roadwarrior

Well, first of all, FnF is a technique "of last resort." It's very slow and boring, doesn't produce many fish and the ones you catch tend to be small. I sure don't recommend it this time of year, almost anything would work better. However, to answer your question: Whatever color you are comfortable with! Bugs tend to be black or brown, baitfish whitish or silver. In my opinion suspending fish are more likely to find the baitfish imitation more interesting with this presentation. I would go with white.

Speedy has been guiding three and four days a week, spent a week in the Gulf marlin fishing and is on his way to Cabo San Lucas next week. Sounds good, hun? We usually fish for striper this time of year, but TVA has not been releasing any water on the weekends when I can fish. The region's rainfall is 12" below normal and the drought continues. I'm headed over to Bull Shoals next week for three days, so maybe I can find a hungry Arkansas smallie. We'll see.

DUDE! That's a beauty. The perfect example of why we call them footballs. Man, that is one heck of a smallmouth.

SALUTE! Thanks for checking in. We expect to hear from you again soon.

This is what I would recommend to someone just starting out: Spinning combination, 6 1/2' or 7' Medium Power/ Fast Action, #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft Yo don't need another rod, but if you want a baitcasting rig buy a combination package from one of the major retailers for around $170 ( http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_74456_100003001_100000000_100003000_100-3-1 ) or check our FLea Market for a deal. Spool this up with Yo-Zuri Hybrid #12. Lures: Original Floating Rapala (silver & black) Two Rat-L-Traps (chrome & silver) Norman Fat Boy (bluegill pattern) Two Terminator or Booyah spinnerbaits (white with silver blades, chartreuse with gold blades) Zara Puppy Jitterbug Buzzbait (white) Soft plastics: Two bags of Senko (not knock-offs) watermelon with black flakes Fat Ika, same color Mizmo 4" Bad Boys (tubes) Terminal tackle: #4/0 Gamakatsu Offset Worm Hooks Black beads 1/8 & 1/4 oz bullet weights I suggest learning to tie a Palomar Knot and lose the swivel. http://www.animatedknots.com/palomar/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com#Overhand

No, they are not smallmouth. There is a species ( http://myfwc.com/Fishing/Fishes/bass.html ), but it is specific to a river system in northern Florida, Southern Georgia. These bass would definitely NOT be in one of your ponds.

That's a great day. Congratulations!

Generally, guide prices are the same for one or two fisherman. If the guide will fish three men, they usually charge an additional $50. The cost will range from $200-$350 plus tip and may or may not include gas, lunch and baits. Soft drinks and water are usually provided. With a competent, professional guide, you might learn more in one day on the water than you could doing anything else. For me, it's not about learning anything, I hire guides to put me on fish and suggest the right baits or lures to use at that time. George Welcome's website lists a number of things you should talk with your prospective guide about before agreeing to hire him. All guides are NOT the same and it is your responsibility to determine if there is a good fit. I rely EXCLUSIVELY on personal recommendations.

Me, too. I fish with guides most of the time (my fishing partner is a guide). I'm on my way to Bull Shoals next week. I've been fishing with the same guide (Tim "Hot Dawg" Curtis) three or four times a year for the last seven or eight years now. Chances are I'll be fishing with Hot Dawg next year, too. 8-)

Nope. This was the only 10 lb smallmouth I have ever seen and probably one of the top ten smallmouth EVER boated. This monster was caught the Saturday before Thanksgiving, November, 2004. I was fishing in the middle of a BayRanger 2180, my partner up front and a friend in back. The fish came up immediately and jumped. I thought it was a porpoise! With #6 Yo-Zuri and a medium light G. Loomis Bronzeback rod, this fish put up a fight. Screaming drag and two runs later, we got her to the boat , but when I went down to net her, she surged and I backed away. At this point my buddy was in the middle of the Ranger with me. The brown fish went UNDER the boat, out 30-40 yards towards the middle of the river and jumped for the third time. The battle raged as my man manuvered around the trolling motor and to the other side of the boat. It was time to get'r done! I netted and weighed the fish with the help of another friend. The big bronze momma was frisky and initially came in at a whopping 13 lbs, but after calming down quite a bit, we got her to just a smiggin over 10 lbs. I held the fish and pleaded with my partner to keep it, but he refused. I would not release it for him. I handed her off to my buddy who gave the fish a smooch and put her back into the Tennessee River. If that fish is still alive and is ever caught again, there is a VERY good chance she would be the next World Record Smallmouth Bass.

Welcome aboard! There is a lot of information out there, both questions and answers. My suggest is to start here: http://bassresource.com/beginner/beginner.html

Perhaps the best Outdoor Sportsman"s Exhibit in the country: http://www.springfieldmo.org/final/newsite/ttd_listing_page.asp?ID=655&Company=Hunting+%26+Fishing+Gallery

C'mon Raul, We wanted the full scoop, not the abbreviated version! 8-)

Welcome aboard!

Last weekend I fished a frog over some spiragyra at one of my local ponds. I had thirteen strikes, but only hooked-up and landed three. Mostly, I think the bass missed the frog! Anyhow, here's how I handled the strike: DO NOT set the hook until you feel the weight of the fish. Now you might ask, with such a low hook-up ratio, why listen to this guy's advice? Well, of the thirteen strikes, at least half were repeats. When I was able to feel the weight, hook-up and landing was 100%.

Man, that's great! You're on a big bite. If you want to try and kick it up a notch, buy a bag of 6" Senkos and fish them on 4/0 EWG hooks. You might be surprised. Sometimes there are bigger bass lurking around, but you just can't get to them because the smaller bass are so aggressive. You might have to break out your Shimano Stradic, I'm not sure you can fish a Senko on a Plfueger. :

Hmm... I had go go back through this thread a couple of times. The first time I didn't see any fish. : Great pics, nice fish, too.

Let's start with something simple: Buy the original Rapala Floating Minnow, silver and black. Cast the lure parallel to the bank, preferably along a grassline. Let the lure sit for at least thirty seconds, then retrive slowly and steadly. If you fish deep water along a steep bank for example, you can fish a Rat-L-Trap (blue & chrome) with the same casting pattern and retrieve. Both of these lures are proven producers. If you think you're ready for soft plastics, buy two bags of 5" Senkos (not knock-offs) and one bag of GYCB Fat Ika, all watermelon with black flakes. Rig these baits on a Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hook, weightless and weedless. Cast them just as I described with the Rapala. Allow the bait to settle to the bottom and leave it there for a minute. Move the bait 6"-12" with a horizontal sweep, allowing the bait to settle on slack line. Leave the bait motionless for at least fifteen seconds between movements. Focus on presentation and do NOT change baits or use anything else. Fish the entire bag of Senkos, then half the bag of Fat Ika before going back to the Senko. If you don't catch any bass on these four lures/ baits, find somewhere else to fish.

On average, 20" = 4 lb 10 oz. It doesn't really matter, nice fish!

Welcome aboard!

#1 GYCB Fat Ika #2 6" Senko (not knock-offs) #3 Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo tube #4 GYCB Kut-Tail That's all you really need, but here are a couple more: GYCB Kreature, Slug-Go, GYCB 8 1/2" worms

Spring scales have to be calibrated. Weigh various weight in a plastic grocery bag which can be held by the hook. Calibrate at 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 15 & 20. There may be nothing wrong with the scales, they may just need adjustment.

Design, engineering, craftmanship and components. It's not "how many" bearings, but what they are made of, tolerances and where they are placed. Metal composites, gearing and system dynamics make a reel smooth, define their power and impact durability. BTW, Prices have held steady for the Shimano Symetre ($80) and Stradic ($120) for the last seven years at least. I don't think these reels "cost too much."

Well, it's VERY hard (almost impossible) to weigh a fish by a picture, but guys generally overestimate the weight of their fish. Now your fish looks thick and healthy to me. An "average" 24" largemouth should weigh around 8 lbs 7 oz. 23" reduces that average to 7 lbs 5 oz. So, if your bass was something in that range, 7-8 lbs is likely. I think a good place to store your scales would be the trash bin. :

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