BASS FISHINGBass Fishing Sports Blog

Seems to be a bunch of california anglers around here. i grew up in Texas and long believed it offered some of the bass fishing in the country (which it does). But i couldnt help wondering about those far off places and what the fishing was like there. mostly alabama florida and california. not that i care to name an undisputed champ among the states. i was just wondering, do you find yourself a little jealous of people who live in the other big bass states, even though you cant complain about the fishing you have?

Not really. I am not really as big of a fresh water bass person yet, mostly because the lake I target the most is very heavily pressured and fish can be hard to come by(and I have no boat or float tube). But, I have had fantastic bass fishing days fishing other lakes around the state, so I can't complain.

Hope this helps!!

No. I live in Alaska. And people from Alabama, Florida, Texas, and California are jealous of me. But that's okay. we let all you excellent fishin' folks come up and visit from time to time. (Bring your TOUGHEST tackle. You're going to need it!) ;o)

i live in california and in clearlake and lake mead and lake castaic have bass all 15+pounds clear lake record is 17.52 castaic has the #2 spot in the world for big bass at like 20 somthing pounds maybe even #1 idk and mead has huge fish to

Im going out Monday may 24 th bass fishing. does anyone have any suggestions or have a report for Lake weiss? Ill be fishing a creek off of the lake and like a pond area off the pond. Ive caught some great fish here just wanted some more tips or suggestions.

Mark Collins may have some helpful info for you:

markcollinsguideservice.com/r…

This site may also help:

fishin.com/reports/al/weiss.h…

The lake known as the "Crappie Fishing Capital of the World" has other fish to boast about these days; largemouth bass and striped bass are making a name for themselves. the largemouth bass fishery has been a best-kept secret for several years. Data collected from tournament anglers and state fisheries personnel has shown that Weiss Lake is one of the better bass fisheries in the state. Right now, the population primarily consists of 15-18 inch preferred-size bass as well as abundant numbers of young growing bass. the striped bass population is dominated by 3-7 pound fish, but fish over 25 pounds have been caught. With a creel limit of 30, one can have a lot of fun getting into a school of these bruisers!! Crappie fishing was good this past spring, but there are many crappie just under the legal size of 10 inches. the upcoming fall season and next year spring crappie fishing should be excellent as these fish grow to legal size.

Best Seasons: March through May are top months for crappie, with September, October and November also being good. Best bass months are February through May, and in October and November.

Mean temperature: annually, 60o F; January, February, 37o F. In March
and April, 45-50o F; July, 79o F.

Baits and Lures: For crappie, take some 1/8-ounce plastic or hair jigs, or use minnows under a float. For bass, crank baits, spinner baits and
plastic worms are top choices.

Three special fishing regulations apply to Lake Weiss:

"It shall be unlawful for any angler to fish with more than three rods and reels, or poles, or any combination thereof on Weiss Reservoir or Neely Henry Lake, at any time;"

"It is illegal to possess crappie less than 10-inches in total length;"

"It is legal to possess 30 white bass, yellow bass, saltwater striped bass and hybrid (striped) bass or combinations of any size."

Several regulations of particular interest to Weiss Lake anglers:
"It is a violation of Alabama law for any person to transport more than one day's creel limit of game fish beyond the boundaries of this state."
It is a violation of Alabama law for any person to fillet a fish while fishing, or to possess fillets of fish while on public waters except when fish are being prepared for immediate cooking and consumption; provided but, that fish may be drawn or gutted with heads left attached.
For more fishing regulations, see outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwate…

I was wondering if any of you know of a good place to buy bass and brim to stock lakes in Alabama. I have been doing some research, but can't find any specific ones in Alabama. I'm from Anniston, so it needs to be as close as possible.
How much does it generally cost for mass amounts of baby largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish?
Any help is much appreciated.

For those that are not familiar with it, Lake Guntersville is located in northern Alabama on the Tennessee River. it is the fifth largest man-made lake in the world, at about 65,000 square acres.

I visit Lake Guntersville several times each year during the spring and summer to go bass fishing with friends but generally not in the late-fall or winter.

Do you have any tips for bass fishing the lake or Tennessee river in mid-October or November? Suggestions on where to fish (type of structure, creek/tributary, GPS coordinates, etc)? how about what to fish with or your most effective tactics?

Our group for this next trip will have two boats with trailers, so we can put in just about anywhere in the lake. I've never fished the dam either and was thinking about giving that a try?

OK im not giving my honey holes away! sorry. but I will help you.
This is the best time to fish BIg G. but it depends on the weather.. Guntersville is known for its grass grass grass. if the water is cold I mean real cold fish the creek channels on the edge of the mil-foil in deeper water on drop offs. if its warms the fish can be shallow, spinner baits, and worms shallow.Some people will laugh but dont rule out topwater.. you can get some hogs that time of year on TW. just some help. if you want some more details email me at

Impounded 1939Lake Level down 1 1/2 feetWater Temperature: Tuesday, March 15 Dawn – 55 degrees / Evening – 65 degreesWater Clarity Stained to Muddy

THIS WEEK’S HUGE BASS…AN 11 POUNDER!

GUNTERSVILLE LAKE’S OLDEST, REEDS GUIDE SERVICE, PRODUCES COUNTLESS2-6 POUNDERS, TWO – 7 POUNDERS, ONE 8 POUNDER,THREE – 9 POUNDERS, a 10 POUNDERAND ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 — TO TOP THIS MONSTER LARGEMOUTH BASS LIST — AN 11POUNDER!IN THREE OF OUR BEST GUIDED TRIPS TO GUNTERSVILLE LAKE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS…OVER200 POUNDS OF BASS!INCREDIBLE. HERE’S HOW!

As owner of Reeds Guide Service, “Guntersville Lake’s Oldest Professional “BassFishing Only” Guide Service” I have seen some very huge bass come into my boat overthe past 40 plus years. I have guided on Alabama’s largest, man made impoundment,“Alabama’s Huge Bass Factory” — and the best bass lake in my opinion in this state,perhaps nationwide — for targeting trophy-sized largemouth bass. Clients of myguide service have taken bass weighing in the “teens” and some weighing up to 14pounds have been taken while fishing with me on Guntersville Lake.

Many of those huge, largemouth bass have been taken during the Spring months ofMarch, April and May. Some exceeding that almost, seemingly magical weight of “tenpounds” taken during other seasons as well. But it never seems to amaze me at eachand every huge bass we successfully fool into biting our fake offerings (we never uselive bait), how really hard we must work at it, to be so well rewarded with thatbass of a lifetime.

Whether it is a “trophy-sized bass of a lifetime”, or several “huge bass” taken in adays time, or even a day of catching “just numbers” of smaller bass, nowadays theyjust don’t come simple. often, we may start our day with high expectations castinghundreds of times, changing lures every few minutes, experimenting with variousreels, rods, line sizes and all types of lures and various color schemes (onlyPicasso would only dream up), with our small fake offerings. Only to be severelydisappointed. then.

Later in the morning we run into that “feeding frenzy,” a huge school of huge bass.its 4-5 pounders on every cast, then suddenly an 8 pounder or even larger, a tenpounder, that quickly brightens our day. we take lots of pictures and release allthose huge, largemouth bass. ” to live and fight another day and give glory toanother angler,” as it battles once again in search of its freedom…given only byyou.

As the title of this lake report says, “a half dozen bass all weighing 8 pounds orbetter up to 11 pounds” in three recent trips to Guntersville Lake.

* EARLIER IN THE YEAR WE HAD a 9 & 10 POUND LARGEMOUTH BASS AND a 7 POUNDER, a 5POUNDER AND 4 POUNDER. “5 BASS WEIGHING 35 POUNDS”you may have seen the caption and pictures all over the Internet or read about itin my fishing reports. it was cold, water temps 43 degrees / air temps high 48degrees, and we were the only anglers catching bass this size. a very good day byany anglers standards fishing jig combos and 10 inch worms along shallow to deepriver channel drop-offs.

Then the huge bass moved into shallow water for spring spawn.

* FIRST WEEK OF MARCH a TWO-DAY GUIDED TRIP – on one particular guided two-day tripon March 2&3 four corporate anglers from St. Peters Missouri came to Alabama torelax and fish with Reeds Guide Service for two rather cool days. They brought aboat and two were going to fish with me, while the other two anglers followed behindin their boat. But the new boat had a problem, it had no key!

They spent all day looking for someone to make a Triton Boat Key and ended up goingto Weiss lake to get one made.

Well, the other two anglers fished with me on Wednesday while all this took place.we had a rather slow, bright, sunny high pressure day, (at least that’s what Iblamed it on!), but we still managed to fool about a dozen nice bass, including anice pair of 6 pounders, mostly taken on spinnerbaits, shallow diving crankbaits andlipless lures.

But Thursday the next day, the other two anglers that had missed a day of fishingwhile looking for a key master, chose to fish with me and they gave the boat (nowwith a nice shiny new key) to the anglers that had fished with me Wednesday. we werefishing the mid-to-lower lake. But due to a hot tip provided by an angler fishingthe recent FLW Outdoors tournament they chose to head far up the lake. well, theyended up catching zero.

Meanwhile while they were 30 miles up the lake, we were loading the boat! In someplaces where we had zeroed on the day before! to make up for their lost day offishing they caught what they came for. a nice pair of 9 pounders! Including several4-6 pounders, and a 7 pounder. Five bass weighing about 38 pounds…easily. In all,over 60 pounds of bass to show their friends, that later joined us sadly,empty-handed.

We took lots of pictures all now on my website fishingalabama.com or posted withthis report, if allowed.

You will see 4 very happy guys (one with a bright orange shirt that looks likeJimmy Houston!), holding 8 bass including the two 9 pounders all weighing over 60pounds. In all, that two day trip yielded over 40 bass!

* SUNDAY – TUESDAY, MARCH 13-15 / THE LAST DAY OF a THREE DAY GUIDED TRIP – Twoanglers, a nice couple from Papillion, Nebraska left a snow-blanketed home to cometo Alabama for their annual, springtime three day fishing trip. WHAT THEY SAW WHENTHEY ARRIVED DID NOT LOOK ALL THAT EXCELLENT FOR FISHING!

They were scheduled to fish Logan Martin Lake with me. a lake that rose over 6 feetdue to recent floods this past week. With the lake suddenly a few feet over fullpool, I knew the very spread-out bass, would be hard to locate. So we fishedLay lake, situated on the now flooded Coosa River System right below Logan Martinlake and we did managed to fool some bass up to 4 pounds, in Lay’s then floodedweedy waters.

Mostly caught on Zoom’s trick worms, Flukes and spinnerbaits. His name was Reid andher’s Carrie.

On the next two days of this three day trip on Monday and Tuesday, we chose tofish Guntersville Lake and Carrie is now very glad that she did…

On Monday as usual, the bass were hitting lipless lures so we stuck with it, hittingseveral shallow weedy locations in a days time. we were rewarded with some nice 5-6pounders and about a dozen other good keepers. I had provided the lures and rods butthey went tackle shopping on their own that night.

Tuesday, the last day of this three day vacation for a now rather tired and wearycouple as they met me the boat dock. now rigged and ready we once again set outlooking for that trophy bass of lifetime. we immediately got into a school of 3-5pounders and once again the lipless lures came through for that huge bass bite. Twonice 4-5 pounders by mid day and then a slow period.

We took a small break snacking and drinking, and still casting our lures. I justwatched and waited, hoping the inevitable would occur. With only about two hours togo before quitting time, maybe just one more huge bass would complete their trip toAlabama. Including their lipless lures and the box of lures I gave them, they musthave tied and re-tied on at least a dozen lipless lure choices.

Until at last, one particular Strike King model lipless lure produced “the bass oflifetime.” a lure I had added my special paint job to, adding a red gill plate. Ithad a gray back, a yellow stripe down its side and a white belly. Carrie fished iton 14 pound test line.

The line screamed, the rod was bowed over, and the huge bass was going crazy, alltaking place in water of about two feet deep. But the huge bass wore down quick andas it came along side the boat I knew it was larger than anything we have seen allyear. “Easily over 10 pounds”, I thought. it was! an 11 pounder and Carrie tookpictures of it, I took pictures of it and then we let it go along with several otherbass…to live, lay their eggs, and fight another day, giving another angler athrill of a lifetime!

So it was added to some of this year’s huge bass list. Dozens of 4-6 pounders, a few7 pounders, an 8 pounder, three 9 pounders, a ten pounder and now, an 11 pounder!What holds next? With Guntersville Lake…you never know!

* ALWAYS CALL ON REEDS GUIDE SERVICE …FIRST! WHY? FOR HUGE BASS, THAT’S WHY! MAYBEYOURS WILL BE NEXT! Book your trip now to Alabama’s “huge bass factory” GuntersvilleLake. In April, May and even June it only gets better! call (205) 663-1504 or e-mailme at; alabassgyd@aol.com for more info and rates.

* HUGE BASS PICTURES ON FOX 6 TELEVISION – not all websites this recieve this lakereport posts my pictures. But they can be seen on my website atfishingalabama.com or on TV in Birmingham and throughout all of Alabama!

Also, you can see these pictures and other Huge Bass pictures from recent guidedtrips in my next appearance on WBRC’s Fox 6 morning show, ” good Day Alabama .” Mynext appearance is on Tuesday, March 29 (I’m on every last Tuesday of the month forover 6 years) on at 8 a.m. or just a few minutes after.

Call in with your fishing questions on my, “ask the Angler” question and answersegment on Fox 6!

That’s all for now, until next time…good Fishin’!

Reed Montgomery / Outdoor WriterOwner / Reeds Guide ServiceAlabaster, Alabama (205) 663-1504E-mail: : fishingalabama.com” Over 40 Years Guiding, Fishing and Exploring Every Lake in Alabama For LargemouthBass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Striped Bass ”Always call on Reeds Guide Service…first!Alabama’s Oldest Professional, Freshwater Fishing Guide Service!

ONE THOUSAND BASS IN ONE MONTH! (REALLY, THIRTEEN LAKES IN THIRTY DAYS!)By Reed Montgomery

Yeah, I thought that, “1000 Bass in One Month” Fishing Report caption, would getyour angling attention!

That’s about as ridiculous as some of the recent Guntersville Lake Reports claiming“100 bass a day.” Reports you hear or read about, that are, just aswell…unbelievable.

Still, I would estimate that I have boated or seen at least 1000 bass (so, who’scounting?) in the past month ! Incredable! but this took me, my truck and my boat,traveling thousands of miles and guiding on 13 of Alabama’s lakes (some lakesseveral times) in the last 30 days, to produce such an astounding number of bass, toeven lay claim to such a feat.

From the Tennessee River Lakes, Guntersville, Wheeler, Wilson and Pickwick lakes. Tothe six Coosa River Lakes; Weiss, Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Lay, Mitchell andJordan lakes. to the Tallapoosa River Impoundment’s; Lake Wedowee and Lake Martin.Then, all the way south to the Chattahoochee Impoundment Walter F. George reservoir,better know as Lake Eufaula on the Alabama / Georgia, state lines.

As owner of Alabama’s oldest, professional “bass fishing only” guide service, I haveguided for largemouth bass, spotted bass and smallmouth bass on these lakesrecently.

So here is small update on the current conditions (water temp, lake levels, etc.) ofeach of these Alabama lakes. the type of spring, “spawning mode” the bass on each ofthese lakes are currently showing and what size of bass we have seen recently,including the best lures and techniques for targeting these bass on the first weekof April…a time of change for both the bass and the determined springtime anglersthat pursue them!

TENNESSEE RIVER LAKES / GUNTERSVILLE LAKEGuntersville lake is currently down 1 1/2 feet. Water Temperature is in the low 60′sbut it will reach 70 degrees by this weekend! most bass are bedding.

See: fishingalabama.com for a Guntersville Lake link titled, ” 11 poundlargemouth bass / Guntersville Lake.” there you will read a report of two mid-Marchtrips, one two-day trip that produced several 5-8 pounders and 2 – nine pounders,and one 3-day trip in which a lady caught an 11 pounder on the last day! in all,total – we saw over 200 bass caught in a total of 5 days while fishing with liplesslures, shallow diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzz baits and lures on bottom likecreature baits and worms.

* Don’t believe everything you read about Guntersville Lake. Sure, some info isgood, reliable information. but. there are now over a dozen guides on this lake,(some, just out of work anglers), that send out reports only, no pictures, no names,some are ridiculous, reports of 50-100 bass a day! even on some of our recent tripswe have struggled with only 10 bass a day and no big ones! but, I always have BigBass pictures and notable clients testimonials…for anyone that questions for them.

To date, this year we have seen several 7 & 8 pound bass, three-9 pound bass, oneten pound bass and an 11 pounder. Heard this from any other source?

WHEELER LAKEWheeler Lake is currently down 2 1/2 feet. Water temps are in the low-60′s, butcould rise to 70 degrees by this weekend with mid-80′s air temps predicted statewide!

I have seen no bedding bass on Wheeler Lake. Bass will be bedding in mid-April toMay and the lake will be back to full pool. most lures we have had success areshallow diving crankbaits, rattletraps and red eye shad, suspending jerk baits andsome topwater bites (that will increase this week!) on spooks and buzz baits aroundwood cover in creeks and the Elk River. Tube baits, worms, creature baits, jigcombos and Texas-rigged lizards will be excellent bedding bass lures this coming week!

WILSON LAKE AND PICKWICK LAKESWilson lake is down 2 feet today. Water temps are in the low 60′s. / Pickwick lakeis down 1 3/4 feet below full pool, water temps are in the low 60′s. by this weekthe water temps could rise close to 70 degrees on these lakes. Both lakes will“traditionally” be back to full pool by the end of April. Largemouth bass will bebedding in the next week or so, on into early May. Smallmouth bass on these lakesshould be bedding this week as well!

We have fished the dams, rock bluffs, deep mid lake structure, and creeks with asmany as 20-30 bass a day! also drum, stripers, white bass, catfish, crappie andother fish!

* Drifting below dams can be feast or famine on each daily outing. always try luresbumped on bottom like spinnerbaits, tube baits, jig combos, Texas-rigged worms,lizards, creature baits and smaller grubs, curly twin tails and shad imitationsfished on light line and with jig heads. Creeks on these lakes should show atremendous topwater bite in April and May around new growing aquatic weeds and woodcover!

COOSA RIVER LAKESWEISS LAKE – Weiss lake is currently at Full Pool. It should remain full pool, forit is usually brought up in mid April. Water temps are in the mid 60′s and should be70 degrees by this weekend.

NEELY HENRY LAKE is down 1 foot with water temps in the low to mid 60′s.

LOGAN MARTIN LAKE – Logan Martin Lake is down 2 1/2 feet and rising. Water Temps arein the mid 60′s.

LAY LAKE – Lay lake is 1/2 foot below full pool. Water temps in the mid 60′s.

MITCHELL LAKE – Mitchell Lake is at Full Pool. Water Temps are in the mid 60′s.

JORDAN LAKE – Jordan Lake is down 1/2 foot. Water Temps in the mid 60′s.

All of these Coosa River Lakes should display water temps close to 70 degrees bythis weekend, with predicted highs in the mid 80′s. Largemouth bass are bedding onsome Coosa River lakes and will all be bedding by the end of April, when all ofthese Coosa River lakes will be at or near full pool and new growing aquatic weedsshow bass very shallow and very aggressive for the next 6 weeks. Post spawn spottedbass and largemouth bass will be hitting topwater lures, as these bass come off thebeds and they are hungry and aggressive! all throughout April and May…it only getsbetter!

TALLAPOOSA RIVER SYSTEMLAKE MARTIN AND LAKE WEDOWEEAlthough both of these lakes are currently down, with Lake Martin 1 1/2 feet belownormal full pool lake levels and Wedowee Lake 3 feet low, they will both be close tofull pool by the end of April. Water temps are in the mid 60′s, but will rise to 70degrees this week on both lakes.

There are very small aquatic weeds on these lakes, but wood cover and rocks willshow bedding bass in April and post spawn bass by May. Topwater lures, finessefishing on Martin and jig combos on Wedowee are excellent lures for bedding bass and forsmaller spotted bass in schools on rocky points and rock bluffs.

CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER SYSTEMLAKE EUFAULALake Eufaula is down 3 1/2 feet. Water temps are in the mid-70′s. Bass have bed!

Post spawn bass on Lake Eufaula will be very active in April and May! Weedless lureslike frogs around grass are deadly lures these months for big bass! Bass will alsohit buzz baits, spooks, Sammie and other topwater lures like baby torpedoes andother prop-baits, including topwater lures like pop-r’s fished along weed edges andother shallow water lures around weeds like floating worms, soft jerk baits, lizardsand weightless lures like Yamamoto’s Senkos, are all excellent too!

Spinnerbaits and shallow diving crankbaits, suspending jerk baits and swim baits,will continue to produced numbers of big, post-spawn bass. As bass come off the bedslook for them along creek flats, creek and main lake points, and any rip-rap rockslike those found around bridges, causeways and the dam area. New growing aquaticweeds like Lilly pads, milfoil and hydrilla weeds will hold shallow bass allthroughout the months of April and May!

REEDS GUIDE SERVICE / ALABAMA’S OLDESTAlways call on Reeds Guide Service…first! Sure, I’ve got days open all this month,next month and on into the summer months…we all do. but why experiment? go withAlabama’s oldest, professional, “bass fishing only” guide service and you will beglad you did… call (205) 663-1504 or e-mail me today to reserveyour springtime fishing trip!

* See my website fishingalabama.com for more info for bass fishing on all ofAlabama’s Lake’s for every season!

Thanks and Excellent Fishin’!

Reed Montgomery / Outdoor WriterOwner / Reeds Guide ServiceAlabaster, Alabama (205) 663-1504E-mail: : fishingalabama.com” over 40 Years Guiding, Fishing and Exploring Every Lake in Alabama for LargemouthBass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Striped Bass ”always call on Reeds Guide Service…first!Alabama’s Oldest Professional, Freshwater Fishing Guide Service!

I really want to get my boyfriend of 3 1/2 years something he will like and I don't know much about bass fishing brands. He is crazy about bass fishing, he is actually going to alabama this week for a tournament. I'm sure he would like anything to do with bass fishing, so any other gift thoughts would be fantastic! Thanks!

Excellent question and there is a excellent rod out there! Guess what, it does have a life time guarantee too. it is a G -Lomis and it is a carbon rod, you can find it at some of the better fishing stores. I have one and like it. it is a 6ft rod with medion action. it has the long handle. I can't say enough excellent stuff about it. Gladsnow does not know what he is talking about, he probably uses a stick with live bait and a ball on for a float. Fishes in a lake in Florida where it is warm all the time and just NOT TAKE IT SERIOUS!

This really depends on your budget and how much "snooping" you plan to do to find out the rod or reel he needs.

(lol)

I agree with the first post but with a twist. get him a Bass Pro Shops or Cabelas gift certificate and a Leatherman multi-tool- (The "Skeletool" $79 and "Surge" being 2 of the best.)

Multi-tools are fantastic tools to have when fishing.

Hope this helps.

Best "off the shelf" bass fishing rods ??- Carrot Stix, G-Loomis, Kistler, Daiwa Steez, etc.

Excellent luck!

Honestly, the best gift you could give him would be a Bass Pro Shops gift card. only he knows what he prefers or needs. my wife learned its not simple to buy a fisherman tackle. Imagine your boyfriend trying to buy you a pair of shoes. If he posted that question on answers he would get a ton of answers, but would you like what he ended up buying?

st. croix rods. look them up. a little costly though. id reccomend a gift card of about $200 to his favorite outdoors store, or take him along to pick it out. it ruins the surpirse, but it may be fun going along with him

you have asked a question, that has as many answers, as there are people that fish.
as far as the BEST BASS FISHING ROD, there is NO SUCH THING.

04/26/2011from staff

As our community continues to face a tight economy and shrinking budgets, the Daily Record has established this page that will each week chronicle the efforts of local nonprofit organizations. Bailey Publishing & Communications invites all members of the local nonprofit community to submit news, announcements, success tales and any other information they believe would be of interest to our readers. E-mail to: .

We also encourage our readers to become more aware of the needs of these worthy organizations as they try to continue to provide valuable services with reduced resources.

?Rock?n Ride? at MavericksMore than 400 motorcycles took to the streets of Downtown for Daniel?s Rock?n Ride April 21, with riders and event sponsors collectively bringing in more than $79,000 to help local kids in crisis at Daniel.

The bikers departed from the Landing and went on a 60-mile ride around the city, which took them by Daniel?s Belfort Road campus, where Daniel kids held posters and waved to their benefactors.

?There is nothing like the sound of the roar of hundreds of motorcycles when the Rock?n Ride starts,? said Daniel President and CEO Jim Clark.

?But the most touching part of the event is the interaction between the bikers and the kids themselves as we ride past the campus. It reminds everyone what it?s all about ? helping those children,? he said.

After the ride, bikers and other Daniel supporters gathered for an afterparty at Mavericks Rock?N Honky Tonk at the Landing.

One part of the afterparty was the live auction at which Richard Nunn offered to have his head shaved onstage if attendees collectively raised $1,000 for Daniel kids.

The crowd rose to the challenge and even rallied for a second time, when one of the event?s sponsors, Jennifer McCoy of Ballyhoo Mobile Marketing, offered to have her locks shorn if another $2,000 was raised.

Both Nunn and McCoy took turns shaving each other?s heads with hairdressers from Paul Mitchell the School helping to make sure they had a excellent final result.

The other memorable moment of the afterparty was the presentation of the winner in the Rock?n Ride motorcycle drawing. Lori Kaye?s ticket enabled her to choose from four new bikes supplied by First Coast Honda and Powersports of St. Augustine.

Publix partners with Second HarvestSecond Harvest North Florida and Publix Super Markets Inc. have announced the rollout of a store donation program that will generate thousands of pounds of food annually for families in Northeast Florida.

The program provides perishable and nonperishable items from 69 stores in the 18-county area served by Second Harvest, the region?s Feeding America member food bank. Second Harvest trucks have begun making pickups twice weekly from Publix stores, including 53 locations in Duval, Clay, Nassau, Flagler and St. Johns counties.

?We are pleased to partner and be aligned with an organization that has a substantial brand and track record of serving those in need at the grassroots level. we believe this program will allow thousands of families to receive nutritious food in a timely manner, especially during a downturned economy,? said Dwaine Stevens, media and community relations manager for Publix.

The Publix store donation program is also being enacted in other communities in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, providing eight Feeding America food banks access to donations from 242 Publix stores.

The company estimates it has donated thousands of pounds of food to Feeding America food banks since the program?s pilot and rollout more than three years ago. Grocery industry average donations range between 250 and 300 pounds of useable food each week per store, including foods such as milk, bread, meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables.

?This program is incredibly important to our mission of feeding hungry people,? said Karen Rieley, interim executive director of Second Harvest North Florida.

?We are grateful to Publix for providing this invaluable community service, which addresses a very real problem for our neighbors on the First Coast and beyond. these resources will translate into millions of meals for families experiencing hardship in North Florida,? she said.

A formal announcement of the program was held at the Second Harvest North Florida warehouse. Publix presented a $26,211 donation to Second Harvest as part of the Food Industry Crusade Against Hunger. the donation was the result of an in-store promotion where customers made point-of-sale donations to support local charities engaged in the fight against hunger.

Washington invited to Washington, D.C.Local community leader and advocate MaliVai Washington was invited to the 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll. It is the largest public event at the White House and is held annually.

This year?s Egg Roll has incorporated a different spin by adding more physical activities to the itinerary. the event?s new theme, ?Get up and Go,? strives to promote healthy and active living among America?s youth.

Several sports professionals were invited to the White House to participate in the scheduled activities and to bring more awareness to healthy living among youth.

?It was a fantastic honor to have received the invitation from President Obama and the first lady. I?m excited to participate in an event that has been a part of each president?s administration since the 1800s,? said Washington.

?I think it?s fantastic that the first lady has such a huge passion for combating childhood obesity and getting America fit. I don?t know if I?ll have the chance to meet the first family, but if I am granted the opportunity, I would stress the importance of investing in our youth as well as after-school programs,? he said.

The MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation celebrates its 15- year anniversary this year. the foundation offers hope and opportunities to urban core youth.

Fishing to help childrenRegistration is open for the 22nd annual Wolfson Children?s Hospital Bass Tournament, which benefits patients of Wolfson Children?s Hospital.

The event is at the City Dock in Palatka, the ?bass fishing capital of the world.? Registrations will also be accepted from 2 a.m. until safe light launch the morning of May 19. the registration form is available at wolfsonchildrens.org/bass”>wolfsonchildrens.org/bass .

The Wolfson Children?s Hospital Bass Tournament is the largest single-day bass tournament in the state of Florida. thanks to sponsors and participants, the 2010 tournament contributed more than $140,000 to benefit the children of Wolfson Children?s Hospital.

The tournament also offers a chance to win a new, fully rigged 2011 Bullet Bass Boat with a 2011 Mercury 225 Pro XS OptiMax motor. A $10 donation to Wolfson Children?s Hospital provides a chance to win the boat May 21 at the tournament (you do not need to be present to win).

More information about the drawing is available at wolfsonchildrens.org .

If you are unable to participate but would like to help, donations are appreciated. Contact Vicki Watson at 360-4531 or Angela Holden at 202-1525 for additional information.

Wine-tasting at Urban Flats?A Tasteful Event? is plotted to benefit Hope Haven Children?s Clinic and Family Center.

The event is scheduled 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at Urban Flats Flatbread & Wine co. at 9726 Touchton Road in Tinseltown.

The event features food, fun and wine and a chance to win TPC tickets.

Tickets are $25 each and are available at Hope Haven and through its website hope-haven.org.

For more information, call 346-5100, ext. 250.

Girls? Rights Week starts May 5Girls Inc. of Jacksonville announced that Delores Barr Weaver, chair and CEO of the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation, will support Girls? Rights Week as honorary chair of the May 5 reception honoring local ?Girls in Action? and ?Women of Vision.?

Girls Inc.?s Girls? Rights Week is an annual celebration of girls advocating for their rights and for positive change in the world.

In this spirit, the reception will honor ?Girls in Action? in the community in the fifth, eighth and 12th grades as well as trailblazing women in the areas of academics, arts and athletics.

Tickets can be bought for $25 each by calling 731-9933 or by visiting girlsincjax.org.

Proceeds from the event will support Girls Inc. of Jacksonville?s quality programs that inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold through educational and enrichment programs in our after-school and summer programs.

i need help!!!
i have a bass tournament on october 27th and 28th
i am launching in mcfarland park in florence Alabama..
i have never fished here if u would…please help me!!!

I have been fishing rather deep water in Lake Martin (Alabama.) the depth on my fish finder has ranged from 20-40 feet of water. now I have been expermiting with the deeper water fishing for bigger fish. although it has been sucesseful so far, the biggest I have caught during the past couple weeks was about 8 1/2 lbs.

Now for the question… I have been throwing a 3/4 oz either chartuse or black and blue jig with a pork trailor on the end with 16 lb test. I know fishing deep like this is a rather slow go, but do you reckon there is a way of speeding the fish up into biting in the deep water. like for instance, start throwing some 4-6 inch swimbaits or go to a smaller jig? Or just stick with what's working and go from there?

If any of you have fished deep water much, you know it's a slow go no matter what. because those small bastards aren't running (swiming, lol) and grabbing it before the heavyweights can.

Stick with what's working & go from there would be the wisest choice.

just stay with what is working.

stick to what you are using since its successful.

Only 8 1/2 pounds. Tragic.

One thing to try is to use a heavier jig like an ounce or even 1 1/2 jig. it will allow you to fish quicker as it stirs up the bottom better and displaces more water making it simpler for bass to find the bait using their lateral line. In water of 20-40 foot depths you might consider using braided line for that added sensitivity or using fused superline in instances where line visibility is an issue. Gary YamamotoCustom Baits makes a very excellent bait called a "one ton Jig" but there are a few other manufacturers offering oversized jigs as well. a Magnum size chunk, Hula Grub or craw would be my trailer of choice with this setup. the large hook gap on that large jig makes for an excellent hookup.

Here is a small extra info on the bait mentioned and its use.
insideline.net/articles/one-t…

Have to agree if it works why fix it but here are a couple great deep water baits to try also 1-1/2oz spinners, spoons,10 or 12 inch worms and lizards carolina rigged and blade baits just lighten up your line a bit as stated I use braid or 10 mono!

dis is what i do- red and black bass jig-instead of pork trailer use 7 inch blue fleck ribbon tail power worm. drop to ten pound test. slowly drag accross bottom. booya!

Nice answer Goldenfeather.

My 2 cents: find a "hump or bump" on your graph and slow troll 1/2-1 OZ spinnerbaits through the area to "quickly" find active feeding fish.

(Obviously, you can't troll in a tourney environment!)

I have a forum your welcome to post questions in fishntell.com