skillet

Good Luck my friend ! I know you don't think so now, but looking back, being that nervous is 1/2 the fun... As Ever, Skillet

Matt 5.0, I'm within a year or two of your Dad, and know I can't speak for him. If I ever get a fishing partner that I'm that close with and I was in your Dad's place, especially if a son or daughter. I would probably enjoy the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth fishing story (yea, right ;D) every once in a while. Fishing stories should be like river stories and the only difference between a fairy tale and a river story is one starts out "once upon a time" and the other starts out "this ain't no s**t"... As Ever, Skillet

Same here, but I never know if it's the site, having dial-up, AOL, age of my computer, amount of traffic or all of the above :'(. Actually, I always figured it was like Burley said about the numbers. Always glad when it is working just semi-OK As Ever, Skillet

Sorry, I didn't notice it was your first post. WELCOME to the Forum.. As Ever, Skillet

I mainly fish ponds and small lakes and the best ones have a ratio of bass to bluegill (don't know what it is and may not be important here). If either side of the ratio gets very far off, the lake or pond goes downhill rapidly. IMHO 1 or 2 people that keep their catch can wipe out a pound in less than a season. Maybe not fish it "dry" but the ratio is so far off it won't survive :'(. Keeping this in mind if the pond you are taking from is really healthy it shouldn't hurt. Have you talked to your Uncle about this? It really doesn't matter what you or I think if it's different from what he thinks . Don't know if it did, but I hope my rambling helped some... As Ever, Skillet

WELCOME to the Forum! I was a lurker for such a long time, it's embarassing. More enjoyable when you jump in with all 4 feet... As Ever, Skillet

Good answers already, just wanted to say WELCOME to the Forum. Wanted to say start out simple with a couple of baits and learn to the point of being comfortable before going on to something else... As Ever, Skillet

I fish mostly ponds and small lakes (pretty skinny water) and I think drop-shotting is for deeper water, and that is when most folks go to spinning gear. IMHO a quick answer to your question would be, the lighter the bait the more likely your going to go with spinning (below 1/4 oz.). That has to be tempered with the idea of where you're fixin' to put that bait. If I'm throwing a jig and trailer or creature bait into a downed tree and it doesn't look like there is any way to get it back out (which is where I think those baits are best) I'm going to go to the bait caster. On the other hand, fishing a small floating Rapala along a pretty open bank I'll use spinning. I'm pretty new to using spinning gear for bass myself. That's kind of a black or white answer to your question (has to be colored by personel preference) hope it helps... As Ever, Skillet

WELCOME to the Forum! Glad you decided to join... As Ever, Skillet

WELCOME to the Forum! IMHO the best and friendliest one you'll find... As Ever, Skillet

Haven't yet, but SURE hopeing and looking forward to it ;D!!! As Ever, Skillet

I've used nail polish on spinner baits when I wanted to change color to something you can't buy (the normal most popular colors are probably better than the ones I've come up with though :'(). They are really pretty ;D. I've asked a couple of friends of my wife and the ladies behind the counter and they say that Revlon Extra Life Clear Top Coat is the best. Actually, that matte pumkin sounds like a great color for jigs. You could pair it with brown, orange or a combo colored trailer As Ever, Skillet

Didn't think about this until I hit post. Don't really know enough about the subject to say yea or nay on cutting it for spray. Thinners come in different degrees of how "hot" it is. Laquer thinner is a lot "hotter" than paint thinner. Unless someone can say different, I would think you would need to use laquer thinner for laquer based products.. As Ever, Skillet

Like Munkin said it reacts badly with some other paints. I first wanted to use the clear to go over wooden baits that the finish had cracked or come off due to use. I got some Revlon Extra Life clear and seems to work great (not the smoothest finish I've ever done). I'm not set up to do a complete refinish job (no boos and hisses from the guys that really to do it) and don't really want to. The only problem with the nail polish was the look :-? the lady behind the counter gave me when I asked her about the clear she would use that would take the most abuse... As Ever, Skillet

There are only 2 things to worry about. Either you are well or you are sick. If you are well, then there's nothing to worry about. If you are sick, there are 2 things to worry about. Either you get well or you die. If you get well, there is nothing to worry about. If you die, there are only 2 things to worry about. Either you will go to heaven or hell. If you go to heaven there is nothing to worry about. If you go to hell, you'll be so da**mned busy shaking hands with all your friends, you won't have time to worry! HAPPY ST> PATTY'S DAY As Ever, Skillet

Might be the first to say WELCOME to the Forum! I know they had to draw lines somewhere (they put Tenn. and Fla. in the same area). Fishing probably couldn't more different... As Ever, Skillet

c312, My son-in-law is in the military and they changed the pattern on their camo. fatigues. They are supposed to be a lot lighter and cooler than when I was in the Army (didn't even have camo. then, all OD Green ;D). We're driving down in April (2nd grandson) and I'm going to try and pick some shirts up for that very purpose. Great minds think alike 8-) As Ever, Skillet

Thanks for the Geography lesson. Minn. being in the northern part of the U.S. I'm located in Tenn. much farther south with a lot milder winters. Very rarely do we get hard water ;D. Hope to hear from you again my friend... As Ever, Skillet

I imagine that an awful lot of folks can say that if only you go back far enough. Doubt anyone uses this term anymore, but my grandmother always said her side of the family went back to what was called "Black Irish". Lift one for me and here's an Irish toast to use: May those who love us, love us. Those that don't love us,may the Good Lord turn their ankle, so we'll know them by their limping! As Ever, Skillet

Didn't realize you had to deal with those kinds of situations working for them. Can't offer much in the way of help with ideas either. I'll just have to say that I sure hope everything comes out for the best and like roadwarrior says "roll with it"... As Ever, Skillet

Not much of an art critic but WELCOME to the Forum... As Ever, Skillet

I have always pretty much been a bank beater in small ponds and lakes and almost always have a great time. Don't get me wrong, have loved every chance I've had to fish from a boat. I think you've been grabing the afore mentioned wrong rocket to much if you say otherwise :. The fish haven't seen every lure in the world swim past. BTW You folks that do fish from the bank (you might have already realized this), I was catching fish so close in that I started stopping short of the edge and pitching or flipping to where I was going. You might get surprised if you do some creeping As Ever, Skillet

"Old and in the way" We could get one of those bumper stickers for the stern of ol' stump jumper that says "I may be slow but I'm ahead of you" ;D Not meaning to make light of the situation. A really good friend who also likes to fish is only slightly easier to find than a really good woman. I think I've got one of the best but she don't fish :'( As Ever, Skillet

I have just got to be fishing in the wrong water :'(! IMHO I think they are a little large myself. The puppy has split rings on them and the action is pretty much the same. I have never caught a fish of any size on a puppy but with light gear I have had everything from 5 or 6 inches up to maybe a little larger than a pound raise Cain ;D As Ever, Skillet

The Bait Monkey is not going to be pleased with you As Ever, Skillet