fishinwrench

Anybody that says tournament fishing is "not about the money" is full of beans. Back in the mid-90's a multitude of bass clubs went to paper scoring and cheesy trophys for 1st thru 3rd place and only a 5.00 per person cash side pot for big bass. It only took 2 or 3 events until participation went to hell. Boaters would wake up in the morning of a tournament and if it was a yucky day or they drew a partner they didn't want they'd just pull a no-show, leaving their non-boater partner at the ramp. As soon as the weigh-in scoring and the cash payback resumed...participation and the reliability and good sportsmanship of those entered came right back up. It is definately about the money. And I'm not pointing fingers here, because I liked the money when I was into tournament fishing too. Fun Competition is great, but once you've proven that you can beat a good percentage of guys a good percentage of the time...what's left to prove ? Trophys just gather dust...money motivates, and Money ROCKS ! The real reason I quit tournament fishing and guiding, is because I learned that I could make more consistent money working on your guys boats than I can trying to beat you fishing on a consistent basis. When I was into it there weren't as many truly good fishermen, but everybody is a good these days. So it's a crapshoot as to who's gonna get the bigger bites on any given day.

If you like to pitch and flip, now is the time. Run to the very backs of the creeks and wooded coves, put the trolling motor on low, turn off the ticking transducers and humming livewell pumps.... move about as quietly as possible and flip jigs, tubes, or lizards to the shallow flooded cover. There's no such thing as too shallow right now, but you can't go into those shallow flats and stir up mud with the trolling motor, bumping off trees, ect. and expect to get many bites. If you are spooking turtles and cranes off the logs 30 yards away then you are creating too much ruckus. Good luck, go get'em !

Ain't that somethin' ? LOL

Been there/Done that. If you are one of those types that has to keep pushing and pushing, always looking for just a little more speed....it's only a matter of time. It just takes a few close calls and one good loss of control episode (like the one in that video) to calm your butt down. If you live through it you learn something, if you don't, Nobody does. I have alot of customers that are constantly asking about performance upgrades and my standard statement to them is: Do you want to race...or fish ? If racing is what you are interested in, then you should sell your bassboat and buy (or build) a center console, closed bow boat designed for racing.

The first thing to do as soon as you notice a follower is to slowly squat down, if you can see them they can see you (and your movements) too. If you are getting multiple follows without a strike change baits or colors. If you are in a tournament situation where you really need the fish to bite, having a plastic worm or Senko type bait ready for a followup shot (when they turn away) will usually result in a take.

Well enjoy it while it lasts. They've generated a pretty big overhead these days, so without the big crowds they'll go belly-up ....and so will the trout per mile percentage.

I've had several really close calls. I've seen mono hover in the air after a cast and had it strike so close I could taste the ozone on my tongue. Still I dare the devil from time to time and push my luck for the sake of catching a stupid fish. And I'll do it again I'm sure. Not smart I know, but I figure if it's my time then that would be one of the most desirable ways to go. Beats helping spoil some wealthy quacks family while rotting away slowly in a stupid hospital. Harsh statement I know, but that's how I truly feel. Reminds me of that song: Everybody wants to go to heaven....but nobody wants to go NOW. LOL

I always knew them as Ant lions, never heard them called Doodlebugs. I remember learning about them in cub scouts when I was a kid. When I saw the topic header "Doodlebug" I thought it was a typo'ed bass-bug thread about Booglebugs. LOL http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300426410428

Why is the place where your son works calling it quits, if the local economy and traffic is fine like the folks at Weaver's say it is ? I understand that it could effect people you know if the general reputation of the BSP area is tarnished, but is it reasonable to expect those that are displeased to keep quiet about it in order to protect the economy there ? This situation hits home for me mostly because I am watching the way the big-money folks in MY area are sidestepping the issues we have at Lake Ozark, in order to keep the overall cash flow from taking too big of a hit. How did the flooding hurt the trout if they didn't loose many fish, and the "other problems" were insignificant ? I don't believe the problem is fish health or fish density[/] at BSP. I think the issue with BSP (and the state parks in general) is greed and corruption. So if my livelyhood was dependant on the economy of the BSP area I would address THAT, rather than hoping folks won't speak truthfully about their experiences there. I mean hell, you yourself don't like to fish there, and you're even fixin' to pull up stakes and move.

OTF, I think it's Fear and Laziness, but whatever it is I'm thankful for it, in a selfish kinda way.

So I assume from this that everyone is eating ok. No worries then, right ?

I wonder why it's not the same for a divorce ? Details of the case is one thing...but WHY they insist on listing your date of birth, home address, business name (and its address) on there, is beyond me. That's SO uncool !

Same as a landing net....You still have to catch something to go in it.

I probably won't be needing this anymore

I'm sure a person could ASK all day long. Seeing it actually get removed...is likely another matter.

All it takes is to have a divorce on record, or even a speeding ticket (if you have ever hired a lawyer to fight one), and all your personal info is hanging out there for grabs. Thanks to Casenet, Equifax, and Zaba, we're all fairly easy targets. Remarried females are safer however, the name change confuses things. LOL

I agree, but probably for different reasons. To me and quite a few others I know of, it has to do with the unwarranted change of atmosphere and nazi tactics of the ones running it. The weekend-cigar urbanite types don't seem to mind that kinda stuff because I guess they are used to it. But I'm not, so they can have it. Didn't know about the goldfish thing...what's that about ? LOL

I wonder what effect (if any) that the gulf oil spill will have on eel migration ? They are obviously pretty hardy critters.

if it was closer I'd take it off your hands. Don't suppose you are headed to lake O any time soon ?

Had to work all day and didn't get to go. Gonna hit'em this evening though, I think.

I've become grossly distended myself in the last year or so, I think I might have a tumor too

OMG, Carp jungle...on the fly ! That's some pretty extreme angling boys. Catch that on video next time, I'd love to see/hear the caos.

Gotcha, and let me be a little more clear on mine.... Since you haven't caught either (gar or musky) why, after responding to the following question...are you suggesting that I'm the one that might need help overcoming confusion ? Have you ever pee'd on anyones leg ?

Cool bro, If you have figured out a design that doesn't roll when you stretch them I'm all over it ! I had a 10ft. board made up with various peg placement options and I worked with it for a long time, but I could never figure out how to counter that tension twisting in the finished product. I Thought I had tried everything possible. I definately want to check yours out, specifically one for clousers and bass bugs on a 7wt. that I could attach 2-3ft. of 3x-4x tippet.

I'm confused. You've never caught one ? Or you have, a number of times ? "Long sleek body, fights like hell, jumps like a tarpon, sharp teeth, taste delicious"....Sounds just like a Gar