roadwarrior

Circle hooks are really designed for big fish in salt water. Using them for freshwater fishing is relatively new.

Well, you certainly don't need any advice, but I'll give you some anyhow: I fish a #6 Gamakatsu circle hook with live bait. The striper hook themselves and you don't get involved until the rod loads up. I never miss a fish and they are ALWAYS hooked up in the jaw. Perfect for C&R. Just a thought. Great fish. I have some pics that I might show off in Texas. Although a couple might weigh more than the ones you have recently caught, they look about half the size! Fish Chris, YOU DA MAN! I have a pic of a 28 that does NOT look half as big as yours. Gotta have LBH help me with the photography. Seriously, those are some great fish and beautiful pictures.

dane 1984, Welcome aboard! I hope you find a club.

SUZY-Q, Welcome aboard! Of course women are invited. We have four or five already and we are only in the first week of putting this thing together. C'mon over! p.s. cravenfish...Woo-Hoo! Hope to see you, too.

Besides, nightime is for eatin', drinkin' and lyin'.

General description: http://www.floridaconservation.org/Fishing/Fishes/bass.html Smallmouth: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallmouth_bass All of these bass are members of the sunfish family. Oddly, even though spotted bass look more like a largemouth, they are more closely related to the smallmouth bass.

Welcome aboard! This is the section where you want to be. I'm sure some of our rod makers will help answer your questions.

What? No dancing girls?

I am so sorry for you. I live near a sewer (Memphis) and I know EXACTLY how you feel. I don't want any of these animals breaking into my house, but I fantasize about it...DOA...They deserve nothing less.

Well, just speaking for myself...I'll take a few dozen crawdads and and a few dozen shiners. I have never actually fished for largemouth with live bait, but smallmouth like ithem a lot! If we cant't figure it out with artificials... Man...I'm all over it!

Welcome aboard! Bass are bigger in the south and the water doesn't get hard in winter, but there is plenty of good fishing in your area much of the year.

Congratulations! This makes for a great story, too. "Tough love?" That's what we need more of around here when we're dealing with full grown men. Considering the expertise of some of our members, their suggestions go far beyond just being another opinion.

I was clever...I smiled too...before I deleted it. You know, it's not about being mean, lacking a sense of humor or an "agenda", it just didn't work for this Forum.

Too cool! I look forward to meeting you in person.

We probably need different rules on the lake. The Tennessee River is very busy and VERY noisey. It is a commercial river, with a tremendous amount of boat raffic and more specically, barge traffic. In addition, we have turbines, fast current running over "The Rocks From Hell" and locks discharging a great deal of water. Then you have birds, bait fish, trash fish and real fish busting on top water most of the time. The river is active.

Well, maybe it's just those Tennessee smallmouth, but we ROCK! Areator is always on and the country music is loud, real loud. Talking, screaming and jumping around? Yep...These fish also like beer and the taste of tobacco... Rebels, what do expect?

Welcome aboard! We need more smallmouth fishermen contributing around here. Let us know how you do this weekend.

Well, we gotta do the resort's restaurant a couple of nights, but I'll bring my version of Tennessee Chilli for one night.

Nothing to talk about...a rubber net is the bomb! You can weigh the fish in the net and it NEVER has to come out of the water except for a quick picture. Glenn's suggestion is EXACTLY what you need.

Well avid, and some of you other "Old Farts" that can't make it...I REALLY wish you could...I hope to meet you next time... We are only three days into planning this trip. If something changes for you, I personally would like to meet everyone....seriously! Oh! Not to call anyone out, BUT: avid, ROLO, Lighninrod, Raul, George Welcome, GMAN, Rat'linrogue, earthworm77, Triton-Mike, Mattlures, Fish Chris, Lane , Bass Lady, Cali, and a host of other contibuting members...C'mon guys! This will be fun.

Nope. Each room has a coffee maker, microwave and small frig. The only "cooking facilities" in an outdoor grill.

"that fish was only 14.2." Pleeeze...

P_B, Plan EVERYTHING a half hour early and DON"T cave, that is, never tell her your plan or it won't work. I do this all the time and although we are occasionally early, we are never late if I'm the one making the plans.

I tried to hire him, but he is fishing a tournament that week and is NOT available.

Hmm... My wife calls me "anal-retentive". I have three Atomic Clocks. My watches are within 1 second of "real time". I have been 39 years old for 15 years, and I have NEVER been late for ANYTHING. My wife compliments all of the components of a magnet, she has NEVER been on time for ANYTHING. I have a great deal of tolerance for everything, but I am NEVER late.