powerman970

I like an amber lense for everything from fishing to driving.

Boy am I glad to here that. I went out and bought some split ring pliers and I know I looked like I was stupid in my right ear trying to figure out how to use them. I got the hooks changed but I don't believe it did the easiest way possible because it was a pain in the butt. I was embarassed to ask how to use the things but now that I'm not alone I feel better.

Thanks. Will do.

Alabama For big fish - Lake Harris (commonly known as Lake Wedowee). This lake will produce the next state record IMO. Several large bass are caught here in January and February of each year. Guntersville - Need I say more? Eufala - What used to be "The Bass Capital of the World" is now overlooked it appears. These are not my favorites by any means but they are probably your best bet for trophy fish. My favorites are 1. Neely Henry, 2. Bankhead, 3. Logan Martin. In that order. As far as Georgia goes, the only lake I fish is Westpoint. I have never fished Florida but would love to sometime.

Thanks guys. I think the pic is too large. I'll resize it and try again.

C'mon Penguin. Seriously I will take anyone that wants to try it. I enjoy watching someone learn as much as I enjoy doing it myself. We actually kicked around the idea of starting a guide service for noodling but I am afraid that would take the fun out of it. Not to mention the liability if you got someone hurt. I also like the idea of making friends not customers so we just take as many people as we can and introduce them to something we love.

I am unable to attach a jpeg to a post. Any ideas?

Usually Coolwater but sometimes I just dab a little stinkbait behind my ears.

Assuming I'm alive and kicking that offer is good every year. I love to introduce people to noodling and see the look on their face when they hang that first 40+ pound fish. I live about 20 minutes east of Birmingham in Leeds. The rig we use is a 10' piece of 1/2" CPVC, the flexible kind. Run an 11' piece of parachute cord through the pipe and attach a 10/0 treble hook to one end and a large flat washer to the other end to keep it from pulling through. This will leave you approximately 1' of extra parachute cord hanging out of the pipe. If you grip the pipe about 3' from the end with your left hand and grab the flat washer with your right hand and pull it around to your left hand you can bow the pipe almost double. This is the position you fish in. Find a boat ramp and hop out (shoes are extremely important) and walk around the edge of the concrete ranp feeling with your foot for holes under the ramp. When you find one go underwater and hold onto the edge of the hole with your free hand while you SLOWLY insert the bent pipe into the hole. When the fish hits let go of the washer and give a little jerk on the PVC to set the hook. Drag him out to the edge of the hole and sometimes he comes out sometimes he doesn't. If he doesn't you usually need 2 people, one to hold the pie and the other to go down and dig the fish out. When he comes free he will leave that hole in a hurry so your buddy better have a good grip on the pipe. Don't try to hang onto him or you could end up with a big a$$ treble hook in your hand. Just let him go and fight him with the pipe. We usually just drag him up the ramp onto the bank. BTW a good sandy or pebble bottom is usually the best. A muddy bottom sucks and rarely holds many fish. Keep in mind that these fish are bedding and release them close to the same ramp where you caught them. I have shot some video of us doing it and even have footage of my 11 year old catching a couple.

If you want to make the drive to Alabam I'll be happy to take you out sometime. Just let me know in advance as our weekends fill up pretty quick and the best time to go is generally beginning of May through the end of June. Bigger fish usually come earlier in May before the females have spawned out and left the nest. BTW we always catch and release I will not allow anyone to keep a fish if we are in my boat. We can actually catch the same fish week after week and that is very helpful when you are taking people out 2 or 3 times a week. We know which ramps hold big fish and which ones are holding smaller fish for the kids to tangle with. Also some of the holes we fish are in 1 foot of water where some of them are in 8-10 foot of water. There is nothing like being 8 foot underwater and almost out of breath when you get a hit. BETTER HURRY!!!!

GitRDone, check the laws and make sure. It is illegal in most states to fish with your hands (at least that is what I have been told) but if you use the PVC rig I described it is no longer fishing with your hands. A game warden is actually the one who told me how to get around the law when I started doing it. If you are interested I will go into more depth explaining the rig I use and how we do it.

Oh well....I guess that is why there are so many lines on the market. I am using the "cast" and I love it. I just wondered what you guys thought. Thanks for the input it actually went about the way I expected. Some love it, some hate it.

Have you considered just buying a soft bag and several boxes that will fit into it? Then you can keep your tackle organized and take only the stuff you will need for that day.

I love the Bomber Fat A's.

I know what I like but I don't know why. I am interested in finding out if anyone else in here uses Cajun Red fishing line. I use it and like it but it seems like it is never mentioned on this forum. Has anyone else in here tried it and if so what did you like or dislike about it?

I put Pline on 8 reels after reading rave reviews on this forum. After one day on the water I removed Pline from 8 reels. I had a severe issue with knot strength. I thought the line was breaking on the hook set but I discovered the knot was slipping. I switched to Cajun red and have liked it alot. I also started using a palomar knot at the recommendation of just about everyone on this website and it has changed my world. Thanks guys!!! I have gone back to the Pline on several reels and no longer have a problem with the knot. As far as twisting, Pline seems to have a memory like an elephant. I use 12# on my baitcaster rigs and there is no problem but I would hate to try it on a spinning reel. The heaviest line I use on any of my spinning rigs is 8# but I prefer 6#.

I've never grabbed anything other than a fish. At least not yet. We do all our fishing under boat ramps and we don't just reach in. I use 10' flexible PVC pipe with parachute cord and 10/0 treble hooks. That way I can reach way back in the hole with the pipe and the fish will just maul it. When the fish gets out to the hole he will always manage to get himself stuck and that is when we go down (with gloves on) and lip him and drag him out. The only thing you have to watch for is that big a$$ treble hook. I took one in the side of my knee and had one rip my shoe last year. I think I'd rather fight a snake than that hook.

I can't think of anything in any book I've read or video I've watched that has helped as much as these forums. Believe it or not I have learned a lot from watching the coverage of the BassMasters on television. They really talk alot about the conditions and show several different techniques being used by the big boys in these same conditions. Most of the videos target a specific technique and I have found that most of the books out there are too broad and don't get into enough detail on any particular topic. For a good broad overview try KVD's books. They are interesting if nothing else.

Usually no more than two or three times a year if I am on Neely Henry. On other lakes it happens too often. The worst feeling in the world is when you put in at daybreak and it is an hour before dark and you still haven't caught a fish. Desperation sets in and concentration and rational thought seem to disappear. Then your chances are even worse.

The only thing I have ever heard is that the bottom of the hull should be and usually is painted white. The theory, I suppose, is that when viewed from underneath a light color would be less visible. Same theory as dark colored top water lures being more visible. My question is if this is the case the why is the Heddon Torpedo painted white on the belly in the baby bass color? I think it is rare that a fish would see the top of the lure especially a topwater lure.

It is also the only knot that I use. Maybe someone could clarify something for me though. Is a palomar knot also the best knot for braid and fluorocarbon?

Went back to BPS today and got a little clarification on the braking system. Apparently it is a dual setup with the inside ring being set to free, 1, 2, or 3 and the outside ring being rotated to dial it in. ex. If the inside ring is set to 3 and the outside ring is set to 10 that would be the tightest setting. I'm sure most of you with more baitcaster experience probably knew this but I have never owned one that worked this way. BTW after extensive practice with the combo I am still happy with it but I have never owned a really expensive combo so I have nothing to compare it to. Then again I am pretty pleased with the $29.95 reels that were advertised in F&S so what do I know? I did however manage to get three of those reels for $29.95 each and no shipping, I just had to order them separately and not sign into my BPS account to do it. I also used 3 different email addresses.

Good advice and I'll be the first to admit that I never wear one. I have considered it, planned on it but never done it. I guess it's time to think about it again. The autoinflates are on sale at BPS if I remember right. Maybe I'll grab one today.

I can't wait...There is nothing like pulling a 40+ pound cat out from under a boat ramp with your bare hands. Anybody else share in this craziness?

I feel ya Muddy. Your input was very appreciated and rest assured that if I did not value the opinion of the people on this board I wouldn't ask for it. I found that everthing was told was true. The rod and reel were not the same caliber as what I would have gotten for full price. I did mention this to the folks at BPS. However the quality seemed to be above the $89.99 price tag. I still may pick up a few better combos later and let my 12 year old fish with these. In the meantime I think they will be sufficient for my fishing which does not entail any tournament fishing and usually consists of no more than 10 days a month in the boat.