Old Pro

I host an open tournament once a month. For years we would have 8 to 10 boats with a "shotgun" start. Now we have reached over 20 boats and I am trying to get ideas for take off other than "shotgun" or calling out numbers.

Okay, I did the marker as you said and guess what? It IS slipping, you were right! I think if I remove the braid and put a base layer of mono should correct the problem. Thanks!! ?

yes..30lb not slipping on spool.

Took my new SLX DC out today for the first time. Smooth, casts a mile. Set the hook on a 2 1/2 lb. bass and couldn't reel it in. The fish was stripping line. I tightened the drag star as tight as I could and the fish was still stripping line. Checking the reel afterwards, the drag was minimal with the star tight. Is this a characteristic of this reel? ... or is something wrong? (line is not slipping on spool)

Any ideas on conducting a safe club tournament during this pandemic?

Last tournament getting ready for weigh-in, I opened the livewell lid to retrieve my fish when my largest fish ( a five and a half pounder ) jumped out and hit the deck flopping. Immediately I too hit the deck, chased it around and a grabbed it just before it went back in the lake.(fastest I've moved in years!) ... and this is not the first time this has happened! Is there any solutions on the market to prevent this from happening? ... possibly a secondary split lid?

I think the idea of paying out more places is the answer. That way everyone would feel they had more of a chance of cashing out.....and the "ringers" might think it isn't worth while. The aim of these tournaments is for the enjoyment, good fellowship, and to promote a love for this great recreation.... not to get rich!

I conduct a small open team tournament each mounth with an average 14 boats. It is an inexpensive fun tournament for buddies, husband-wife, father son, etc. The problem I have encountered is that two of the teams win first and second and "big bass" almost every month, (8/10). I tell others that there is nothing I can do as long as they obey rules. This has caused several teams to drop out as they feel that they have no chance. What are your thoughts on this?

Does anyone know where "Cypress Bayou" is on Rodman Reservoir in Florida? I see several references to it but not on any map. ….Thanks

What is the best way to clean a livewell after a day fishing? Is there a product out there which is not toxic to the fish? ?

Okay, thanks, I'll give it a try!

Bought a few packages of these hooks as they look like a great idea. Problem is, I tear the worm up putting them on the hook when I slide the worm over the keeper (Texas Style). Is there a trick to rigging this hook??

Talked to Lowrance tech. and was told that a certain sequence of buttons pushed will completely remove all stored data including waypoints, trails etc. and there is no way to recover them. Co-angler must have hit that sequence. Tech told me how I can back-up info with a SD chip as I will be doing from now on. (I was not aware this could be done) Thanks for ideas.

Thanks, I will explore the unit looking for this mode and get back to you.

Arriving at my fishing spot, I put my Lowrance Hook 4 on stand-by and proceeded to front of boat. I turned around and saw my co-angler punching buttons on my LH4. He said he was trying to see the depth. When I went back, everything was gone! Settings, preferences and most important.... all my waypoints and trails! The LH4 was back to factory reset. My question, does anyone know if I can recover my dozens of waypoints? ..?

Any thoughts on the "Eagle Claw Laser Sharp" double barb worm hook?

While fishing a tournament in Tennessee, I watched locals using a plastic worm with a slip bobber attached. They would cast it out and let the worm slip to the bottom then retrieve it using short jerks. Has anyone here used this technique to any success for bass fishing? ?