Dwight Hottle

The first trip out after winter is always fun when you catch a few and get to demo some new gear.

Looking good Paul. Your early spring bass fishing success always heralds the beginning of spring for me.

X2 Speedy recovery.

I like to drag them behind the boat as I drift with the wind. Occasionally popping them off the bottom. I use spinning tackle with them and try to use just enough jig weight to stay close to the bottom based on how fast I'm drifting. That 6-14 was caught on a perch imitation hair jig in Lake Erie while fishing over a rock reef.

Hair jigs work just give them a little time. I caught my 3rd biggest smallie on one.

Wonderful news. I'm glad it worked out for both of you.

I will troll a topwater bait like a buzzjet or a whopper plopper.

As a cancer survivor I can tell you to spend as much time with him now as possible. You will not regret the time spent when he is gone but will be glad you shared the time together. It's not easy for you but remember it's not easy for him either. Tell him your thinking of buying him that gun but let him tell you his thoughts. Good luck moving forward and be strong for him.

Welcome to BR Doug.

Welcome to BR.

Welcome to BR.

Welcome to BR. What part of Florida did you fish?

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I say this all the time " this is a big smallmouth unless it's foul hooked"

Look seriously at St Croix. They have one of the best warranties in the business & make good quality rods at all price points.

Call your insurance company and ask them before you entertain buying that boat. Without their approval it's a bad deal for you.

Welcome home Don. I'm in PBG.

Sounds like a great first trip. It will not be your last.

It's not your imagination. Fish will bump a bait to stun it before eating it especially if they have been following it. This happens frequently with lake trout.

Typical rod sleeves are made from polyethylene in a woven design that keeps rod & line from tangling but does not offer much protection. The down side to the weave is when rod guides poke through & get caught in the web. The rod glove design made out of neoprene gives protection from banging rods together & keeps tangling to a minimum with no guides poking thru. Most guys want the sleeve/glove long enough to cover from the rod tip to the reel seat or foregrip. Most sleeves are about 6 foot long.

PB's are always sweet. Congrats.

I once netted three walleyes with one dip of the net. While netting one hooked walleye two others swimming with the hooked walleye ended up in the net. It was during spring spawn when the males are always a little crazy. True story.

Good instructive video Paul. Look out InFisherman.

I caught a 6lb bass that broke off my buddies texas rigged creature bait in the morning. I was slow rolling a spinner bait in the afternoon when his broken braid got caught around the blades clevis making me think I had legitimately hooked this bass. I realized what had happened after grabbing the bass at the bank of a pond we were fishing for the weekend.

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