AlabamaSpothunter

Yeah I like a premium 15-17lb Fluoro for those applications you listed, line diameter to me is more important, with the higher end lines like Shooter and Invizx you can get 17lb test with a diameter closer to .145-.15. Both are great. Pline ultimate Fluoro has amazing abrasion resistance and overall strength compared to higher priced stuff like the ones I listed above, but also have a bigger line diameter for same line class. If you aren't limited with a shallow spool, no reason not to go with it as well. You can't go wrong with quality fluoro on modern baitcasters, and that sweet spot has always been in the 14-17lb range. edit: Right now I have a 8lb Invizx on my all around spinning setup, 12lb Red label on my finesse jerkbait/squarebills/shakeyhead rod, 15lb Pline ultimate on my pitching T-Rig rod, 16lb Shooter on my Chatterbait rod, and 20lb shooter on my big swimbait rig.

Bawhahahaha.......nothing worse than when that gurgle kicks up on the water, you're playing deadly games once you start that game. Friend has this scene framed on his bathroom wall ?

What kind of monster did you create sir? Even after getting my first two real chips in the game, I'm even more amazed by yours, and my other buddy's collection. I thought I was hooked before, but now I'm a full blown addict, I finally get the obsession with these baits.

Right on, that's really cool....go figure, everything in freshwater seemingly swims there ? Sure you got Alabama's as well. It's like the most beautiful Black Bass soup you could concoct.

There's no doubt it's "Katie season"......copious dark butterballs rolling across the counter like it's Thanksgiving eve ? 4th to last pic/fatster is my favorite, and that lake looks big, quite different than your normal places.

RIP Mr Alabama Bass, that's what you get for venturing into TN ? That's a really nice river LGM! eta: To me that doesn't look like a pure Alabama Bass.....do you have Kentucky Spots, or could that be a meanmouth. The genetics of your fish are pretty much one of a kind, that area is like an ocean of species.

After my first KGB experience, I had to sign up for another ride. They've shipped both baits about an hour after purchase, and they've arrived 48hrs later. The company is exceptional, they deserve the hype imo. This is the Gillappie V2, it's 8" and weighs 3oz. Can't wait to fish it.

SLAUNCH DADDY got the big Bass so far at 6.5 Overall 7th right now......come on Ben, put together another 17+ tommorow and make the cut.

Bawhahaha......sourcing that nectar straight from the source ? Catt's going to come back to this thread, and recheck the forum's name ? How do you think I get warts all over my hands......small price to pay for such a huge competitive advantage ?

Rookie, imagine not spraying yourself down with Bass urine before every trip ?

If we're talking about this time of year in the deep south once the thermocline sets up, I'm gonna target that entire flat area in blue, the ledges if the fish aren't actively feeding up on the flat itself. The north and south points look super fishy. I'd love to find some brush piles or similar cover right off the ledges in that 18-22ft zone. To me that would offer the greatest opportunity for a monster. It's a bit deeper, and I have no idea of the scale, but it's kind of like the Decatur Flats on Wheeler Lake.

DAYGUM STUD ? I did just now see that post on FB, hopefully he's finding some slaunches right now. So many times you hear guys on the podium talking about how bad of practice they had yet they are in the top 10 in the actual derby, and vice versa.

No I didn't see that. Hope he gets it going, excited for the weigh in. This dude needs to be on the Elite series or BPL so that we can watch him fish live.

"Momma make the gucci JDM man stop" ?

Thanks friend! I'm still buzzing from that experience for sure ? If you could buy that drug on the street, I'd be dead or in jail.....as it is it's fueling a monkey habit that gets stupider and stupider by the week seemingly, than again I'm talking to the Monkey kingpin....got something coming tomorrow that will make you proud ? ? Gotta love helping a fish like that, great job. It's like they bite the hook knowing a human will help them, or sometimes I think they bite because they want some fresh air and see the sky.....friendly creatures ?

My local store got in 500 of the Cullshad 6 and 8s. Other than the price point, I'm not sure I get the relative high hype for this product when the magdraft, and about half dozen other high rep line throughs exist. Milliken's hang over is dropping soon

Almost anything you catch is going to pull hard, and weigh over 10lbs. You are on the Gulf side so blue water (pelagic species like Billfish, Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo, etc.) charters will result in long runs 50-60+ miles each way, and an overall slower bluewater fishery than right across the state say from Stuart all the way down to Key West. An offshore bottom fishing trip for Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack, maybe a Cobia if you're lucky will still run you bluewater type prices unless you do a party boat type deal. All that said, I'd either make a dedicated drive over to the east coast for a day trip, or I'd just go inshore fishing around the Tampa area for Snook, Tarpon, Reds, and whatever else is biting. Any type of fishing is going to be a blast, but if you're gonna spend big money, you should spend it on the east coast from Stuart to Key West. This is just my opinion, my experience is deck handing out of Orange Beach, AL during college, and then just fishing around various places in FL since I was a kid. Key West is the greatest place in the universe to fish imho. That's some excellent advice about the wives, or anybody who's not familiar with being out at sea especially beyond 13m

What is this, a Ben Milliken video naming contest? ? @PhishLI

Majestic and regal......do I really need to explain this to you ?

Awesome trip, glad the Osprey got away.....must be a competitive reaction, as I'd imagine there is lots of food for them to eat otherwise. I'd venture a guess that you're the best angler in your family....now your brothers just want one day of catching fifty 17"+ Bass

I say it weekly seemingly

I'm pumped, do or die for Milliken. His main competitors have managed to still get top 10s or close to them at Buggs and Wheeler. He's currently tied for 9th, the last spot to get in the Elite series which is more important to me than him making the Classic. I want to watch this dude on Bass Live and in the Elite series. Top 10 or bust, let's GOOOOOOOOOOO!

Dang that sucks, praying for the little man!

Welcome from central Alabama! The Garmin LVS34 or even the 32 look significantly better to me than the Hummingbird or Lowrance. Lowrance looked better to me than Hummingbird. Hummingbird sidescan looks significantly better to me than the Garmin or Lowrance. Lot of guys who aren't being paid by any of them choose to run Garmin FFS, Hummingbird sidescan, and a mixture of all three for mapping plus some other apps that can be accessed on your smart phone. Ben Milliken is the embodiment of this, dude has 5 screens on his boat, all three companies represented, and then still uses Apple Maps, Google Earth, and another mapping program or two. You can't wrong with any of them, they are all at each other's throats to stay competitive with one another. If you plan on going with FFS in the future though, that's the one area that I have a pretty strong opinion on......go with compatible Garmin units from the jump. I should have.

Hope your grandson is doing okay. Many days on my home lake I watch one of those fly over. Easy to forget there is somebody inside most likely on the edge of life and death. I love helicopters.