Daniel Ambrose answers:

Good news it’s up again. What a great website.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Calico (kelp) bass are only native to the west coast. Some people think they’re “talent” fish, but really they’re not that hard to catch.

I’ve got them on just about everything — anchovies, sardines, jacksmelt, queenfish, tomcod, lizardfish, shiner perch, butterfish, squid, mackerel, jack mackerel. Plastics: Scampi, Shabby Shrimp, Kelp Kritter, Worm King, Big Hammer, AA, Mister Twister. All sorts of iron jigs, from Tady 45s on down. Even got some on Sabiki rigs. You can get them flylining on the surface, casting off rocks in the surf, or 100 feet down with 6 ounces of weight. You can find them in open water (generally following bait), but they’re most often hanging around rocks (more so than kelp).

In general, I prefer 12-15 pound line (20 with big baits like squid or mackerel). I like conventional gear, but lots of people use baitcasters or spinning gear. You want tackle you’re comfortable with to flyline a sardine or cast a plastic, or of they’re not on the surface, work a bait on the bottom with a couple ounces of lead. But you have to be ready to adapt — if they’re keyed on one bait, or one color of artificial, or one depth, you have to find it and switch. But that goes for just about any kind of fishing.

Freshwater bass guys tend to enjoy fishing for them — you can use the same tackle and similar tactics, and the fish are pretty much the same size. And they’re tough enough to handle catch and release. As one of the few fish which have been protected from commercial fishing (for over 50 years now), there are plenty of them around.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Hey Brandon. Thanks bro. Coming from you that is quite a compliment.
I have only posted here. Bass Fisherman get credit for turning me into a bassresource.com junkie. It really has some of the best info on the web.
I am working on my 360 page getting together good fishing sites and other interests (nothing can compete with bass fishing) I’d like to share and will soon have it ready for public viewing.
You keep up the excellent work. We need more people like you on Yahoo Q&A!

Edit:
Brandon, Injun,…any others maybe you can suggest a few good forums to me. Always open to suggestion.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Get Cabela’s Monster Bass. Great Game and will have you hooked all day if you love fishing.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

They all suck. Most of them are no where near being realistic.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

No, but I imagine that the only free ones would be flash or java games that aren’t fun anyways. Nothing is free.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Welcome to the Pacific Northwest. The good news is…you are going to love fishing here. I am particularly fond of the Columbia River. The bad news is…salmon and steelhead fishing is a whole new ball game. I’m wouldn’t bother trying to accomodate existing equipment and techniques…you are going to have to do some assimilation. As you already know, you have to head down to the river and spend time with the guys who fish a particular area…techniques and terminal tackle will vary even within a relatively limited stretch of the river. And, of course, there’s no substitute for knowing the river.

Also, the trick here is how NOT to catch bass when you are after something else.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

A very interesting question, you are talking about two very different fish. Catfish tend to feed mainly of the bottom, were bass are more a predatory fish that will look for and chase their pray any wear. I think if you were talking about bait fishing, well there would be little to none in difference to that. There are some great books on the subject, and if you wish, visit my blog , there is some good reading there, I hope that helps.
E.C.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

How about some Lucky Craft jerkbaits with a REAL FISH SKIN COVERING! I know you want one! Find them here along with other great bass tourney winning products like the e21 Legend Carrot Stix (30% graphite, 70% carrots!).

Http://www.deloscustomtackleshack.com/jerkbaits/real_skin_luckycraftjerk_78sp.htm

http://www.deloscustomtackleshack.com/rods/e21_carrotstick.htm

The 2008 iCast show won’t be until next summer when the best of 2008 tackle will be made public. We will all be waiting with baited breath.

Edit*
The ‘Thumbs Downer’ missed me! Must be passed his bed time.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

TO GET A PHOTO/CUSTOM PICTURE AS YOUR AVATAR.

If you want a photo/custom picture as your avatar you need to make a yahoo 360 account. Http://360.yahoo.com/login.html?.done=http://360.yahoo.com/

The photo needs to be saved on your computer as a jpg file, don’t worry about the size to much yahoo will adapt it.

1> Click “my page” (top of page).

2> Click “edit personal photo” (on the left above photo window).

3> Click “browse” choose the photo from your photos click “save”, Set as primary and “save”.

4> Go to your “edit my profile” http://answers.yahoo.com/my/my_edit click “use my yahoo 360 picture” scroll down and press “preview”, and then “OK” in the next screen.
And your done.

Yahoo are still doing maintenance throughout all yahoo sites and some avatars may be slow to show so try to be patient.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Http://www.bassdozer.com/
Left hand column you can find info on about anything, from fishing tips to places to go. The page will open on a table on contents to fishing links

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Maybe if you got rid of the big annoying ads on your website… Thats a big sign your more interested in advertising than in a fishing forum….

Try incorporating youtube videos of fishing/ lure making/ etc….. Thats where I start if I want to find some place new or a new method of fishing or new ways to make fishing lures….

How about a daily update on fishing conditions in your area, incorporate a daily video update on the conditions at your local lakes etc, etc….

If you know any fishing guides /charter boat people, let them advertise for free on your website…

Daniel Ambrose answers:

I have simply typed in “fishing” on youtube and found some nice videos. Especially those featuring Alton Jones.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Depends for spring time i like the weight go a can drag it across the spawning nest but ive always loved free falling i seem to catch alot more bass that way so like i said i woulkd when they spawn oh get a pair of polerized sun glasses so you can see the spawn bed

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Cabelas has their own TV section on a channel and the shows are available to watch on line, I’ve seen some fly fishing and hunting videos on their site and all were good quality, you can watch for free here
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/community/aboutus/media/pages/coj_home.jsp?auPage=tv