roadwarrior

WOO-HOO! Welcome aboard! 8-)

UPDATE Ok guys, Attached is a few pictures from my blackberry of the largemouth I caught last Thursday at Pickwick. Was all alone so I wish I had a better camera and better pictures, but it was mighty cool to me. Fish was 26.5 inches long and had a girth of 22.5 inches. I had a board to measure her with, but took fishing line to get girth and measured later. Caught her on a gravel bar in about 7 ft of water at 1:00 last THursday on a Strike King Red Eye Shad 1/2 ounce with Vicious 12 pd test flourocarbon and a Bass Pro SHops Johnny Morris Elite Reel and a Bass Pro Shops 7'0 ft medium heavy cranking stick. Was slowly pumping it down the gravel war when it just loaded up on the fall. First fish i had caught of day, and really she did not fight that much. Dead pull, strong but i figured i just had a fish foul hooked or in top of head. She bulldogged under the boat and when she came out and floated up, she had it right in top lip and just gave up. I was kinda in shock i guess and ran water for livewell and called dad (he was at work of course) to get him to pull up records which in Alabama for public water was 14.9 or so. I took the x-tool and weighed her and it bounced between 13.1 and 13.3. Not wanting to hurt her, i put her back in livewell as i tried to figure out what to do. Nobody was anywhere around and i took her out for as many pictures as i could with a cell phone (no other good camera). I then took her measurements to verify weights as the only scale i had was x-tool in the boat. After 2-3 minutes of her in the livewell, I crunk up and idled back to the exact area i caught her and let her swim away, in which she TORE out of my hand. I have never caught anything close to this (10 pds biggest), nor will i, i am sure on area waters, but it was a very humbling experience to finally see one this big in our lake we love so much. We have one of the most special resources in the world close to our home and I just hope we can keep seeing these things happen. Also, Jimmy Mason caught a 8'2 smallmouth yesterday up there and is putting pictures on his website on a guide trip, so it is getting awesome. Thanks for the listen. Lance Walker MEMPHIS BPS

Lipless crankbaits and suspending jerkbaits rule right now. That pattern will probably still be in play the first week of May. The bonus will be topwater action! p.s. I just got off the phone with a friend that works with Lance's dad. Reconfirming...13-2 on a Red Eye Shad. ;D ;D ;D

Adding this lure to the collection and looking for your recommended size. SR08, SR09 or is there a reason you use both? Thanks. -Kent 8-)

Here ya go: Maybe this will help: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1141187546 Specifically: Technique specific rods are for "enthusiasts". Almost all your fishing can be done with just one rod. Beyond that, you only "need" three rods: Spinning: 6 1/2' or 7', M or MH, Fast Action (soft plastics and light lures) Baitcasting: MH or H, Fast Action (jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and all single hooks) Baitcasting: MH, Moderate Action (all treble hook lures)

Here ya go: Maybe this will help: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1141187546 Specifically: Technique specific rods are for "enthusiasts". Almost all your fishing can be done with just one rod. Beyond that, you only "need" three rods: Spinning: 6 1/2' or 7', M or MH, Fast Action (soft plastics and light lures) Baitcasting: MH or H, Fast Action (jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and all single hooks) Baitcasting: MH, Moderate Action (all treble hook lures) 8-)

Start with a little fishing room off the garage. Rod racks, shelving and peg boards for storage. Most baits and in original packages, organized in Plano boxes. Hard packaged baits (Rage Tail) displayed on shelving and MegaStrike bubble packs (Shake2, Cavitrons and spinnerbaits) hung on the peg board. Jigs and trailers have a separate cabinet. Number 2 is a BPS 3600 Soft Bag. This stores everything I would take on a trip, but may never get out of the truck. Number 3, a hard tackle box with most of my reserve crankbaits, line and tools. Number 4, G.Loomis "worm bag". Each leaf holds a class of bait/ lures that I take on the boat. This is more than I would ever use in a day. Number 5, Cabela's Safarie Vest for everything I actually "need". Knife, needle nose pliers and Gerber tool carried on my belt. Number 6, I also carry a Man Bag for scales, camera, suntan lotion, gloves, rain gear and extra smokes. So, by organizing in the fashion of a pyramid, I have what I think I might really need with everything else readily available. "A place for everything and everything in its place". 8-)

I would consider that a VERY GOOD Friday. Congratulations! ;D ;D ;D

http://www.netknots.com/html/san_diego_jam_knot.html

Yes. The 2500CI4 has features that in the past were only available on the Stella. The CI4 is an exceptional reel. http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/products/reels/spinning/Stradic_MgFB.html 8-)

Overkill. Tie a perfect knot and you will never have an issue. Although the Palomar is King, several other knots work just fine. Pick a couple you like and master a few. For single hooks I tie the Palomar Knot. For treble hooks, 16-20. This knot really shines with fluorocarbon. For braid, San Diego Jam. Mono to braid, Alberto's Knot. Line to spool, Arbor Knot. All useful and fun to tie. 8-)

Yeah, but he's just lucky... ;) It's been awhile since Fish Chris has updated his totals, or I have just missed them. As of a couple of years ago, 83 DDs. Oh! And then there's those prehistoric monsters and saltwater species. Dude rules with his sissy rod. 8-)

Not water proof, but water resistant: http://www.danner.com/product/boots/danner+453+gtx+uninsulated+hunting+boots+-+5.5.do These are my favorite boots. 8-)

St. Croix Avid AVS68MXF G.Loomis IMX SJR843S 8-)

No price constraint? Okay...These are my set-ups: St. Croix Legend Elite ES70MF/ Shimano Stella 2500FD/ Yo-Zuri Hybrid #6/ Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hook (light wire). If you prefer baitcasting gear: G. Loomis GLX MBR842C/ Shimano Core 50MG7/ Hybrid #12/ same hook. For heavier worms and/or weighted presentations, T-rigs and C-rigs, GLX MBR844C/ Core 100/ Power Pro (50/12)/ Owner 5/0 Offset Worm Hook (Superline). For drop shot and shaky heads: Dobyns 683C/ CH50MG/ AbrazX #12/ 3/8 Evolution Shake2 or Gamakatsu dropshot hook. 8-)

Alberto's Knot http://www.stripersonline.com/Pages/Articles/article_arby_albertos_knot.shtml

Nice fish! 8-)

You're going to like that rig! 8-)

St. Croix Avid AVC70MM 8-)

I use 5/0 Gamakatsu Offset Round Bend Worm Hooks: http://www.***.com/Gamakatsu_Offset_Round_Bend_Worm_Hooks_Black/descpage-GRBOBK.html 8-)

Try a spool of Yo-Zuri Hybrid #12. :

WOO-HOO! Great post.

Weightless in shallow water, dropshot for deeper presentations. 8-)

Outstanding! 8-)

Spinning reels rule competitive casting distance. From a practical standpoint, in a fishing context, both types of equipment are very comparable. I like both, but have a strong preference for one over the other for specific techniques. Generally speaking, power = baitcasting; finesse = spinning.