roadwarrior

No lure or weight. Let the line out gradually and you will feel the drag created by the water. Your line will not knot up.

I guess I misread your question if you were looking for only one answer or "The Most Important". But it's not one "thing", it's a combination of elements that effect fishing."Current" on a sterile bank means nothing. It is never just one factor that determines when or where fish will strike.

We're on the same page, "all but about 10 yards." I just don't want to get to the knot, I've lost the line when I've done that before!

This topic has been touched on in several other threads recently, but I thought I would start a specific thread because it is important to me and I believe it will help every fisherman that fishes from a boat. When I spool new line, even when it's perfect and I have no coiling or twist issues, I ALWAYS troll my line before starting to fish. It only takes a few minutes and you can troll several lines at the same time. My procedure is to begin by letting out all but about ten yards of line, don't go all the way to the knot. Troll at low speed for a couple of minutes and bring in about half the line. (I like to spray on Reel Magic as I'm going through this exercise). Troll another minute or two and reel in all but twenty yards or so and troll for another minute or two. That's it! By bringing in some of the line periodically, the line cannot retain any coil or memory. This procedure is 100% effective. I also like to troll the line even if it's not brand new, but this isn't really necessary everytime out.

Make it easy. I don't think bass fishing is the way to go. Maybe after they have fished a while and then only occasionally would I target bass. Bluegill, crappie, sometimes little catfish, white bass when they school for spawn and my absolute favorite, stocker trout. The "easy" fishing gets young people involved. My other suggestion is to fish for short periods of time, never any longer than the kids want to. Take plenty of food, treats and pops. Make it about having fun, not just fishing. Equipment? That's a no brainer, spincasting gear is the only way to go. Lures? No, live bait or in the case of trout, Power Bait or corn. KEEP IT SIMPLE!

1. Current 2. Structure 3. Water temperature 4. Water clarity 5. Depth/ relative depth 6. Time of year (season) 7. Predominate baitfish 8. Weather: fronts, wind, amount of light 9. Targeted species/ alternatives 10. Who I am with, how we generally fish together (live bait vs. artificial)

Go to the manufacture's website and get a number for customer service. Call them and ask for a tip top. G.Loomis sent them to me for free, you will have to see if your rod maker will send them for free or a nominal charge. They are easily replaced.

Great pictures, great fish. Congratulations!

Welcome aboard!

A couple of specific lures that shine in the spring when the water is still cold: Jerkbaits, Rat-L-Trap, C-rigged lizards and Hula Grubs.

YA-HOO! Congratulations and good luck with your next adventure. I'll bet you can kick that program up a notch or two.

How 'bout 22 lbs. 4 oz.? That might be a little bit above average, I think that only comes around about once every 75 years or so.

Soft Plastics: GYCB Senko, Fat Ika, Kreature, Kut-Tail & 8" worm, double tail and single tail grubs and Hula Grub. Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo, 3 1/2" Mizmo tube. Slug-Go. Roboworm, 6" Shakin' Zipper. Rage Tail Baby Craw, Lobster, Anaconda, Smokin' Rooster, Eeliminator and Space Monkey. New for 2010: MegaStrike MegaBug Top water: Zara Spook, Lucky Craft Sammy, Chug Bug, Rage Tail Shad, Frog & Toad Cavitron Buzzbait. Crankbaits: 0-2' Bomber Square A, Norman Fat Boy, Mann's -1 2-4' Bagley BII 4-6' Lucky Craft Rick Clunn 2.5 & 3.5 5-10' XCalibur Xr50, Lucky Craft LV-300, Rapala DT10 10-15' Lucky Craft LV-Max-500, Yo-Zuri Rattl'N Vibe, DT16 15-20' Norman DD22, Mann's 20+ Deep Mann's 25+, DT20 Jerkbaits: Lucky Craft Pointer 128, 100 & 78 Staysee 95 SP Rapala Husky Jerk & X-Rap (4"). Jig & trailer Northtar Pro Series 3/8 oz Evolution from MegaStrike GMAN 1/2 oz jigs Rage Tail Baby Craw, Craws and Lobster GYCB Flappin' Hog Net Bait Baby Paca Craw Spinnerbaits: MegaStrike Strikeback (one chartreuse and one white) Ledgebuster 3/4 oz single willow blade Small swimbait: GYCB Swimming Senko Medium swimbait: Mattlures Baby Bass, Keitech Swim Impact Fat 4.8"

WOW!

That's no minnow! T is definately for Texas...You guys have a tremendous program going on down there. Congratulations!

Be sure to read Craig's piece on PETA on the HOME page. These guys are dangerous.

I was NOT stating "it was in fact the new World Record," that was just an "Option C." relating to RoLo's post. I have no more information than anyone else, I have only seen the same coverage you all have. Regarding pictures and video recordings, well no one can judge an exact weight from that. No doubt it's a HUGE bass, but unless there is some specific documentation or proof as to the accuracy of the scale, the true weight will always be in question. Regardless of whatever additional information is revealed, the fish is not being submitted for certification and evertything else is just conjecture. George Perry's record is intact, but it seems plausible that it can be broken.

or... C. Although it was in fact the new World Record, they concluded that because of the hook-up and prevailing California State Law, the fish could not be recognized by the IGFA under their governing rules.

Hula grub, 3 1/2" Gitzit, Fat Ika, floating and suspending jerkbaits (Rattlin' Rogue, Husky Jerk, Pointer 100 or 78, Rapala X-Rap), Zara Spook and Lucky Craft Sammy. You do not need to downsize unless you are trying to catch little fish.

Wow! Great article. I think these guys really tried to do the right thing.

Mac Wealley and his bass just made the CBS Morning News! "And howd' it taste? He threw it back."

C'mon. We have over 4,000 members on the forum. It ain't 50/50, but there might be a couple of guys that would have released THE WORLD RECORD!

Craig moved to central Florida. I did not see the show, but if it was filmed recently, it was Florida not New York.

I'm thinkin' more beer. I don't like anything about flipping, but that's another story. Getting worn out flipping is like the old man's story making fun of his wife, "I'm worn out, I've been ironin' all day," or the modern version, "I'm beat, been shoppin' all day!" What part of flipping is work? Jerking in too many big bass?

Wait a minute guys. These boys are not slugs, they have been fishing for and catching GIANT bass for years. Maybe they just did what they thought was right. Mac Weakley is not trying to take all the credit, his friends have already caught the same bass, and THEY LET IT GO! Let's see how things shake out. Maybe Mac is a hero and the poster boy for catch and release. Is there something wrong with that?