Turtle135

Yes, flyfisher is correct. These tournaments are won with length. Most are your best 3 or 5 bass photographed on a "Hawg Trough" with a unique identifier. Uploaded from your smart phone for judging and a polygraph for the money winners.

I do not want to run afoul of the rule where we should not promote a particular tournament but they have announced a kayak bass fishing tournament where the winner will walk away with $ 100,000.00! I have been bass fishing from a kayak since 1991. I find that it is a great way to get out and truly enjoy nature. I also enjoy fishing my local tournament series. We typically walk away with two, three hundred bucks if we win. 100 grand for a tournament is hard to get my mind around. Crazy stuff!

I would recommend Trilene XT or Trilene Big Game over the XL version for a baitcasting reel. If you take a look at the diameter for 12 pound test XT and Big Game (they show this on Berkley's website and on Tackle Warehouse) you will see that XT is a thicker line. Berkley XT 12 pound test: .015 inches Berkley Big Game 12 pound test: .014 inches XT tests out with a much higher break strength than what the package has. Personally I use XT 14 and 17 pound test on my baitcasting reels. I like the 17 pound test down on the Tidal Potomac River where the water is almost always off color and there are plenty of obstructions that can damage your line. Just my suggestion. Get a spool of 12 pound test Big Game and try it. It won't break the bank and if you find you need to use heavier line move up to the 15 pound test.

Trilene XT Mono (and sometimes Trilene Sensation Mono in the winter) for all presentations.

1. I only carry two identical baitcasting outfits (7'1" MH Fast, Lews Super Duty, Trilene XT Mono) 2. I have never caught a fish with a wacky rigged stickbait (probably because I never use that presentation).

A Red Swamp crayfish from the Tidal Potomac River in Maryland and an invasive crayfish (a Virile crayfish I think) from a Maryland Reservoir.

That is interesting. I have a friend who used to slow trolling crappie jigs underneath a bobber trying to target crappie in the winter (water was down below 40 degrees). He caught three largemouth over 21" doing that over the course of one week.

You were catching largemouth bass on the 1/32 oz jig and waxies? If so, what size were they? I winter fish for largemouth bass largely only using a suspending jerkbait (LC Pointer 78's and 100's) and a 3/8th ounce Football Jig with a craw trailer. I generally do not catch small bass fishing that way. The profile is more than the little guys will strike in cold, cold water.

I am a fan of Trilene XT as well. I throw just about everything with 14 or 17 pound test XT on a baitcasting combo. Trilene Big Game is a good option as well. Try matching the "diameter" of your 12 pound XT when you choose Big Game. Trilene XT 10 pound test: .014" Trilene Big Game 12 pound test: .014" Trilene XT 12 pound test: .015" Trilene Big Game 15 pound test: .015"

The ATAK is also offered in a 12' version, the ATAK 120, which brings the weight down 10 pounds. http://www.wildernesssystems.com/us/products?family[]=458&activity[]=24&type[]=28 https://tightlinejunkiejournal.pivotshare.com/media/maiden-voyage-atak-120/56519/feature

I know the Rhode Island state record largemouth bass was caught earlier in 2016 on the Arbogast Magnum Jitterbug. That does seem to be good presentation for big bass in the evening and at night. It might not get much play with the tournament crowd as many of the higher profile tournaments are morning into early afternoon events. Also, if you go to Arbogast Lures website I did not see any "Pro's" on staff. So likely no one is getting paid to promote that line of lures on BASS or FLW.

When I am largemouth bass fishing in water in the high 30's or very low 40's it seems my "window" to get bit is usually from 10:00 A.M. till about 2:00 P.M.

I am not supposed to tell anyone but the secret ingredient in Berkley Powerbait is a substance code named "Soylent Green". Those are some good ribbon tail worms. I catch more citation sized largemouth on those 10" worms during the summer months than on all other presentations combined.

I do like baitcasting rods in that price range as I feel you get a very good bang for the buck. A few months back I picked up a couple of St. Croix Mojo Bass Casting Rod 7'1" Med Heavy and I feel like I have found a series of rods that I can use for years and years. Throwing a jig is my favorite presentation. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-STCROIXRODS.html?from=basres

There are two groups that might be of help to you. http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/ http://www.nar-anon.org/ I think you understand that this addiction is something that "you" can not control. Only the individual with the addiction is the one who can finally decide that enough is enough.

I am a lefty and use a right handed baitcasting reel. It is perfect as the rod never leaves my left hand. Back when I started with spinning reels the handle was on the left. In the old days they were not commonly reversible as they are today. I have tried for years to switch to using the handle on the right but apparently this old dog can not learn that new trick!

ChapStick on the guides. Because it is sticky it will hold up for 15 - 30 minutes of fishing before you need to reapply (and at least it is easy to reapply).

Ha right back at you! You fish in Maryland too, many of the waters you and I fish get pounded!

I do downsize my trailers in the winter. Typically I am fishing very clear water so I do not need a bulky trailer to let the bass know my presentation is there. 3.5" Netbait Mini B Bug and the 3" Netbait Tiny Paca Craw

I learned to cast a baitcaster with full fingered fleece gloves on. I went with fingerless gloves one season and got a little bit of frostbite.

This might be particular to the lakes I fish in the winter but the bass I catch do not seem to be relating to "cover". They seem to relate more to "structural" elements in the winter. Given the option I will fish a creek channel over the best looking laydown you can find on these lakes. p.s. - in late December, January and February the grass in these particular lakes is all gone

Does anyone know if there were any other 19 to 20 pound bass pulled from Lake Dixon? The genetics were there assuming Dottie had spawned a time or two. The forage must have been there since Dottie grew to such a large size.

Under my drysuit I wear a "base layer". Like long underwear but a material that wicks water away from your skin, On top I will have another shirt or two for insulation, then a layer of fleece, then the drysuit over everything. On my legs I will have a fleece layer over the base layer. Stay away from cotton (like jeans), Cotton does not wick moisture away from you and it robs you of heat. As we like to say in the kayak world "cotton kills".

you know, winter, when YOUR water cools down enough for the bass to spawn!

Nice! Those are the type of winter fishing results that keep me out there in that winter nastiness. Was there deep water in very close proximity?