Fishy Wife

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?" "Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?")"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her. "I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading." "Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."" If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman. "But I haven't even touched you," says the game warden. "That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment." "Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

Forty-Eleven Questions

If there is anything you've ever had a question about ... and have not been able to get an answer ... here is the website for you. Check it out - it is quite interesting.

Also, if you have time, check out my site, www.bassfishingguide.com. We try to offer something to do outdoors for everyone either living in Florida or coming for a visit.

A Louisiana Fishin' Tale

Boudreaux been fish'n down by de bayou all day and he done run outa night crawlers. He be bout ruddy to leave when he seen a snake wif a big frog in his mouf. He knowed dat dem big bass fish like dem frogs, so he decided to steal dat froggie.

Dat snake, he be a cotton mouf water moccasin, so he had to be real careful or he'd git bit. He snuk up behin' dat snake and grabbed him roun de haid. Dat ole snake din't lak dat one bit. He squirmed and wrap hisself roun' Boudreaux's arm try'n to git hisself free. But Boudreaux, he had a real good grip on his haid, yeh.

Well, Boudreaux pried his mouf open and got de frog and puts in in his bait can. Now, Boudreaux knows dat he cain't let go dat snake or he's gonna bite him good, but he had a plan. He reach into de back pocket of his bibs and pulls out a pint a moonshine likker. He pour some drops into de snake's mouf. Well, dat snake's eyeballs kinda roll back in his haid and his body go limp. Wit dat, Boudraux toss dat snake into de bayou. Den he goes back to fishin'.

A while later Boudreaux dun feel sumpin' tappin' on his barefoot toe. He slowly look down and dare wuz dat water moccasin wif two more frogs.

Fishin' Kids

Kids love to fish ... but first you have to ask them, show them, and then teach them.

• It's something that gets them outdoors into the fresh air;
• It's something to get them out from in front of the computer;
• It's something that teaches them about conservation and the environment;
• It's something that every child can equally compete in;
• It's something for the family to do together;
• It's something different to do on your next vacation;
• It's something less expensive than most theme parks;
• It's something that they'll remember for a lifetime;
• It's something that they'll teach their children.

Just look at the faces on some of these kids we've had out fishing and try to tell me that they're not having fun!

You know the old saying ... give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day ... teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime.

Well, the same goes for our kids ... and most kids that really get involved with fishing DON'T get involved with drugs, are less likely to get in trouble with the law, and generally do better in school. Try to do your part as a parent, grandparent, big brother, big sister, or even just a friend to get today's kids involved in fishing.

It's probably one of the least expensive hobbies to get started. All you need is a rod, reel, lure ... add water with fish in it and you've got a perfect recipe for FUN!

You never know ...

you might just find out that you DO have something in common with your kids

... a love for FISHING!!!

WORLD RECORD BROKEN ! ! !

Well, for all you avid bass fishermen out there, especially the ones in Florida, you have a new goal to set for yourselves. The world record for largemouth bass was just broken yesterday in (where else?) California. That is ... if they count it!

Check out this article from the San Diego Union-Tribune and then let us know whether you think it should be counted or not.

COUNT IT OR DON'T COUNT IT!

"DEAL OR NO DEAL"

International Game Fish Association to take the 25-pound, 1-ounce bass under review
By Ed Zieralski
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
11:00 a.m.
March 21, 2006

SAN DIEGO – An official for the International Game Fish Association said today that the 25-pound, 1-ounce bass caught and released by Mac Weakley of Carlsbad at Dixon Lake Monday will get consideration as a world record.

Jason Schratwieser, conservation director for the association, commended Weakley and his crew of Mike Winn and Jed Dickerson for releasing the big bass, which, if certified as a record, will shatter the present mark of 22 pounds, 4 ounces, the weight of a fish caught by George W. Perry in 1932 at Montgomery Lake in Georgia.

Weakley foul-hooked the largemouth bass, with the hook lodged on the fish's left side, just below its dorsal fin.

California Department of Fish and Game regulations state that a fish, to be legally caught, must be hooked in the mouth while it tries to take a bait, lure or fly. The game fish association states, for its record-consideration process, that a catch will be disqualified if a fish is “intentionally” foul-hooked. Weakley said he wasn't intentionally trying to foul-hook or snag the bass, and three witnesses to the catch confirmed that.

“We don't have any information on the fish right now, so we don't have any comment,” Schratwieser said. “But if it is submitted it's something we'll discuss and look at. Absolutely. One thing we never want to do is penalize a recreational angler for releasing a fish. I commend the guy for releasing such a big, spawning female because she'll contribute a lot to that lake.

“A big female like that will produce more eggs, but more importantly, more quality eggs. There may be a genetic component that she passes on to subsequent generations of larger, healthier fish.” Schratwieser added that the fact Weakley didn't take measurements of the fish – length and girth, an integral part of the IGFA's application process – might not matter if the photos and video they took substantiate the size of the bass.

“We like to have the measurements for several reasons,” Schratwieser said. “One is for scientific purposes, so we can get a better understanding of the size of the species. Measurements also help confirm the dimensions of the fish if the pictures are lacking in the application.”

Schratwieser said it will take a month or more to confirm the fish as an all-tackle world record.

Weakley said Monday that he will apply for the record. He defended his decision not to take measurements.

“I didn't want to lay it (the bass) on the dock and have it stressed more than it was,” Weakley said. “People can take it for what it's worth. That's just how it is.”

Added Dickerson: “Whatever happens, we know it's the world record. Unless that one gets caught again, no one will ever see another bass that big.”

Meantime, Dixon Lake was quiet Wednesday morning considering that the world-record bass still swims there.

“It rained all night and there's no one here,” said Jim Dayberry, supervisor of rangers at Dixon. “I would expect that later today and into the weekend it's going to go crazy here.”

Dayberry also explained how Weakley, Winn and Dickerson had early access to the lake Monday He said the anglers bought a camping permit that allowed them to bypass the line of cars that had to wait until the lake opened at 6 a.m. Weakley, Winn and Dickerson were able to buy their lake permits and rental boat before the anglers in the vehicle line reached the lake.

“We allow campers to come in anytime,” Dayberry said. “That's why we have a ranger here 24/7. If not, we'd have this lake poached every night. But campers come to the gate and wait in the parking lot for the ranger to come up and sell them a spot.”
The fact Weakley and his crew got in early that way didn't sit well with some anglers, but it was legal.

“When the ranger opened the gate, we were the first ones in, so we were stoked,” said Rancho Bernardo's Steve Barnett, who was there with his younger brother, Dan, trying to get in some fishing before school. “Dan knew a guy was fishing for that fish the day before and that there was a 20-pounder out there. We were going to try and catch it. I wanted to get Dan a junior record before he turns 16. But when we got to the lake we looked out and (Weakley, Winn and Dickerson) were already on the lake. So we just decided to sit there and watch them. At least we saw the world record caught.”

Dayberry said he respected the way Weakley, Winn and Dickerson handled the bass after it was caught.

“They saw how much Jed's 21-pounder (the 21 pound, 11 ounce fish caught in 2003 and also believed to be the same bass) was stressed by being out of the water so long,” Dayberry said. “They knew keeping it out of the water would have been the kiss of death for that big bass. They wanted to do minimal damage. And there was a lot to be said about their honesty. These are stand-up guys we've known since they were kids. They have a lot of heart.

“Sure, we'd love to post it as the world record right now, say it's done and in the record book. There could be a 24½ -pounder caught at Casitas or Castaic today, but
everyone will know there's a bigger one swimming in Dixon.

“We know because we saw it.”

Please leave a comment on this blog or, if you are interested in coming to Florida in search of your trophy largemouth bass, you can e-mail me at CaptDick@bassfishingguide.com or checkout my website.