farmpond1

I think the most effective/efficient way to learn a new technique is to shadow someone who has "mastered" it. One of my buddies is a terrific soft plastic fisherman (especially creature baits and stick baits) and I've learned a ton from him just in the past season. The secret, IMHO, is to figure out and use the appropriate technique at it's called for. One should generally fish to one's strengths but the more strengths we possess, the more successful we will be.

What's that "wavy" appearance on the ice about? How thick was the ice? It does look like the landscape of some distant planet. I received an ice shelter for an early Christmas present. I'm sure I'll use it when is really windly and cold but I move around a lot with my flasher unit (to find the active fish) so unless I find a spot that produces well, I don't know how much I'll remain in the shelter.

You needn't worry. This year is almost over. A new fiscal year begins January 1.

Yes, it's one big conspiracy.

Whatever is on sale at Kohls.

1) Creatures baits were probably number 1 and especially Berkley Power Hawgs. 2) I caught a lot of fish on various types of stick baits too. 3) I actually caught a bunch of bass on a Heddon baby torpedo.

Impractical because of greed... I was just going by the doctor's opinion. See quote below: The transplant appeared to wipe out both diseases, giving hope to doctors, but Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has been studying HIV/AIDS for almost 30 years, said while this is an interesting proof of concept, it's absurdly impractical. It's hard enough to get a good compatible match for a transplant like this, Fauci , But you also have to find compatible donor that has this genetic defect, and this defect is only found in 1 percent of the Caucasian population and zero percent of the black population. This is very rare. Not really sure where greed plays a part? Well put.

My addiction began simply enough. First it was just a harmless beetlespin or roostertail. Later, rather than attributing my general lack of my success to inexperience and inability, I blamed it on my rather meager lure collection. I found I couldn't drive past a sporting goods store without stopping in to take a peek. Oh! Those flashy lures and the scent of powerbait and gulp was simply too much! I rarely left without something in a bag. My score card at Dicks was mounting up faster than a bingo card at the local retirement center! Then I began to hit the hard stuff-crankbaits. And with all those treble hooks...well, it's even easier to get hooked. Finally, my addiction became almost indiscriminate-buying anything that could get me a fix. Flying lures, helicopter lures, banjo minnows, storm swimbaits, you name it. I had sunk to new lows. My tackle boxes became such a burden I could hardly carry them. I needed a pack animal just to lug it all around. But rather than admit I had a problem, I bought a boat to carry it. Then one day, while out on my boat, tying on lure after lure (I suppose to justify my addiction), I spied a man in one of those float tubes. He carried only one rod and small plastic tacklebox-the kind that jutted out like parapets from my numerous tackle boxes. I smirked, alternating feeling superior and pity for his inadequate, diminutive collection. But then, suddenly, he reared back with his rod. Fish on! Hiding behind a soft box with more zippers than a pair of 80's era cargo pants, I watched him play it out. It was a nice bass too. Then, a few minutes later, he caught another! I was stunned. I hadn't caught a fish all day! With all the lures I had amassed, I was fishless while this fellow looked to be about to limit out! Who was the fool here, I thought! Realizing suddenly how Icaris must have felt on his descent down from the heavens, I fell down to my knees and I sobbed and I sobbed! Later, that evening, on my way back from the lake, I picked up two more bags of Chiggercraws and a Shad Rap in one of the new colors.

Hi, my avatar is farmpond1, and I'm a lureaholic. Unless you are in denial, you know who the baitmonkey is and that you are powerless against him. What I want to know is when the baitmonkey first climbed on your back? What were the circumstances around your addiction? Were you hooked immediately or did the addiction take some time?

The question is an oversimlification. Yes and/or no, depending upon the presentation type (fast moving crankbaits versus slow crawling soft plastics), the mood of the fish, water clarity, time of day, time of year, weather conditions, etc. etc. But everything else being equal, I'd go with clear line.

The pile of straw in the corner of my cell is good enough for me.

Guess they shouldn't have stopped serving chilli and grilled cheese in the lunchroom. This guy was clearly unbalanced.

I especially loved the moon walking bird near the end.

Not to be a fly in the ointment but the article was pretty clear that this isn't a "medical breakthrough." It was more of a "one off". However, knowledge leads to more knowledge so maybe something practical may come of it.

Soft plastics: Superflukes, brush hawgs, Senko's Hard baits: Mann's 1 minus, Rattletrap, Floating Rapala Spinners: Buzzbait, Spinnerbait, Panther Martin Spinner

Yeah, I'd agree. My boxers smell pretty bad. Guess I should change them more often. ;D

Shadowlands Casablanca Christmas Vacation Good Will Hunting There's Something About Mary

Hey Kllrbee, I'm a little farther South than you (Champaign/Urbana area) and I know it's been some time since you introduced yourself but wanted to know how your season turned out? Fishing can be a blessing and a curse sometimes. There are always big old bass under each lilly pad until you cast for them. Then they disappear. At least that's how it seems sometimes. Anyhow, I hope you hung in there and found some agreeable fish to feed your new found addiction.

I think the only time I've ever broken off is when I'm using braid and the eyelet on the hook isn't closed completely and the line slips down to the "gap" which is either sharp or too wide (That's my theory, anyway. It's nearly impossible to prove). Maybe his knots are otherwise good but he doesn't cinch them down tight enough and they work around to the gap.

I think the only time I've ever broken off is when I'm using braid and the eyelet on the hook isn't closed completely and the line slips down to the "gap" which is either sharp or too wide (That's my theory, anyway. It's nearly impossible to prove). Maybe his knots are otherwise good but he doesn't cinch them down tight enough and they work around to the gap.

I think the only time I've ever broken off is when I'm using braid and the eyelet on the hook isn't closed completely and the line slips down to the "gap" which is either sharp or too wide (That's my theory, anyway. It's nearly impossible to prove). Maybe his knots are otherwise good but he doesn't cinch them down tight enough and they work around to the gap.

Are you callin' me a "popper"? ;D What's a "popper"? Seriously though, if you're asking about poppers (the lure), my best story is the time the bass were totally ignorning my normal offerings. I had my fly rod with me and, giving up, had switched to fishing for the billion bluegill in the area. On a lark, I decided to tie on a big bass popper and although it was too big for my 5-weight rod and although it wasn't pretty, I managed to cast it out some distance. Those bass acted like they'd never seen anything so delicious in their lives. They rose to the popper with wild abandon. I'll never forget that day.

mmm...I'll guess 4 lbs and maybe some change.

It might be helpful to know what characteristics you're looking for first. What is it about the Fluke you want to get away from? There seem to be two versions of the fluke but without opening up the bag, I couldn't tell you how to distinguish them. One is a little less "rubbery" that is more boyant and a softer version which sinks better. I'm partial to the former but it suits my style better.

I had a friend in high school who began jumping from one obsession to another on a regular basis. You could almost set your calendar by it-if not your watch. And I had a roommate in college who adored Rush and Supertramp (this is clearly dating me) and one day he decided he didn't like who he was anymore and he gave away all his beloved albums. I was like "huh?" But clearly he felt there needed to be a change of some sort. To borrow lines from the Counting Crows song, Round Here, "...Says she's thinkin' of jumpin'. She says she's tired of life. She must be tired of something." Well, perhaps this is more extreme than your situtation (hope so) but maybe you can relate. Maybe you just need a break or an easing up on baseball. These days the pressures to succeed can be ginormous and can suck the life out of anything. Your... "identity crisis" could involve substance abuse, violence, and so forth so you sound like you are handling it more maturely than that. Good for you. I don't have any answers but as the saying "these things shall pass" is generally true, hopefully you'll find your stride.