electrikal

Good guess RW!! Big Bass was a 5lb 15oz smallmouth 8-). Seems most of the top 5 were fishing jig/trailers in 15' to 20' water over shell beds. Still in the summer pattern!

I was around 12 and had been fishing since I was 4 or 5 but that day still thrills me. A thunderstorm had come up and Dad didn't have a rainsuit for me. He put me out under the Natchez Trace bridge and headed up river (he was hardcore). I had a wornout purple fliptail worm (the HOT thing back then) that I proceed to throw towards the nearest pylon and, before he was out of sight, I set the hook on a nice one. The drag peeled as I reeled and I saw the fish jump. Usually Dad would have been there to give me advice (keep the tip down, don't reel too fast) but I had to manage on my own. I finally got the fish in to shore and realized I didn't have a stringer so I fabricated one by doubling up some line & tying off to a piece of driftwood. When Dad returned, after the rain lightened, I loaded my gear and pulled up my catch. Dad's eyes lit up and then grinned . He weighed it at 2 1/2 lbs (largemouth) but I was as proud as if it weighed 10 especially since he didn't have a thing to show for his fishing in the driving rain for over an hour . I've been hooked ever since that day 40 yrs ago.

GO FOR IT!! I consider myself a dedicated smallie fisherman but if I see a school of stripers or LM busting I gotta try my luck.

Congratulations to Grandpaw Catt!! I've got three myself. Or catch and release, you play with em for a while then send them on their way ;D.

But if anyone wants to know what I want for Christmas!!! :

Well said Muddy!! I couldn't agree more. But the baitmonkey does start screeeching whenever I see a bargain on better equipment than what I own. I fished with a buddy who wanted me to see the difference in some of the higher end equipment he owned and what I have. Cast like a dream and all that but I still out fish him on mine.

Spinnerbaits & Rattletraps. They can cover so many different depths & speeds. But I have to agree

I like the jointed Shad Rap in a crawdad color. Caught several this summer on a shad colored 1 1/4 oz Rattletrap imitation. All were better than 2.5lbs. Might be my new favorite :-/.

Everyone seems to be making good points here. I'm a firm believer in C&R but do, occasionally keep a few smaller LM. Love eating bluegill and crappie!! All smallies are released. If I don't bring home a few to eat occasionally, the wife might decide that the baitmonkey is a lady. ;D. She loves eating fish but not bass and certainly not the bigger ones.

Welcome to the best fishing site on the Internet, bar none. Great folks, terrific info 8-).

A 14' narrow aluminum flatbottom with a 7.5hp gamefisher. A handme down from my Grandfather. Great boat for creek fishing, not so good on the main river. Took her out one time and got caught cross river from home by a incoming storm. The wind blew so hard I wound up going across & with the waves 2 miles upriver from my takeout site. Followed the bank in on fumes. I would still have it today if not for a huge oak limb falling across the middle and making her just so much scrap metal.

Depends on how handy you are with a wrench. I did my 175 Mariner and didn't have much trouble. I needed a special flywheel puller (bought on Ebay) and a flywheel strap or holding tool. I fabricated my own strap from an old strap wrench and fan belt. A good manual is a must for any motor project you are unfamiliar with. Stators aren't cheap either so be sure you need one first!! You don't say how you determined that you need one. A manual will have trouble shooting tips on that too.

Congrats on a good trip out!! Cool pics of the snake!! I've seen smaller ones attempting to eat goldfish from the wife's backyard pond. The fish would be 6" and the snake barely 3/4" in diameter.

What RW said. Both could be equally effective on any given day. And don't rely solely on the depthfinder's indication of fish. Unless you have one of Hummingbird's new Sideviews 8-), you're only looking at what is right under the boat for a brief moment. Use the DF to find the humps, depressions & structure and fish it out with a Rattletrap or crankbait. Spinnerbaits work well in covering a wide depth range. Watch the DF and note what depth the fish are at & try fishing that depth but don't think that just because you don't see any that they aren't there. Wish I could honestly say "If you fish it, they will come" because it sounds cool but I can say if you don't you won't know if they are there or not.

Sweeeeet Smallies!!! Congrats on a good day on the river 8-).

If thats a world record then I caught my state record back in March!! Pass it on ;D. Seriously, lokks to be 6 to 7 lbs. Still a shame he ate it. It might have been a world record one day.

I use a dbl willow leaf 3/4 oz spinner alot in fact it's what I was using when I caught my PB smallmouth (5 3/4lb) for this year. I usually have one rig set up with a spinner at all times but haven't used the single heavier wt. lately. I'll have to give it another try. I've always felt that a large spinner gives a good imitation of a large shad or bluegill if fished properly. Nothing like casting past a good piece of deep structure, rippin' it up to it and letting it flutter down in front of their noses. If a smallmouth is there it really P.O.'s them into a strike. I caught three in a row, over 4 1/2 lbs, off three consecutive deep stumps, doing just that, back in March. GOOD DAY!! Thanks for the tip. Hey, guys, I don't want to know your favorite holes but if we weren't sharing tactics what would we talk about on this forum?

Nice fish, Randall. Where exactly did you catchem ;D I promise I want tell!! :-X :. I agree with you guys about the importance of location, conditions and attitude but, from what I read, so would Siemantel. Since I already utilize these in my fishing maybe I was looking for a "peptalk" or confirmation of my own fishing mindset. Big baits (which I haven't tried yet) would obviously not be an end all solution to big bass, just another "tool". That is also stated in the book. I've fish primarily for smallmouth in areas of Pickwick most other fishermen seem to be passing by (off shore structure, channels & isolated deep stumps) and have had good success doing so. Trying something out of the norm, i.e. - BIG bait, appealed to me so I was just checking out the forum response. I'm really not interested in personal opinions of the man just the techniques. RW - I had read some of your other post on fishing expensive swimbait in the Tenn River. I cringe when lose a $7.00 lure much less a $25.00+ one however I'm planning to do more fishing for LMB on Cedar Creek Lake. Plenty of standing timber on the edge of 50' to 75' steep dropoffs and much clearer water with numerous 10lb+ LM (no smallies though :'(). I think Mattslures might be just the ticket there. Still working on a day to get you down here on my favorite Pickwick spots (don't tell :-X) or up around the dam - your choice. Let you know soon.

No disrespect meant to FC. I guess the difference is that down South not many folks are onto the techniques he uses whereas, out West, where you guys are (fourbizzle/mattlures) - these methods are outdated & boring. I've been fishing for many years and have figured out several methods that work but would like to target the big fish I know exist in our waters. And Matt, I've seen your website and your lures look fantastic. I'll be ordering some soon. I would still like to know if any Southerns have had any luck using these methods. No specifics needed - I wouldn't want to know anybody's secrets :-X : ;D. Oh yeah, Matt, if you shouldn't blab why are you selling those cool lures or do you have something even more deadly up your sleeve.

Fourbizzle - I take it that you dislike Siemantel or disagree with him. Can you explain? I see you're from California so I guess you would know more about him. I just thought his approach was interesting.

I just completed reading "Big Bass Zone" by Bill Siemantel. I found it an excellent read on "thinking outside the box." I wondered if anyone else has read it and what your thoughts were on his tactics. It reads like FishChris could have written it. In particular, I'm interested in how you might have applied his methods in the South. I already was a firm believer in BIG BAIT, BIG FISH but his methods really call out for different tackle setup. The bait & tackle monkey is knocking at my door : AGAIN. Has anyone tried BIG swimbaits and 10-12" lures in the South (not including Florida) with any success?

Bowtech182 - You're 100% correct in your final reply. Voltage drop is especially critical when dealing with low voltage DC current. I used a multiconductor 6/3 SOW cable (12/24volt system) available at all electrical supply houses. Never looked for it at HD or Lowes. I liked the fact that it was enclosed it one sheathing. Made it easier to pull through the hull cavities and was neater in the exposed areas. SOW is rated for Outdoor use and the strands are very fine.

If you're a fair mechanic, get a manual and follow the troubleshooting guide. The I-boats forum is a site devoted to motor/boat repair but you will need to be able to describe your problem in more detail. You can save money if you do your own repairs but it can also cost a bundle if you screw it up. If you don't know a stator from a coil or where to locate them :-/ - a mechanic might be your best bet. You should get a manual anyway and study the maintenance section especially if you own an older motor. Hope you get it figured out. Oh yeah welcome to the best bass fishing website available.

I'm sure we can set something up but I'll be looking to learn a few things from you. I'll PM you.

Wizardman - First, welcome to the Forum. I don't know about a manual but, from personal experience in restoring my 84 Champion, there is not alot of manufacturer info available on the older boats. Someone on this forum may have knowlege of your boat and could answer your questions. As far as general restoration knowledge, I can probably help you out. I think this forum frowns on recommending specific websites but there are forums that deal more with boat restoration and with specific brands. Do a "bassboat restoration" search and several sites will come up. If the Moderators will allow it, I can post links to two sites that really get down & dirty on restoration & motors. Some of the folks over there seem to enjoy working on boats more than fishing. Personally, I'd rather fish ;D, and this is the best site available for bass fishermen (or women).