I have several mounted bass on the wall at my house. Two of them died after being caught in a tournament. Another is the first eight pounder I caught. But my biggest bass, a 9 pound 7 ounce bass, was released after weighing it in a tournament. I had a replica mount made of it and am satisfied with the results.
Mounting Fish

Do I Have To Kill That Fish To Have It Mounted? originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Sunday, February 5th, 2012 at 10:15:59.

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Captain Mike explains how to choose leader length, sinker weight and bait size on a Carolina rig. Try his techniques to see how they work for you. Tell us how you set up a Carolina rig in the comments section.

picture (c) Captain Mike Gerry

Carolina Rig Set-Up - The Ideal Set-Up for a Carolina -Rig

Carolina Rig Set-Up - The Ideal Set-Up for a Carolina -Rig originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Saturday, February 4th, 2012 at 09:59:43.

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Do some fishermen have a sixth sense for catching fish? It seems some fishermen always have all the luck and pro fishermen depend on their ability to catch fish to earn a living. Anyone can learn to catch bass but few will make it to the Bassmasters Classic, just like anyone can learn to play baseball but few will ever make it to the World Series.
Sixth Sense for Catching Fish

Sixth Sense for Catching Fish originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 09:00:52.

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Taking kids fishing is a great way to keep our sport going and have a great time, too. But you need to make sure the child is safe and has fun. This checklist will help you accomplish both goals.

picture (c) Bailey Snider

Kids Fishing Safety Checklist

Kids Fishing Safety Checklist originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 10:01:39.

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Lake Conroe fishing is always good and Papa John can tell you what is biting and where to catch them. Check out his updated report then go to his marina page for more information. New pictures added to the article and picture gallery, too. Check out the gallery for new pictures added with each report.

picture (c) Papa John

New Lake Conroe Fishing Report

New Lake Conroe Fishing Report originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 10:05:48.

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Does the color of fishing lure you choose really matter to fish, or are the colors made to catch fishermen in the store? Maybe a little of both. We all have our favorite colors and catch fish on them, but other people use other colors and catch fish, too. Bass fishermen are well known for carrying lots of colors of lures when they go fishing and change colors often. Many times when fishing a tournament my partner will ask for a color worm I am using if I am catching fish and he is not. And I have been known to do that, too!

Do you think colors matter? Why? Please share your opinions in the comments section below.

Does Color of Fishing Lures Matter?

Does Color of Fishing Lures Matter? originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 at 10:24:12.

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Captain Mike Gerry is on Lake Guntersville fishing and guiding other fishermen almost every day. His reports on what the fish are doing will help you plan your trip and catch more fish. He concentrates on bass and Lake Guntersville is famous for big largemouth. He also posts fishing tips here that will give you specific ideas on how to use different lures and what to look for on Guntersville, which can help you on your home lake, too.

picture (c) Captain Mike Gerry

New Lake Guntersville Fishing Report

What Are Bass Doing On Lake Guntersville Right Now? originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 10:01:10.

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Baiting up a hole for bluegill is simple and can be done in many different ways, but this one might not be for you. It works and you can catch a bunch of good eating bluegill, if you can eat them after baiting them up this way.

Do you have any special ways to bait up a hole for bluegill or ways to catch them? Share your techniques with us in the comments section below.

picture (c) Ronnie Garrison

An Unusual Method for Baiting Bluegill

An Unusual Method for Baiting Bluegill originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 10:06:03.

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Jim Shepherd with The Fishing Wire is a southern boy like me but is interested in ice fishing. He offers some tips for ice fishing safety from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Be safe on the ice this winter, follow these tips and be carful

picture (c) Brian Knippers

Ten Safety Tips For Ice Fishing

Ten Safety Tips For Ice Fishing originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at 10:29:40.

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If you know what the Alabama Rig is, you might want to know how to fish it. Professional bass fisherman Troy Morrow took me fishing to show me how he fishes it. His tips and tactics might help you if you try this rig.

What do you think of this rig? It has been banned by Media Bass and BASS tournament trails and is illegal in some states. Do you have one? Do you use it? Do you think it should be legal? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

picture (c) Ronnie Garrison

How To Fish the Alabama Rig

How To Fish the Alabama Rig originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 09:55:42.

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When the fishing gets tough the tough get ultralight fishing tackle out. At least that is the way I deal with tough bass fishing conditions. A bass tournament at Clarks Hill showed me how good fishing can be with ultralight fishing tackle.

picture (c) Ronnie Garrison

Ultralight Fishing

Ultralight Fishing originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 09:33:31.

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You can stay warm while fishing in the winter. Here is how I dress for fishing in middle Georgia in the winter but the temperature seldom gets below 20 degrees. How do you stay warm while fishing in the winter? Share your tips in the comments.

picture Ronnie Garrison

How To Stay Warm While Fishing In the Winter

How To Stay Warm While Fishing In the Winter originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 at 09:51:35.

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Lake Conroe fishing is always good and Papa John can tell you what is biting and where to catch them. Check out his updated report then go to his marina page for more information. New pictures added to the article and picture gallery, too. Check out the gallery for new pictures added with each report.

picture (c) Papa John

New Lake Conroe Fishing Report

New Lake Conroe Fishing Report originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 10:05:48.

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I have used Sufix Fishing Line to win several tournaments. It comes in a variety of strengths and types. I especially like the Sufix Elite and have it on several of my reels, from 4 to 14 pound test. It stays relatively limp in cold weather and holds up will with good abrasion resistance. And I like the fact it is hard for fish to see in the water, even if it is hard for me to see, too.

picture (c) Sufix Line

Sufix Fishing Line

Sufix Fishing Line originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 10:00:14.

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How in the world can the weather in the winter affect fish hiding under a thick layer of ice? How would they know what the weather is doing? Bob Jensen says weather does affect the fish under the ice and gives an example of a trip where the fish started biting when the weather changed.

Do you ice fish? Do you think the weather affects the fish under the ice? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.

picture (c) Tony Roach

Can Weather Really Affect the Fish Under Ice?

Can Weather Really Affect the Fish Under Ice? originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 at 10:48:46.

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Most fishermen have heard the claim that, pound for pound, bluegill outpull bass. There is also the claim that if a bluegill got to five pounds no tackle would hold them. I have to disagree. I think people feel like bluegill pull harder because they catch them on light tackle compared to bass. I have caught one-pound bluegill and one-pound bass back-to-back on ultralight tackle several times and I think bass are stronger than bluegill. And one fisheries biologist I interviewed agrees.

picture (c) Ronnie Garrison

Bass VS Bluegill - Which Pulls Harder

Bass VS Bluegill - Which Pulls Harder originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Saturday, January 21st, 2012 at 10:06:26.

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What is fishing? It can vary from netting tons of fish for sale to catching tiny bream with a cane pole. Anyone can fish and any age. Most kids love fishing and it becomes a lifelong hobby for many. And some make a living at fishing in tournaments. Fishing is fun for most everyone.

How do you define fishing? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

picture (c) George Pellow

What is Fishing?

What is Fishing? originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 10:14:58.

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I like fishing in the winter and have caught some big bass this time of year. This past Sunday, January 6, 2008, I got a 8.80 pound bass in a club tournament at Jackson Lake. I posted details of the day in my daily fishing diary in the forum. The fish hit a Strike King Series 5 crankbait in Sexy Shad color. The day was fairly tough and I won the tournament with two bass weighing 12.18 pounds. My other bass was a nice 3.38 pounder and looked good before I landed the big one. Check out my winter fishing tips and share your comments and how you do in the comments section below. Also share any of your winter tips.

picture (c) Ronnie Garrison

Winter Fishing Tips

Winter Fishing Tips originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Thursday, January 19th, 2012 at 10:08:59.

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Captain Mike Gerry says muddy water, especially in the winter, offers some tough conditions for bass fishing. But his records helped him come up with some tips on finding the bass on Guntersville that might help you on your home lake.

picture (c) Captain Mike Gerry

Tips for Muddy Water Fishing

Tips for Muddy Water Fishing originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 at 08:12:00.

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Who had influence on you and your fishing? Did your father get you started fishing or, like me, was it your mother? In my life my mother played an important part in my love of fishing but so did uncles and family friends. Thinking about the roots of your love of fishing can bring back great memories and provide a guide to how you should work with children to provide them the same background.
Fishing Legacy

Fishing Legacy originally appeared on About.com Freshwater Fishing on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 at 10:02:12.

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