soflabasser

@Bubba 460 What was your favorite freshwater fish you caught so far?

@huZZah I have had days I caught trophy bass, days I caught +100 bass, and days I caught no bass. At this point in my life I am happy catching any fish and I am grateful for every day I get to fish. With that said I know how to catch big bass consistent enough that I have no need to hire a guide so for me that is enough when it comes to bass fishing. What works for me is what I mentioned earlier in this thread. Catching big bass is not rocket science but you do have to put in the work if you want to catch these fish.

Nice smallmouth bass.

1. Fish in areas that have big bass. 2. Use big bass techniques. 3. Put your time on the water. 4. Learn from each fishing trip. 5. Make having fun your #1 priority.

I much rather catch my bass from public waters.

I saw back reeling mentioned earlier in this thread. It is a technique I do not see useful but if it makes some people happy than I say go for it. Any decent spinning reel is more than capable of pulling a big bass out of heavy aquatic vegetation. I like using size 4000 spinning reels for bass fishing and have caught many big bass this way.

Try fishing with some Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Worms.

My favorite monofilament line for leaders is Berkeley Big Game.

Back reeling is not the best thing to do if you are fishing for bass 8 pounds and bigger in heavy aquatic vegetation. If it makes you happy go for it. I will stick to trusting my reel's drag system since it has helped me land many large fish.

The greatest records in bass fishing is the 22 pound, 4 ounce bass caught by George Perry in 1932 followed by the 22 pound, 5 ounce bass caught by Manabu Kurita in 2009.

Many of the places I fish are loaded with alligators, water moccasins, Burmese pythons, and other potentially dangerous wildlife. You just have to pay attention to your surroundings and you should be ok.

Any decent inshore spinning reel is more than enough for black bass fishing. For example a size 4000 Shimano Stradic is a great reel for bass fishing and this reel is very good for inshore fishing. With that said you should use the rod to fight the fish along with the reels drag system.

Private lakes like these remind me of canned hunts where only people that are invited or pay are allowed to hunt in an area loaded with easy to catch deer. In this case it is pet bass in a private lake. I prefer catching bass in public waters since it is more rewarding for me but I understand that for many it is the best way they can catch a big bass. With that said any big bass technique that works in Florida will work in the private quarry you are fishing in.

I mostly fish with Penn and Shimano spinning reels. I have caught +7 foot sharks, snook, tarpon, jacks, and lots of other powerful saltwater fish. I use the same reels for bass fishing. Lots of people like to bash Ugly Stiks yet they are a great fishing rod. I got 1 Ugly Stik that has caught more bass over 8 pounds than most people have caught in a lifetime of fishing. I mostly use them for fishing in heavy aquatic vegetation where a strong fishing rod is needed.

I prefer fishing with spinning reels and have caught many big bass this way. A lot of those bass were caught in heavy aquatic vegetation were you have to pull the bass out as quickly as possible to avoid losing the bass. I use these spinning reels for inshore fishing for fish much more powerful than any black bass.

I use Berkley Big Game monofilament line for leader material.

It is best to bring a scale with you when you go bass fishing. You can also measure the length and girth which will give you a close weight estimate of the bass you caught.

I have caught most of my river smallmouth bass in rocky areas with current.

For double uni knot I like to use 5-7 turns on both sides. It is my favorite knot to use for leaders since it is easy to tie, strong, and a reliable knot.

There was a largemouth bass caught in Montana that was at least 19 years old. Another largemouth bass caught in New York was estimated to be 24 years old based on a tag it had. On average Northern largemouth bass live longer than Florida largemouth bass but Florida largemouth bass grow much larger.

Black bass do not fight much compared to saltwater fish. Never had a bass pull much drag yet I have had many saltwater fish peel +100 feet of line in 1 single run. With that said bass fishing is fun and the big ones can present a challenge especially from land in public waters. I bet those women who play professional basketball are in better shape than most that criticize them. A skilled fisherman does not care what others say since they know they can catch fish whichever way they want. I have fun using light tackle with small lures just like I have fun using heavy tackle with large lures. LOL!

Yes It is ok to change reels on your rods as long as it helps you fish better.

The fish you caught is a crappie.

It is best to never underestimate alligators and always be careful around them. Alligator mating season is the worst time to be in a kayak yet people still kayak during this time. Kayaks are not very stable either compared to a boat so a big alligator can flip a kayak if it wants to. That is why I prefer fishing in a boat or on land than being on a kayak.

Lol I bet you have since you have fished Florida several times. I don't blame you since I would do the same if I lived in a land locked state or in states that get too much snow. On a serious note I have fished several states and I have learned that I much rather fish in Florida than any other state. I can fish for big bass, exotics, powerful saltwater gamefish, many other species of fish whenever I want.