Taliesin

The winds do have a big effect on how the fish act. There are a couple of possible effects: With the wind coming from the bank, fish might be there for any bugs that are blown into the water. More likely they will be on near the bank with the wind coming off the water. The wind blows the plankton to that shore, the shad follow, and the bass follow the shad. The windy days concentrate the plankton more, so the shad concentrate more, so more bass will be there.

I am a fan of braided line (in it's place), but I got use to it for catfishing from the bank below a dam. I'm fishing for some BIG fish too (50#+), so line with less than 30# test isn't appropriate. I needed 100 yard casts and the braid also helps with keeping wind/current resistance low. I used 65# and 80# test Power Pro which have the diameter of 16# and 20# test mono. If I had used 50# test mono I wouldn't have been able to cast far enough or have the ability to get a really good hookset at those distances. From there I moved to using braid for hybrid topwaters. From there it moved on to some black bass applications (like heavy weeds). However, it's not for everyone and it's not appropriate for all applications.

A couple of other options: Cut off the front facing hook of each treble. Replace the trebles with doubles and face the hooks to the back of the bait. This is the better option since the hooks they come with aren't the best. It won't completely get rid of all the hang-ups, but it will reduce them.

My procedure after 2 to 3 months with a new boat and almost always launching alone: Park in the prep area, get out, unhook the safety line between the boat and the trailer, unhook the electric between the truck and the trailer, loosen the winch, move to the back, unhook the back straps, release the transom saver, lower the motor (just make sure it's not going to hit ground while backing it in), put in the drain plug, close the valve on the livewell drain. Get back in the truck, back the trailer in until the water is just over the trailer hubs. I DO NOT come to an abrupt stop. If I happen to stop too suddenly, it's not a big thing as I leave the winch so that it won't let the boat move back very far. I used to unhook the winch and leave the safety strap on, but if the strap ends up catching it, I have to hook the winch back up, pull it in a little, then unhook them both. I then step out and step up on the back bumper and onto the trailer tongue, release the winch strap, step in (grabbing the life vest and putting it on), start up the motor and back it off. I do have a courtesy dock with tie-down points on the outside, so I tie up there, get back to the truck and park it (depending on how far I have to go to park I might hook the trailer electric back up). Head back to the boat, untie it, start it up, and off I go. I am still a bit slow, but the time I take up at the ramp is around 2 to 3 minutes (5 to 6 minutes for bringing the boat back in depending on the wind). How far you back the trailer in (and how low you can trim your motor) will depend on your particular boat and trailer. My trailer is a bit higher than most of them I have seen, so I have to back in until the hubs are covered and can trim my motor all the way down (with 6" of clearance). The truck's back bumper is usually even with the water (it's a fairly steep ramp).

I just made a purchase from *** and used PayPal without inputing any account info. Can't remember how it went, but it worked out fine. As for the original post, I won't buy anything from ebay anymore unless it has a good picture. And for lures, a good pic of the box would be good as well.

I'm not sure what to think about these lures, but there are some pros and cons: Bass DO eat snakes. I have seen and heard too many stories about snakes in bass bellies. These are lures intended for BIG bass. you might get an occassional small (less than 17") bass on it, but probably in the fall when they are stocking up for winter and will attack anything. Don't expect many bites on it, but the bites you get will be BIG.

I have never worried much about tying a loop type of knot on my hard baits, and it may have affected my fishing. However, this idea makes a LOT of sense to me and I am surprised I haven't thought of it before. Thanks for this advice that I WILL use!

I'm not the most informed person on flouro, but it sounds like you are haveing the same problem a lot of people have with braid. Because there is no stretch, you don't need to "cross their eyes" with the hookset. A mono line hookset is meant for that stretch. You might think about loosening your drag some too. If the line is snapping, your drag is too tight. Set your drag to 1/4 of the line's highest strength (or 1/4 of your rod/reel rating if that is lower).

Catfish DO have poison in their spines, but different species have different poisons. The worst ones are the saltwater cats. Most of the freshwater cats have a poison that is just annoying. All it does is cause it to sting "a bit". If it's just too much for you, rub your wound on the side of the fish that did it. The catfish have specific anti-toxins to their own poisons. The worst part of the cats is is part of that spine gets broken off inside the wound. If that happens, seek medical attention and definately let them know that it was caused by a catfish. There have been a few people that have lost the use of a limb because a spine piece was lodged inside and never found and infection set in.

I guess I'll have to chime in on this one (just saw it): William Curtis Selement TSgt (E-6) USAF Whiteman AFB Missouri

Well... I'm not sure about the price of milk, but today's gas prices were: Boat: $2.61 (regular unleaded) Truck: $2.11 (E85)

Because I only post from work where I can't fish? At home I don't even have time for TV. I get 2 channels and don't watch either one of them.

Coming from a catfishing background, I understand why a lot of people have problems with circle hooks. Because of the hooks design you CAN NOT SET THE HOOK!! A lot of bass fisherman (and some catfishermen like me) can't get used to this, so it doesn't work for me. The reason a lot of catfishermen (and ocean fishermen) use them is that it's almost impossible to guthook a fish with them. Due to it's design it will slide out of the throat and catch in the corner of the mouth. But if you set the hook, it comes out too fast and will slide out of the mouth as well.

Northern's can be tough on lures. When I fished for them I used $1.00 special bass spinners and buzzbaits. I never went for the really big ones, but caught a ton of them up to 30". I didn't need anything bigger or more expensive, and the cheapo lures still caught 15 to 20 of them each.

It doesn't happen a lot but it does happen, especially if the fish have been feeding a lot recently. About three weeks ago I was in a local tourney where everyone caught fish that threw up after being caught. Every fish caught was so stuffed it was surprising anyone caught a fish. The shad hatch was about 3-4" long and EVERYWHERE. The fish weren't hungry, but were all caught on reaction bites. It's hard to tell from your pic, but it may be that your fish wasn't hungry either but had a stuffed belly and was caught by reaction bite.

To go along with that, the tools have to match up well. If the angler can't use braid (for whatever reason), then it's the wrong tool. I love braid and use it anytime I can, but I understand that for some people it's not the right choice.

I guess I have been fishing too long. I walk the dog left-handed, right-handed, with baitcasters, with spinning reels, and used to do it with spincasts. I do "walk" a little different though. I don't normally put the rod up or down for walking, but to the side.

Seeing that it is a flathead catfish, you probably are using it right, and in the right places. Flatheads feed very differently from most other catfishes. Flatheads seek out cover just like a bass does, and hunts just like a bass does (with just a little extra scent use). One heck of a predator. I think your problem is that the flatheads are eating all your bass. The one in your pic... I guesstimate around 30# (maybe more, not the best at guessing weight)... it would eat a 6# bass (maybe bigger) if it could get a hold of it.

There is some truth to this one. The same factors that affect fish also affect all other animals (yes, humans too). Unless the cows are fed at specific times of the day, if they are feeding then the fish usually are too. Those of you who have pets might have noticed this. If your pets are acting feisty, go fishing. Those fish out there are acting feisty too. I have seen this too many times when my room mates pets (two dogs and two cats) are "acting out". They go nuts, I have to get away from them 'cause they are irritating me too much, I go fishing, catch more fish than usual. If I feel full of energy and don't know why, I can usually catch more fish. More myths: Never release the first fish, or it will be your last. (very old, and before catch and release and before many states had regulations on sizes) Women can not clean fish (they can, but it's a conspiracy. If they clean fish once, they know they will have to clean them for the rest of their lives)

Not sure what to add here. I learned how to drive a manual on a '76 Plymouth Volare stationwagon. Yeah, it was a while ago and that was what I learned to drive on. My personal thought is that all driver's ed cars should be manual. It does take some practice, but I HATE driving an automatic. Start out in a parking lot. Just practice getting the feel of where the clutch starts the engage. Don't give it any gas yet, but just sit still and learn where the engine starts to bog down without letting it bog down enough to stall. Next start moving a few times. you only need to go 5 feet or so, then stop and do it again. As far as inclines, find one that is deserted to practice on (might be late at night?). For steeper inclines (local boat ramps) I still set the parking brake, give the engine a little gas, let the clutch out until I "break even", let off the parking brake, then give a little more gas, a little less clutch, and off I go.

So many choices, and all of them good. jerkbaits, lipless cranks, weightless plastics, shallow cranks, spinners, and swimbaits: run them just above the grass Jigs and t-rigs worked in the grass buzzbaits and other topwaters. Active fish will come up that far to get their food. I think my first choice might be a C-rig, especially with a floating or really slow-falling plastic. Make the leader long enough that the plastic runs near the top of the grass.

Good weed to have around for bass. As long as you don't have too much of it. One of the local ponds I fish is around 3-4 acres, with only 1 acre of water usable by the fish. The milfoil is so thick the fish can't swim in it. When I catch a fish I have to be careful about where I put it back in because they can't get back to open water. The place has some nice bass, but they have all been getting really skinny since this stuff has taken over the pond. Tons of baitfish in the pond, but way too many places for the baitfish to hide where the bass can't find them.

Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

Flipping from shore is possible. Something a lot of people don't think about is that you can sneak up on fish that are holding on the shoreline. If you ever see anyone "stalking" up to shore to fish, don't think they are stupid. It can be done and can get you some really nice fish. It does work best in stained (or murkier) water where the fish can't see you. Some of my better fish have come from sneaking up on a tree and flipping or pitching under it.

Thanks for all the help. I ended up getting a G. Loomis Mossyback BCR853. 7' 1" MH XF. It's part of their "jig & worm" series. My "local" tacklestore (40 miles away) gave me a 10% discount from the sticker price. Got it for $198. Roadwarrior: My confusion from the topwater thread was from the end of your list where you stated you used the ES70MF for your plastics and light jigs, but you were suggesting I try the AC70MHXF. My first thoughts were agreeing with the AC70MHXF (and i ended up with something very similar), but your use of the ES70MF confused me.