Bob

Thanks, guys. So it's ok to mess up them nice treble hooks? I haven't had any gut hooks with the Rapalas (I can't see how that would even be possible), but them fish had faces full of treble hooks! It certainly looks....uncomfortable. Aside, I also like fishing the Rapalas better than Senkos because it's more intense when the fish takes the bait. POW! Great fun! 8-) I'm going out now!

I can't take them--it's CNR only fishing, and they're "golf course lake" fish--probably loaded with chemical pesticides and/or fertilizers, and not that good to eat even if they could be taken.

More questions from a newbie... I gill-hooked a fish with a Rapala treble hook today, and it took some not-so-delicate maneuvering to get the hooks out. I know I took a little flesh(?) off the gills, and it was oozing blood. I released it, and it swam away pretty well, so I'm hopeful that it survived. My question(s) are: How bad is it when a fish starts bleeding like that? Is it a death sentence for the fish? What are it's chances for surviving? Maybe this is just a dumb question, but I'm curious--do fish have a clotting factor in their blood? If a fish is bleeding badly, should I just euthanize it? What do you do if it doesn't swim away? I'm pretty sure it would not last very long where I live--birds or gators will have their way in no time... I'd been taking the barbs off of circle hooks and using plastics, and even though I still gut-hooked a few, I was usually able to get the hook out without causing any bleeding. I tried a few Rapala lures, and caught fish with them, but should I take the barbs off of the treble hooks? They seem like really good hooks, and I don't want to ruin them. It's not like it's the end of the world or anything for me if the fish dies. I love catching them, but I don't like injuring them at all. Goes with the territory, I guess.

That's what I was hoping for! I don't know how much the difference might be where I live, but I could still pay more than you're paying and still have it be reasonable. Just out of curiousity, is the ramp free of cost? If I do this, I'll probably be out anywhere from 3-6 days a week, and launch fees (if any) could possibly add considerable costs... I'm just looking for "ballpark" numbers to give me a better idea...I'll certainly check out my local area ASAP. Thank ya! 8-)

I'm thinking about buying a boat, but I have no place on my property to keep it (deed restriction and my garage is too small). If you don't mind saying, I'd like to know where you keep your boat when you're not using it (marina? storage facility? friend's house?) and about how much it costs you per month (or year) to do so. (I live in Florida, but I'm interested in knowing regardless of where you are located) Thank you!

Anyone...? Even some basic info or just trying to point me in the right direction will be much appreciated. Thank you.

Double palomar. Up until a few weeks ago I didn't even know what a palomar knot was. ;D Today, I'm working on the rapala knot.

What features and functions do you look for in a rod and/or reel (besides price) that makes you say "now this....this is good stuff..." I'm in search of some new tackle. I'd like to buy used gear if possible, hopefully save me some $$, but I'm not sure what to look for that is indicative of good (or poor) quality. Please educate me. TA!

Cool! Thanks for the replies! I find this of interest because I'm basically at "ground zero" of my bass fishing experience--I caught my first bass less than 1 month ago. I've learned a lot about bass fishing in the last month, most of which was learned right here at this site. Maybe you people can give me a small glimpse into my bass fishing future! 8-) Keep 'em comin'!

As a neophyte bass fisherman, I would like to ask you some questions: How has fishing for bass changed for you since you first started? When did you start? Have you been plugging along (no pun intended) with the same gear you've always used, or have you upgraded always with an eye out for the latest gear improvements? Has technology increased your ability to catch fish, and if so, how? Has bass fishing changed YOU in any way? Are you a "different person" because of it? Do you live your life differently now, perhaps substituting a few days fishing on the lake as a vacation instead of, say, a few rounds of golf at your favorite course (or some other recreational/vacation activity)? Are you fishing differently than you did when you first started, maybe using a boat now instead of fishing from shore, or vice-versa? Are you a tournament chaser now, as opposed to being a "just for fun" fisherman, or has competing lost it's appeal to you and you'd now rather just take it slow, without trying to win anything? In general, has fishing improved for you, or is it not as good or as much fun as it used to be? Has fishing improved your life, or has it created some personal difficulties? Basically, how was this whole "bass fishing" thing for you when you first started, and how is it for you now?

Not over the top. I'm not talking about calling a S.W.A.T. team in...just notifying the authorities. We're talking about one youth confronting a few armed and apparently unsupervised youths who may have also committed a misdemeanor, at the least. Notifying the authorities is a much safer way to handle this situation, and in general is a safer way to confront armed individuals. If you see someone who you feel may be breaking the law and is also using/has used a weapon, call the police. It's much easier to clear up a simple misunderstanding among neighbors than it is to clear up a homocide, even just an accidental one.

Unless there is an imminent threat to you or someone else, you should never EVER talk to someone who has committed a crime or is in the act of committing a crime--even if the crime could be considered "petty" or "small". Always call the authorities--even if it's "only" the local police, and provide as much detail of the situation as you safely can. Always get a name of the person you have spoken with. Even with the best of intentions, directly addressing someone who may have committed a crime will rarely defuse a situation, and it could make a situation dangerous to yourself and/or others. I repeat: ALWAYS call the authorities ASAP, and always get a name. It's their job to address these situations. They're trained to do so, and they are almost always better able to protect themselves should the situation worsen. Let them deal with the decision as to what is an actual crime, or not. That way, it's much harder to go wrong for you.

I had some mixed luck today as far as number of fish caught (3) and their size (all under 2lbs) for the amount of time fishing (about 3 hours), but at least there were no gut-hooks.

Sorry, not a gopher turtle. It was a softshell.

Well, today I went to a different lake and I hooked my first....turtle. It was a gopher turtle, and just when I was getting ready to cut the line, it freed itself. I'm glad I push the barbs down on my hooks... Then I gut-hooked a catfish. : Lip-hooked a nice, fat largemouth! 8-) Gut-hooked a catfish... : Done for the day... It's a cool spot though, I'll be going back...probably try to stay off the bottom next time. I'll tell you, they're literally inhaling Senkos and Berkley plastics... Incidentally (and I know this is probably a dumb question), but can you handle a catfish the same way you handle a bass, a thumb in the mouth to remove a hook? Are catfish as easy in that regard as bass are?