greentrout

If down to one bait, it would be the Berkley Red Shad power worm. I'd catch fish.

I owned the Sea Eagle 8 years ago. I liked the boat but did not love it. I never had a problem with tears or deflating and I took it into some nasty areas. I had the wooden floors so I could stand up and cast. I got tired of the inflating and putting together the boat. Plus, it was not too good in very windy conditions. But all in all, it's a good boat to fish ponds and small waters. Small waters: I used it on a 600 acres lake and even put a small outboard on it, too. My fishing gravitated to very small waters and I went to The Briefcase Boat promoted by Ken Cook. It's a one man boat that can be kept in the trunk of the car and is very easy to assemble and put a trolling motor on. Sea Eagle seems to be making some refinements and this is one many might find tempting. Sea Eagle claims it can be assembled in about four minutes. Good fishing.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the Berkley Lighting Rods. Save your money and get several of 'em and then get the Mitchell 300 spinning reel. You're good to go.

Depends? I'm old school, man. Match the hatch. Big body of water I'll use at least 3/8. Small body of water like a farm pond or small State park, I'll use a 1/4 or 1/8 ounce spinnerbait. I like the Indiana Blade with a small Colorado blade most of the time. But if the bite is fast, I'll go to the Willow Leaf with both blades as Willow Leafs or Willow Leafs with a small Colorado Blade. I got hooked on what Ken Cook wrote about years ago on BASS about gold blades. I have more confi- dence with them as the lead blade. Love Mann's Classic Spinnerbait and Walmart's Humdinger.

I truly believe bassers who fish public waters should consider reading some of Guido Hibdon's tactics for catching bass in heavily pressured waters that most of us fish. Bottom line: he believes light line and small lures will look more natural and result in more strikes which is more chances for you to catch fish. Big and small. He won many tournaments on the BASS tournament trail and is highly regarded.

Once read an article from an experienced basser who claimed he slept in and rolled out of bed, ate his leisurely breakfast then got in his boat and caught 10 pound plus bass at will. I think he told the truth but was not saying he like some others had some advantages most of us don't have and that's OK by me. No class *** on my part. That being said, my largest bass have been caught early in the morning, middle of the day before a front and just plain luck any other time. I love to bass fish.

If I am fishing a recently discovered farm pond from the bank or a pond hopper, I definitely want to be alone. I once had the good fortune to meet a very nice gentleman who took me to the Ms/La marshes to fish for the beloved bass and I would not want to be alone in that environment. A broken down boat in wild marshes by yourself is a scary scenario.

I fish in a large city area where the public waters are hit hard. I also fish office parks, urban creeks under expressways, housing developments and small bayous spread throughout the city I live in. Downsize your lures and line. Finesse fish. Read Guido Hibdon, the master of light line and small lures. Having said that, get there early in the morning, sunrise, and pull out the baitcaster and throw your favorite top water lure, worm and spinnerbait. Where I'm at there are folks fishing for Largemouth bass as cars are passing overhead on the interstate. It's fun. And there are times when a frog is needed, too in heavy vegetation. Good luck. .

i love to golf...but once the fishing and golf is out of the way, spending time with a sweet, southern girl, honeydew blonde. it just doesn't get any better than that. good fishing to all.

yep, i sure do use a spincast reel from time to time. why? well, on occasion, i might be fishing some docks or canals with boats and docks on your left and right. or, i might be fishing a bank area that has overhanging tree limbs. the spincast is an invaluable tool to have because you can skip the lure under the docks or tree limbs. some people use spinning gear for this. some use the baitcaster to skip, too. but it has been my experience that there are very few fishermen who can use a baitcaster to skip and do it well. also, it is great for tight quarters and the fall with a worm is more vertical than with a baitcaster. that might be the difference in the day of fishing as to whether the bass hits your presentations. woo daves years ago won a big bass tournament using a zebco 808. i'd say he's a pretty good fisherman. i use the johnson century spincaster. it's a great little reel. don't use the spincast a lot but there are times when it's the only thing in my boat that will get the job done. don't ever feel embarrassed using a spincast. the bass don't know what you are using. good fishing.

thanks for the honesty about what you believe to be the decline of the bass population in florida. i've got my thoughts of why but it's interesting to hear from someone who is there, been there and done that, and sees first hand what is going on. sounds like florida is not the mecca some think it is for the bass. good fishing to all.

i'm considering one of these...can't advise you about the gators...i've been on water with gators and never had a problem...i just give them pleny of room and avoid any nests they may have... it's the FOLDCAT i'm considering... good fishing to all. www.seaeagle.com

i don't mean to offend anyone, but if that's the case so be it, but i'm 100 percent against bed fishing, especially on smaller bodies of water that are 200 acres and the like. bed fishing on these kind of waters imo harm the lake because when the bigger females are removed from their beds the gene within that fish is gone once she is removed for good. even if you are catch and release, you have created stress and many times have harmed the eggs. what can be worse is to take the male off the bed once the egss are hatched--bluegills and others will swoop in and, in less than 10 seconds, wipe the bed out. now, a state employee, a biologist, will come forward and tell you it does not harm the fishery. remember, he or she is a state employee who does as the state says and his dept of wildlife and fish needs you on the water in the spring and buying fishing licenses. they need the money. it's not peanuts to them. i've personally seen small bodies operated by the state ruined because of bed fishing with guys on platforms with high tech glasses so they can see their prey. it's hunting not fishing. the law of diminishing returns sets in on these small bodies of water. you can only sweep so many big females off the beds before the lake begins to go down. i can't tell you how many times i've been on lakes and heard fisherman say i remember the days when we could come out here and catch a limit in no time but no more. wonder why? imo, bed fishing is a big reason. i'm not sure bed fishing doesn't hurt big waters, too. it's common sense. bass are a resource. they are not infinite. good fishing to all.

can't add a whole lot here but i believe one of the biggest mistakes i can make when making a judgement about another fisherman is to base my judgement about him on the kind of equipment he uses-- whether that equipment be more or less expensive than what i use. equipment does not make the fisherman. good fishing to all.