roadwarrior

;D ;D ;D ;D Congratulations to both of you! 8-)

There is no point in getting mad. Resolve the problem immediately. Report the situation to the person(s) in charge and demand that it be addressed.

The hook is THE most important piece of equipment you have if you INTEND to catch a fish! 8-)

Welcome aboard! My suggestions: #1 Start with high quality, ultra sharp hooks. For most soft plastics I use XPoint or Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hooks. Set your drag properly (with a scale) considering line and rod ratings. #2 Use a "snap set" sometimes called a "quick set". When you detect a bite, lower your rod tip and QUICKLY reel down. Snap your wrists raising the rod without moving the reel position relative to your body. This will drive the hook home. DO NOT "double set", that will do more harm than good. #3 Keep your rod UP! (10 - 12 o'clock) and maintain CONSTANT pressure. NEVER give the fish any slack, NEVER. Make the fish fight the rod and retrieve line when you can. Most of all, once you become confident in your ability to boat fish, especially big bass, your landing ratio will improve dramatically.

WOW! 8-)

Hey Brent! I fish the following sizes: 3 1/2" Gitzit 3/0 EWG Most soft plastics 4/0 EWG (including 6" Senko) Swimming Senko 5/0 Offset Round Bend 7" Senko What do you recommend for 6" stick baits?

Time to try a new hook while BPS has them on clearance: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=38281&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults C'mon now, trust me on this. Pick up a couple of packs and report back. I fish these and Gammies, but will be giving the Owners a try based on member recommendations. So, try something new. You may not switch over for good, but you will not be disappointed in these hooks. I fish the 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hook almost exclusively with soft plastics.

I thought he needed 9 more ounces to get to "Hawg"? :

You don't need any advice. Nice fish. Congratulations! 8-)

Welcome aboard! Hooking minnows through the lips may make them more lively and keep them alive longer. Bigger baits USUALLY mean bigger fish, but the location is still the key.

WOW! Congratulations to both you and your son. 8-)

No. The salt will dissolve almost immediately when the bait hits the water.

Man! That's a pig. Congratulations! 8-)

I think of a lizard as just another profile with some slight variation in action (vs. a worm for instance). What distinguishes the C-rig is that it allows ANY bait "free action". All soft plastics can be fished C-rigged. What I don't like is casting the set-up, especially in the wind.

What? Are you talking about the same Classic that set THE ALL TIME record for LOWEST total weight? 3/4 lb "keepers" don't float my boat.

Dude! That's a BEAUTIFUL brown fish in your avatar. How much did she weigh? Regarding line: Spinning tackle: #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft Baitcasting gear: #12 " " " " " It's not a big investment, give it a try and see what you think.

Here is an example of my take on "slow": Cast a Senko 35-50 yards (might need some wind for that distance) parallel to the bank, but out 5-15 yards. Let the bait settle to the bottom and lie there for 1 minute. Move the Senko 6-12" with a slow, horizontal sweep and fall back on slack line. Leave the bait on the bottom for 15 seconds or longer and repeat until you feel you're out of the zone. Sometimes, I'll stop and smoke a cigarette before moving the lure. One cast might take 5 or 10 minutes.

Well, Part I is GREAT! So later, when you're not mad at yourself :, please rewrite Part II and post it for us. 8-)

We fish both wild yellowtail and store bought minnows. If you are throwing a net, DO NOT keep more than a few dozen at a time. They die quickly and overcrowding is a big no-no. The smallmouth have a preference for shiners (store bought). Shiners are native to the tributary creeks and therefore the river, but they are not nearly as abundant as the threadfin, perhaps making them a treat. Slick minnows are also native and, I'm told, the smallmouth's favorite prey. However, slick minnows require a very fine netting to catch, die quickly in the livewell and I have been unable to keep them alive for more than a cast when hooked up. I don't fish them. The baitshops usually carry small (crappie), medium (sauger) and large (bass) minnows. Buy ONLY the large. Start with a pound per person. Fish lively minnows only, dead minnows are a total waste of time: when in doubt, throw it out. I fish a #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook, 6# Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft on spinning tackle and just enough weight to stay in contact with the bottom. Weight varies a lot, depending on water release (current). p.s. If I were you I would pay attention to what electrikal has to say, not me. My partner and the guides we run with apparantly don't know where to find 'em in the summer. No one I know fishes for smallmouth this time of year, but I certainly would if I were as successful as electrikal.

Question: Why make this public? So, a military screw-up, not unlike an everyday occurance in the private sector. No harm/ no foul. Discipline responsible parties INTERNALLY. Why was this released to the media? Perhaps someone's agenda? This "news" is a non-event and should never have been announced or formally confirmed.

Well, the river is VERY DANGEROUS! Those boulders and all that structure is WHY the BIG smallmouth live there! You don't DRIFT. You face upriver and maintain boat control to float at the same rate as your bait/lure so as to effectively fish on "flat" or "neutral" water. You must ALSO maintain casting distance from shore, pay attention to the contour of the river, depth and ALL underwater structure. Most importantly, you have to be aware of other boats and ESPECIALLY barges. Fishing the Tennessee River is challenging. I fish live bait: BIG minnows on a split shot rig. However, it is WAY too early to target smallmouth, the water is too hot. Maybe someone else will have another suggestion, but I fish for striper in the summer.

Three wll balanced meals trump supplements every time.

Great thread! This is my take: With one rod you can fish everything. Spend your money one rod at a time, you do NOT need 20 rods! I say, start out with a Medium Power/ Fast Action spinning rod. Right now you can but a St. Croix Avid AS68MXF and a Shimano Stradic 2500FH for under $200. Next or as an alternative: Avid AC68MXF/ Shimano Citica for less than $200. Third, for an all-around "treble hook" rod: AC66MF. All on sale! Now, I might have some different suggestions if you want to build your arsenal over a period of years, but right now the St. Croix sale is THE BOMB!

Repeat! It's on CMT right NOW!

The action is completely different and the profile is significantly altered when rigged skirt up or tentacles forward. Maybe this thread will explain it in a little more detail: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1141053342 Here is another specifically on rigging and presentation: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1187047441