roadwarrior

You know I spend most of my time during the spring and summer fishing for stripper. If there are just the two of us (me and my partner) we generally catch 10-15 apiece, ranging from about 8 lbs to 30 lbs, with an average either side of 12 lbs. In addition we will each catch a few catfish and drum, maybe another 50-75 lbs of "fish". In the fall and winter when we're on the hunt for the World Record Smallmouth we tend to catch bigger catfish and drum, often over 20 lbs. We also catch (huge) buffalo, striper, sauger, crappie, largemouth, white bass and spots. On a "fair" day, we each probably catch 15- 20 lbs of smallmouth bass and 100+ lbs of "other" fish. On our very best day (January 8, 2005) I caught eight footballs over 5 lbs, something either side of 50 lbs. The two fish in my avatar (January 15, 2005) were a combined weight of just over 15 lbs. Sometimes the numbers get outlandish. On one very cold January day my partner landed a 43lb blue catfish on a G.Loomis Bronzeback rod (light) and #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid. We were NOT fishing for catfish!

2007-12-19 00:06 (New York) Review by Paul Goguen Dec. 19 (Bloomberg) -- I got hooked on tequila about 10 years ago when a friend served me a blissful cocktail mixed with Rose's Lime Juice. It's been a love affair ever since. Though tequila was first produced in Mexico in the 16th century, it wasn't imported by the U.S. until the late 1800s. By 1973, U.S. tequila sales topped 1 million cases. Last year, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., almost 11 million cases were sold. Tequila is made from blue agave, a succulent with spiky leaves. There are now four types of 100 percent agave tequila: Silver, Reposado, Anejo and Super Anejo. Silver isn't aged, while the others are stored in oak barrels for periods ranging from two months to three years. Silver generally tastes light and smooth. The other three have more complex flavors, derived from the oak barrels in which they're stored. All contain about 40 percent alcohol. Many brands of tequila, including Cuervo Gold and Sauza, are made from a blend of agave and grain alcohol instead of pure agave. I prefer the real thing. I recently visited three Manhattan restaurants to sample their tequila selections. All prices listed are for a standard shot, though precise amounts may vary depending on the generosity of your bartender. Rosa Mexicano Rosa Mexicano, a Lincoln Center eatery featuring a giant fountain adorned with figurines of divers, offers a wide variety ranging from $14 to $100 per shot. My favorites: Patron (Reposado): Tastes good straight up or with Rose's. Best bet for a first-timer. $16. Don Julio (Anejo): Terrific body with a strong oak flavor. $17. Gran Patron Platinum (Silver): Silky smooth with a very clean finish and a hint of vanilla. $40. Gran Patron Burdeos (Super Anejo): This double-distilled, ultra-premium is finished in hand-selected Bordeaux barrels. $100. The next stop on my journey -- not on the same night, by the way -- was Dos Caminos at Park Avenue and 27th Street. It's a modern place where a sophisticated crowd sips margaritas and downs shots from a vast tequila selection. My picks: Siete Leguas (Silver): Smoky flavor with an oak and spice finish. $13. Don Julio 1942 (Anejo): Went down smooth with a strong finish of oak, vanilla and lime rind. $14. Casa Noble (Super Anejo): Nice blend of butterscotch and vanilla, with a hint of smoke. $29. La Esquina Finally, there's super-trendy La Esquina on Kenmare Street in Soho, which offers more than 100 brands of tequila. You enter through a taco stand, walk downstairs and pass through the kitchen en route to the restaurant and giant bar. Try these: Diago Santa (Reposado): A wise recommendation from the bartender. Rich butterscotch and vanilla, with a clean finish, made this the best value of any tequila I tried. $12. Patron (Anejo): Smooth, with a light-oak flavor and scent of vanilla. Makes a terrific margarita. $15. Cabo Wabo (Anejo): This brand is owned by former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar. The butterscotch and vanilla flavors go down smoothly, unlike a Van Halen reunion. $17. Once the booze of choice for young party animals, tequila is coming of age. Still, I'm reminded of the old college chant: One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor! Five tequila, six tequila, seven tequila, morgue! (Paul Goguen is a radio producer for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.) --Editors: Rick Warner, Jeremy Gerard.

Good luck!

Welcome aboard! This thread is currently running a few lines down. I think it addresses your question: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1197931907

Welcome back! I am glad you are home safely.

Welcome aboard!

My business is very competative. Fishing is a hobby, my favorite hobby. I fished one, two day club tournament and didn't like anything about it, but I gave it a shot. I would rather spend all my leisure time focused on catching the biggest bass (or striper, catfish, brown trout, etc.) rather than beating the bank chasing little bitty bass. I'm certainly no Fish Chris, but like him, I am after one prize. Seriously, if I never catch another 3 lb anything, that would be fine by me. Go big or go home. Another aspect which is important to me is the "catching". I really like to "fish", but I like catching more. While tournament fishermen dream of weighing a 30 lb bag, most days on the river my partner and I catch 100+ lbs, sometimes 200+. For me, that's more fun. Of course, I'd rather catch just one, 12 lb smallmouth, but we all have our dreams! 8-)

Welcome aboard! January and February are not the best times for crappie. Hire a guide or at least talk with them and they will know when prime crappie time is in your area. As a rule of thumb or an old wives' tale, when the dogwoods bloom it's prime time!

Good choice! 8-)

No. For the most part, it doesn't produce anything. If you give it a try, bring along plenty of beer, smokes and sandwiches. Cast out, put your rod in a rod holder and turn up the music.

No, wait until spring. If you haven't been catching bass, you're not going to start now. Let's think about where you fish and how you fish; changes you should make and target the things you should be looking for in a couple of months. When nicer weather rolls around, then you will take a different approach and do much better. BTW, There are plenty of bass around Jacksonville and some of them are HUGE!

Give them a call, you'll have a table this evening: Reservation for four, please. Miss Hilton, Paris Hilton. Private room. 7:30? That will be fine, sir. We look forward to seeing you, again.

How does that work when you're watching Dallas vs. Green Bay? :

I guess this all comes back to "Yankee Ingenuity", but a few hundred years ago, like before there was NFL Football on tv, what did you guys do up there all winter?

Sounds good to me. Let me know the date and I'll plan to come! Well, assuming we have some current. :-?

Float-N-Fly is a "technique of last resort." It's slow, boring and not particularly effective. I can't think of any reason why you would need specialized equipment.

Guys have been fishing with a tree branch and kite string for more than a hundred years, but a less visible presentation might result in catching more and bigger fish. :

Plaza III in Kansas City is THE BOMB! http://www.plazaiiisteakhouse.com/

Hey CptDoug! Welcome aboard! 8-)

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are the future! They match up perfectly and treat the audience like we might have ever seen a football game. I think they are an outstanding pairing.

Always hard to tell from a picture, but I would say either side of 4 lbs. That's a great pic!

As stated earlier, a small amount of give protects the reel. This might be why Shimano reels have a reputation for longevity. With proper maintenance, they may last a lifetime. In use, I don't notice any affect on performance...None whats-so-ever.

Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (.010" diameter, 11.9 lb test) solves all your problems.

G. Loomis GLX MBR844C/ Shimano CTE200GT (Jigs) St. Croix Legend Elite ES70MF/ Shimano Stella 2500FB ( Soft Plastics) G. Loomis GLX PR844S/ Stella 2500FB (Live bait and fast retrieve soft plastics) St. Croix Legend Elite EC70MF/ Shimano Calais CL200 (Spinnerbaits and Mattlures Baby Bass) St. Croix Avid AC66MF/ Shimano Metanium Scorpion MG (Jerkbaits, Topwater and Buzzbaits) St. Croix Avid AC70MM/ Chronarch 100 (Most treble hooks; All shallow crankbaits) Lamiglas SR705R/ Shimano CTE200GT (Deep running crankbaits and heavy treble hooks) Fenwick Techna AV AS70MM/ Shimano Sustain 2500 (Jerkbaits and topwater at night) St. Croix Avid AS66MLF/ Stella 1000FA (White bass, crappie and stocker trout)

"Can I get that fried?"