soflabasser

Fish with whatever fishing tackle makes you happy whether it is spinning tackle or baitcasting tackle.

Welcome to the forum

Welcome to the forum

The bass have been biting well for me this whole year in South Florida, in fact I often catch bass as bycatch while fishing for other species. People like to complain about how hot it is, how much it has rain, none of that matters if you put enough time on the water to learn what these fish want. Social media makes it easier to learn about bass fishing but it will never compare to learning on the water.

A skilled bass fisherman with cheap to moderate priced tackle will outfish a regular bass fisherman most of the time. That is why it is best to put in your time on the water if you want to be good in bass fishing.

I hope the USA wins the most Gold Medals and most medals like it usually does.

Some of my favorite soft plastics are Zoom Horny Toads, Super Flukes, and Trick Worms. They are reasonably priced which is big plus since I can buy more of them with the money I save.

When I was younger I released fish that where bigger than the state record for a couple species. I did not care much about records back then, maybe it might be different in the future if I catch another fish that is bigger than the state record. There are people that keep their catches private since they only fish for fun and care very little what others think.

Tell your friend that bass is most likely over 10 pounds, she is a beauty!

This pandemic has made people want to look for better jobs that pay a living wage with benefits. I can not blame these people since many of them where being paid garbage for years by greedy business owners before the pandemic. There is a shortage of workers in many jobs since many of those jobs offer little incentive to work for them. It is amazing how many businesses do not even offer full health insurance and they still wonder why it is so hard for them to find people. This might be one of the problems that is causing beef and many other things to be so expensive.

Bass have a higher metabolism when the water is warmer so they will feed more often but you have to look for them to catch them. You might have to fish heavy aquatic vegetation, near shaded areas, or at nighttime.

It looks like some people here expected too much from somebody that was giving free fishing advice. That is why it is best to be grateful for any fishing advice you get from an experienced fisherman.

Congratulations on your first steelhead.

Nice catches @bulldog1935. The biggest bass is skinny but I can tell it is a big one. I have over 20 rod and reels as well but the OP asked for only 1 rod and reel so I mentioned the combo I felt is the most well rounded and durable. Hard to beat an Ugly Stik rod when it comes to durability. Shimano and Penn make some of the best spinning reels so I am comfortable suggesting these reels if a person could only choose 1 reel. With that said it is best to own a couple combos if possible to have more options but a person can do very well with only 1 rod and reel. The Shimano Stradic is a good choice.

Throughout the years I have caught many fish that have surprised me. For example I have caught sawfish while shark fishing. These are rare fish that most will never see in person so it was a awesome experience.

Some people will eat anything they are told is ''invasive'' without researching how much contaminants these animals can contain. To them it is not a joke they really think they can get rid of all the exotics if they eat enough of them. Too bad it won't make much of a difference in the long run. The weather has gotten warmer compared to a decade ago and this warm weather is great for many exotic animals. A strong cold front will help lower the population but not enough. Exotics are here to stay just like common carp. From the looks of it goldfish will continue spreading to new locations as well.

Lol! Maybe that is why I never complain about my fishing gear being too heavy. I lift weights as well which makes fishing and everyday activities much easier. Pat Cullen enjoyed fishing with his Ugly Stik rods and his success in bass fishing is more than enough proof you can do well with these rods.

I have read about what has happened to the Guadalupe bass with invasive black bass. A large amount of Guadalupe bass have hybridized with other black bass. You can still catch pure Guadalupe bass if you look for them. South Florida only has one black bass species which is the Florida largemouth bass. Fortunately it is way too hot down here for other black bass species to thrive so all the bass I catch in South Florida are 100% Florida largemouth bass. If you travel to Northern Florida you can also catch other black bass species such as the Suwannee bass which is by far one of the most beautiful black bass species.

I have caught hundreds of bass over 5 pounds on my Ugly Stiks, they are great rods for the money. Some of these rods are well over 20 years old and still work great. There are lighter rods that cost much more money but most of them are nowhere as durable as an Ugly Stik. You should read about Pat Cullen when you get a chance, he is one of the best trophy bass fisherman that has lived. He caught over 1000 bass over 10 pounds on Ugly Stik rods.

If I could only have 1 rod and reel for bass fishing it would probably be a medium to heavy action Ugly Stik with a Penn or Shimano spinning reel. I choose this combo since I expect my tackle to be durable and strong enough to catch a wide variety of fish. Some complain a Ugly Stik is ''too heavy'' or ''not sensitive'', I never had this problem and have caught lots of fish with these rods.

I would not eat a python or any other large exotic animal since they are full of methylmercury and other nasty chemicals. I catch big bluegills and other sunfish often when fishing for exotic fish which is more proof the exotics are nowhere as bad as some people make them to be, at least in South Florida. People are never going to be able to get rid of all the exotics since they are very adaptable. They might be able to get rid of some but never all of the exotic animals no matter how hard they try, this is a fact. A good example is common carp, these fish have lived for a long time in the USA even with so many people trying to eliminate them but they have failed. In fact common carp are very common in many states. I can list more examples of exotic fish that have been here for decades but it is not needed. Might as well enjoy catching them since exotic fish are here to stay.

The lower water level might provide a good opportunity to catch lots of bass since they might be easier to locate now.

I fish jerkbaits all year. They are one of the best bass fishing lures once you learn how to fish them well.

Congratulations on your new personal best bass. The bass you caught appears to be 3-4 pounds.

Goldfish have a unique ability to thrive in low oxygen waters that other fish cannot. On top of that they are prolific breeders which helps them thrive. I am sure the bass in Louisiana eat those cichlids just like they do here in Florida.