What's your goals for next year for bass fishing?  I need to figure out the whole dropshotting thing.  Seems like I can't catch a fish past 20'.  I want to catch a 6lb LM and a 5lb SM.  So far my biggest is 5.5lb LM and 4.4lb Smallie.  Finally, I want to attend one of the fish-ins or tournaments next year.  I'm sure I can learn a lot from all you guys.   Oh yeah...the big thing...once car sales pick up maybe a new bass boat.

Hey Says, work on finding productive patterns instead of a size limit. Especially in tournament fishing, the consistency in catching fish will take you to the top 5 more often then just a big catch. If you find productive patterns, the bigger fish will come, trust me. I had my biggest ever Largemouth (8 lb 8oz) and Smallie (5lb 8oz) this year in WBC tournaments. Niether time was my goal to go "big fish" fishing. I just fished the productive pattern for that particular body of water and it paid off.

Like Mark said, try new techniques or sharpen the ones you are mediocre at. One goal is easy..tournaments...just go fish one. Don't be intimidated by these studs like Lyle, Kirk and Ron. They all started somewhere too.

As for catching deeper fish...

There is tons of water in a lake deeper than 20 ft. You need to find structure at those depths that are going to attract fish. Points, rocks, humps, breaks..etc. This comes from reading a map. Using a camera to look over these spots will give you confidence when you see fish. Then you just have to figure them out. Hope this helps..

my first goal for 06 is to just fish more tourneys.  last year was a rough year for me.  secondly is to learn to use my electronics more effectively.  i would also like to win a WBC tourney next year.  And as a final 05/06 goal I would like to catch a bass in every cold water month this winter.

I would love to hook up with you guys, but I work every Saturday.  Maybe I can go to work late that day.

Y2,

Throw more swim baits and fish deeper in winter and late summer. If you want to stick that 5+ lb smallie fish lake Wa in the spring. Its pretty easy then. In the last 5 years I have caught 5 smallies over 6 at that time in water less than 5 feet. For largies over 6+ , go out in the spring to one of the following lakes- Sawyer,Harts,Angle,Cambel,Ballinger,Spencer,Lawrence,Silver-Cowlitz, or Spencer. These lakes produce 6-8lb largies during the months of March,April, and May.

Good Luck,
Russ

My 2006 goals:

1. Buy a boat that fits my wants and budget in time to fish the Silver Lake club tourney in it. (very achievable)
2. Buy a camper to allow my wife and kids to come to tourneys with me. (very likely to happen) - Bring my family to most tourneys this year.
3. Fish 2-3 tourneys with my wife.
4. Participate in Fish-Ins as a boater, as I got a lot from the other guys when I have fished them as a non-boater
5. Work within the club to bring back some events and programs that have been done in the club in the past to get more people involved in addition to tourneys, especially families fishing together.
6. Fish a tournament with my son (maybe a one-day outside the club if we don't think he can stay in the boat for a full 2-day tourney. He's 9.)
7. Improve my dropshot and casting skills, especially short-medium range spinning rod casting.
8. Make progress learning to locate fish and operate the boat effectively and productively.
9. Promote the sharing of info during tournaments, especially for those who are not as experienced and haven't been catching as many fish in tourneys as the more seasoned members. (If you place yourself in the category of less-experienced and wanting to share and receive info on spots, techniques and patterns, please contact me. I have some ideas I'd like to share with you.)

Other than that, not much.

Stu

Rob,

You like that swim bait idea??? I like Stu's answer.
Sharing by all members experienced or not should be a prerequisite for this club.
Russ

Goals for '06.  H-h-h-m-m-

1.  To hang on to my boat for more then a year!!!

2.  To sharpen some mediocre skills such as Crankin' and topwater fishin.

3.  To catch bigger fish then Rob.  I catch a 5#7oz. SM.   Rob catches a 5#8oz. SM  DOH

I catch an 8#4oz. LM.  Rob catches an 8#8oz. LM  DOH!

Rich