WBFishing

Happened to me last weekend at Guntersville, but I was an idiot in the first place. I didn't think I would get a hit on a 10 inch worm, so I didn't switch the 3/0 hook for a 5/0 when I tied on. I set the hook hard as I could--made no difference. Sickest feeling I have ever had to lose the biggest I have ever had hooked--just from being lazy and stupid.

My grandfather used to say the same thing and from what I saw it was true. It has kinda helped me keep my job too. If cows are up and eating--I can find an excuse to get off early. I just always hope they are standing up on tournament mornings, but it usually to early and dark to tell.

Fished an ABA at Guntersville today as a matter of fact. My partner gives me a Green Pumpkin Ole Monster to try. I tie it on with a 1/2 oz screw in weight, bumped it over something on bottom, and it got murdered. My partner feels me and hears me swing on this fish and grabs the net. It comes straight up from about 22', is so fat it only gets 1' out of the water, and slings the rig back at me. When I saw that fish jump, and that worm come flying back, I fell to my knees, with my head down staring at the deck for at least 2 minutes. That was the biggest fish I have ever had a hook in (or thought I had a hook in). That fish would have gone 8 easy, possibly 10. A few cast later, I had another one almost break my arm off, but it happened so fast I had no time to react. So I would suggest get you some of those and I suggest a 7' heavy rod, I was using a 6'6" medium heavy.

I like having others perspectives that fish as a non-boater. You are doing a lot better than I am. I am fishing the BWS, BFL, and ABA as a non for the year. I have been fairly consistent in all of them. LOL I have fished 3 BWS and zeroed in all of them, but only had 1 boater to catch a limit. I have fished 3 ABA's, zeroed 2, and 2 boaters caught fish. BFLs are my most consistent events, I have at least weighed 1 fish in every event-and that was my min goal starting out. I have fished 4 BFLs, fished in the top 50% twice, and bottom 50% twice. The last one I fished, my boater actually started picking up on a pattern I was working on the spots he was taking me too (he zeroed for the day). I am ready to start using my own boat thought. I didn't expect too much, just wanted a feel, learn what to expect, and just learn as much as I could to help me for 2008. I have had a few boaters that were "fish findingly challenged" and have had 1 actually admit that he could only find them unless someone put him on them. I can't blame my boaters for my problems though. My main problems have been just poor execution, ON MY PART. I have missed well over 20 fish in 10 tournaments. I have learned something in every event, from every guy. I just always think, if I can just get one in the boat, I can beat somebody.

I prefer to use the Gamakatsu round heads in 1/8 or 3/16 just because they are on a 3/0 hook. I have used others (Coosa Tackle, Arkie, and a couple more) and want to try those by Picasso. I just really like to have them on a 3/0 hook because any smaller hook and I have trouble with the worm wadding in the gap. I fish mine on both slack line in less than 10' of water and tight line in over 10'. I have also heard to fish them on a slack line, but if it works then why fix it.

Hey, thanks a lot for the help and direction.

90 Merc 75 hp

I just hooked up 2 500 gph to my boat. One was a replacement, and I added one under the floor to the existing hoses. I also hooked up a float switch so they would be automatic and I also hooked up a toggle, so they could be manual also--just incase I can't see the water or if it is raining and I want to leave them on. I used a marine sealant around the edges to fix them in place--had to use a brick to hold it down while the seal set. I would just clamp my hoses over the transom. The manual or automatic is how much shuffle you want to do to turn them on, or if you are positive you will know there is water coming in.

I am sitting in Alabama waiting for those showers to get over here. My hay bill for the horses is more than what I have been spending fishing. Also, I can't wait for the first hint of a storm here--I am scrambling to get my boat fixed and ready to go--cause I know the bite is gonna be FIERCE.

I have been working on my boat. I am trying to get the trim functioning, so I can get the thing in the water. It goes up but will not go down. When I got it from my father in law he stated it had a problem. I can do the basics, but am not a mechanical genius. I put fluid in and was actually trimming it up and down. Then I went to trim it down, 1 last tme to make sure it wasn't a fluke and it started to grind--almost if it was stuck or stalling. I pulled the top where the wiring harness is. It appears there are 4 magnets attached to springs that are attached to 4 wires. I am assumming that those magnets work in pairs to go up and go down. Well, 1 of them is broken--so what do you guys know and is there any help for me.

My second challenge was to cast and fish without ticking my boater. I know it irritates me when I take my wife out and she cast over my head. I am not into dodging lures, especially when they are coming from behind me, so I try to keep that in mind. I spent my first few events scared to cast for fear of ticking off the boater, so I only casted behind the boat or the width of the back deck. I just told myself one day, "Self, you have a right to fish the water". I learned to cast left handed to help with the problem. I pay attention to boat positioning more now also. I think the "imaginary line" shifts when the boat position changes. If the boat is parallel to the structure, then my casts will not go any further forward than the console, unless the boat as passed a specific structure and the boater is not fishing the opposite side. Unless, I am specifically told to throw up ahead---or he is retying and the boat is drifting. If the boat is perpendicular, then I think the line runs down the center of the boat. So I will cast to the front as long as I cast outside the width of the boat. I have not had any complaints with my theory so far. If I ever get one, then I will reevaluate it. I also try to keep a rod at the ready and be quick when we stop on a new spot, cause the boater has to get on the trolling motor. **last note (I hear this complaint from friends about their co's)-- When the boater says "let's get ready to roll" , get you line out of the water and start strapping up--no boaters want to wait for a co-angler**

I will do this in 2 replies to keep from making it long and drawn out. This is my first year of tournament fishing. I have been doing the BFL, BWS, and ABA as a non-boater and totally love it. I have really learned a lot and am looking foward to moving fishing as a boater next year. The first thing, and a hard thing for me as a non-boater was to figure out how much gear to take. Now,I take 5 baitcasters and I spinning set up, but I ask my boater at the pairing if I can bring 6 set ups, and if there will be room. I have them set up the way I like to fish them but in a way I know I have something to cover the entire water column, from top, shallow, mid, and deep. I have a carry tackle bag that holds 6 boxes-4 arranged in my bait preferences, 1 terminal, and 1 is for accessories (rod tip repair kit, lighter, spinnerbait blades, extra treble hooks, etc). I strap my raingear and plastics binder to the bag. I have enough room in the bag to stuff scissors, pliers, file, 2 extra spooled reels, culling clips, 2 filler line spools,and any food I want in the bag. It is not a large bag but I pack it tight. Always be efficient and prepared. I have had to actually repair a busted rod tip. I have also left my raingear before, because it was sunny and after getting to the spot we were fishing, the bottom falls out--with a 10% chance of rain for the day.

I love thowing spinnerbaits. I have some $1 that walmart has. I don't know their weight but I usually change the skirts and do some tweeking on them. I have 3 of the 1/4 oz culprits. I got 1 from a guy who uses Secret weapons to try out. I just bought a 1/2 oz Stanley Wedge Plus. I usually use a grub as a trailer. I have been running it through my mind to try a super fluke or just a regular fluke at some point. My favorite is a white Zoom Fat Albert.

I bought 2-5 packs of the lipless cranks on Ebay. I have given them a try and actually do not care for them all that much. I have to tune them constantly to keep them running true. The only reason I have not given them to my brother is because the only hit I have had on them was a 4lber that came unglued. I guess I do have a little faith in them or maybe it is because I don't have any other lipless cranks in my tackle. A positive is the hooks are really sharp, I just set like a wimp on that lost fish.

Check to see if your rod is loading up when you are casting it. If it is, in my opinion, you need to move to a stiffer rod. I had been having the same problems when I was casting horny toads on braid. I was using a medium power rod and using my wrist to cast. The line was going out 20 yards and just stopping. It was suggested to me, by a buddy, to move to a stiffer rod. So I moved to a medium heavy and have less problems(only when I rush to get it done). I also found it helpful to almost "sling the lure" with my arm and shoulder (overhead or roll cast) for longer cast instead of using my wrist. With the longer cast, I try to purposefully keep the rod as stiff as possible and guide the lure down to the target with my rod tip.

Green Pumpkin and Pearl Zoom Horny Toads Sand Zoom Finese Worms Pumpkin Zoom Trick Worms

This is my first year tournament fishing, my question is to see how you seasoned vets handle your divisions. If you are all but eliminated from "post season" fishing, do you finish out all your divisions or do you concentrate on the divisions that you still stand a chance in and chalked the others up until the next year. It seems like a quitters thing to do if I quit, but then I keep asking myself why keep paying entry fees and fishing in a circuit if I am not going to qualify for the championship. I am leaning towards just finishing the circuits that I have a shot at qualifyingfor the championship, or at least a chance to make the wild card event. I just want to see how you guys handle the situations, fish them out or just concentrate on coming back next year and winning the whole thing. Thanks, Will J

I live in the Birmingham Area. I fished an tournament out on Holt Lake this morning. No one has a fish to weight in. My partner and I were on a bar fishing for spots at 5:45, there were monster spots blowing shad out of the lake but we could not make them hit anything. We threw spooks, frogs, spinnerbaits, poppers, buzzbaits, could make them hit. So we move locations and everywhere this morning bass were killing shad but would not hit anything. Everything in the boat got wet. The only bites would could get was flipping grass, but they were not even keeper fish. At about 12:00, we run into some of the other guys and stop to talk for a minute, they have indentical stories. No one had a keeper fish and it was getting hotter and the bite was shut down, so we put them on the trailer. No one fishing the tournament had a keeper fish. And it is a bad day when you can't get bit on a shakyhead and you start throwing homemade spoons to try to get 1 12'er to actually get some points. I think this drought has all the water systems in the area messed up. When you figure out how to get on em let me know.

I like to throw my horny toads on 20lb braid with 5/0 EWG Gammie. I like to pop the frog in open water and use steady retrieve over grass. I try both techniques until I get a blow up, especially if I am positive there has to be a fish holding in that cover. The most effective thing I know to getting the hook set is like everyone is saying wait until you feel the fishes weight, then drill him.

When I was a kid, I would raid the cows drinking hole every spring because the frogs would lay eggs in there. I would get the tadpoles and the frogs that still had there little tadpole tails and fish with them. I used to get my little Zebco and cane pole worn out in that farm pond. Used to come home muddy and smelling like cow pies, but I always had the best time.

I agree. I started fishing tournaments this year and my gear was really REALLY low priced. I had 1 Quantum combo that was over $40 and that is the only one I caught fish with. Starting out fishing with cheap gear, when I upgraded mt gear just to medium priced stuff, I was as excited as all get out. I could actually feel, fight a fish and no drag slip, I could swing on fish with my spinning and didn't see bubbles anymore from the bass laughing at me. Maybe one day I can afford to spend over $50 on a combo, but with an 18 month old and a 1 month old, it will not be soon. If the $19 to $50 upgrade was that big of a difference, then I want to try just once $50 to $200 upgrade. I guess my summary is in my situation the difference in price led to a difference in quality. I like to think that is the case most times, unless they are selling you a high price piece of garabage to start with.

I have 1 of those, the snagproof original and 2 Spro Frogs, I have not had a bite of them but I like them. I started fishing Zoom Horny Toads,about 2 months ago, with a Gamakatsu 5/0 Offset EWG on 20 lb braid. Like he said in a previous post, feel the fish, then set hard on him/her. My hook up ratio is not stellar because I will get excited. 2 for 4 on grass mats and 0/2 open water--if this was baseball i would be a threat with my .333, but this ain't baseball...

I don't know if you have academy sporting goods in your area. I don't have a lot of extra cash either. I ususally go to academy when I have some money to blow. I got a nice Quatum combo that was 58 dollars. I also have 2 shakespeare agility combos that were $38, I love them. I actually looking at just buying the reel ($28) to stick on a Shimano Rod I have. I use those combos to tournament fish, so I trust them with my entry fee. I haven't cashed a check yet out of 5 events, but it has not been my equipments fault either.

I ususally say a prayer. Just a little thanks for getting me up to enjoy nature and something I love to do, hope to have a good day, saftey to all the competitors, and please get me back home to my wife and kids.

I use a 6'6" medium heavy rod. I am actually going to rig up another on a 7' medium. I use Zoom finese worms or Zoom trick worms. I use 8 lb Trilene Maxx for my 6'6" and will be likley setting up the 7' with 4 or 6 lb Vanish.