SirSnookalot

Must always be spring in Florida, I use them year round.

Sure do use spoons. Over the years I've narrowed down to just a few that I use for bass. At one time it was a Mepps cyclops, I don't use it anymore it spins too much and creates line twist. I use a J-spoon sometimes but my 2 favorites are actually saltwater spoons, Clark spoons, single hook that cuts thru weeds pretty good like a J-spoon but doesn't rotate as much. Numero uno spoon is a gold Redfish Key spoon made by Wahoo lures, I only use 1/4 oz.

I grew up with that same clinch knot and I'm still using it but not for all lines. I use pretty much the same line sizes for bass fishing as I do for saltwater, my knots are consistent in both venues. I always use a leader and lures are always tied with a loopknot except in the case of using a duolock then it's just that ordinary clinch knot. Braided lines I use an improved clinch with a double wrap at the end, I burn the tag end to put a bead on to prevent pull thru. For line joining I use an Albright for every scenario. I don't ever think about knot failure it I'm bass fishing or catching tarpon. I don't really care what knot others are using or what Knot Wars say, if a knot is working for you, that's the one to use. Knots fail for only a few reasons, it wasn't tied correctly, the line gets nicked, drag is too tight, offhand nothing else comes to mind.

I try to buy a rod at a place where I can return it if it isn't what I'm looking for. I have bought on-line sight unseen it really isn't my best option. Best scenario for me is to use some else's rod and reel, I've got instant input then. I don't bother with reviews, I know my fish targets, the type of water I fish. Fishing 7 days a week I'm probably the best reviewer I come a cross.

I'd be surprised if he didn't weigh them.

I make my own jigs using Rabbit fur, black has been catching bass and peacocks.

I use an Albright for joining lines of every type.

Absolutely correct.

Start off at 5:am with snook, under slot but nice fish maybe 8#. About an hour later I get hit by a tarpon, got it all the way in, couldn't lift it so I broke it off, around 35" is my guess. 5 Minutes later my buddy comes driving up, he has the net..........lol. Did some peacock fishing about 11:00 am, really stubborn, had to coax it to strike, took a while. Not as big as 2 days ago, but a pretty looking male.

I'm no expert on redfish. I did read 36.83 # in Texas, 52# in Florida and and 94# in North Carolina http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/north-carolina-state-saltwater-records. A fish that size is over 50 years old, I read that too. Big O's look bigger than 36#

You ran the risk of losing the bite, you got lucky. I lose a bait I just put another one on and don't think about it. Every now and then I play a little game with myself, every time I catch fish I change to a totally different type of lure. I've done this scores of times, when the bite is hot it doesn't seem to make a difference.

I happen to have a reel in for repair as we speak, when I get it back I have the same brand and model going in for the same exact issue. The issue is this, at the point where the bail gets screwed in to the line roller assembly, the bail wire has nearly an inch of play. It should be perfectly solid connection as in every other spinning reel I own, with absolutely no exceptions. This is just one of other bail problems I've had with this brand and model. Not to depress owners of this reel, I'll refrain from naming it. Don't be fooled because a reel is smooth that it's well built.

I'll take this in a little different direction just to make a point. I have never seen any experienced fisherman that bait fishes not have the line touching their finger. Whether it's mono or braid the vibration is sent up thru the line. Working an artificial bait on the bottom doesn't seem a whole lot different to me, with this exception. A bass is going to pick up that artificial bait, I think one should feel that pretty easy. When using cut bait it is very usual for a fish to remove the bait and barely touch the hook, detection can be difficult, even larger fish like a king will do this, they don't always slam it. For certain techniques my finger is always on the line, I don't make a practice of being a line watcher.

Great catches, those reds are incredible. Yes they can get pretty big, never witnessed it but I've read that they have been caught over 90# in North Carolina. Looking at some of the state records, pretty impressive fishery there.

I don't believe a wide spool casts any further than a traditional spinning reel, if so the extra distance wouldn't be much. Distance is predicated on a few factors, wind is given, rod length (have to compare same brand and model, I have shorter rods that cast farther than some of my longer rods) material of rod blank and lure profile. Not that this would be comfortable for bass fishing but an 8' surf rod will out cast a traditional 8' rod, it's made different, it's made to cast far.

X-raps are one of my favorites but not the most durable. The lips break off quite often, I do some fishing near bridges and pylons and the cast is not always perfect. Other lure brands hold up better but I don't think they catch as many fish. The tail hook chips and breaks the plastic, don't find that to be a deterrent in catching fish. When it's hook replacement time I use only 3x for freshwater and 4x for saltwater.

I keep everything hanging vertical in my garage.

Fishing is 50/50, meaning you either catch a fish on your cast or you don't. I fish everyday regardless of what the weather is doing. There are certain weather conditions that get me more exited to be out there. For bass fishing I like it ugly, cloudy, some wind and a drizzle doesn't seem to hurt. Peacocks I like bright sun. Offshore I like 3-5' chop, inshore I like it rough with dirty water for snook and crystal clear flat water for barracuda. The weather has everything to do with what my chosen target for the day will be, the fish don't seem to follow the weather as much as I do.....lol.

I've only caught a few myself, small jigs or in line spinners have worked.

I finally got off the schneid, my first peacock over 20" since the freeze. At one time I had peacocks every where around me, not the case anymore. Had a premonition yesterday, knowing I was going to fish an are without much weed cover and the fish being small I took a light power rod, size 25 supreme reel and my favorite peacock killer......a crappie jig. I spotted a few peas and was sight casting, no interest but I got a look. I then dragged my jig on the bottom and that's all it took, I had a hook up. The fight was pretty fair, glad I was using a light rod rather than a medium.

Another shark http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/nature/post/giant-mako-shark-photographed-florida-gas-station-set-world-record/

Spent a couple of weeks there many years ago, Camp McCoy. I did a lot of trout fishing.

I use 15# braid and usually a 15# leader, my leaders are about 20". I do not make an exceptionally hard hook set, just hard enough. Even with spinning gear I can lock that drag down and hookset as hard as I want, I don't choose that method. As mentioned I would ease up on the drag and make sure your leader is healthy. I don't think I'm supposed to land every fish, it's sport and by using much heavier lines and leaders I'm removing the sporting aspect out of it. If I'm giving that fish a sporting chance it's ok if it wins sometimes.

When the bite slows down you sometimes have to slow down as well. The senko usually produces. I use jigs but my preference are crappie jigs, I make my own with longer streamers. I can swim them, jig them, fish them fast or as slow as I want. I catch a variety of species with them, small fish as well as bigger ones like a snook, many bass over 5# too.

I prefer a standard worm hook from the standpoint of the way my bait moves. Never gave any thought to the confidence issue regarding which is a better hookset. Fish strikes, set the hook, nothing really more to it. IMO the over thinking is going to lose more fish than the actual hook selection.