farmpond1

All your waypoints were erased? Oh my God! Now for me that wouldn't be that bad because I haven't thoroughly graphed a lake yet and any waypoints on my GPS are still just "suggestions". But if I'd charted out a lake thoroughly and had a kid erase all the waypoints, I think I'd puke! You don't have them backed up on your 'puter? Kids seem to come in two categories-the kind that know waaay more than me about computers/technology and the kind that seem to destroy everything they touch. Actually, adults aren't so different.

While it's probably best to dwell on the positive traits of fishing partners, it also makes for interesting reading to hear some of the nightmares we've experienced while fishing with others. (By this, I'm not referring to honest mistakes brought about by inexperience or simply being human. I'm talking about stuff that anyone with any brains or scruples would refrain from doing). Mine was with a guy who muskie fished while I bass fished. Even while I'd navigate respectfully around the bank fishermen, he used to cast waaaay in amongst them. I would tell him he ought to back off but he'd persist in violating their space. One bank fisherman finally read him the riot act while I silently enjoyed every moment of his chewing. Incidentally, I don't fish with him anymore.

"Don't take yourself too seriously" and "Remember drain plug!"

Well, generally, I back my boat into the lake (any lake), fire up the motor, and drive to the opposite shore where I fish the whole day. Just kidding. I think the reason you're getting few responses is because your question is (or can be) so broad and all encompasing. I think most folks aren't willing to bite off that much. There are a number of good articles on this site if you look for them. For this topic, perhaps the best source is under "For Beginning Anglers."

I have been very fortunate in that apart from 4 mandatory unpaid Furlough days, my job and income hasn't (yet) been affected much. However, if it were different, I'm sure I would've bought fewer soft plastics and not bought the spinning rod/reel this past July or splurged on stuff from the Orlando BPS this spring.

Wow! That was really something! Gee, I wouldn't have even guessed speed had anything at all to do with it! I've played Need for Speed II on my 'puter and I could've dodged the bridge too! :

"A fisherman is a jerk at one end of the line waiting for a jerk at the other." Unknown.

Actually, although until this week it's been insufferably hot, this has been my very best year in terms of size. I've caught 2 bass in the 6 lb range and several 4 lbers. For me (and Illinois), that's astounding!

At least the dog survived. :

If not catching anything over 6 or 7 pounds means it's been a slow year, than that means it's been a slow lifetime.

(That's such a great movie!)

I must provide a dissenting opinion. The purpose of lowering of the rod tip and reeling in some of the line is primarly to be in the proper position to set the hook hard and then to keep pressure on the fish once the hook is set. Have you ever tried to set the hook when the rod is already at the 11, or 12 o'clock position or when when line is loose? By the time you've exerted enough force to set the hook, your rod tip will be at the 1 or 2 o'clock position somwhere behind you (if you are even fortunate enough to get a good hook set at all(unlikely)). How awkward and ungainly is that? I think I'll stick with the earlier method. It's served me well many years.

Your point is well taken. Yes, everything from Wikipedia should be viewed skeptically. And yes, from a purely research and academic perspective, I wouldn't allow it either. (Of course, there's a lot of scholarly "knowledge" out there with its own particular bias so I wouldn't swallow all of it whole either).

Gosh! I'm glad this isn't a term paper.

I've copied and pasted these excerpts from Wikipedia: "Electric vehicles differ from fossil fuel-powered vehicles in that the electricity they consume can be generated from a wide range of sources, including fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable sources such as tidal power, solar power, and wind power or any combination of those. " "Overall energy consumption and emissions would diminish because of the higher efficiency of electric vehicles over the entire cycle." "Electric vehicle 'tank-to-wheels' efficiency is about a factor of 3 higher than internal combustion engine vehicles."[32] "The GM Volt will cost "less than purchasing a cup of your favorite coffee" to recharge. The Volt should cost less than 2 cents per mile to drive on electricity, compared with 12 cents a mile on gasoline at a price of $3.60 a gallon. This means a trip from Los Angeles to New York would cost $56 on electricity, and $336 with gasoline. This would be the equivalent to paying 60 cents a gallon of gas.[35]

I have no great love for Chevrolet's but why the animosity? It's my understanding that with a full charge, the car has a "combat radius" of 20 miles without ever using the internal combustion engine. Sounds like a great idea for short commutes. Plus you can still use it for longer ones. p.s. The Edsel was a ford product.

What?!!! And not lug 25+ lbs of baits everywhere I go? What fun would that be? My vote is a 5 inch "senko" bait. They don't always work but IMHO they do more often than many/most.

Bass don't have hands. They can't pick a lure up that way. They have to use their mouths. While it is possible for the bait to not make it completely in the bass's mouth on the first uptake, it is not in a bass's best interest to give a food source a chance to escape. They usually inhale it pretty well. The only time I "allow" is the time required to get into proper hookset position (see Roadwarrior's contribution). But that's it. Generally, I get a solid hookset on around 85% of the bass that strike so I'm confidant you should set the hook immediately.

http://www.kmbc.com/r/19730665/detail.html The father attributing the graphite rod as what may have saved his son's life is kind've reaching. Ultimately, it may have been what attracted the lightning strike in the first place. If he'd been holding a long metal pole, would the father have said the same thing? I doubt it. In any event, I'm glad they survived.

If you know where it is, try fishing the "original" shorline during the heat of the day and fish the newly created water in the mornings and evenings. My 2 cents

Ditto.

You know, I've been considering getting some LC Pointers. Specifically the Pointer 78 and 100. Do you know if they're any good? You could ask a hundred different fishermen and you'd probably get 100 different responses. Personally, I won't pay over 8 dollars for a crankbait (unless it's a big one for musky or pike) so I have zero experience with Lucky Craft. I'm sure they work fine but I won't cast a lure that's going to cause me to have a heart attack if I hang it.

If I arrive home and I observe that an intruder is inside my home, I'm not going to venture inside and place myself in harms way. I'll call the police and wait for them to handle it. However, if I am already in my home and I find someone has illegally entered my home, if I have the means, I'm not going to wait around to find out what harm he intends to cause. I'll order him (her) to lay down on their stomachs and if they refuse and/or aren't immediately heading for the door, well, I'm not going to "wing" the sucker. Police (who do regular target practice) are instructed to aim at the main body mass and I would do the same.

To state the obvious, you can do the "right thing" but if it's in the wrong place or at the wrong time, it wasn't whatever it was you needed to be doing. Sounds like the bass were pursuing shad on this day. Also, a sexy shad (or any crankbait, really) can cover waaaay more water than a jig. At some point in the day, unless you knew there was a reason to stick with it, you probably should've switched tactics. I'm not at all ashamed to emulate what someone else is doing-especially if it's working. But since you were in the back of the boat and covering "used" water, you might've tried a slightly smaller crankbait or one of a different color or action.

I don't believe in superstition. But I find that if/when I catch a fish very soon in my day, it can lead me to sticking with a bait or technique for too long. My brain tells me it must be the right bait or I must be in the right place, etc. to catch a fish so quickly. Then I'm doomed to wasting too much time trying to reenact it.