Champ188

Only reason TR has a bank is to hold the water in? I may laugh the rest of the dadgum night at that one. May be your best quote ever, Bill.

Hmmm, Central Pro-Am polled 220 anglers and the response was 69% yes (allow the A-rig) and 31% no. So CPA will allow it in their tournaments. Pretty wide disparity between that group and the Friday night Mill Creek bunch. Gotta say, I have to agree with cullinby9 that the same guys are still gonna dominate derbies. There is a certain crowd who is able to spend a lot of time on the water (guides, independent business owners who set their own schedules) and there is no substitute for that. The A-rig may make 20-pound bags possible for the weekend warriors, but it's gonna put 30 pounds within reach of the big guns. Already has.

Well put, bobw. I too remember the heyday of the Carolina rig. Couldn't beat the fish off of it with a broom handle for a couple of years, then they got conditioned to it. Same will likely happen with this A-rig. But by gosh, it's gonna be fun til then.

Like Sore Thumbs said, there are always some fish shallow. Always. Especially if you consider shallow down to 25 feet.

That's a darn fine day, Bill, and a good report. We're going to continue to learn a lot about this A-rig as the year progresses. We now know that big brown fish will smack it, and those of us who've been hurling it are already well aware of what those big K's will do to it. Yes, a 4-pound K is a tank. I know the popular vote goes to the brown fish, those big K's are my favorite swimmers. Magnificent creatures. I think we're all developing our favorite attachments for the A-rig. I know that Donna and I have one in particular that's been heads above anything else we've used. Of course, I look for the fish to change their preferences as the seasons change. We'll just have to learn as we go.

Bet you hammer em, Jason. Good luck and have fun out there.

I'm using a Palomar and so far have managed not to tie my nose or an ear up in the rig. Could happen though. Certainly takes quite a loop to pass that whole contraption through.

Sore Thumbs, I'm lookin' hard at the Nitro Z8. It fits in my garage, fishes real nice and kinda got the urge for one more go-fast rig before I get TOO old for one. Darn Z8 will flat-out fly with a 250. I putt around 40 mph or less 98% of the time but when you're making a long run in a derby it sure is nice to be able to put miles behind you faster than I can in the Champ.

No, Sore Thumbs, haven't put my boat on Craigslist yet but may be doing so very soon. Getting the itch to make a change. Be happy to let you know when it goes up for sale.

BASS Central Open is here the last week of April. You might want to avoid that week.

Wow. Wonder how long til they get conditioned to this thing or will they ever? Glad you had a good morning, Snake Em. And thanks for the report.

Bry, what does any of this conversation have to do with anyone's personal financial situation? I thought we were discussing the A-rig, mainly from an ethical standpoint. You found the money to buy a computer, pay your electric bill to plug it in and secure internet service to get on the forum. You'll find money to fish if you so choose. Bass fishing can be as cheap or expensive as you want to make it. This isn't a matter of putting food on the table or clothes on your kids' backs. Enough of the "woe is me" rhetoric.

Nice report, Bill. Water temps up to 51 ... you don't see that every January.

You nailed it abkeenan. It's human nature to do what you're told not to. Started with Adam and Eve, the serpent and the apple.

Cool blog, dtrs5kprs. Thx for sharing the link.

You can have 5 baits long as only 3 have hooks.

10-pound Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon in the green tint

Changed our mind at the last minute and went to Eucha instead. Been catching 40 or better a day over there and Sunday we managed about 35 despite the bluebird skies and no wind. Would take me a week to catch that many at Beaver.

Have you considered hiring a guide for a day and making it a really special outing? I'd strongly suggest you think of Bill Babler, our own moderator of this forum and one of the elite vertical, deep-water guys on the lake. I have personally spoon fished with him and can assure you that your money will be well spent. Hope you and your dad have many remaining special days together.

Thanks for the tip, Stump Bumper. We're going Christmas Day and will make a decision on whether to donate the week after based on those results.

I suppose Donna and I will be there. We like to say we fish the Polar Bear every year to remind us why we don't fish Beaver .

abkeenan, i misspoke slightly. My reels are JM 20 models, just slightly bigger than the JM 10.

Been thru quite a few Shimano spinning reels myself, along with a few Daiwas. Bought my first Johnny Morris Signature Series spinner about 4 years ago and have since added two more. Love em. Smooth, durable (so far) and easy to handle. JM10 is the model I prefer. $99 full retail, $79 on sale.

Hang in there, Denny. You'll kick the smokes sooner than later, I bet.

I had identified Windsor from the background after making the previous post. Again, dang nice one Jeb, and a PRETTY fish. Nicely marked. Thanks for letting her go. BTW, I went ahead and ordered three of the silly things this morning ... one in pro blue, one in midnight blue silver and one in secret night. An 8-pounder in my own backyard is enough to convince me.