Conference wahoo::fishing

    Perry	The fishing is great, but the catching sucks!
    
    						Rich

    WOW....! I was going to say the samething but was afraid I would
    get my hand slapped..AGAIN!
    
    I agree 100%...Its been a bad year for the Legend...
    
    And when the Legend's not landing them...there not bit'in.
    
    My biggest this year is three pounds....
    
    Without lying..Lets year what everyone else has caught for there
    
    biggest!
    
    (Sign me FRUSTRATED???)  Perry I won't start...but please stop setting
                             yourself up!  GOD...What I could do with
                                                 this one!!!!
    
    						John

    	I don't know, I thought fishing was rather good this year. 
    Went with my 10 year old son Sunday. In 6 hours fishing with both
    spinning and fly gear we landed 16 Bass and 6 Pike.  Bass went from
    6" to 5 1/2# and the pike went from 18" to 36" and a little over
    9#.  We were into a lot more fish and had some bigger ones break
    off in the heavy moss and cover.  They were hitting top water buzzers,
    spinner baits, fly rod poppers (BTW, a 26" Pike on a #10 popper
    is ALL you want to handle), plastic worms, pig + jigs, and anything
    else we threw at them.  I can't complain.  Haven't been skunked
    once this season.

    re -1 haven't been skunked this year
    
    Talk to Ranger Ron He can tell yah what it feels like!
    

    ...ahem... I can tell what it's liked to get skunked also...
    but, almost all of my goose eggs have occured during touraments, 
    or practicing for tournaments.... It seems when I got out just to 
    enjoy myself, I do fine...  
    
    Caught my biggest fish to date a couple of weeks ago... hasn't been
    THAT bad...
           
    Don Mac

	Thanks Perry, and all this year I thought it was me.  It's true that
misery loves company... Keep those sob stories comin' in.

					Al
 

    To catch fish you have to fish often during the slow season.  I
    fish at lease for one or two hours three to five time a week.  Of
    course I don't have to travel or launch a boat, the lake is my back
    yard..... Pascoag Reservoir in northwest RI.
    
    Bass have been hitting good on good ol' rubber worms (purple or
    black) at my jitter bugin' at night is starting to sizzle.  My biggest
    catch was a 4#+ early in May and I've landed at least one 2 pounder
    a week for the last three weeks.  Still waiting for the big one!
    
    Ted at my bait shop said everyone seems hot right now with reports
    of two 6 pounders taken out during the last two weeks.... even in
    this heat.
    
    sorry to read about all you experts having such bad luck.
    
    Having fun haulin' them in in RI.  Quntity sometimes makes up for
    quality.
    
    Regards,
    
    Gary "the harbor master" of Pascoag Lake
    

    	I usually have 2-3 rods with me everytime I go fishing. On one
    I put a worm, the other a top water lure, and the third (if I bring
    one) a spinner bait. In the previous 3-4 years the worm has reigned
    supreme. This year, the top water lures (aside from being more fun
    to fish) have produced better than the worms. I can't say it's been
    a particularly bad year, just different.
    
    RAYJ

    I haven't been out many times this year, but, I haven't been totally
     skunked yet. Of course, I haven't caught ANY bass over 1 lb. all
     year!
    
    I *may* hold the record for the smallest bass ever caught - I got
    one about 1/2 inch long once on a #18 weighted nymph (what a fight!!).
    
    			Robert.

    re .6 .....it seems when I go out just to enjoy myself, I do fine....
    
    Hay don this should tell you something!!
    what are you doing different?  Are you trying too hard.  This is
    the biggest problem with new tournamnet type people.  I still suffer
    from tournament fever.
    
    SLOW DOWN SLOW DOWN relax and fish like you do when you are out
    for fun.  Don't horse them to the boat, and don't fish you baits
    differently just to get more casts in.
    
    Bassin Bob
    Who_is_starting_to_come_out_of_the_new_boat_tournament_slump
    

    RE.9
    
    Your right "not bad just different"
    
    Im doing fine, In MD. Been SKUNKED twice after work. But never with
    a full day of fishin. WORMS WORMS WORMS!!!!!!!!!!! But different.
    Weightless this year. With this H-O-T summer we have alot more growth
    in the ponds. I cant use a slip sinker. Big fish this year? 4+ Not
    really bragging size. But alot in the 3lb range. The state record
    is a wimpy 12 lbs. I guess 4+ is OK.

    This years bass fishing!  Well back a few notes this person 
    Al Whitman made an entry..that the fishing was bad.  He complaned
    he has not caught a keeper since spring.  Every day at lunch he
    has the same story.
    
    Well last night I went to visit Al at his camp in Thompson Conn.
    We had a nice dinner and started to fish.  This lake has lots and
    lots of weeds.  Al was fishing out in the hot sun on a sucken dam.
    So after I lost 5lbs in sweat I asked al to move to work the shady
    shore line.
    
    On his first cast I watch him stop and pull let the line go limp
    like he was trying to get his spinner bait out of the weeds.   Well
    the weeds jumped.  And Al was on his way to the best night on his
    lake.
    	
    	he boated a Hawg (his biggest bass)
    		20 "
    		13 inch girth
    		4+ lbs.
    Al the sportsman that he is, took a few video shoots of the fish
    then let it go.  As for the rest of the night I think he was 
    trying to sucker me in on a bet.  (thats why I have to write this
    note)  AL BOATED TWO MORE BASS AND I GOT THE goose-egg
    
    bassin Bob.

    Alright Al, skunked ol' Bass'n Bob!!!
    
    And Bob, I think your right about my fishing differently during
    tournaments.  I *know* that I'm trying to hard - which makes me
    fish to fast...  One of these days I'll break the habit...
     
    Got 3 last night from 1-2.25 lbs...
                                
    don mac
                     
    

    
    
      Everyone getting skunked out there how about trying deeper structure.
      Now that more people are out on the lakes and ponds fish tend
      to hang on those shallow to deep water points and also trying
      a 1/2 oz. worm weight to get real deep in those weedbeds they
      shy away from shores in daytime as activity increases.I've had
      alot of fish from 2 to 7 lbs. these ways and I hope it works as
      well for you.
    
    
    
                                              Lindsay
    
    
                                     

    
    re.11 and .13
    
    
    Did you ever fish two poles (one top water floater and one rubber
    worm) and always seem to get a bite on the one you're NOT holding?
    
    Wonder why..........
    
    Mike_who_doesn't_watch_either_pole_till_it_jumps!
    :^O
    

Worse yet...did you ever fish two poles and have fish on BOTH...and not know 
which one might be the biggest??!?    

-HSJ-

    I never "really" believed in fishing luck....but there maybe something
    to it. This year has been one of the worst for me personally no
    matter if its tournements or pleasure....I don't fish them any
    different. So, when I see guys bringing in limits from the same
    spots that I fished with the same lures....its got to be luck;^)
    
    All that not with-standing, I see that different parts of the country
    are doing better than New England. I maybe wrong but I think that
    the fishing up here has been going down hill for the last three
    years. Maybe polution is starting to take a toll, or maybe I'm not
    holding my mouth right. But I do think that bass fishing has caught
    on in New England...five years ago everyone would talk about trout
    and salmon, now there are alot more people talking about bass. More
    pressure??????
    
    
    tight lines, Fishless Ranger Ron

    re > deep water structore.
    
    Now that the cat is out of the bag..  I have caught one fish just
    about every time out this year(ok Al I got skunked with you last
    nigh).  I have spent lots of time looking for deep water holes,
   
    Look for weed patches at the base of dropoffs or sand bars.  10-20
    feet.  These have been producing very well.  I like to fish grubs
    and jigs or worms.  Even a spinner bait draged along the bottom.
    
    A deep water drop can be very little.  a 2foot change will supplie
    the needed difference to hold fish.  Any place off of the every
    day area they can run to in case of trouble, boat, nofeed, windy
    surface.
    
    It is a hard thing to do the first time you visit a lake or look
    at a map.  Most of the good spots will not be on the map because
    they are too small for scale to show.
    
    bassin Bob

     RE: .3
    
     Biggest one that I caught this year? Does it have to have been
    'boated' ha ha.
    
     I had a nice one "get away" at the beginning of the season... ya
    won't believe it, but here goes :
    
     I had been on the lake for about 3 or so hours, nothing, finally
    I was ready to wrap it up for the day, but decided to take one last
    cast... I casted to OPEN DEEP WATER, expected nothing, but what
    the heck, anyways...
    
     I threw the meadow mouse out... started to reel it in nice and
    easy, and WHAM, the Lunker hit!! He hit about 45 ft from the boat,
    this sucker was huge, he would have been my biggest ever.... I saw
    him about ten ft from the boat (had him hooked good) and figured
    "this one is gonna get his picture taken for sure (I like to take
    snap shots of 'em and release 'em)... the size of this thing was
    not to be believed... I got him in all the way to the side of the
    boat, saw that mouth come up towards the surface (could have taken
    both my fists and placed 'em in his mouth) and the line snapped.....
    
     Mouse gone, fish gone (with about 4 ft of line), and me sweatin
    up a storm... I have seen a 6lber taken out of this place, and believe
    me this fished dwarfed it!
    
     What a way to lose a lure... it was nice reelin' him in though...
    I learned a lesson  though.... no less than 10lb test from now on.
    
     It was clear water, no weeds, nothing to get in tangled in, thought
    for sure I was gonna boat him... . oh well, maybe the next time.
    
     My own personal best (boated) has been about 4.5 lbs in the past
    3 seasons.
    
     But since then, it has been slow for me this year, and the ones
    I have caught and landed, have been about 2lbers, nothing major,
    but fun.
    
     I went out to what used to be a favorite spot of mine, skunked
    4 times in a row.... time to seek out other spots.
    
     Glad to hear others are having better luck.
    
     Er, DON"T sign me : Frustrated... ha ha (thanks Legend).
    
                                     Perry F.
                                    ----------
    
    Still haven't landed a "real" lunker, but will keep on trying. (-;
    
    

    I'd invest in a large landing net!  If you landed that fish would
    you have released it or mounted it?  (no...not that way..I mean
    have it stuffed;-)
    
    						The Legend

    
    Best season yet in my third year of fishing.  Of course, it doesn't
    hurt that I bought my first boat and first pair of waders this year.
    I'm fishing more often, longer and from a better position than previous
    years.
    
    Seriously, I have been skunked in 2 out of 40-50 expeditions this
    year.  Even when the bass weren't hitting, there's been panfish
    action to keep me interested so no outing was a complete loss. 
    This year, I caught my first pike (a baby) and my first brook trout
    (also small) and my biggest smallmouth (4#-).
    
    On the negative side, I can't remember losing so much g-d- tackle
    before and the season's not half over.  I've replaced some favorite
    lures 3 and 4 times over; gonna have to start ordering by the dozen.
    
    Steve_with_a_debit_balance_for_the_season_so_far

    
    This year has been my best to date with a 5+ a couple of weeks ago.
    I think its due to these great seats I put in my canoe, I now can
    stay out for more than 1-2 hours  ;-) .
    
    I haven't been skunked yet, I always catch SOMETHING 1/2 inch or
    longer!
    
    Erik

    Re : .21
    
     Good question... I know I would have at least taken the picture
    of it.... and perhaps had it "officially weighed" (I'm telling you
    this thing was huge!), but in the end, I don't know if I would have
    had it mounted or not... would be a tough decision either way though...
    I have never seen a bass this big before, and it may take another
    3 seasons to see it again, but the fight that fish put up was terrific!
    
     I know folks won't beleive this, but I would say that fish was
    in the (I know I'll regret this...) 8lb+ range, like I said, from
    what I could see of it (I saw it twice really well, once about 10
    ft from the boat and the second time right next to it), it easily
    dwarfed the 6lber taken out last year, it could have swallowed it.
    
     That was one heck of an experience though, I won't easily forget
    it.
    
                              Perry F.
                             ----------

    EX
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    BASS WAS SLOW BUT ITS GETTING BETTER
    LAST WEEKEND PRODUCED 5LB AND 2 2LB
    FIRST TIME I WENT FISHING AT NIGHT
    FOR ALONG TIME WAS OUT AT 3.30 CAUGHT
    ALOT OF WEEDS TILL 5AM THEN NICE
    BASS HIT THE OLD REBEL SPINNER BAITS
    HAVE BEEN WORKING GOOD TO.
    
      THE BASS ARE WEARE 
       GOOD LUCK 

    RE.24
    
         O.K. ....O.K.   You talked me into it, Perry!  Give me the name
    of this lake and The Legend will get this baby out of there and
    have him weighed and mounted.  I don't mind doing this for you!
    I can tell its going to haunt you for a long time.

                                               The Legend

    BASSIN HAS BEEN GOOD THIS YEAR
    AND I AINT SH--TIN
    EVEN WITH THE HEAT 
    THEY KEEP ON HITTIN
    
    I THANK BILLY THE BASS GOD
    FOR BLESSING ME WITH LUCK
    IT REALLY PAINS ME TO HEAR
    THAT YOUR FISHIN SUCKS...
    
    
    
    				BUCKETMOUTH Down South

    NICE ..poem....But don't quit your job to pursue it!
    
    IT was a poem....RIGHT?
    
    						John

     Hi Legend,
    
     I tell ya what, I *MIGHT* send you mail about this place... Good
    spot (at least for two seasons in a row), really slow lately though...
    average fish last year was @2lbs... couldn't keep off a top water
    last season.... this year I have thrown all I could except night
    crawlers, which I am very tempted to do tonight maybe.
    
    
                                     Perry F.
                                    ----------
    
    
    

    I've had lots of fun fishing this year. I live on the Rideau River
    (Canada) and have caught alot of bass, no lunkers, but lots of large
    mouth, mostly on jitterbug or spinnerbait.
    
    Enjoy,
    Mike

    I cant seem to remember what note, but Ive seen "Clarks" book
    on NH lakes, etc. in two places this week. Zyla's and 'something,
    something Taxidermy' (the place on the 28 rotary in Auburn). 
    Must be newest printing.

    Yep, me an my fishin partner used to keep a count on who was ahead
    of who with the bass on all our trips, but since we dont catch no
    fish no more, we count them buds going down. The funny thing is
    I still beat him at that game too. I told him we could just sit
    on my deck and drink instead of dragin the boat all over the @#%&'in
    countryside.

    Rich