tactics if it brought me the exposure and all the dollars that entails. I don't like all the antics on a personal level, but I understand the business savvy behind them. BTW, let's have an informal poll. Was Ike's self-DQ at the last BMC intentional or not? It sure got him a lot of exposure in an event in which he had virtually no chance of finishing well.

Thanks for the tips. I already have it zip tied, but the tubing might help protect it. I guess it's hard to explain if you haven't seen it. I think it is a design oversight. When you stow the motor, you have to slide the shaft all the way up through the mount and twist the motor sideways to stow it. When you do this, the cable slides through the point where the mount pivots and it gets pinched. I realise the cable ties are necessary to secure the cable while the motor is in the water, but they really increase the problem when stowing because they keep the cable close to the shaft where it interferes with the mount. Anyway, thanks again for the suggestions.

Glenn, I know you know this, but I didn't want there to be any confusion. The spotted bass is NOT a hybrid of a largemouth and a smallmouth. However, many of their characteristics are intermediate between largemouths and smallmouths. They are a distinct species, though.

I have good luck fishing a deep crank in the warmer months, but this winter pattern fishing is tough! I've read all the articles on this site and many others about jigging, spoons, etc., but I just haven't had any luck since December, except for a power plant lake and that doesn't count. If you don't have a sonar unit, you can use a deep crank or a C-rig to feel your way around the bottom, though. That works pretty well when I'm fishing smaller lakes in a john boat without sonar.

How old is this site? I've been visiting since Feb and I really enjoy it. Thanks, Glenn.

I've never had the priviledge of actually seeing a big one hit. It must have been quite a rush! Congratulations!

I took my 8 yr old to a power plant lake last Sunday. I bet I cast 400-450 times and threw everything I had at them without even a bite. When we had about 30 minutes to go, he finally decided to throw a homemade crankbait I carved out of a piece of 2x4. He "custom" painted it with flourescent polka dots. He only cast 10-15 times all day. Well, he caught one. It only went about 2lbs, but it was a fish. The guard at the check out gate said it was only the 5th bass caught that day out of approximately 40-50 boats. He really let me have it about that ;D I would probably have been mad if it hadn't been my boy. No, I definitely would have been mad ;D

Wow! My Wal-Mart never clearances any fishing stuff you would actually want

Improve jig presentation (i.e pitching skills).

Raul, I was not rying to be insulting. I know huge bass are caught in Mexico. I just meant the odds that the record would come from one state are pretty long considering all the huge bass being caught elsewhere, as well.

I just purchased a Minn Kota 50 PD and I installed a transducer on it. When I deploy/stow the motor, I have to pull the transducer cable out to the side to prevent it from getting caught in the bracket. This is very annoying-not to mention that I have already dinged the cable insulation a few times. I never considered this problem when I bought it or I would probably have went with a cable steer motor. With a traditional cable steer mount, the motor shaft can remain at the same relative depth to the mount when you stow/deploy. With the PD, however, the motor shaft has to slide up/down through the mount every time. Any suggestions? BTW, I didn't buy a universal sonar model because I wanted to have the temp sensor.

Now that's a great PR scheme! The amount of tourist revenue a gimmick like that will generate will far exceed $1,000,000. Never mind the fact that the odds against it happening are so great.

Many of the lakes I fish are elctric motor only. This would be useful info when buying an electric for your primary means of propulsion.

Just make sure the signs are really made of aluminum or you will have a big time corrosion problem where the signs touch your boat. I thought they were made of galvanized steel. If they are aluminum, that is a terrific idea.

Don't you find it odd that the manufacturers (Minn Kota and Motorguide) won't give this info on their website? How hard could it be? They are very evasive about this.

*BUMP*

Well, alright then! That's good news.

I think it depends on the fish. I have seen the same fish caught up to 3 times in the same day (I know this from unique markings or scars, etc.). If I were preparing for a tournament, however, I would not take the chance. I have never seen multiple bites from a big fish. I suspect the larger the fish, the longer the recovery period. Most tournament fisherman will prefish for a tournament with the hooks bent over or they will simply not set the hook and "shake the fish off". That is certainly your best bet. Good luck.

Wow! Thanks for your enthusiasm : First of all, it's not a good idea to come in here and tell us how great you are when you are a new to the board. Secondly, it doesn't matter what happened 25 years ago. A body of water can only be judged by it's recent history. Bass water, like any ecosystem, is constantly changing and the conditions that produced the large fish in the past may no longer be present. Thirdly, the difference between your situation and southern CA should be obvious. CA has a much longer warm season and the near-record fish being caught there are FL strain which grow larger faster and are more reluctant to bite so they will live longer. If you need any more advice, just ask!!!! ;D

I think people are speculating that the endorsements, appearance fees, etc. would be worth over $1,000,000. No one is just going to hand out a $1,000,000 prize to the angler.

You know, I may be cheap, but I decked my boat with 5/8' exterior grade plywood and cheap plastic outdoor carpeting. That was 6+ years ago and it was even stored outside without a cover for 2 of those years (in Indiana). It is still solid!