Whack'emGood

Nice fish Dennis. Congrats on the win.

Thanks Don. That's one of my favorite areas of the lake to fish and I have been waiting for the water temps there to reach 50+, so that is very good news to me. Thanks again and good luck on the water. Whack'em

Thanks for the report Don. Nice job! What were the water temps where you were fishing? Whack'em

This is a beautifully done post Troy... and I would say very accurate, to say the least. Very well done sir. Whack'em

Well said brownieman. You are correct. Actually, learning to use your electronics to your advantage can be alot of fun and very satisfying in itself. If you can afford some new electronics, you should give them a try. You will see what we're talking about. Believe me, I understand where you're coming from. When it comes to technology, I am usually one of the last ones to buy into it. When the internet came along I said "Why do I need the internet... I don't get it." Now, I couldn't live without it. My dad is even worse. You should have seen the look on his face when I told him I was getting a GPS unit for his boat! Now, when we fish together, we use it to our advantage and he is always saying it is one of the best things we've ever bought. Whack'em

I grew up fishing with nothing but a Lowrance flasher on my dad's boat to give us a depth reading and a paper topo map. We caught fish and always had a good time. However, with the advent of new and better electronics (including GPS), it has really improved and enriched my fishing experience. Don't get me wrong, there is something to be said for the basics and simple things... there is sometimes a beauty in that type of thing. That said, when it comes to fishing, I would trade that simplicity for catching more fish anyday. Besides, you still have to find and catch the fish... the electronics don't do it for you. And just because you see something (a drop-off, a drain, or brush, etc.) on your graph doesn't mean you know whether a place like that should hold fish or not. You still have to know what types of places should hold fish, where those places can be found, and what they look like before you can use your graph to help yourself. And I'm not even talking about drop shot fishing and using your graph like a video game... I don't like to do that. I fish conventionally almost exclusively instead. Also, Dutch described how to use your GPS to make your fishing more efficient and more enjoyable-- he is right on about that. It makes a big difference in certain situations. If I fished on Table Rock or Stockton without my electronics, I would still catch fish because I know those lakes. Would I catch as many? I don't know. Would it make that big of a difference? Probably not. I do know that I fish more efficiently when I use electronics, so I would say that allows me to put at least a fish or two more in the boat most times that I go out. Like I said, I would rather catch more fish. The sole reason I try to improve my fishing skills is to catch more fish anyway, so why not use the available technologies to help me do the same? When I improve my skills I catch more fish and, as a result, increase my fishing enjoyment. Learning to use my electronics to improve my fishing is just a part of that process. My .02... for what its worth. Whack'em

Sam- I too am a very intense fisherman and I enjoy the way I fish. But, I am not against sitting in the shade and just tossing out a line either... I see how that is just as fun, but just a different way to enjoy fishing. The bottom line of this very interesting thread is that it doesn't matter how a person likes to fish (and everybody is different)-- What matters is that he/she enjoys their time on the water. The great thing about fishing, Sam, is that you can fish from when you are just old enough to cast out a line all the way up until you're too old to cast a line anymore-- and have fun the whole time your doing it. Whack'em

+1

I agree with you on this BRBF. I have nothing against Bass Fishing Pros. I, personally, would love to be able to fish for a living... but I don't have the backing money to even try-- or the confidence to assume I would be good enough to survive. It would be a hard road (even for the better ones), but better than my day job-- that's for sure! I know most of them hire guides and get info from locals and such-- but the competition is fierce, partly because most of them get outside tips and help. Whack'em

It's all good brownieman... I apologize if I got a little snippy there. We are all fishermen and that makes us a family here-- whether we fish for bass, crappie, trout or something else... whether we fish in tourneys or not... doesn't matter what kind of boat we own or tackle we use... Let's all just go fishing and have some fun! Whack'em

brownieman also stated: "I've never fished a tournament and have no intention of ever doing so..." and "I mainly river fish so they don't bother me in the least..." and "I watch a little fishing on tv but can't stand to watch the tourney stuff or lmb fishing period..." and "Big fancy boats, trucks, equipment racing from hole to hole at breakneck speed, whatever...sorry just don't turn me on." Then how do you know cheating happens all the time? Are you just guessing that it does because you don't like tournament fishing? I'm just saying... you sure are making alot of judgements about something you don't know or care anything about. I'm like t1365, I fish tourneys also-- so I guess that makes me an ahole and a cheater and everything else bad that you can imagine. The vast majority of the tournament fishermen that I have met (granted they are mostly locals from right here in the Ozarks) are really nice folks (both guys and gals), and I don't feel that cheating goes on hardly ever. Don't get me wrong, it happens-- rarely. But it doesn't happen enough to make me worry about it-- if I thought cheating went on in the tourneys that I fish, I wouldn't fish in them. I'm like t1365 also in that I love tourney fishing and have fun doing it. If I loved it for the money I would have stopped long ago. Whack'em

Well said. I agree with everything you just stated... especially the money thing. I would like to fish for a living, but only if I didn't get caught up in it and lose my passion and forget why I love to fish. I think too many of those big tourney guys do forget about why they started fishing and that is wrong. Money corrupts everything (to a degree) and that is sad. Good post Fly Guy. And I was serious about your fish in your avatar... nice one. Whack'em

That is your opinion, and I respect it. However, I (and alot of others) am as "true" a fisherman as anybody and I love to fish tournaments. Don't get me wrong, I love to go out and fish (not in a tournament) and enjoy catching whatever I catch (or don't catch) even if it is very few fish or small fish. But I also really enjoy the competition of a tournament. To me, fishing can be BOTH a recreational activity AND a sport. The "essence" of fishing is a little different for everybody who fishes. Just like we all have different species of fish that we like to fish for. Also, whether you like it or not, fishing is a competition every time you go out. Whether it is a competition between you and the fish, you and yourself, you and your fishing partner, or you and other tournament competitors-- it is still a competition... and passion is involved (and equal) in all of the above. In my opinion, the challenge and competition (no matter what kind) of fishing is what makes it fun. Fishing in the manner that you enjoy fishing is how you "win" in fishing. Whack'em By the way-- that's a nice fish in your avatar... one to be proud of. If it doesn't matter if you catch bigger fish, then how come you didn't use a pic of a 3" bluegill?

Amen Brother. I'm with you. Whack'em

For T.V.

I, for one, am glad that what Trav perceived as inevitable change was incorrect. I love this forum, just the way it is. You do a great job Phil, and it is much appreciated. Keep up the good work! Whack'em

I agree with you that they spoof some of these bigger tourneys (namely FLW) up way too much. Why all the production? I also agree that they don't act very professional... but the definition of a Pro is someone who makes a living at something... it makes them a professional at whatever they do. Again though... alot of these "Professionals" don't act very professional, do they? Whack'em

You are a better man than me Doug... I would've told them where to stick their Evinrude! Whack'em

I heard they use the same blanks for those as they do in the Premiers, but the rods are just put together a little different. The word is that they are indeed a great bargain, much like the Premiers (only even a little cheaper). By the way-- speaking of St. Croix... I was asking for cranking rod recommendations a few months back on here and got alot of good replies. (Thanks everyone) Well, I made up my mind and ended up buying a St. Croix Premier (Graphite) 7ft MH Crankbait Rod. It came down to the Premier (graphite) and the Premier Glass and I went with the graphite because it was lighter, less bulky, and more sensitive. It is a sweet rod. After looking around a bunch and looking really closely at St. Croix line, I don't think you can go wrong with a St. Croix rod (IMO). Whack'em

I agree with both of you. And I didn't think that was possible to do! Whack'em

Yep Tim. I agree 100%. With 4lbs 8oz for today, Clay Dyer is the winner today in my book. Check out this video. Next time I'm not catching them and feeling a little sorry for myself out on the water, I will think of Clay and be inspired to keep my head up. Wow. God Bless him. Whack'em

Wow. I'm gonna be way off... 26lbs 11oz is already leading and only about 20 guys have weighed in!

34.84 lbs I think there will be alot of guys who won't be able to catch 25lbs in two days... but there will be 6-8 guys that will catch 30+ in two days. Would've been alot better had it not been for this front... brr. Whack'em

I agree... I said that earlier, but I was pronounced wrong on that point... apparently. And on that note, I will cease to contribute to this thread-- and any others that aren't fishing related. It is just silly really.

Didn't have to reasearch. It's been all over the news. It's hard to argue the point when that many innocent people get slaughtered with an assault rifle. How many would those murderers have killed with a knife? Just a few I would imagine... but not 10 or 16 for sure. Nothing you can say would make sense at this point. All of those people are dead.