TnRiver46

I would guess over 6 lb maybe 7

Good gravy

Bomber long A

Those look like fall Giants to me!

I rarely use one but fish with several buddies that do and both methods work very well. In either case, I only move the jig enough to keep it off bottom when the bait is alive. Then once it is dead I give it more jigging action as if it were a soft plastic lure.

I had a lot of fun kayak fishing a natural lake in NW Michigan on vacation once. I have also enjoyed inshore saltwater kayaking in several parts of Florida. My favorite is still East Tennessee rivers for smallmouth bass (heavily biased opinion)

^ holy cow. That fish is huge. How can you think of what shirt you are wearing at a time like that???? Hahhaha

Work it once the bait quits swimming.

I have lost them more times than I can count at the net and at hand. I, like dock skipper, don't keep a net on board but if someone brings one or if I'm in someone's boat that has one, I definitely reach for it or call for it when a big fish hooks up. I hate that you lost the big one but a net doesn't always guarantee it won't happen again. But they are quite affordable and they do help........

I put live bait on jig heads all the time, you can give the bait action even after it dies

I think you can fish for any fish except paddlefish year round anywhere in the south

Mono or flouro leader will work great in clear water. You will know if the water is too clear for braid if you fish a while with it and don't get any bites. Then try another rod with mono or put a leader on the braid (I like Albright knot) and see if you get more bites

Was fishing a clear river today and for some reason decided to throw a frog and a 17" smallmouth smashed it on the first throw, I about soiled my linens. Water temp was just under 78

Too many shad is a daily occurrence on the Tennessee River, sometimes I have success using something totally different than all the Shad, like plopping a jig in the middle of them all or anything wildly different color

reading all this makes me thankful to live in Tennessee where the river rarely freeZes

Well I'm late to the topic but I fish Norris all the time. Awesome lake especially in cold nasty weather

I caught a 2.5 lb smallmouth fishing with a hand sized bluegill for Striper once