volzfan59

Love the boat and especially the hat! GO VOLS!

We still get the Outdoor Channel on our basic cable package. Their fishing coverage is sub par however. They're mostly a hunting channel and that's fine if you hunt, I don't. Not against hunting at all, I'm just not going to kill an animal that I'm not going to eat. Years ago when we had satellite, we got WFN (World Fishing Network). I liked it a lot. Not sure if it's even a thing anymore?

This is exactly the reason, the area sporting commission's don't want to pay the fees. The last few times the B.A.S.S. Opens tried it out west they couldn't fill the field. Yes, I realize that the Opens are not the Elites.

#1 Ga vs #2 TN (tied with OH St). GO VOLS!!!

Well, our drought in southern Arkansas may be over soon. It's raining like pouring pee out of a boot today! Supposed to rain pour the biggest part of the day. Downside, chance of severe weather too.

I love old books, especially fishing books. Actually own a pretty nice fishing book library and you're right, I refer back to some books often.

I still read every issue of Bassmaater cover to cover. I read all of Bass Times with the exception of the stuff in the back. I could care less about the goodies that they give away.

All I use is Bass Pro Shops, Platinum Series graphite rods, Crankin' Stick crankbait rods. Both with Platinum Series reels. I also use BPS Patriot Series spinning rods with Shimano reels. I've tried them all and those rods and reels work best for me. I do own a St Croix panfish rod that I like a lot for panfish and trout. Shimano spinning reel on it too. Edit; I am in no way saying that my rod and reel picks are the best for everyone, they aren't. They are the best for me, my budget and fishing style. I've owned Loomis, St Croix, Shimano and other highet end rods and they are great, high quality, sensitive rods. I just like the others better. I'm very much a "to each his own" kind of guy. Once you find your budget, go to different mom and pop tackle shops, go to a BPS, heck go to Walmart and find what feels best for you. Take your reel with you and stick it on the various rods to see how it all feels together.

If you're on a tight budget, a Berkeley Lightening Rod is hard to beat for the money. I used them for years before upgrading.

B.A.S.S. (Bassmaaters magazine) has always had double month issues for October/November. I want to say that there another double month issue too, but I'm not sure when it is. I think the sister publication, B.A.S.S. Times is a twelve month subscription. You'd think that I would know, I've been subscribing to both since the late 80's. You are correct, some issues do seem a little thin. I've let go of Bass Angler and as soon as my In-Fisherman sub runs out I won't be renewing. I don't see me ever dropping B.A.S.S. Like @WRB said, you would need to check the membership numbers to know if it was on the decline.

Personally, even though I do a ton of mail order business with BPS, I love a mom and pop tackle shop. When I was living at home, I supported all the Knoxville, TN area shops and the Kodak, TN BPS. Now that I live in southern Arkansas, the closest mom and pop tackle shops are a minimum of 45 miles away. The one I like best is a 60 mile drive. When I'm in Monroe, LA or El Dorado, AR I always stop by the shops and will pick up a few things but I usually order from BPS or Academy.

We used to take kids from a group home fishing. These kids were adjudicated to the care of the TN Department of Children's Service. They were low level criminals, but not to the point of being sent to reform schools. We were pretty much bream fishing, some times wading for trout. Any way, it was always so much fun to see some foul mouthed inner-city thug catch their first fish, usually a little bluegill and revert to a little excited kid. Most were scared of worms and crickets.

I agree with @KP Duty. I used to work p/t for BPS in the fishing dept. This was prior to the reintroduction of the Extreme b/c reels. BPS has a one year, no questions asked warranty on all house brand products. Take it back and swap it or upgrade to a Pro Qualifier. The new, reintroduced Extreme b/c reels are not as good as the old reels.

As a rule, I despise all car dealerships and salespeople. That said, my step-daughter was recently involved in a head on collision (not her fault). It totaled her less than a year old Honda CR-V. Plus side, the other guys insurance paid market, which was $15k over what she paid new. She wanted a new Ford Bronco. All of the dealerships around here had a $5k markup above MSRP. Thankfully she was smart enough to walk. One little Ford dealer in little Smackover, AR sells new cars w/o the add on and I have to say, it was a pleasurable experience. Just down home country folk. Told her to take it, drive it and come back with her down payment when she got it. I don't finance anything, but when we're ready for a new ride I know where we're going.

We're in a pretty bad drought down here too. I'm in south Arkansas.

If he was actually convicted of a crime, I would agree 100%. He's not even been charged with anything to my knowledge. Before retiring from my law enforcement career, I've helped investigate plenty of people that it turned out really didn't do anything illegal at all. You do realize that even the F.B.I. don't always get it right don't you? We'll have to see what comes of the investigation. Any way, I bought my "My Pillows" long before any of that. They work well for me.

While I do agree Mike is a little over the top, I'm much more concerned about my comfort than someone's politics.

I use the sweep set most of the time.

@TOXIC, I'm told that we have gator's in some of our south Arkansas lakes and rivers. Haven't seen one since I've lived down here. I a gator or cotton mouth board my boat, I'll probably give it to them!

If I'm remembering correctly, back in the Bass Fishing Homepage days, there were a few pros on there. I realize that Bass Resource is a lot more heavily moderated (rightfully so I might add) and it wouldn't happen here, but they were all pretty much ran off.

Gator climbing in the back of the boat normal? Holy smokes!!!

Vent windows and crotch coolers. You know, the little side vents on the kick plate by the pedals on the driver's side, just on the kick plate on the passenger side. I've had several old Chevy and Ford pickups that had them. Middle of the summer in the south, no A/C, no big deal. Roll the windows down, open the vent windows as far as possible and open the crotch coolers. The breeze shot straight up your legs!

First, this is not a knock on Norris Craft boats at all. Back in the mid 90's I fished a draw tournament as a non-boater. The guy that I went out with owned a pretty rough looking Norris Craft with a Mercury 225 on it. We chatted prior to blast off about a little bit of everything including boat storage. I kept my Champion in the garage, he said that he kept his rig outside, uncovered. Said that he did it that way for years and I was just taking up space with mine in the garage. Cool, whatever. We blasted off, I could feel the floorboard buckling/moving under my feet. Sinched down the pfd even tighter and started praying. For the rest of the day every time we hit a wake, the floorboard moved. It all ended well, but I was pretty scared. I don't know if storing his rig uncovered in the elements caused that or not All I know is that to this day I still keep my boat in a garage or covered up in the carport.

I love my wife, my boys, stepdaughter's and grandkids. I love my children in law. I have one extremely close friend, more like a brother. I love him, he loves me and we end each conversation, email and text with I love you.

Laugh if you will, but I bought a "My Pillow" due to back and neck pain. Works well for me. I had never purchased anything off of an ad like that before, and to be honest I didn't expect much. I would gladly buy another one.