Zcoker

Not a river but we have that same kind of situation down here off the Florida Key's bridges, where one side of the bridge is Gulf waters and the other side is Atlantic waters, both with a different set of FWC fishing regulations, which is usually size limits, bag limits, off season, etc. for specific fish. Best I can make out of it is to just follow the rules for whichever side is fished.

I like #2 because I setup each rod with that exact same thought in mind, "what will get me that big bite?" I know that bite is there. I know it's only a matter of time. Along the way I still get a lot of #1's.

I prefer darker colors, black and blue or just plain black. I use the larger #6 Hildebrandt Colorado blade. Call 'em thumpers. It's the most productive for the larger fish (8lbs and up).

I’ve only been seriously bass fishing since 2020 and one thing that started clogging me up in my hay day from hammering the fish was information overload. Unbelievable. I was like, geez! everywhere I turned, it was this way, that way, listen to me, listen to him, right way, wrong way, watch this, watch that, watch me, use this, use that, or use the other … everyone has a very animated say in the matter. Reminds me of one of those globe balls, the ones with the pretty ornament scene inside, the ones you shake up until all glittery and agitated. That was inside my head, filled to the hilt with so much information and animation! What has helped me out a LOT is to ease it down a bit to let all things settle so that the scene inside becomes crystal clear. Only in that way did I realize that it’s more about the fisherman than it is about the fish.

Got a better idea. Come on down to south Florida to do some good 'ol fashion everglades fishing. I'll show ya the way. I've been catchin nice ones everyday, even on our so called chilly days, which is a far cry from what your dealing with up there in Maine!

Good points, because if folks actually got to use the things, then they might have a very different opinion of them when they catch their DD bass on one. Most go over the top with these back to nature blanket statements, technology this, technology that, but technology is what we all hold in our hands daily when we are out fishing for bass, the rods, the reels, the baits, the watercraft...heck, the actual automobile that got us to our fishing spots! FFS is here and it's here to stay. No tears. Maybe it's an era and will poof away in the world of tournament fishing, maybe so. Only time will tell on that one. In the meantime, it's all cheers for all these young bucks winning these high dollar tournaments. These units have cemented themselves in our sport and will get better and better with detail and precision like no other....yes indeed, we got a new set of eyes in town!

Perhaps. I really can't say what the actual reason was, only that I removed the circle hooks and sent them on their merry way. Mind you, this was in places where they fish a lot with shiners, which I mostly see as open water fishing. To be honest, it's just so high on the horse nowadays, meaning that everyone and their uncle is fishing with shiners. Places like Headwaters is unbelievable, tens of dozens for each guided trip with tons of trips daily. And it's one fish after another on those trips, which would certainly account for a LOT of broken off fish. Bound to happen, I reckon.

I haven't heard anything about the FFS with live bait but I've caught a LOT of bass with cut-off circle hooks still embedded in the fish's mouth. Most of these hooks were easily removed. Can't say why this didn't happen in the first place other than folks being plain lazy, cutting them off after they catch them.

It's a total commitment deal, meaning that if you focus on fishing for big fish, then that could mean just a few hits a day or even less or even none at all. Have to have that mindset. Need to feel ok with it. The motivation is the unknow factor, yet knowing that in a minute she could slam your bait and be the "one". Move around, try different spots. Try to think like a big bass lol. It's a very dynamic process but does work...eventually.

Yep. Even at night the frogs tell me where the fish are....or even the alligators. With the frogs, sometimes its one particular area that is very active with sound. Just bend the ear and then go over to that area. The alligators the same, although not so much with sound but with the bait that they are trying to corral and eat. The bass are there, too, doing the same thing. Find the frogs, find the fish. Find the birds, find the fish. Find the alligators, find the fish. There's an easy roadmap to follow on any body of water, not only with other animals but with other things like clouds, moon, wind, and rain....simple things to piece together a specific pattern to follow. All there for anyone to make due as they see fit.

I almost had to do this few days ago. Two guys were in a small plastic Jon boat with a trolling motor and started taking on water. Luckily, they were close to the ramp and were able to go back. Apparently, the hull had a hairline split and with the added weight of two people plus supplies, it started spreading open once on the water and underway. Just never know. Things can appear fine only to raise an ugly head later on!

Yesterday’s legends were once what FFS is today. If you notice these leaderboards like in the elite series, the greats are close to last place. A transition has taken place, from old to new, the power of observation has a new set of eyes!

This here bird eyeballing the pads told me where the fish was, “right here buddy” So I punched it and bam!

Wind is my friend, plain and simple. The bass use wind to their advantage to catch forage, so why not use the wind to the anglers advantage to catch the bass? Bass go wild in windy conditions, hitting most anything that moves. Wind blown areas like banks or weed-lines can become giant buffets for bass. The water is also warmer on the wind blown side. Even if the wind clocks up to 20+mph, the bass can be very active under thick mats. Punching about 3 feet in has produced giants in my neck of the woods. The only drawback is control of the craft, positioning and so forth, which can be daunting in certain areas, like open water. Swells can kick up or even white caps. Yet it's still doable in certain places where positioning can still be accomplished. Night time with a windy moonlit night spells trophy fish! I do like those early morning calm conditions but when that wind amps up, it's time to amp up with it!

I saw Scott Martin using his during the Bass Master Open event on Okeechobee. I was amazed at how well his unit defined the shallow grass flats. The detail was almost three dimensional HD. Impressive watching those tilapia swim by. Could even see the tails swaying back and forth, the ebb and flow of the actual grass. Fishing like that may not be liked by some but but I can certainly see the appeal! Not having one in the pro tournaments would be like forgetting the fishing rods.

I use Postimage. It's a free hosting site. Well, after a zillion images they might want a fee. I've uploaded hundreds of images with no fees yet. Just upload, copy link and paste. Done.

It’s a nice swimbait rod because the tip action is not too stiff, not too soft. I’ve used it for swimbaits but after a while switch back to combat fishing lol. It’s also a great frog rod.

I have the Dobyns Champion rods and, like you, luv them for basic lure fishing. I also have a St Croix Legend Tournament 7.4 heavy/fast. That rod is over $300 and is one of the nicest rods I've used to get the fish out of heavy cover down here in south Florida. I rely on it daily to pull 8-10 pounders from the thickest stuff imaginable. When one of those big bass hits on the drop, it's total combat fishing to the max and a good rod is a must! The Legend Tournament has proved itself to take abuse like no other and is why I give it my highest ranking.

If I could say anything, no matter the situation, even if there's no bites ALL day, is to be cocked and ready at all times. Letting that guard down is when those big bites come, almost as if they know lol It's hard to say or even hard to do when time goes on empty handed to be so keen. I've missed some DD's fish laid back, frustrated, with the 'whatever attitude". Learned this lesson very well!

Angry everglades bass!

Yep. Garcia is also nice. Great boat ramp as well as parking facilities. Fished it many time. Can clog up big time if not careful. Even the mud boats can have a hard time blowing through that stuff.

Kenansville is always worth a day...or night. Just as many trophy fish there as there is in Headwaters. I actually do better at night at Kenansville and prefer to be on the water near sunset and usually fish all night. Most of those bass live in tunnels under the hydrilla and during the daytime aren't seen that much but after the sun goes down, hold on! Sunset over Kenansville My campsite to sleep during the daytime.

Could've also been reversed, Wheeler 8oz and you 8lbs. I know when I'm gunning for trophy sized fish, I don't care if I catch only one fish a day as long as it's big, I'm good. Being armed and ready is what it's all about for them gals.

If you watched Scott Martin with his recent win on Okeechobee, he basically parked his boat and watched the screen all day. He also showed that screen to the viewers. The detail was increadiable! It showed the contours of the grass swaying, the dark holes and secret holdouts, schools of tilapia swimming by. I never knew those things could make out so much detail down here in our shallow water grass infested stained water but they do! Martin also showed how he put this blue paste stuff on his baits from a small tube that he was carrying. He explained that it gave his baits a higher sonar signature. 93 pounds later was the results.

Yes it does. Many including myself thought the original road kept many folks off that lake. But I haven't seen any increase in traffic on the lake with the new paving, still looks about the same every time I go out there.