How many of you are members of this segment of detailed reports / subscriber reports, and how much info are you getting.

The reason I ask is I only get out about twice a month, and with the locations / paterns changing, I sometimes spend more time looking for fish than fishing.

I am not trying to be sarcastic, but it seems like you have answered your own question. There are certain times when it is slow and so forth, that is less help. On the other hand when things are wheeling and there is a certain bite at certain places, along with certain key techniques, that it can be extremely benificial. just my .02

I used to subscribe and found Clay's reports worth reading. Find it hard to subscribe anymore after having my nose rubbed in it by some people that visit this board. Just a little reminder, when you start abusing people that use this board, you're only hurting Clay's business.

I've had a different experience than Kepler. If it wasn't for this forum then I would not nearly have the network I have now for striper fishing on Lanier. I fish with a lot with guys from this forum and they have been nothing but great people and even better friends. I've even been invited to board some boats from some of the guys on this forum for some tournaments(we did really well too). I'd have to say if it wasn't for this site, I wouldn't have lots of numbers in my phone that I can call on any time to go fish with or to see where the fish are.

My brother subscribes to Clay's detailed reports and we have found them to be useful. The detailed reports I've seen in the past tells you were to look(exact markers or areas)for fish and what method to use. Do it!

^^^^^ Couldnt agree more Nick ^^^^

Thanks for the feedback.

It sounds like the subscribed reports are what I need.

I know the tactics by seasons, but struggle to locate fish since there is so much water to cover.

Yes seahawk you are spot on about covering so much water. Even after years and years of fishing this lake. The fish don't seem to do what they did last year at the same time.

The last three years for example have been totally different places and depths in the same time period. So if you get out 2 to 3 times a month, between the reports on the forum and the subscribed reports, you can hit a game plan and attack the day.

Good luck with your fishing!!!

downline season? look for the fleet!!!

If you see a white Century center console stay away from him!! He looks for his own fish and does not look for boats as the rookies do. I wish I had a dollar for every time a freek'n boat came in on me, never marked fish and just dropped the trolling motor. I should be getting guide service pay for all the boats that do this...

PREACH ON BROTHER!!!

I've been trolling behind the sailboats without much success......I'm beginning to think I'm following the wrong fleet

I'll tell you what. I'll pay a fee to ride with you guys any day. What I learned from Dan and Brett was more than I learned on my own for the last year. The only cure for the elusive Lanier stripers is time on the water.

I can't resist NY. It's because you're all a bunch of carpetbaggers.

Troutman, I will not disagree with your comment. Most people want you to hand them the knowledge when we have all worked many days to learn it. It's like I was told about life long ago. When you're standing on a beach and pick up a hand full of sand and look down the beach..........You still have that much more to pick up.

Kepler, Would you mind sitting in my lap and singing Ice Ice Baby?

I have cruised through the "fleet" several time when NOBODY had action but we were wackin 20 pounders. we all know those damn things group up in the summer. I would remind those that dont know to fight these summer fish quick and submarine them down to some cooler water when you release. Not good picture season.

Billy Boy, I don't know why but when I read this post I almost lost it,,,lol

Just flip them the bird! LOL

Billy, when you get that T Top, we need to get you some decals.
Bro, I thought you were a guide.

You lost me. Either I'm too old or it's a reference to some strange Yankee behavior. Or. since your from California...no, I won't go there.

I understand where you are coming from. I still have to earn my "stripes" on Lanier, the only way to do it it time on the water. Is nice to learn from you guys when the oppurtunity arises. Still thankful that Dan took me out that day. I still dream of GIGANTOR!

Dan got me started years ago too, he is a wealth of information! Honestly, I am no professional but the thing that works best for me is logging what, where and when so I will know what to do the following season. If I were on the lake more you would be welcome to tag along with me Troutman but with my busy schedule here lately I just don't know when I am able to go.

classy. you left out disgruntled Met fan too.

There you go.

Jeez, you guys take yourselves too seriously. Give anyone the boats, electronics, the inside information on where to fish, and time on the lake and there would be fish caught. Most of the time you troll for fish and it really comes down to covering a lot of area. I wonder what the cost per fish is. From reading this board there are a couple of you that seem to catch more fish, but how much of that comes down to cell phone calls amongst yourselves. I went to TN two weeks ago and had a nice fish within thirty minutes of getting there. The big secret, we knew where to go. Ice Ice Baby.

more than you think. Earlier this week a buddy from this forum called me while we were on fish. He came to where we were and he had drag screaming within 2 min.

yep, seen the youtube video before.

Even with all the equipment, it's still about time on the water. How many of us still get skunked frequently, it's a fair amount. Things like this board and joining striper clubs all make it possible to meet the people who have invested the time (and money) and are generous enough to share that knowledge.

For me personally, I started with this board and then found out about the striper clubs and joined a couple of them. It not only served to increase my fishing knowledge but alo enabled me to meet a number of folks I am now privileged to call my friends. I am now proud to say I am the president of one of them.

As for the cost per fish, if any of us ever thought about that I'm afraid we'd just have to sell everything . I don't try to justify it (I couldn't) I just enjoy it.

Tight lines, all
Jim

Trolling for me is a small percentage of the year, but if you say so it must be true. As far as just using the phone, who do you think finds the fish in the first place. Some people reley on other people's info totally, but some of us enjoy the hunt and it makes you a far better fishermen in the long run.

Flat lines, down lines, planer boards are forms of trolling. Nevertheless, none of my comments really apply to you or for that matter Billy. Billy pulled my chain, so I barked. But please, you guys are using some pretty advanced electronics (including cell phones). We won't even bring up the trolling motors with gps that keep you on the fish, nor that you have about eight lines in the water at any given time. Look, I appreciate that you have to know how to use the stuff. But, take that stuff away and and restrict you to two poles and then see how good you are.

Did that for years and still produced!!! Yes the electronics and trolling motors and such help. Bottom line is many times when I fish by myself I only use two poles and still catch plenty of fish. The big part you are giving no credit to what so ever, is the fact of one knowing what is going on. Water temp, depth the fish are relating to, patterns and so on are paramount in finding and catching these fish. I appreciate what you are trying to spell out, but all goes out the window when we have 20 or 30 boat tournaments and sometimes 75% skunk. It still comes down to making the right decisions and executing them, in order to be consistant. Trust me all the new fangle items you mention don't mean squat unless you are on the right track.

They do not catch fish nor do they make decisions, I don't want to belabor this fact. If you really like to fish, then why don't you join and support a club, and go as a non boater and just have fun, rather than just be negative.

I am not trying to be mean or sarcastic or attacking. I just want you to understand you are trying to make the skill of many sound like it can be done by a child and all the credit is with man made stuff. Stand back and read what you write and say is this true or am I being negative and jealous.

Come to a meeting and fish with some of the guys and see just how it really is, before making the sport of fishing sound so petty.

I'm not jealous, well maybe a little. I think you're reading little too much into my comments. And as I said, the post doesn't apply to you. I do, however, feel that there is such a thing as too much gear, but I'm guilty of that myself. Been reading Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway. Now that's a fishing tale about skill and luck (good and bad). No fancy equipment in that story.

I would like to see what would happen if you ran a tournament in which electronics were verbotten. You probably couldn't get five people to fish in it.

I don't think I made fishing sound petty at all. But you got to wonder if some of the tactics don't, i.e. umbrella rigs. Where's the sport in that? Lanier's a big lake, but not an ocean. Seems like catching is more important than fishing.

exactly . Does that mean Clay should change the name to "Fishing Not Catching"?

Guides don't count. They have client expectations to deal with. You spent $350, you want to catch a fish. And there was nothing intentional in my choice of words.

If the shoe fits, wear it. If any of my comments apply to you then you have a reason to be upset. If not, well, then I wasn't refering to you. As a matter of fact, I've never messed with you directly other than the carpetbagger remark and I only did that because that you felt some need to chime in on my feud with Corey. Must be the carpetbagger in you...

Hey, I've got an idea, start your own guide service called Carpetbagger Guide Service. Hah, someone already uses Carpetbagger Fishing Charters:

http://www.carpetbaggercharters.com/

RIGHT-ON DAN. I'm with you 100% on that. I'm headed out in a few minutes to get after them. hey buddy......would you mind hittin' me with a text in a little bit, not that I will need specific info,locations,technics,depth,bait size,hook size,leader length, line size and type, what type and brand of reels and rods you are now using, trolling speed,water temp,lake contours,GPS c0ordeneces, river channel hooks,flats, points,humps,brush piles, drop offs, mud-line, sandy or rocky banks, hard/soft bottom, timber,etc,etc,etc...........WHEW!!
Not that I need all that,
It always makes for some good reading when I take a break between fish. LOmfnL!!!
I was not going to chime in on this one but Dan, as always you tell it like it is broham.
I have learned tons from Clay's site and like Jim have made some good friends and enjoyed meeting some great people here.And Dan the Man, you are one of them. If you live or fish on this lake it's way better than any rag or mag you could subscribe too and it usually very current. At least I can get a good starting point as far as the pattern when I go out after not fishing in a while. So whats not to like Kep?
OK that's my 30 minutes worth of lap-top-vegging. Glad I got that out of the way, now I can eat.

Alright this has really gotten off subject. I am locking the thread.