Dwight Hottle

My most memorable smallmouth is my current PB at 7.47 or 7lb-7 3/4 oz. My buddy didn't want to go that day because it was supposed to rain & be cold and he preferred to go to the casino instead. So I fished without him & was really happy with the outcome. His luck at the casino sucked & it was a short trip for him. When I got back I asked him how the casino trip went and he said not very good. That's when I told him I got a new PB & showed him the pictures. I think I said something about his luck might have been better if he fished instead.

I have had a few good memories of bass caught but this one stands out for the largemouth category. She went 11-2 my first DD ever on a day filled with great action of all quality bass. We were fishing a super cold front with temps in the upper 30's went we launched. We were fishing Stickmarsh/Farm 13 with Hugh Crumpler a famous Florida guide on Stickmarsh. It was the 2nd day of the front & we had caught only 3-4 bass the day before. We were fishing live shiners on the south end at the water control structure. The secret to our success is that they had opened the gates at the end of first day creating a flushing current that blew most of the vegetation away. On that 2nd day we had more than 20 bass over 5lbs. Numerous 6 & 7lbers with 2 bass over 8lbs & my big girl.

Peas are slowly migrating further north in FL as they become less venerable to the cold. They are adapting. On the east coast Palm Beach County is the northern most area to catch numbers. You would increase your chances if you try further south.

@freelancer27 Maybe this will help a little. 904 Conquest is 133g and a 901 NRX is 96g. So the904C NRX+ should be in-between so I'm guessing around 4oz.

Yes that is lame. They used to publish that info as part of their specs. Then after someone sued them for inaccurate info they quit publishing it. I called them regarding a rod purchase & they gave me the weight over the phone. So I guess they have changed their policy for the worse.

Call G Loomis and ask them. They don't publish weights because of a previous lawsuit but they will give you the info.

@Jar11591 "But Florida bass do seem to be more sensitive to coldfronts than their largemouth brethren." Correctomundo!

I gave you one like for the fish Alex and two likes for the robe.

TSA for flights for international are more strict about having line on reels in your carry on. Domestic flights don't seem to care. My argument with them is that fishing line is no more dangerous than the belt you wear or the shoe laces in your shoes.

Most fun way to fish for smallies. Target the aggressive biters.

My little brain is asking if that dock is for sale? I would be all in.

Like others have mentioned you want to be using a MH or H for almost all FL waters because of the vegetation. Most of my MH are rated from 1/4 to 1 oz for lure weights. My H is rated 3/8 to 1.5 oz. I use a Kistler Helium He3-H-73XF for Texas rigged 6" or 7" senkos with a 3/16 or 1/4 ounce worm weight. Most FL lakes are shallow under 10' in depth so you you don't really need 3/4 oz weights unless your pitching or flipping. The NRX+ 895 would be my first choice though the 894 will work. See

@BassKat I used Maxima UG as leader material to braid for many years after a steelhead guide on the Niagara river recommended it to me. As you have discovered it is much stronger than it is rated & has excellent abrasion strength. The only downfall is it can be stiff & coiled. Like Tom I have switched over to Big Game.

April 14th for my first smallmouth in Pa waters of Lake Erie if Mother Nature cooperates.

Congrats on the new position. You should be a lot more at peace & can enjoy life's journey compared to the old job which sounded like a whole lot of frustration.