ball_coach_1

Enjoying the posts. My grandfather and my buddy's grandfather when we were kids. Can't wait to fish with them again on the 'other side'. Hope my son posts on a site someday that he loves the days on the water with me.

Whooa now, Ike is like Earnhardt? Easy fellas, easy. Dale didn't SAY, DANCE, SELF-PROMOTE a thing, he just WAS intimidating. Tiger Woods does not say ANYTHING, he is intimidating. Kevin VanDam says NOTHING, he is intimidating. I do not HATE Iaconelli. BUT... If you have peers/co-workers/friends that are NOT interested in fishing, they have always seen bass fishing as "good ol' boys" that were at least seen as bunkins that were well behaved, respectful, and respected others. (my experience) I have people now asking me if people in bass fishing are "like the idiot that acts like a six year old"? Yeah, that is the type of questioning now...."is that guy serious??" I am not judging Ike, but people that are now (who haven't before) are a lot of people that had NO judgement of bass fishing before. Just a clue, the guy may be making money (mostly for himself, a bit for others), but those outside of the sport have a tendency to think LESS of the sport because of him.

I have had good trips without a guide. I have had bad trips without a guide. I have never had a bad trip that started the week with a guide, and my best trips ever started the week WITH a guide. If you can afford it, and you are spending time and effort to travel to go fishing on a body of water with great opportunities, GET A GUIDE.

Appreciate the posts so far. Guess I should have been more general and not so specific towards Roland Martin. My biggest observation, or question, was regarding the experience of someone LIKE Roland versus a younger talent like Iaconelli. Is EXPERIENCE in fishing in someone LIKE Roland less significant in a sport like fishing than I have believed it to be? In his mind, or his words, he used as specific example of a guy outfishing him when following him up in three consecutive spots....and it was stated as if this was one of MANY instances recently he see this happen. Are the new generation of guys so good that they are better than a legend?

Many of you guys read this month's article about Roland's retirement from competitive bass fishing??? I would have to think that experience in bass fishing would be as valuable as experience in any other venture or profession. Roland is quoted in regards to exact reasons of why he knew when it was time to hang it up. It was specific in his fishing exact places, and being followed up by Iaconelli and Ike catching fish where he didn't. More less, he couldn't keep up with the young guys of the profession. Do you think the differences in age give the young guys THAT much of an advantage due to focus, healthy joints and muscles, etc. that allow the power fishing/speed of the game be the advantage? Can the younger guys be better because of more accessible knowledge while learning the sport? My opinion - the hunger of the competition. The young guys are trying to become the best, or make a living. Roland has lost his past hunger, because he made his name and doesn't need the check to survive. Any thoughts?

I assume that it is near impossible to prove one over the other, but here is my very weak experience: I have fished in Florida/TX/Alabama/Georgia/KY waters many times, and love them all. BUT, this past summer I took my first trip to Maine, and LBH's post made me think about the trip. I told the guy I rented from/fished with up there that the 2 and 3 pound LM that I caught up there ALL seemed to fight like bigger fish I had caught in the past. My brother-in-law thought the same thing. NOT a scientific opinion, and I am probably getting physically weaker by the day, but your post is an interesting one LBH. CAN it be proven either way???

Yes sir! cedar, that is what I am talking about. Those do look just like the zoom finesse worm I was using this past year when we were at West Branch. Now I can buy them half-price from you. I got your message late last night. Give me a call. Good luck hunting! I will be back Wednesday....we HAVE to get together this week. PM me on here with a web address for the club tourney schedule. Later, AJ

1. VanDam 2. Hite 3. Nixon

Oh yeah, take me back to my days as a kid and we would trespass all the time to hit those golf course ponds. GREAT fishing. But getting caught and arrested ain't so great. If you ever make it to a PGA tour event, and stick around on the practice days until about everyone is off the course, you will find droves of the pros heading out fishing on the tournament site's ponds/waters. They like to fish too, and there is a reason it is worth their time to bring along the fishing gear. One other thing about why golf course waters are so good to fish (other than you are not supposed to fish them legally - anything that is illegal to fish is always awesome) is taking in consideration all of the fertilizer that goes in to golf course soil. This equals run-off, etc, etc. Lots of fertile soil AND water those golf course properties...don't think that fact doesn't have something to do with fish qualities too.

Let me add to the "Lowrance is poor" column. I had my x125 installed March '04. The temp gauge was out come March '05, after being on the water maybe 20 some times, and garage-kept. I emailed twice, called and waited about five, and left two messages. A MONTH later I get a call, 'sorry, were busy', and they sent me a transducer to see if that was the problem. I still don't know, because they sent me the wrong piece. Almost September, and the problem is STILL not resolved. Do yourself a favor, do NOT buy a Lowrance unit. Sad thing is, I would have not stated that up until the past year, but I have read the same stories as above about 50 times on other sites in the past month. Business is NOT good at Lowrance these days.

Looking to have my '97 Stratos re-carpeted. The carpet is not in bad shape, but it is pulling a bit on the edges. The carpets on the models aren't nearly as good and sharp as the carpet on the last few years' models. Anyone in the business or had their boats re-carpeted. Mine is a 17 footer. Curious to the estimated price for the carpet and labor. Any knowledge would be helpful. Thanks.

That is a good question and a great post. I would like to fish with VanDam. Let me take that back. I would just like to ride in the boat and watch. The speed and precision of his casts, the amount of water he covers, and obviously the way/speed in which he put a pattern together.

From what I have heard, and hope is accurate because the only way I have read it on electronics, is bands of "fish" that look suspended at an exact depth on the sonar. By the way, more than coincidence, there is a pretty good article in this month's (July/August) Bassmaster Magazine that speaks of the exact subject in which you are writing. You get this down, and you are doing some serious fishing. This takes a lot more than just beating the bank in the heat of summer.

If you are a visual learner, and are serious about getting better at the techniques, I would recommend a DVD/VHS. Bass Pro Shops has a line of videos with Kevin Van Dam, Larry Nixon, Woo Daves and Stacey King. Each guy has three in a series of different techniques and patterns. I would recommend all of them, but don't own any of the Stacey Kings. The one you may want to purchase is KVD's "Pitchin' To Heavy Hitters". I am fairly certain that is the title. It is about 40 minutes in length, and it is just about all technique oriented. Don't be too proud, it is ridiculous how good that dude is with all the techniques. I guarantee he could hit a dime from his boat from 25 yards plus. Anyway, just a tip, my opinion worth your while if you want to get some basic fundamentals.

I like Carolina riggin' a BUNCH. Back home, that is the way to catch the fish this time of year. Up in NE Ohio, I think the fish made it illegal and stay in the skinny water most of the time. You can look at some articles here on this site that will be a lot more detailed than me, and I will keep from typing all night. Basically, main line, sinker (egg sinker is my preference), bead(s), swivel, liter, hook. In that order, top to the bottom. I prefer a braid with a flourocarbon liter. Play with the liter length...short as 12 inches, and maybe up to 3+feet. I would guess the average is around 18". Depends on the water you are fishing....over a grassline, etc. Use your electronics, attempt to find summer haunts....drag main and secondary lake points, around or over grass beds, humps and ledges, or even fish it is skinny water near deeper water. What do you put on the hook??? That is my biggest issue fishing a c-rig. Finding what the fish want ONCE I find them. My ol' reliable is a lizard, but worm, finesse worms, fries and 'pedes, flukes, senkos, creature baits and tubes. Take your pick. Occasionally, haven't done it up here, but one lake in Northern KY, a c-rigged Rapala or floating crank almost always got a bite this time of year. One problem...money. Good way to catch fish if you know you have a good chance at losing some. Hope this helps...again, I would go to read some articles to find some detailed help...hope this gets ya started. Good fishin'.

Now THAT'S a HAWG. What's the length/weight/girth??? My guess is 14+ and 28" length. Close?

*sigh* Still no wall-hanger. About 8 years ago in Texas, 23 7/8"...depending on the scale, between 7lb 8oz and 7lb 12oz. It was on a watermelon fluke in April. This spring, caught one in March on Lake Seminole. Weight unknown, digital scale wouldn't weigh it. It went just at 25", and got a picture. Best guess, 8lb and a hair. It was caught on a brushhawg off a spawning flat. Big-mamma. Both fish were left to fight again. The next one that close to those sizes will NOT. Largest smallie was this week with Pro Guide Cedar1. Scale said right at 4lb 1oz, on a white spinner bait with a white blade of break wall rocks. Have a picture, hope to post it soon.

Curious how many of you are in to using dyes and color dips/markers on your baits and plastics. I am a big proponent of their use. About 10 years ago we went on a famous lake with a guide the first day. Before we left the bait shop, he told us we had better purchase the couple of bottles remaining or expect less of a bite for the day and remainder of the week. I was skeptical. He proved there was never a reason to be. If the baits weren't tipped with color that week, you just didn't get bit. A lesson learned and not forgotten. To this day, when I KNOW there are fish where I am fishing, and I know the fish should be liking the presentation but are not, I first change baits and presentation. If still a struggle, a slight change in color with just tips/or LOTS of bait being dyed makes a difference MANY times. Perhaps there are those out there 100% with me, and perhaps there are those who say I am dead wrong. Look forward to replies and any other additions that might help me keep improving with bait presentations and tactics.

I would agree with much above. If you can 'match the hatch', I believe this is good in theory - but it seems to be more relevant in cranks and spinnerbait blades in my experience. There is much truth in my opinion to using more natural colors (greens, watermelons, pumpkins, browns) in clearer water. As well, as mentioned above, it seems the more tinted/dingy the water, the darker the plastic or jig. BUT, some fish in some specific waters like a certain color bait/presentation, no matter what. Written above are general statements. There is a specific lake 'back home' in which a chartreuse finesse worm is usually the ticket. That particular worm on other lakes is average at best wherever else I have used it, but at this particular lake (in which my friends and I actually call it the "lake X worm") it produces year round even when it doesn't make the 'general' color of use sense. I have yet to find a chartreuse worm/craw or baitfish in this lake.

I notice most guys that fish a bunch - the confusion of 'cover' versus structure - is a real pet peeve. Like the response above...wood, logs, grass, weeds, docks ARE cover. Humps, channels, ledges, depressions, roadbeds, bluffs ARE structure. I wish the bass were in the 8 inch to 4 feet of water year round, but it just isn't that way, and I guess if it was, EVERYONE would love bass fishing.

Well, I guess I am gonna have to buy it. There is no question, that joker can fish. Hope it is more about fishing/technique than personal biography. I was hoping I wasn't a loner in my feeling for his on the water 'antics'. The screaming, my goodness, it drives me nuts. You know the old school guys want to just whip his little #$s.

KU_Bassmaster, Like the reply. Makes my ego feel good when someone else on here who posts often agrees with what I have to say. I will let my wife read this so she can't feel so sure of herself when she tells me I never know what the hell I am talking about with ANYTHING.

*LOL* Well, technically I wear another logo here in the 'Buckeye State', but am actually as much a Kentucky Wildcat as anything. Card-carrying hillbilly actually. I am o.k. with the Sooners, liked Switzer, like the Stoops family. I can't remember the place I heard about a similar trip, believe I talked to the guy who did it, or read it somewhere. Either way, the thought is not all original, but it now is claimed as my own dream. If you want to join and at least pick up half of the tab, let me know, you are in on the plan. One necessity of the trip is my wife will not be allowed to join in on this one. Guess it wouldn't certify as a dream fishing trip then, eh?

I don't know man, doesn't sound all that 'sucky' to me. I would trade dry/dropping water for what you have right now...any day. In my opinion, go up with the water. Obviously you should have plenty of water with visible cover to fish...the fish will follow the water up, and should be where you are seeing the baitfish. Not sure where you are, or what the water temp is, so it is hard to give an opinion on bait...but sounds like me you should be attempting to match the hatch with spinnerbait/cranks/plastics. I would LOVE my local waters to be 4 to 6 feet up right now.

I would like to do one of those 'retired guy tours'. I would like to leave after New Year's hauling the boat to Florida for a about six weeks and hit all of the trophy waters four four or five days. Hit the pre-spawn waters of Georgia/Alabama for the pre-spawn (Guntersville, Eufala, Seminole Weiss, West Point), hit the big three in Texas for a couple of weeks (Lake Fork, Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn) during March, and hit the Carolina/Tennessee/Kentucky waters again during the pre-spawn (Santee, Pickwick, Watts Bar, Dale Hollow, Kentucky-Barkley). Of course, the portfolio better do well the next 20 years, but I am hoping this can happen. I must admit, I am itching to hit Mexcio or Cuba myself for the trip of a lifetime. If you guys have a free ticket for your dream trip to thosedestinations, let me know.