billybass

I tend to agree with Hawghunter. It almost sounds like you want him to go in and kiss everyone's butt. I recommend you go and be yourself. If you win your first tournament from the back of someone's boat, then good on you. The guys will know you came to play, not to watch! Be polite and be respectful, but don't bow down to anyone. Sorry Sam, but 24 years riding submarines will do this to a man.

Their is also the Nassau River Bassmaster's, a club I've seen out and about, and I'm hoping to hook up with them myself.

Three of us put our little bass hunter boats in one of the local ponds (SE GA) yesterday afternoon. At 4:30 their was a light breeze and the fish were schooling up shad and having a heck of a time, which led to us having a heck of a time. At about 7:45 the breeze laid down and we couldn't find a fish to save our lives until we started skipping small plastics up under the overhangs.

I went to the BPS in Hampton VA two weeks ago with a buddy that wanted to buy a new boat. Of course while he was making his purchase I started to wonder around. $335 out of my wallet later, we were heading home!!!

I fish SE GA and NE FLA and we have a lot of gators here to deal with. As stated, most of the time they're no problem. Often their aggressiveness depends on the time of year, you need to watch out during their spawning season. Are you fishing from a boat or from the bank? At night if you're walking the bank you probably won't be able to see one before you walk up on it and rattle its cage. That's when it will get aggressive! Also, as nb 1226 mentioned you don't want to feed them, or mess with one that is used to getting fed by someone else.

I'm originally from New London, CT but have been living in southeast GA for the past ten years. Primarily fish the ST. Johns river and some of the smaller lakes and rivers in NE Fla/SE GA. Most of you might not believe this, but I think the bass fishing is better up north.

While fishing in CT I would almost exclusively fish a wacky rigged zoom worm for SM in the early spring. As noted already this tends to produce alot of deep hooked fish, I personally believe in cutting the line on these thin wired aberdene hooks. Often times I'd catch a fish that still had a big hook and sometimes even a jig still stuck in its throat from the last fisherman that crossed its path. This tells me that those fish are still going to eat, no matter what. I have also witnessed numerous hooks that were rusting out while in the fishes throat, I don't think it takes as long as most of us would think for it rust out. ??? ??? ???

A few years back my wife and I ended up in the emergency room to check up on a freind that was rushed in there. While sitting in the waiting room something seemed odd about the little boy (8 or 9 year old) sitting across from me. All of a sudden I realized he had a hook sticking out the side of his cheek. He, his brother, and his mom explained to me what happened, same old story. I could tell the little guy was pretty nervous so I told him not to worry, the doctors have new and painless ways of getting hooks out. After some continued reassurance from me he seemed to be doing pretty well. Finally a nurse came and took him into the back. After a couple of minutes we heard terrible screams coming from behind the closed door. I looked at my wife, I looked at the boys family, then I calmly got up, kissed my wife, and informed her I'd be waiting in the truck. Then I ran as fast as I could out the building and across the parking lot. To this day I can't imagine how bad that little kid wants to kick my butt!

Fishing a tourn. in Charleston SC I caught a 9lb 2oz LM. Funny thing is I had decided to take a break and have a sandwich and a Pepsi. Just to say I was still fishing I cast out a worm and held the rod in one hand while eating. All of a sudden I felt a couple of taps, told my partner I had a hit, got rid of the sandwich and set the hook. At first I thought it must be a big mud fish. But when it came to the surface and shook its head I almost pi$$ed my pants. My partner ended up netting the fish for me for what I still consider to be a great catch. Worst part is I got beat out for big fish by a 10lb 3oz beautiful fish.

Hey Basskid1, I live here in Kings Bay and obviously do most of my fishing in Fla. Where do you primarily fish?

A few years ago my son and I kept a small bass (6")in a 20 gal aquarium. As already stated you will definately learn a lot by watching it every day. You can get a good feel for changes in behavior when a cold front comes in and how they relate to the cover in the tank. We kept ours for about a year and then released it. In that time it probably grew about 3 or 4 inches. The biggest challenge was going and catching/buying minnows about every other day to feed it.

I appreciate all the talk about throwing jigs. Other than throwing them at the base and into the knees of the cypress trees here in Fla I have no clue how to fish them. I know plenty of people that have great success throwing them, but I have such a hard time with the thought of throwing this big hunk'n jig into heavy grass and being able to keep in free and clear enough to catch a fish. Any suggestions???

If you can see the nests, a lizard or craw always works. A fluke also gets em.

Hey IGuideETex, Do you have a price in mind for either of your boats. I'm looking for a newer boat. Email me at wweldy1@woh.rr.com if so. Bill

Western Ohio, near Dayton. I fish mostly streams for smallmouth, but take several out of state trips each year and at least one to upper Canada for 100 smallies a day. I just found this forum so I'm new. I have been a member of BD forum for a couple of years. I like what I've seen so far, and look forward to new friends. Bill