Wayne P.

You won't run the outboard long enough, if you are a bass fisherman, to get much benefit from the 9.9 alternator if your engine has one. I have a Tracker 170 with a 9.9 Merc 4-stroke electric start and it barely re-charges what the electronics use in a day's fishing. I use a deep cycle battery for it and for an electric motor when I fish electric only lakes. The 9.9 alternator won't damage your deep cycle as it is only a 6 amp.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1240594438/15#15 page 2 post by Fishing Rhino

30# braid for all topwater lures in open water. 65# braid in vegetation.

When I fish matted grass, I remove the legs and put a 1/16 oz worm weight in each leg hole and add a nose rattle for sound. I don't like inserting anything into the frog body that will reduce the compression of the body and limit hookups.

IMPY03, I'm guesssing that the lake was crowded Sat. with everybody trying to catch the spawners and had all the fish spooked. There were 3 vehicles at the North ramp and I was the 7th at the 701 ramp this morning. The very large bass were spooky but the smaller ones were aggressive.

I got permission to post that picture from the boy's father so now I'll put it here too. I talked to a Game Commission employee doing a creel survey today and he said that a 12-8 and a 13+ was weighed at Worsham's store last week.

To get to Ragged Mt. Lake, go just past the hiking trail parking and turn right before Camp Holiday Trails and go to the end. I caught a bunch at Chris Green Lake yesterday, but I took my boat this time.

The only "floating" worm I have seen that truly floats is the Rattlesnake brand. Danny Joe's Original "Floater" worms do not and it states on the package label that they do not actually float. The Rattlesnake worms won't float with a hook inserted but have the slowest fall rate of all the so called floating worms. I use them in surface vegetation Tx rigged with no weight. The red label Strike King 3X baits will float with a hook and work well on Carolina Rigs but are not available in the 7" or 8" worms.

I have 50+ rigs and some additional extra reels with different line types and strengths. Yesterday I carried 17 with me. I switch them as the seasonal patterns change.

PM sent

The Edge models have 5 speeds and are not as battery friendly as the variable speed motors like the Maxxum Variables or the Fortrex when run on less than the highest speed setting. On the highest speed setting, they are equal in amp usage. The Edge models are a few hundred dollars cheaper though.

I also recommend the Lowrance H2O. As you expand your fishing territory, you can add detailed lake mapping using Lowrance products or Navionics products.

Use a regular plastic worm, I would suggest Zoom. I have lots of 3X baits in the red label and purple label. I have pretty much given up on them except the red label lizzards for Carolina rigs.

It's the speedometer tube.

No, I won't post the picture on this site. The person may not what his image displayed world wide.

I have more reels because I will upgrade reels more than I will upgrade rods.

I'm still fishing there but the catching has been slow due to the cold periods that force the shallow fish out deeper. I've only caught around 50 total for the last 4 trips there. A kid caught a 27" long, 21" girth bass there this past Friday and sent me a picture of it. His father didn't have a scale to weigh it so they just did the measurements and released it.

Did you push the test button to get the lights to show, indicating the battery status?

Here is the Mann's Augertail worm: http://www.another site/tacklestore/showcase.cfm?PID=3898 I have an old pack of black grape with FS454 scent.

You must have the accessory battery status indicator. They are not part of the charging system. If the LED's on the charger are working properly, you have no problem with the charger. Check the connections of the indicator.

basser89, mine are jointed at the jig head so no re-tuning is necessary and the movable joint helps to keep the bass from throwing it.

If you have a Sam's Club near you, they have the Natural Gear Ultra Rain Suit that is the same material and about 1/2 price of the Frogg Toggs. They only have the jacket and regular pants, I didn't see any sets with bibs. I got a couple of sets for guests. With that material it is better to get a size larger to lessen the seam stress whether you get bibs or pants.

Another lake that has some large bass in it is Ragged Mt. Res. My largest caught there is 8-15 and I have seen several larger ones as the water is usually clear with 15'-20' visiblility. edited: I fished there from the shore for about 2 hours today while checking for beds and caught 8 bass. I only got about 1/2 way around the lake and quit as a thunder storm was approaching. I made it back to the vehicle just as the rain started. Not many beds yet.

The longer buzzbaits will stall in mid cast more than the shorter ones and give you the dreaded semi-professional over-run. I have some custom made long ones.

I catch the most from shore in the cove next to the beach below the volley ball court. Mid day seems the best time. A wacky rigged finesse worm is all I use there and is what I caught the 10-6 and a 9-0 on consecutive days just across the cove while fishing in a boat.