NorthwestBasser

Does anyone know why the bassmaster elite series tournaments are aired a month after they happen? I'm assuming because unlike most sporting events there could be alot of time between "action" and requires a bit of editing on the producers part to create a watchable program. Just wondering if there might a different reason.

But back to what you were talking about... do you know where someone would buy those fiberglass rods for making DIY stake outs? Id like to make one for my kayak but I have no clue what type of business sells those??

I've seen plenty of 6" and 4" pvc outriggers, were you maybe thinking he meant for use as stake out poles? Or did I misunderstand his question? Like this?

Head to a local tackle shop or contact a bass club in your area. I'm sure they will know someone who does that near you. I know alot of the guys in my club, including myself all use the same guy and we recommend him to any one in need of general maintenance or even extensive repair. The local guy is going to be less expensive than sending it off to some far away shop and you will be "spending locally".

I can stand up in my kayak and I've done it to urinate, but there no chance I would survive a hook set without ending up in the water! I stay seated. I can't seem to flip or pitch while sitting so I stick to my frogs, cranks and jerks, jigs and swimbaits, t-rigs and finesse. Drop shot always comes through for me when all else fails. I always have my phone with me, with location turned on. Trail mix and some beverages, sometimes of the adult variety, the paddle leash is a must. I have an anchor but usually leave it behind because when I need it the most (windy) it does the most damage. Nearly swamped myself once by putting it down on the wrong side of the yak and a rogue wave passed by, instead of floating up and over it the anchor did it's job and kept me pinned down, needless to say I was soaked. Three rods, one spinning two baitcasters. The humminbird fishin buddy is a good choice for electronics. Self contained batteries, clamps on to the hull, depth and temps, even the occasional fish bleep on the screen! Next I'm adding a thirty lbs thrust Minn kota!

I'll look into that! Thanks! I'm 35 yrs old now and I used to "borrow" this from my dad's old tackle box when I was a kid. I'm pretty sure he has had it longer than he's had me! Now that I think about it, I should probably call dear ol' dad and ask if he knows anything about it...

I believethis is an older Heddon midgit digit, but I haven't been able to find one that looks exactly like this one that is labeled with a manufacturer and lure name... are there any tackle experts on the forum?

Thanks for all the replies! Good info here all around. I picked up a rapala shadow rap shad deep in yellow perch to add to what I have, I want a couple vision 110's but I also don't want to lose a 26 dollar lure, haha... I hear one of the Rick clunn's is very comparable at about 7 bucks. Again, thanks for the replies!

My first tournament this year is coming up on March 18 here in eastern Washington state. We're hoping for open water by then but it may still be fairly cold to down right chilly! So I'm thinking jerkbaits and swim jigs will be the weapons of the day. So what's everyone's favorite cold water, prespawn jerkbaits to tie on?!

I like throwing a Strike King KVD dream shot, if they start eating those I size up to a nice fat senko in matching color, usually green pumpkin or watermelon, to entice the bigger fish to bite. As far as length from the weight, I'll change that depending on conditions. Colder water usually means I'll keep it closer to the bottom, also I'll try to keep it just above the veg if there is any in the area. Usually 16 to 18", sometimes as long as 24", I never go shorter than 12" though. If you have it at 6" and are casting it out, your bait is basically sitting on the bottom due to the angle of the line. Which kinda defeats the purpose of the dropshot entirely. Might as well be throwing a Texas rig or Carolina rig at that point. Just my opinion though

Can't say anything about that particular rain jacket, however it is my experience when kayak fishing in the rain, if you choose to wear the jacket then rain pants become a necessity. The jacket just seems to funnel all the water down and soaks your pants. So for me, if it's a light rain I just wear a hooded sweatshirt and deal with it. Heavier rains I wear the whole suit.

Outdoor companies, whether it be a retail giant like Cabelas or BPS, rod and reel manufacturing, firearm companies, large guide services, outdoor apparel... they all have payroll, taxes, debits and credits. Import and export of goods and supplies, services rendered. All of that equals money and numbers. They all need accountants or even a Chief Financial Officer. Trying to gain employment with one of these companies as an accountant may be the best of both worlds for you. You get to work with a great outdoor focused company while using your degree you spent so much time, money and effort earning. And you will probably get opportunities to enjoy some unforgettable outdoor experiences with or for that company too! If you really dont want to do the numbers game the rest of your life, there is always room on a factory boat in Alaska! Mmmm... fish heads!

@Baitmaker looks like the La Bamba I picked up this season. Catches bass, walleye, tiger muskie... I must say I like body shape of your design better than what I bought. You should have pursued it, if you had some sort of proof or documents showing you were first you may have had a shot! but honestly I know nothing of patents and law and business sooo...

I live in the Pacific northwest, so from the places you just listed and the relatively short driving distances, it sounds like you're in the Motherland! An hour from Tablerock? I wish. Toledo Bend and Guntersville? In my dreams!! I don't think you can make the wrong choice with those options, I'm sure if your wife enjoys fishing she is just gonna be happy you're taking her to one of these top shelf fisheries and spending quality time on the water with her.

I've been in your shoes, it can get frustrating! I just kept at it, tried everything, read as much as I could about different lures, presentations and patterns, cover and structure... and did exactly what you are doing, asked questions! I asked friends, I asked successful tournament fishermen, and I asked in forums like this one. it will pay off eventually. personally I have my best, practically only, luck throwing soft plastic finesse baits. either Texas rigged or on a drop shot (my best producer). I'd start there but some of the people who are about to start responding to this post will help you much more than I can. Good Luck!

I a little weary of adding a trailer hook to my hollowbodies, I'm throwing these into heavy matted veg and lilypads, isn't the point of the frog to be basically snag proof? I'm asking that honestly btw not being a smart a**

Fishing from a kayak, and I have had some awesome strikes on my topwater frogs, it is exhilarating!! just no hook ups, which I'm sure is my fault for probably trying to set the hook at impact instead of waiting a second, or the fish just completely missing my frog

Yes water around here is clear, I have friends who catch em in crankbaits, spinners and frogs like I do finesse fishing, just wanna feel that reaction bait strike. I'm just not sure if I'm doing something wrong or in the wrong place. I'm joining a local bass club this coming spring and it's a draw format where non boaters get paired up with a boat, I'm really hoping fishing the season with different guys and watching and learning will help a ton. who knows though.

I usually rig up a paddletail as my trailer, mostly throw a jig that is bluegill in color, we don't have shad here in the pacnorthwest, at least that I know of. Just perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed etc... I have cranks in a variety of sizes, colorways, swim depths... My problem may be I can only identify cover/sstructure at the shore. so laydowns and overhangs are easy to find but if I go off shore, I'm in a kayak with no electronics, I'm just fishing blindly. and don't get me wrong, I love fishing even when I don't catch fish, I'm just trying to expand my skill set. which right now consists of dropshots and t-rigs.

So I started bass fishing early summer this year. I always fished in my youth but lost interest through my twenties. 34 now and consider myself a beginner. I started going to a few different lakes that co-workers were catching fish on, I threw lots of crankbaits/squarbills and spinnerbaits to begin with and didn't get even a single strike. Swimjigs, nothing... hollowbody frogs earned me some awesome strikes and exciting blowups, but zero hookups. I tried everything. Then I learned how to dropshot and started catching some smaller largemouth, pound to pound and a half at most. after a few weeks of practice and patience the dropshot has paid huge dividends, I've now caught multiple quality fish, my best being just under 5lbs. which is a nice fish for my area, not a monster but something im personally proud of. Anyway, my issue is I REALLY WANT TO CATCH A FISH ON A CRANK BAIT or swimjig. any ideas why I can only seem to have any luck with soft plastics? I live and fish in Eastern Washington if that helps...