AlabamaSpothunter

If getting proven wrong means a fishing trip....I'm cool with that

Didn't mean to offend, and I've been fishing for bass for over 30 years, and only recently did I break my habit of relying of constant feedback. Ultimately like you said, you're just new to fishing for bass. Lots to learn, but equally lots of exciting times in doing so. You can read all you want on bass fishing, but the real learning takes place from being on the water, and just time fishing. Good luck, you success will improve

You are correct, use the lightest weight possible, and stop getting hung up on having complete tactile feel over your bait. A good way to break your dependence on this crutch of needing constant feedback is to go out at night, and just fish a mag lizard or mag worm on nothing but a heavy 5/0 hook. You'll realize soon enough that you'll detect the actual bites when you need to, you just aren't going to feel every pebble and trig on the bottom. As for rods, buy once, cry once....nothing tops GLX Gloomis rods imho. Lastly, your gear sounds way overkill for the size/species you are targeting. Outside of flipping I can't think of a reason why I'd personally use a 7'6. A good 6'6 MH rod is perfect for fishing soft plastics and frogs

G Loomis Mag Bass GLX or above 6'6 MH rod is about the closest jack of all trades rod I've ever found. I buy two 6'6 MH rods to every one non 6'6 MH rod. Then again I fish a lot of slow moving bottom baits

Every gamefish I fished for has been affected by line size and clarity of line. Some fish species more than others, but the clarity of the water doesn't factor in nearly as much as I think people think. Fishing below TVA dams with most certainly not clear water, and the difference b/t 6lb fluoro, and 8lb mono is one guy boating fish after fish, and literally the other angler not catching a single fish.

Hey folks, looking at getting a good fish finder to learn how to read and map my neighborhood lake that is about 200-300acres, 30-40ft deep at it deepest, lots of structure and ledges/dropoffs. So basically, something that is higher end but novice friendly. I guess the budget would be 200-400, maybe 500. Not sure if I need maps, it won't ever be used outside of this lake more than likely. I need the ability to save all the structure and key features through GPS I would assume. Thanks in advance for any replies, this is my childhood lake and it's filled with both trophy sized LGMBs, and Alabama Spotted Bass.....I know using technology now as adult that I didn't understand as a kid will lead to fantastic results.

Maintaining confidence in myself, my approach, and the baits I'm using when I'm getting skunked. I find once you lose confidence, or feel you aren't going to catch a fish on a particular cast....you indeed won't catch one. Call me crazy but I think confidence is the most important aspect to Bass fishing. It takes a ton of confidence to do an activity where the success rate is less than a MLB batting average. Second would be fishing to slow, fishing to many T rigged things