Alex from GA

One of the lake I fish in central FL has weeds removed by mostly mechanical means and another is sprayed. If they recently sprayed the fishing sucks all winter in those areas. Thankfully there are several lakes and rivers that are close enough to find one that hasn't been sprayed that year. I did catch a fish once.

One day over 60 last week and I had to try to catch a fish. It rained heavily a couple of days before and the lake was red near the inlet rivers. Several fish were right on the bank on points. Ended with 4 with the largest 16" and smallest 13, all Alabamas.

I've had a free hunting and fishing license, including deer tags, since I've been 65 in GA but pay $50 each for fresh and salt water non-resident in FL every year. Cheap @ twice the price.

When I have a spool of line I haven't used in a long time and want to test it I tie an overhand knot and try to break it. Sometimes only the top layers are bad. That said I've been using BassPro Excell mono for years and like it.

IMO there isn't any. Look closely @ what you're buying. My recent Tatula has the A/R switch and I'm happy with it.

I bought a lower end reel recently, couldn't find the A/R switch and almost sent it back. After a month I'm almost used to it. All of my other spinning reels have it and a bunch of my baitcasters do also. XHS Shimanos. I do prefer the A/R switch for lowering the bait to cast. With the drags on the Mitchell 300 and 308s I used to back reel but the newer reels mostly have a decent drag.

Zoom finesse worm.

I personally am a light weight fanatic and use Mudhole SSR or PacBay Minima guides with #5 running guides. Freshwater and inshore and haven't had a problem except for tip tops.

Lots of days but not lots of hours. 2-4 times a week for 3-5 hours.

For bottom contact baits, which is what you'll be using, a higher quality blank, ie: more expensive, is called for. Like an MHX Elite Pro or Elite X or the Rainshadow Immortal line.

For the novice and/or weekend fisherman, IMO, the Pflueger President is the best deal on the market for spinning reels. Fairly smooth, hold enough line, reliable and not expensive. They're heavier than newer more expensive reels but very serviceable. I've been using two for a bunch of years with good results.

Like a couple of guys have already said, "rod for bottom contact and reel for moving baits".

I used a solar panel on the roof of my boat dock to charge a lawn mower battery for my boat lift. I'd monitor the battery every few days with a volt meter.

My goal is to catch an 8 lb then a 10 or maybe the 10 first. I fish where they are but haven't come close yet.

I've been using the same 1 oz bottle of Hot Sauce for over 20 years and it's 1/4 empty. A scant drop on each spool bearing is what I use. Spinning reels and the rest of bait casters get synthetic 10-30 or corrosion X. Gears get grease mixed with corrosion X.

If you roll your own look into the Rainshadow Immortal or Eternity line. I recently built an Immortal 6'8" IMMWS68MXF for finesse worms with 6 or 8 lb mono. It replaced the same blank in 6'2" for the same thing. Very sensitive and has caught several large, to me, bass. Over 4 lb Alabama and Shoal Bass.

I fish a 38,000 acre lake but only a small portion along with several rivers/streams a year when I'm in GA. If FL I usually fish 2 rivers and 5 lakes plus the Gulf of Mexico.

Fishing for the GA Bass Slam the fish have to be photographed for length and one with the angler. My buddy, that guides me in the Bass Slam in kayaks, carries a Hawg Trough that I use. I have a Golden Rule and a Hawg Trough on my boat along with a scale.

Do as casts-by-fly says, don't cut anything. Use the lightest tip top you can.

Changed that yesterday. Came home with me for dinner.

I boil a cup of water and put the bottle in it. Same thing as the microwave but safer IMO.

I have a couple of Tatula 100s and like them. I'm not very discerning but they cast fine and are quiet. I fish a buzzbait on one and an underspin on the other with mono.

It's been raining but tomorrow is another story. Only went once last week due to the cold, 50* and below cold weather. Had a pretty good afternoon with a 2.95 and 2.60 Alabama bass along with 4 others.

You mounted yours differently but that's the method I used on pg 2 and it worked for me.

Like others I can tie it @ home but on the boat I either tie a 3 turn surgeons knot or Alberto. I can't tie under 10 lb leader with the FG.