Mitch f

That's about the funniest scene ever!

Here's another one my buddy who has a farm in mineloa talks about. http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMD1K3_Loutre_Lick_Access_near_Mineola_MO

Wonder how many times that fish almost spooled him? The first big striper I hooked and lost was around 35-40 lbs. I remember my first reaction was to look down at my spool and think "This fish is going to take all my line in about 30 seconds!"

yep, best thing to do in every situation is to hesitate and think for few minutes before reacting.

Thumbs up, but yes we can do things smarter

Just laughing at myself Joe

I guess I'm just a tad disappointed by the fact that these records fall when the fish are obviously caught on a bed with a shaky head lure. I know the best time to shoot a big buck is during the rut, but you can't sneak around in the woods until you get within 20 ft of a record buck and shoot it. We have to contend with bass seasons in rivers but lakes have no season. I guess I'm just slightly jealous darn it. LOL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1vE20fE_Vg

I with ya, gripes me too! Had a guide on LOZ that saw us catching whites one day actually got so close he almost bumped our boat. The he tried to start telling jokes to try to keep us happy. Like I really need a comedian to make me happy when I'm fishing. I finally just started up the motor and left. I also was at Table Rock one time and was trolling at full speed towards a rock pont that was 50 yards away and closing fast. A guy in a new bass boat comes ripping up and stops within 20 ft of the point at the point and starts fishing...imagine his surprise when I started fishing btween him and the bank. He say "Hey, I'm fishing a tournement!" I said "hope you win!' I was in my thirties and much more excitable than I am now. I think if I was in the same situation now I would just go to the next point.

Just messin with ya

You go first

Very nice fish!!

I guess it shows that it's just a matter of personal taste. Like solo canoe versus kayak. Compelling arguments can be made for both sides. I'll stick with my Yozuri Hybrid

Good call Gavin, I like this idea

the difference is you only do it once and off line my way

Well, you usually want the line to come off the spool counter clockwise which usually means label up. But even by doing it that way you are still going to get some twist. Just let 100 yards or so drift down current without a lure tied on and slowly reel it back in: this definitely helps. I also spray some of the Kevin Van Dam reel and line conditioner on it, makes it last longer and cast better too. A guide taught me a good trick many years ago to keep from getting blow ups with your spinning reel. After you cast and the bail flips over, tug on the line about 6" above the reel to eliminate any small loops before you start reeling it back in. This could possibly save your spool on the next cast.

I went thru a stage about 5 years ago when I did the uni to uni on braid to fluoro. It functioned great in every respect except one. When you break off it takes too long to re-tie everything and I ended up waisting too much time. I use straight fluoro hybrid now. The newer hybrid lines have low stretch and high sensitivity and I don't see a big need for braid in river fishing. I know many smart people have told me that fish don't mind the braid.... Just like MOsmallies said, I feel more confident without it.

I totally agree with you. The kid was found in 8 ft deep water 15 feet from the shore. Hypothermia maybe, combined with no swimming skills and bad judgement, horrible combination. But still very sad

Very sad indeed http://ballwin-ellisville.patch.com/articles/kirkwood-area-man-dies-in-drowning-accident-13b74140

Sound like you guys think it's funny about gigging smallmouth....We've got plenty of pics to prove it.

You always figure it out!!!!

Ha ha, not worried about you two!!

This is my buddy Lonnie with a 21.5" he caught on the Meramec in 2010. Caught on a jig and craw in Feb I think. Photo cropped to protect me from him and others.

If Chief wears tennies, that means he doesnt have on waders. I think we should check with the biologists to determine whether Chiefs underwear poses a haz mat threat to our rivers!

Well Stoneroller, I'm proud of you! you've managed to create sufficient buzz! Hope this event is a great success!

I've been fishing for a long time and have never caught anything over 21". Fish that big are extremely rare anymore. If you look at the water color and the fact that she was using a black spinnerbait, it's no surprise she caught a big fish. That's a great big fish pattern. I also think women are more patient and she was probably slowly reeling the bait back in...another reason for that catch. I bet she threw it right up against the bank on that cast!