farmpond1

There are a lot of people who, with enough persistance and hard work, can become pretty good fishermen-perhaps even outstanding fishermen. But there is something not quite tangible which separates the best fishermen from the rest of us. They just know how to put it all together in ways where most of us are still scratching our heads (or are at least 2 steps behind). This isn't to say everyone who has this "genius" will become a "pro." It still requires a lot of work and a love for the game. As to how athletic a person has to be...Well, if endurance is a sign of athleticism, than pro tournament fishermen must be athletes. I'm tuckered out even after a modest day of fishing in nice weather.

Anytime I catch a bass, it's a fluke.

While boat dock owners need to obey the law and respect boater/fisherman rights, I can understand their concern. There's no shortage of errant lures ricocheting hard off boats and snagging seat fabric and boat covers, among other things. I don't know what the perfect answer is (there probably isn't one) but showing courtesy and respecting property rights goes a long way toward keeping the peace. If someone gets angry, is it worth a fight just to fish one boat dock? Now if you are just fishing the water in the vicinity of the dock but not in and under it, than...well, they'll just have to get used to that.

If they give you too much flack, you can always go to the officiating folks and inform them of the harrassment. I certainly wouldn't "give up" my spot for anyone just as I wouldn't expect them to give up theirs.

Mmmppfffff!!!! I can't stop chuckling after that one! ;D

I'm sorry for the crew and their families. Such a shame. Does Tokyo have radar to detect windshear? Years ago I was a passenger in a Cessna on an early Spring day. We were on final approach and the wind, which had been blustery as is common in Late March in Southern Illinois. It wasn't too bad until just before we touched down. Then, all hell broke loose. It seemed the pilot (an instructor at the SIU school of aviation) wasn't sure what to do. My impression was that he throttled up and down in rapid succession. In what seemed like forever but couldn't have been more than 2 or 3 seconds, we bounced high and hit hard a couple of times before we settled in. Scared the bejeezus out of me. I think the pilot soiled himself. Couldn't blame him if he had. I can't say for certain that it was windshear but whatever it was, I don't want to repeat it.

I guess you could say that about Rod Blagojevic too. Not!!!!!

You haven't mentioned what time of the year it is, what the water temperature was prior to the cold front, the characteristics of the lake, etc. etc. How I would approach it in March would be different than I would in Late June or July or October. Not trying to be a smart alleck. Just a lot of variables to look at.

What's worse is if you like fly fishing too. That adds at least one 7 weight and one 5 weight flyrod/reel to the arsenal. There isn't any easy answer. No matter what you bring, you'll always leave something behind that might work better (at least in your head). It's why the baitmonkey has such a grip on us. I'm thinking of getting a pack mule to carry all my excess gear.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but isn't LG Korean? Well, you're sparking some country's economy, anyway. Hope they work better than my cell phone.

Great minds think alike, I guess. That was what I was going to say. Great name!

Then you aren't doing it right. Ha! So true! ;D

I never under stood the big thing with Bill Dance, other than he is clumsy. I don't think that I've seen him fishing on a real lake. He looks to be mostly on private lake's and ponds that are inhabited with only huge bass. Lots of talent there! Oh no! Here we go again! :

Don't you just hate ambiguity?!!! There isn't much you can do now about the woman's response but if the husband doesn't call you in a few weeks, I don't see anything wrong with going back over. Do it when he is out working on his lawn, or whatever and apologetically explain your quandry and repeat the request. If he says yes, that's terrific. If he says "no" than you have a definitive answer. Politely say you won't bother him again and graciously bow out.

Even if I could catch all the bass I wanted on one bait, I wouldn't. It's fun to "mix it up" a bit and try different things. Even if I'm catching I'll sometimes switch-just to see if they will still bite. But I have a friend who has ten thousand baits in his crammed full tacklebox and he always goes back to the same tired rooster tail. I always tease him about it. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I've always thought this was the way to go. Of course it wouldn't fly if money is involved but where fishing is for fun, than I don't see why not. Where do I sign up?!

Sounds about right. But as the saying goes, If you always do what you always done, you'll always get what you always got (at least, perhaps, in the short-term). By that I mean, try to mix things up a bit. Do something different. What's the predominant forage in this river? Try using a little more weight to get the fly deeper. Or add some color to the fly. Silver and white may work where olive drab doesn't. It sounds like you are catching a few fish, huh?. What is your buddy catching his bass on? Work both the upstream and downstream sides of boulders. Is there vegetation? Don't neglect that.

Never assume the person who's boat is half-swamped forgot to put in their drain plug. Maybe they wanted to wash the bottom half of their boat. ;D

As already mentioned, you've probably fastened the Red wire on the negative (-) battery post and vice versa. Or, if they do actually have the wires crossed internally, just reverse them on the battery. Whatever works, right? Or you could take it back and tell em you want a new one.

Whatever excuse that works!

Not around here. Northern Mississippi, just south of Memphis, produces the biggest crappie in the world. There is a feature article in this month's In-Fisherman magazine about the four lakes. 4+ is not common, but many are caught every year. What I find amazing is that they can grow so big when almost all fish caught are harvested. 8-) Perhaps that's why they get so big. By reducing their numbers, they don't get stunted. Only certain waters can support this kind of...management philosophy, I think, so I don't usually recommend it. Still, I'd be thrilled If I caught even a 1.5 lb crappie.

The disclaimer will keep you in good graces with everyone. I'm probaby alone but except for the bones, I like northern pike over walleye.

Way to go, Matt!!!! I'm green with ***! And on those crappy (not crappie) Storm swimbaits no less! ;D Huh! I guess they do work! It's these victories which get us out on the water time and again. I hope to report a few victories myself, soon. We'll have to watch the weather and hit the lakes together very soon. Maybe you can show me how it's done?

And to think I used to feel guilty if I bought a package of plastic worms! :