BamaBassn78

A couple two or three times a year we will stock up on some 15" fish to Filet out. Mostly in the summer time and fall. We try to leave the fish alone during the spawn but there is nothing wrong with taking some smaller fish out of the gene pool. Any other time I practice C-P-R, but there is times where I catch for table fare.

Catfish on cranks, spinnerbaits. Caught a cooler with a Poe's I wasnt loosing that lure, the cooler put a good fight the hooks were dug in to the handles also several rods and reels. Lots of wood and rocks. Funny how the trebles find the holes in the rocks.

Like others have said dont give up on it, find something else to occupy your time. For me I divorced my wife and gained custody of my three little girls... Just kidding, I didnt divorce her for that but It did reduce my fishing time dramatically...virtually none in 2008. I have missed a lot of time but i cant wait till i hit the water again.

If nothing happens between now and then I'll be there. Thats about an hour drive for me the State Park.

The water levels usually only have a fluctuation of 2-3 ft max. I have seen it flood so deep that ramps are unusuable. In Northeast Alabama we are offically 24 inches under on rain fall. HOPEFULLY we will get some much needed rain fall this winter or next year could be bad. Alot of the area creeks are drying up. FWIW, The ramp at the State Park is the best on the lake in my opinion and I have fished here for over 20 years. The ramp is either 4 or 5 lanes and has 2 30+ft L shaped floating docks. There is a dock available for people that are camping in the camp ground. The grounds are gated and you must have a key code to get into the campground. I have maps of the entire lake also...

Well, i haven't fished Lake Erie and probably never will. I'm sure they are a valuable tool to find the fish on that lake. I don't search for schools of bass or whatever fish im after. I have to retract my earlier statement, every once in a while, i might have a school of shad show up as a clump of grass or a big fish. I guess i was wrong, i do use mine as a fish finder... 99.4% of the time, it's easy to tell where the baitfish are, because they are getting hammered. Anyone with any amount of time on a certain body of water can locate a school of shad. But im not fishing Erie, im on Guntersville Lake. I rarely fish deeper than 6-10'. Especially this time of year. A fish finder is good, but when you are in less than 2 feet of water, knowing where the bottom is essential. I dont look for fish on it when im fishing that shallow. As far as a graph having to be color just to tell the difference between the "bottom" and the grass, i don't have that problem with mine. Although it's not color, that GrayLine stuff actually works rather well. Just like you said, if you read these properly... I wish i could catch big fish on live bait, i like the reward of working a lure to entice a strike.

Two words... Frogg Toggs Tater

There is no point of paying 200.00 for a depth/fish finder. Or i wouldnt atleast... : You can get a good depth/fish finder for less than 200 bucks. Like i said in my earlier post, i use mine to locate underwater structure, ditches, drop offs, flats, etc... Unless you can see underwater, id recommend a depth/fish finder. If your thinking a fish finder will help you catch fish, then your mistaken. They will help you find the structure that fish like, but there not gonna put them on the hook for you. If someone considers depth/fish finders cheating, i guess they need to go back to a cane pole and string to fish then. A depth/fish finder is a necessity on a boat. Like i said earlier, unless you can see underwater, then your good to go. A good depth finder with water temp and Grayline and other options are available for under 200 bucks. I just agreed with bigbass, i dont use mine to specifically target a fish on there. I use mine to find the locations were the fish might be... For what its worth, just my .02... Tater

I try to match the conditions the best i can. If the water is slightly stained, ill use chartruse/lighter colors. Use the same in clearer water. Mostly the green pumpkin/watermelon seed/ brown pumpkinseed/red shad. In muddy waters, i go for sound, like a rat-L-trap, depends if its sunny or cloudy with muddy water to what color 'trap i will use. Tater

I agree with GamblerFL, on Guntersville Lake, if its warm enought to be night fishing, you better be in the channels of the creeks. The grass is so thick, it makes it hard to throw a buzzbait at night. Although, when i go at night, i usually use a black buzzbait or a black spinnerbait. Or, the trusty 10 in. powerworm. Tater

Same here, i have the fish id on mine turned off. I use mine to find grass and points, underwater structure, etc... The only thing i might (rarely at that) use minnows for crappie. I have always used artificial lures for bass. Im not patient enough to sit there and wait for live bait. I have to cast and tug... Tater

Palomar has worked for me...

I usually carry a couple of sandwiches and some friut. Most of the time i eat a good breakfast so i don't get too hungry till lunch time. And plenty of water...

And the wind is blowing your boat away from the branch, you keep going in circles trying to get your lure back. Finally get it back, just in time to see the water patrol headed right to ya. After a lengthy discussion you finally get to go back to daydreaming.

I have fished Guntersville Lake, (we just call it the River ;D), all my life. I personally have only seen gill nets maybe 4 times. I think they are more prevalent towards the lower end. More or less in Guntersville Proper. The deal is, the nets are legal. Thing is, there are only 6 commercial fishermen in Jackson Co, 7 in Marshall Co. with actual permits for the nets. The pictures on ESPN were real. I know atleast 3 people that saw the Camera Boat run up on the net and see the bass and other fish not classified as "rough" fish dead or dying in the nets. As far as the DCNR goes, i'll save that for another day. : Can you actually say if you where fishing and got caught in a net, unmarked, would you cut your line or cut your lure/motor out? ???