"just How Good Of A Fisherman Are You?" "really"

[WebFreeman]

Neat discussion from you Ams and Bill. You don't get this kind of perspective on Bassmasters.

[Jackie D]

What a day. Just when you think you know how to catch them they change a little. I fished they Heartland buddy yesterday and we had 16.80 (12) place. Caught ten keepers with only one short fish all day. Today in the pro-am, on my second stop my partner catched a four pounder and it eats it so good he almost had to cut off hook to save fish but he got it out finally. 2nd stop he caught another four pound black and when he stands up from placing fish in livewell he makes another cast and catches keeper number three, his limit fish....heartland only lets co-angler weigh 3 keepers. I still have not had a bite yet. But that is ok because we caught them good on Wednesday and Saturday we had 10 keepers right, wrong. I'm looking his spinner over good now and I have one nearly the same ready shortly. Boom I catch 3 pounder pretty fast after putting it on and then a short fish. If I had known it was this easy I would have changed earlier...wrong again. I continue to throw that bait at various stops and my partner catches another then another and I'm still shaken my head wondering what I'm doing wrong. He now had 2 four's and a big fat spot going 3.2 pounds. then he catches a black that culls the spot. We move again and of course he sets on yet another big smallmouth that had to weigh 4.5...big belly and pretty. Caught her around a bush I had already thrown by. I catch a 3 pounder, he catches another keeper that won't help. I still don't know why he got so many bites and I didn't today because yesterday they would bite my bait but not today. That is why it is a challenge everytime we go out on the water. You never know what mother nature is going to throw your way.

The fish seemed to have moved out away from the bushes, of course when your setting in 20' rolling a spinner by visible bushes there has top be a bunch of bushes under the water we can't see.

Rick's limit was a great five fish limit. I remember a spring Heartland elite tourney I believe 6-8 years ago out of ahoy's when Rick Holmden weighed in 28 pounds in five fish...all jerkbait fish.

I finished with 2 that weighed 6 something and my partner had 3 that weighed 12 something (2nd) place. Ironically he got beat by his traveling buddy who was throwing the same spinnerbait. He weighed 3 fish for 15 pounds that included a 7 pounder. He told me he saw her roll out of a bush and eat his bait....pretty cool when that happens. Fishing is going to be incredible when it warms back up, not that it isn't now...lots of good stringers today. I can't remember when the fish had bigger bellies on them than they do right now. Gotta go look at my blade box.......

[WebFreeman]

You guys think the high water will help the spawn? Maybe help w/ a Largemouth revival?

[Bill Babler]

I completey forgot about Rick jerking those out of the Big Indian at Baxter. I believe he used a Norman Flake he got from Beck.

Exciting day yesterday, with all the fish.

Am, headed out the door for a full day of blade flinging at the Knob with a couple of Michigan Guys, that like the cold.

Thank goodness.

What ever it boils down to, Rick LaPoint had one of those lifetime days yesterday. Lots of stuff we don't agree on, but I am happy for him, or anyone that catches those kind of fish.

[Jackie D]

I completey forgot about Rick jerking those out of the Big Indian at Baxter. I believe he used a Norman Flake he got from Beck.

Exciting day yesterday, with all the fish.

Am, headed out the door for a full day of blade flinging at the Knob with a couple of Michigan Guys, that like the cold.

Thank goodness.

What ever it boils down to, Rick LaPoint had one of those lifetime days yesterday. Lots of stuff we don't agree on, but I am happy for him, or anyone that catches those kind of fish.

Isn't it funny how we can remember little things like bait color after all those years. You are correct Bill, that was a great stringer of fish.

[Gone Fishing]

Thanks for breaking down your day Jackie D. Hogfan and I fished the buddy and had 15 something with four fish. All smallies on the blade. Had two that went 5lbs each. Very first cast of the day Hogfan landed a 3 pounder. Then not a fish till after noon. Finally found them on the outside edge unlike in practice. Like it always goes had # five on but spit the blade before finding the net. Maybe next time.

[Tom Spence]

Alot of really good points made here. I fished the am side Sunday and had two shorts all day. My pro had 1 keeper. It was tough and I really felt like I did all I could have done to catch fish (until I got to the weigh in). My pro gave me plenty of water to fish, we just weren't on them and I know I was fishing too fast. I told myself to slow down several times, but as the day wore on I caught myself turning that handle faster and faster. I was really happy for Rick. he did a great job. And who wouldn't be happy about seeing Charlie C. with a four fish 20 lb bag. That was awesome. Hey techo....is your wife gonna let you buy that boat?