farmpond1

and it can give the fish one heck of a cafeine rush!

If he already has a decent, versatile combo, I'd have to vote for tackle. It's so pretty and you can use the lures as christmas tree ornaments (just keep the cat away) until fishing season begins again.

This bait looks like a specialty bait designed to fill a rather specific niche. I don't think it's designed for the masses. As to whether it's a good marketing strategy, I don't know.

LOL. You and I might be related.

Might I suggest focusing less on "technique" and put your energy/efforts toward learning where the bass are based on season, water temperature, weather, etc. Once you can more reliably find the fish, then you can concentrate on technique. Of course, you might ask, "How can I find the fish until I catch them?" That's a good question. Use your depth finder. Study maps. Ask other fishermen where they are finding them (instead of asking what they are catching them on). But I think too many fishermen get caught up in the type of lure/technique to use and, hence, put the cart before the horse. Finding the fish is half the battle-the first half.

Stupid question which might be irrelevant but have you defragged your 'puter lately? That might help. Or just ignore this.

Just don't fall off your ladders or electrocute yourselves!!!!!!

It makes you wonder if the human race is really all that advanced. Sometimes I hate admitting to being part of it. Four words: Water cannons, tear gas. Oh, but that might violate their constitutional rights!!!! Animals!!!! >

Best deal: Staying far far away from the traffic and the crazy shoppers.

Sometimes the fish you lose can be the most memorable. This past August, on the last day of my trip to Canada when it was too windy to venture out beyond the bay where the cabin was located, I hooked and lost a decent pike. In reality it probably wasn't more than 32 or 34 inches long but it took my drag pretty good and I lost it deep. Still, it sticks in my memory more than most of the fish during that trip. So, 'tis better to have hooked and lost than to never have hooked at all. It will forever remain in your imagination and will be something to shoot for in the future.

Not knowing the particulars of your life or your fishing habits, I would agree with Cravin. My advice: put down your fancy equipment, your maps, etc. and pick up a cane pole and a can of red worms or crickets. Fish for bluegill or bream (or whatever panfish are called in Northern California). Get aquainted with a comfy lawn chair. Go fishing when you want to go and not when you feel you ought to go. Stop counting the fish you catch. Reaquaint yourself with nature and it's complex simplicity. Take some good deep breaths and learn to appreciate that you still can. (I'm sorry if I'm getting a bit sappy. My mom just had a stroke and I'm coming to realize how many things I take for granted).

People who say, "Hey, let's go fishing!" then volunteer you to use your truck and boat, even though they also have a truck and boat of their own and it's their turn to drive. Deer flies, mosquitoes, stinging nettle. Wind, big waves, and those who cause those waves. Leaky waders Trying to juggle a fly rod and a spinning rod while wading a river

It's a tie between bluegill on a flyrod and rock bass (goggle eye) out of the river. Or maybe crappie! Or white bass. Arghhhhh!!! Too many choices! Too little time!

\ ;D

I'm no investment or economics whiz but if everyone buries their money in the back yard or hides it under the mattress, won't we indeed have the "big crash" everyone fears? I tend to believe that we should all behave cautiously optimistic and let things sort themselves out the way they ought. The days of free/easy credit probably ought to be over anyway.

Me suspects that those less fortunate or skillful (or both) are less likely to pipe in on this thread. Over the course of the entire season I might've caught 110 bass. Nothing over 3 lbs. But still, that's pretty good for me. I only got skunked 4 times-once in the early spring, twice in the heat of summer, and once this fall.

It should also have a duck

Pompous? No. Mildly obsessed?... Possibly. :) ;D But my g-friend thinks I'm obsessed about fishing so that makes us even.

Nice fit! And free to boot! Now you can paint it up to look like the mystery machine. You may still want to use tie downs to hold that sucker down. You don't want the boat to double as a missile if you ever have to stop real hard (or, God forbid, get into an accident).

In a perfect world, cheating wouldn't occur. And I feel that most rules in tournaments are meant to clear up ambiguities rather than to straighten up the crooked. But to believe all fishermen hold themselves up to a higher standard belies the fact that fishermen are people-some good, some bad, with most falling somewhere in-between. I don't think Buckshot George's questions are so out of line. At least he's doing research and asking questions. And a writer doesn't have to be X, Y, or Z in order to write about it. So long as he or she does their homework. Buckshot-I'm always intrigued with what makes up a good story. Sometimes subtlety can be more potent than strong, obvious conflict. Perhaps the tourney fisherman can be haunted from a small but critical indescretion he committed during a pivotal time in his career and how it's affecting him/her now. Just an idea. Good luck with your writing.

At the risk of sounding like a brown noser and also locking this thread, I am so grateful for moderators who actually moderate. When I first learned the internet, I got onto chat rooms thinking I could find interesting discussions about movies, current events, etc. Instead, I found a bunch of angry/nasty people carelessly/callously throwing nasty words about. I'm all for freedom of speech but IMHO our "civil liberties" have gone too far at trampling the dignity and respect of others. So thank you Glenn, Roadwarrior and the rest for keeping this place as clean and pleasant as it is.

Although they are a tad more expensive, the panther martin (IMHO) is a more reliable spinner. And although I haven't tested my theory out, I think they provide a little more water resistance and spin more revolutions (per unit of forward movemen) than a roostertail. I think they are more durable, too.

I love reading about Rancid Crabtree, Retch Sweeney and Pat's old dog Stranger (later shortened to "Strange"). His sister "the troll", cracks me up, too. It's difficult to separate the author from his fiction and I like to imagine things were really like that. Regardless, it's classic stuff!

Thanks for the advice. I've already been using an angle grinder/wire wheel to hit the rusty spots. Brute - I doubt I'll go the powder coating route (although I'm sure it would work well) as I believe I'm only going to "spot paint." But thanks for the suggestion. Can anyone provide a strong arguement for not spot painting? 71 Rig- who makes POR-15? What kind of top coat do you mean? Is POR-15 a primer? Low-Pro - Where's the best source for "non-spray" Rustoleum. As with every project, things are becoming more difficult than first appeared. But it gives me something to do on these cold winter days. I'm less concerned with appearance than in performance (rust protection) as I plan to keep the boat/trailor until the wheels fall off.

Though it seemed he became hard pressed for new material over time, Patrick F. McManus was (and still is) one of my favorite outdoor writers. I believe I can thank him for my rather wierd sense of humor. Anyone else like reading him?