I have been fishing south florida for 50 years now.  I have had days when 200 fish were a real possibility in 6 hours and now we have the possibility of catching Peacock on every trip.  I would have loved to fish with Tom and observe his techniques and pick his brain for a while.  Catching a huge double digit in one of his waters would have been icing on the cake.  A wealth of information, experience and knowledge is the real greatness of this sport.  We are just lucky to have Tom with us on this great site.  God bless you my friend, and hope many more years sharing with us!    

3 hours ago, geo g said:

I have been fishing south florida for 50 years now.  I have had days when 200 fish were a real possibility in 6 hours and now we have the possibility of catching Peacock on every trip.  I would have loved to fish with Tom and observe his techniques and pick his brain for a while.  Catching a huge double digit in one of his waters would have been icing on the cake.  A wealth of information, experience and knowledge is the real greatness of this sport.  We are just lucky to have Tom with us on this great site.  God bless you my friend, and hope many more years sharing with us!    

 

Amen.

I think I would have liked fishing with WRB and trying for a huge fish when I was much younger. At my age now, I enjoy fishing my small quarry lake. No crowds, and a laid back relaxing fishing trip is where it's at for me.

1 hour ago, Mobasser said:

I think I would have liked fishing with WRB and trying for a huge fish when I was much younger. At my age now, I enjoy fishing my small quarry lake. No crowds, and a laid back relaxing fishing trip is where it's at for me.

 

We're alike in many ways. I targeted big bass in 2023 and caught half a dozen 6.5+-pounders, which are equivalent to southern DDs on the In-Fisherman Master Angler chart, but I've been more relaxed this year, happy to catch scores of four and five-pounders along with hundreds of three-plus-pounders. I think what switched me to happy fishing as opposed to focused fishing was landing my PB in April, a bass that I don't expect to ever surpass. She was a freak, with Hulk's shoulders and a softball for a belly. Also, since buying waterfront acreage, I've focused on learning my pond and managed to catch dozens of bass that were nearly four pounds. I think the coming years will only improve my catches. However, there are times, like this coming Saturday morning, when I still target big bass. Of course, targeting them doesn't mean I'll catch one. 

I'd love to fish the California Delta back in the day with a frog for sure!  I think if I could go back in time - I'd even skip the hunt for the world record bass for that bite I reckon!  Teeners on frogs back before everyone fished frogs all the time? - get outta town.  That's FUN!

Yes that be would cool, Get done there hit Florida.

Lots of finger pointing going on during late 80’s to early 90’s at both lakes Casitas and Castiac regarding using illegal live bait. 
The handful regulars at Castiac were Bob Crupi, Danny Kadota, Gary Harrison ( guide), Dan Sampson were on the lake everyday during March. Each angler had their well known areas and camped out on them using live crawdads. Never witnessed the regulars using live trout but watched it happen by other anglers.

March is a rainy month in SoCal with fronts coming and going creating unstable weather but it was also the height of pre spawn at Castiac. Casitas was a month earlier in February and most of the same group of anglers except Crupi* were there plus local guides. You get to know these guys and leave them alone ( lower profile the better).

Since I was fishing jigs was mobil moving around avoided the anchored bait anglers as much as possible unless I was there 1st. 

Tom
*the late Bob Crupi was a cop who took the month off to fish. Kadota and Sampson were San Diego skippers and Fed/March was their off season.

Thanks for the insider info, Tom. 

Who cares about fishing, I just want to be back in 1991..

19 hours ago, Gera said:

Who cares about fishing, I just want to be back in 1991..

 

Some people believe that if you get enough face lifts, you're young again. I don't suggest following their lead. 

 

 

I'd like to, but I probably screw up the timeline.

I wanna be me, but wanna fish with Tom.....I bet I could learn something......

No, I wouldn't want that. Tom brings his own experiences and history to this site. No one else can do it the same way he did. 

 

Currently, I believe the most exciting things in bass fishing are night fishing and whatever the heck has been going on in NY this year. Looking at you, Cayuga. The smallmouth scene is just crazy up North, too. Down South, TX is the best in the nation, because TPWD actually cares about largemouth bass and their habitat.

Since the majority would choose to not have lived Tom's life, consider the flip side: An 11-pound bass would thrill any of us. It's beyond my ken. I'll never see one in person, much less catch one. However, an 11-pound bass is common compared to a 13-pound bass. And a 13-pound bass is common compared to a 15-pound bass. And a 15-pound bass is common compared to a 17-pound bass...and Tom caught three of those. And a 17-pound bass is common compared to a 19-pound bass...and Tom actually caught a 19-pound bass...and an 18-pounder too. So, I change my mind. Sure, I wouldn't like the craziness of those days with anglers lining up to break the world record, but if I could, I would. 

12 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

I'd like to, but I probably screw up the timeline.

 

Yeah, you probably would and I'd end up with a T-Rex's head. Wait, I'd like a T-Rex's head, so do it! I just wouldn't want a T-Rex's arms. I couldn't cast with those. 

2 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

Wait, I'd like a T-Rex's head, so do it!

Just be prepared for the problem, Katie...big head on little body will give you 'such a crick in the neck'

@MN Fisher: The roar would be worth it!