Pittsburgh Reeler

Is anyone else wishing they either 1) lived further south, 2) could afford to go further south every weekend 3) wish that gas wasn't going over 3.00 a gallon to make at least a FEW trips further south, or 4) it was March again already?????? For Pete's Sake, it's not even the middle of November and I am already thinking these thoughts!!!! Sigh..... :'( I know, I could go fishing, but I'm just not that hardcore and don't have a boat and I"ll be darned if i'm going to stand on the shore in one place freezing!!!

Yes, go to the SWPA thread and think about the hpbb. I'm shaking and depressed, too, HPBB, me too! :-?

FishforDollars, Here is the website, they have a few different circuits but somewhere on there, you can search for your area. Take care- enjoy! http://www.americanbassanglers.com/

I got a lot of info. from the other responses to "Why don't bass fisherman net?" but I have 2 other ideas to add to that: It doesn't look as good on TV! Also, I've witnessed several times where an angler who was by him/herself almost fall out of the boat trying to hold the net when the water was choppy or when a wake hits, and it wasn't pretty!

I am glad that your club is female-friendly! How about... "Western Illinois University- Where studying gets in the way of FISHING!" Good luck! I wish Penn State would have had a fishing club.

I can think of one thing from a recent experience: If you plan on soliciting places (Dick's, Gander, BPS, etc.) for some donations or prizes, get your info in early- like 3 or more months in advance. They may give you something but I learned (the hard way, but what valuable lessons aren't learned the hard way ) that they often are willing to donate, but have monthly budgets. I guess to deal with the boaters and non-boaters, different areas have different response levels (i.e. around here, they have to beg for co-anglers. For bigger tournaments, they have to beg for boaters.) to see how to respond? There's my 2 cents! Hope it helps.

I was nervous about all of the things talked about in this thread and the club I found welcomed me and the members help me to become a better angler. We fish for points mostly, so money isn't an issue most of the time. BUT: Why can't people (like those mentioned in the initital post) be competitive AND have manners? I understand the whole thing about all the time and money involved, but if you are mean-spirited to all the new people who are trying to learn (mean-spirited in general, to boot), you WILL NOT attract new people to this sport, you WILL NOT please your sponsors and eventually hinder your own ability to make all that stinkin' money, and WILL NOT stop the decline in popularity of the sport so that it grows, ADDING $$$ for everyone. I'm not saying divulge all of your secret tactics, baits, and spots, but a little general common courtesy is never too much to ask, much less going out of your way to be rude. Sheesh! Sorry- had to put in my 2 cents. I hope I didn't misunderstand anyone!

Yes, Yellowcreek is about 10 miles away from IUP. There are 2 campgrounds close-by. In fact, I am going to pack up my camper this weekend. BOOHOO! There are also several other ponds/ lakes closeby- Duman's and I forget the name of the other one.

I know I should, but I get too lazy about it. I know my tournament catches because they are recorded. I am trying to develop a log for which lures I caught them on, etc. You can do a free one on Bassmaster.com if you are Bass Insider member. And, peeps- if you are a federation nation member, you get BASS Insider for free. But they will keep charging you unless you call.

OK, here's a question for y'all: I live by Carrick. Where are some relatively close shore spots and how to get to them in the rivers? For example, everyone says "back channel of Neville Island" but I don't where to find them. Any one know any good spots in southside, anywhere else?? Somewhere that it would take less than 40 mintues to get to? Thanks!!!

We went to Peters in spring before bass came in (maybe April or May), and caught a whole bunch of dinks at Peters. A friend of mine caught a 15 inch largemouth on a little itty bitty piece of worm! It was nice looking, but I didn't weigh it. So I know they are there. If I remember correctly, I caught a few there last year, too, in March, and saw some big mamas in there on beds in April 2 years ago. I don't mind catching the dinks- I just go there for practice cuz its closest to me and I can run over there after work for an hour or two. But we all know how frustrating it is to not even get a bite! :'( I have heard stories of other people catching some big ones. As for Yellowcreek this weekend, I caught a 13 inch bass on a live magic shad (w/w). But the story of the day was my uncle, who caught a 29 inch pike on a shiner. My Aunt also caught an 18 inch bass on a shiner- fat, too! My friend caught a 14 inch bass on a nightcrawler. Lots of crappies for fun. Bye Bye Summer!! :'( I'll be on the lookout for mountain lions, nittany lions, cowardly lions, etc. next time I go to Peters! Scary!

HPBB- I had fun regardless, tearing it up out there on dinks! At least I was catching stuff and I had one keeper. A real nice largemouth broke off Sunday day, too! I was mad >! Thanks for taking me out on Saturday- sorry the dramamine made me pass out!! :-/ It was fun getting that smallie! As for other places, we went to Peters Lake in McMurray on Monday nite- NOT EVEN ONE STINKIN' BITE > Going back to my fave, Yellowcreek to wind down the summer. Hopefully I can get a few!

Thanks, man!! I got a whole boatload of that color but they are flippin' tubes. I caught some largemouths this weekend on them. i don't think i will be running out to that other place. gander tonite and that other joint before the meeting. then i am done!! I think... :-?

yes, that is what i was talking about, my mistake. i'll check it out tomorrow. im heading to gander tonite- my favorite lucky fishing sandals broke over the weekend- don't ask. i got a gift card yesterday! yay!

BASS Fisherman- You are making me nervous that I don't have enough!!! I'm not tryin' to make a last minute to run to the store. You better not have bought out Outdoor world cuz i was stopping there before the meeting!

Your question will surely be answered here: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1121527643

I have fished them believe it or not on a 1/16 shakey-head jig, think because the tricks worms are a little bigger than finesse, it pulls down faster? Dont' know why, but I caught a few nice ones that way.

I'll be watching this thread- I am headed up there in 2 weeks for the first time. One of the days is my b-day: maybe Lake Erie will give me a nice birthday treat that day! ;D

I didn't do so good. A few yucky dinks, a lot of lost jigheads, and too d**n hot. :'( My boater was nice, though.

Hi John- I'm from Johnstown originally. Maybe we know each other... anyway, welcome aboard. Yellow Creek treats me right (well, from shore anyway) but its been slow. I use plastic worms there, mostly. Caught 2 largemouths at Edinboro this weekend for a tournament! YAY! That is a nice little lake, lots of limits caught during our tournament and quite a few bigger fish. Fun has H-E-double-hockey sticks!

Don't know about those places. Yellowcreek- 4 smallmouth on Satuday. 2 on senko's, 2 on Lake Fork Pumpkin Trick Worms, one drop-shot and one shakey head.

Well, I caught three LM over 18" last time i went to Yellowcreek, but i was fishing a real shallow creek and creek mouth in a jonboat, so i'm sure it is an area not receiving any pressure the big ones are hiding there. Going back out tonite for the weekend. I'll report next week. Finally got my first tournament keeper on Sunday in the Ohio River. About freakin' time! ;D I've fed the bait monkey ample meals, I've prayed and threw change to the fish gods, I've kissed the big fish before releasing them. I guess it finally all paid off.

Maybe i will try melting some of them with the candle- that seemed the easiest. Maybe a good winter project when I am jonesing up here in the North... I put a u-tail from a zoom worm onto a similarly- colored jig/ skirt. It kind of looked like a crawfish, but no bites that day. That's the kind of ideas I was specifiically interested in... what "parts" would combine well, or what "parts" would look good as trailers on specific baits. All responses are welcome and are interesting, though.

I use either black or silver metal ones, they have them at Gander Mt. I have used little black plastic ones from a plumbing store, but I do not know what section you would find them at. Someone also suggested it might be cheaper to buy a length of clear tubing (maybe what you're talking about) and cutting it into a million little rings. Probably the cheapest way to go, i'd imagine.

What are some ideas for using the ripped up or just plain used (not ruined) plastics? I save them, and am accumulating a ziplock bag full of them. Currently, I have tubes, worms, senkos, craws, etc. all together soaking in a bag of attractant, looking like the Island of Misfit Lures. I'll admit it: I am cheap, and would rather get more mileage out of the $$ I spent. If there are some ideas out there to try, please share! I have heard it suggested to save them and use them for trailers. I'm guessing to cut some off of certain ones? Which ones would work for what hard lures? You can be specific (like for just tubes, for example) or general. I don't know how to melt them down or anything. Is this something people do? THANKS- you people on this board is the best, there is so much helpful info. on it!