South FLA

What are your primary objections about using an Alabama/Umbrella rig? Is it that it foul hooks fish? In recent outings (not really a reliable set for objective measurement) I fould hooked more bass with a lipless bait than an Alabama rig. In fact, I do not recall having even one foul hooked on my Alabama rig. Albiet, I used single hooked swimbaits. Secondly, I don't think it the intent of the fisherman using the lure or the design of the lure itself is to act as a meat hook as it comes through the water column. Is it that it is possilble to catch multiple fish at the same time? I have only caught 2 bass on it at the same time, but I am sure the possiblity exist to catch 4 or 5, but most times its one or if your lucky two. If they, B.A.S.S., implemented the only one fish rule its a moot point. Is it that gives the angler an unfair advantage? A voting member of the commitee said this: “It doesn’t matter how you work it,” said one of the anglers. “The fish can’t help themselves.” (Taken from Bassmaster website article http://www.bassmaste...nd-elite-series) Really, then explain this: I was fishing it two or three weeks ago with great success targeting schools using an Alabama rig, but there came a time when the bite switched to lip-less cranks and then to spinner-baits. Did the guy in the back of the boat have an unfair advantage over me throwing an Alabama rig when I was slaying them on a spinner-bait? Did I have an unfair advantage casting a spinner-bait when the lip-less crank pattern was working for my partner? Did Paul Elise have an unfair advantage when going into the G'ville tournament? If you watched the rest of the field they adapted quickly and leveled the field, but the advantage he created the first day was HUGE, so was it unfair, or was his wisdom and knowledge part of it? Therefore, in my opinion banning it is actually limiting a fisherman's tool box. It is up to the fisherman to create an unfair advantage against the rest of the field in a tournament by either targeting fish in a matter that gets them to bite or to hit a lure, if that means adding flash, using multiple lures to create a schooling effect, using dye on the tail, or even targeting a specific location etc. How about the fisherman that only has one hook on one lure and just uses spinners or hook-less lures as part of the rig? Is it that mortality rate is higher on fish that are caught on it? I have actually fouled hooked or damaged more fish using treble hooked lures than using the Alabama rig during multiple outings, so if the main concern of B.A.S.S. was to protect the fish then why not ban treble hook lures, or any other technological innovation that has lead to a higher bass mortality rate? Why not implement a rubberized landing net only rule, a no swinging fish rule, a circle hook only rule, the hypocrisy is apparent, is it not? I am not a tournament fisherman, nor do I really care that it is banned by BASS for its Elite and Classic field, but what I don't understand is the logic of only having the ban apply to the "Elite" or "Classic" tournaments due to, as is quoted in the article, "a higher standard." I just don't get the level of professionalism argument, since in most opens or higher level tournaments the fisherman either fish for a living or have dedicated more time to it than most of us do for our "real" jobs, they are already fishing at a higher standard. Nevertheless, BASS stands behind this statement according to the article published on the website "Our Classic and Elite tournaments simply have a higher standard for the sake of competition." Until you can come up with some objective argument is for a higher standard you are just operating on "feelings," but that is just my opinion.

Fishing and not catching, that is what its called!

If you can get Steve Daniels on the South or Angie Douthit or North end. They are both seasoned angler with years of Lake O experience and can put you on fish!

Smart move, also if he graduates he'll have a Norte Dame dimploma and not an LSU one, a HUGE plus! Smart man indeed.

How about using an Alabama rig with spinner blades on all but one of the rigs? Would that be banned?

The problem the ducks have LEARNED to avoid them, from personal experience I have had to turn off the mojo to attract ducks at times and they started coming in, at other times without them or movement in your spread you would ZERO, so even though at the beginning of the innovation it was as simple as 1,2,3 the ducks have adapted.

I am personally against the banning of the Alabama rig, it is a lure that has an application just as any otherl In specific situations, if you are in a tournament and recognize the ability of the lure to possibly catch more or better quality fish then why not use your situational expertise to catch more fish or better quality fish using the Alabama rig over another lure, if you watched the FLW tournament on T.V. you saw plenty of anglers that stated that the Alabama rig caught the better quality fish out of the school when compared to another lure such as a lipless crankbait or jerk bait, some angler adjusted and some did not. The same arguement applies to a double fluke rig. If the committe wanted to ban multiple catches per lure, than how about applying a rule where the angler gets to pick only one fish to keep if a multiple hook-up occurs, that would a more logical approach? To me it is not simply a matter of holding professional to a "higher standard," but limiting the approach a professional can take.

NFC Giants at 49ers I am picking the Giants, although I will be pulling for the 49ers, since I despise any New York team. The New York defense did a great job against the Pack Attack, and with a Manning at the helm they will be a tough to stop. Nevertheless, I think if the 49ers can have Gore, Crabtree, and Davis firing on all cylinders like they have been in the playoffs we will have an exciting game on our hands. I am hoping traveling West for the New Yorkers will throw their timing off just enough to faulter, but Giants win this 20 to 13 over the sleeper 49ers! AFC Ravens at Patriots This is another matchup where I am picking another miserable team to win, since the only sports fan/team I despise more than New York is BOSTON. Although the Raven D is oppressive, Flacco is floundering and even if Brady has an off night I can't see the Ravens putting up enough offensive numbers with Flacco to outscore the Pats. I hope that the weak Pat D gives Flacco and company enough comfort in the pocket to score some points and that their defense can pressure Brady enough to make him make bad decisions, but in the end I am going to have to say the Pats will be on the field February 5th. Patriots 24 Ravens 17 I hope that I am wrong since I would love to see the Ravens and 49ers in the Superbowl so all of New York and Boston fans/teams can be miserable this winter, but sadly it won't happen. Superbowl XLVI Brady takes Eli's fire away and wins it BIG with William Stephen Belchick's legacy and EGO only getting bigger. Patriots 31 Giants 17

That's a good one!

The 400 MPH Plane is even cooler if you click next.

Just get a Ranger Z522 with a new Yamaha SHO and be done with it.

Jacks aren't in the surf yet? One of my best trips ever was right after the New Year while in college surf fishing for jacks off the Breakers Hotel, talk about FUN!

I was out yesterday from 11:30 to 3:00 and did alright, fish were still scattered on outside weed edged in staging mode. Fished hard though to find them, had to cover water, but was able to find the spot within the spot and managed to catch 20-25 total up to 3 1/2lbs fishing with Dwight. Today would be great, but the wind is going to do a number on the outside.

Went out fishing today and right at the end of the day the variable speed knob on my Minn Kota Maxxum stopped working. The thrust is about 70%, but regardless of knob adjustment it stays at that speed. Has anyone had this happen or know of the solution? Thanks in advance! IT IS THE CONTROL BOARD.

Enjoy your Florida trip, hope you catch a HAWG

That deal on Citicas is SMOKING HOT, Garder has them for $89 and that is still a good deal since it equivalent to the new Curados!

I am glad they found the animal that killed Jimmy and HOPE that justice will be served so the family can have some peace.

I http://www.dc.state.fl.us/oth/deathrow/

Went out yesteday afternoon, let's just say the early bird doesn't get the worm , and heading back to weigh-in is a major dissadvantage. !Stroked them! Fishing should be ON these next couple of days, water was 62.3 to 64.3 depending on areas, and NO they are not on beds where I am at, still staging.

He actually had a GREAT game, unlike his other games, against a GREAT defense. If he can keep this up he may have a shot........ the road to Superbowl is through New England and possibly Baltimore after that, he is the second coming of ......you know who! I would be a great storyline if the Tebow makes it to the Superbowl and his last pass of the game is a "Hail Mary" to win it, that would give Jon Stewart something to think about.

I'll answer for him since most likely he is at the Tiki Bar in a sweater pounding some beers and watching football.

What a horrible tragedy! Sad indeed.

Nothing like a whole pork Cuban style to ring in the New Year!

I like all other than the Steelers, Tampa, Vikings, and Bears. Really like the Dolphin uniform. Change is good!

So how hard are you going to play now? I suggest you pay the bait monkey a visit and spend some of that hard earned money!