Rattlinrogue

I fish pretty fair sized public lakes.I like boating and locating bass also.That's part of the total experience for me,but I'll never pass up a hot private pond if given permission to fish it.

I live in South MS(Brett Favre lives in my hometown!).I've been fishing since I was 5 or 6 years old and started bass fishing when I was 15(I'm now 48).I fish out of an old Terry bass boat that I fixed up with new outboard,TM,paint,carpet,DF,casting deck,etc.There are a dozen good state lakes with Florida bass within 50 miles of where I live, and I try to give them all a good shot.There are 5 that are really close,and I fish those alot.I also float several creeks and small rivers in the area in a canoe for what I call "Tighteye" bass,basically the subspecies Suwanee bass(the local state biologist told me).It's about the only game in town this time of year.All pretty small bass.Lastly,I have a couple of private ponds that I walk the bank and fish.Good bassin' down here,but pretty slow this time of year.

I rarely get skunked,but when I do it's usually this time of year when the water is way too hot and the bass are lethargic.

I fish a bunch of state lakes that go from 100 acres to 500 acres and love that general size body of water.Ross Barnett Reservoir is 100,000 + acres,and it's fun also because of all the different ways you can catch bass.There are lots of options on that place.

I'm a catch and release bassman also,but I think it's each particular angler's choice..and business what he does with the fish.Nice catch ! Hope you catch many more.

A Yamaha 25 HP is hard to beat.It will haul arse.

I use an old refurbished Terry bass boat with a new 25 hp Yammy.Also have a 14 ft jon boat outfitted with all the bassin' necessities including an 18 hp Evinrude.Also own a two man canoe for floating creeks and small rivers.

25 years ago when my wife was pregnant with our first boy,we went fishing in a canoe at my favorite lake.We were using black Mr. Twister worms T-rigged.We were in 8-10 ft of water.She caught 17 bass and I caught 16.It seemed like as soon as the bait touched bottom we immediately were getting a "tap,tap".All of the bass were in the 1 pound range.No big ones but non-stop action.

If there's even a chance that a bass may bite a topwater lure,I'll give it a chance.It's just a fun way to catch 'em.Also love pitching laydowns and docks.I usually give in and fish a bait more suited for conditions after a while.

I know the difference between cover and structure,but I just felt like broadening the topic to include cover.They both seem to go hand in hand.Structure without cover ain't worth a darn in my humble opinion.

I'm a member of BASS,but I draw the line at doling out $50 for a little info that I could most likely get on this forum for free.

I cast ,pause,drag the weight 6" to a foot or so,reel in the slack and repeat.Sometimes I do this very slowly and sometimes I speed it up a bit depending on what the conditions are.I've even cast and reeled it in with no pause at times and caught fish this way.I pull the rod sideways instead of like a T-rig retreive.My favorite baits are lizards,french fries,finese worms,semko type baits,and Baby Brush Hogs.

I like pitching to laydowns and docks the best.I also like fishing heavy grass and stumps.My 3rd favorite cover/structure would be dropoffs in deeper water that must be found with a depth finder.

I like KVD and Zell best.

I've been catching some lately on a Rapala Shad Rap deep diver.

Yes I would want to be recognized as the state record holder.As for a ton of bassers fishing it out,we have a slot limit(16-22 inches) that has and will continue to make and keep our lake a lunker lake.When you load up your boat you're checked for illegal bass and the fine is pretty stiff.Besides most people I talk to say you can't catch any bass on my home lake.You really have to know where to look for them and most of these so called bassin' "pros" that show up from time to time just beat the banks all day.They're not even warm.

I'd ask him if I could go fishing with him.

LBH,I had the same reaction when I 1st saw it.Wait a minute I thought George Perry,Georgia,22 and change.

I don't lie.I just handle the truth carelessly!LOL

The bass were suspending on what looked to be old standing timber that was 5-6 ft high.I was fishing in water 12 ft deep(which is deep for my lake).

Yesterday I caught 3 suspending bass including one that weighed 5 and change.I used a a deep diving Shad Rap.

Nice article,Nick ! I have no doubts that you'll be a bassin' pro one day.

I'd like to do South America for peacock bass and the Orlando-Central Florida area lakes for LM bass.

Welcome Tre.Glad to have you with us.You can learn alot on this site,but don't be afraid to share your knowledge with us.I'm here to have fun,form friendships,and especially to learn more so share your bassin' wisdom too! Again welcome.

I let the bass swim herself out,reeling in only if she's headed to the boat or towards cover that she might break off on.After she gets tuckered out and gives up I reel her in slowly.I set the drag to where I can get a good hookset,but that won't break.I adjust the drag as I go( If she makes a sudden run away from me I'll loosen up).Also when I think that she's gonna come up and try to shake off the lure I'll put my rod tip at water level or lower.I won't let her get her head above the waterline.When things go like I've described the bass is gentle as a lamb at the boat from exaustion most of the time.