SirSnookalot

I have the older style spinning clarus I use for pond use, I like it.

I have a lure that's been a consistent winner for me for quite a few years catching both LMB and peacock bass. This is a $2.99 jerkbait I used to buy at Sports Authority, I'd buy 10 or 15 at time a give them way to strangers I met while bass fishing. I saw guys catching fish with them on the first cast, still producing for me today. I don't give them away anymore as this lure is discontinued and I have about 7 of them left, I lost one last week and I'm still cursing.

I don't know about spinnerbaits but I do know about spoons, some lead weights too. At one time I did weigh my spoons and the weights were not always exactly as labeled. I did not do this for any kind of comfort issue on my rods as it's common for me to use anywhere from a 1/4 to 1.5 ounce lure on the same rod, depending fishing from an elevated position or at water's level where I may be tossing no more than 10 yds into the swash. Lighter spoons from an elevated position tend to bounce more on top especially at the end of the retrieve, heavier spoons get more water penetration. I pretty much have the feel for it now so I no longer weigh them.

What I do in practice and I what I feel about my rights or anyone else's are 2 different issues. Just about everything I catch get's released, I don't care to eat or mount them. Any fish legally caught by me or anyone else becomes personal property and with it the right to eat, mount or release it. Statements on one's own morality regarding on what should be done with a fish do not supercede the law.

I don't have a problem spending a few extra bucks for any kind of a stamp up and above the fishing license. Revenue to stock fish has to come from someplace, especially in a state with no income tax. We spend quite a bit of money on just 1 fishing combo and many of us have lots of them, plus the lures, lines, hooks, etc. add up pretty fast too. A stamp IMO is a pittance compared to our overall expenses. The option does exist for a state to forego any additional stamp fee, license too, by adding an excise tax to each and every purchase of fishing gear and related items. This way each one of us could control the amount of $$ we are willing to contribute by buying less or cheaper equipment. Personally I'd stick with the present format.

I love grumpy people, being a curmudgeon is a way of life for me...................hehe.

Each state has to have it's own set of regulations based on what's best for them. I don't believe tournament fishing is the main interest for a state, it's for the overall fisherman and how best to improve the fishery for them. Probably not a state in the union that is over funded, quite the opposite I'm sure is true and their just isn't enough wardens enforce the exiting regulations. We may need different regulations on bag and size limits, additional revenue in the form of higher license fees and fines, I'm not apposed to any of that. There are different governing bodies in golf, PGA and USGA sanctioned tournaments have slightly different rules, as does the R & A. The rules again differ slightly for the general recreational golfer and each course can put in some of their own local rules as well. I realize the intent of the OP is for tournament fishing, but how many tournament anglers are there compared to the overall number of fishermen, I don't have a clue.

For 50 yds or less I'd just walk the fish over. I wouldn't be concerned about moving them on private property in bodies of water that small.

I use them year round, any time of day and without any doubt my favorite way to bass fish, or any kind fish for that matter. Like most I pop a few times and let it pause a few seconds, no real methodic cadence. I've had 1 on my bass rod for over a week, all I've been using.

If you still have them no reason not to use them. I pretty much stay with Eagle Claw 4/0 for my flukes and 4/0 Ewg for frogs and 3x or 4x trebles, I use their circle hooks as well. I mainly use Mustad trailer hooks as that's what my local tackle shop carries.

I've had im6 rods that were very decent and an im10 that I returned an hour after I bought it. 2 rods I use quite are inexpensive, both about $55. 1 is a med spinner 7' 8/17 I use for bass fishing and the other is a 7' mh spinning I use for barracuda, really like both these rods and neither has given me a bit of problem. I'm not familiar with Academy, have no knowledge of their rods.

This is way more impressive.......... http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/nature/post/6-year-old-fisherman-catches-100-pound-tarpon-like-a-pro/

Pretty much struck out...........1 blue runner and trigger, plus caught a small bonita (maybe 2-3#) trolling.

Where should I send the check for that endorsement?

Being a Florida fisherman I agree with the posters that do not think Florida will yield a world record bass. I've yet to catch anything close to a 15# bass, 200# tarpon or 50# snook, and I fish every day for the last 10 years. I've caught some really nice fish but those numbers are in the stratosphere. There are those that have a credible history on this site and claims of larger fish without a pic are more than believable, other claims may be a bit dubious IMO.

We have redfish here but not many in palm beach county, I've only caught 2 of them in my local waters. One of guys that comes out on the jettie goes up to Sebastion quite often and gets them up there, he caught a 42# off the beach in Melbourne on an artificial shrimp. Snook and tarpon are great but ya gotta have a little variety now and then.

I fish current everyday that runs anywhere from 6-12 knots. Quite often you have to use the lure that works the best, hard jerkbaits may just bounce on top, I still use them learn over time how to. Jigs or plastic jerk shads work really well, they may still be on top of the water but they don't bounce, fish have no problem especially in 5' to come up for them. Casting up current gets the bait down lower, just be careful not to hang up on the bottom. Current does not always flow in one direction, there are places where it eddies and goes in the opposite direction, those are killer spots.

It's all about me and not the fish, I fish the way I want to as my goal is enjoyment. Over the last week or so I've had nothing on my bass rod but a topwater lure, haven't even untied it. I know it's just a matter of time until I catch a really nice fish, I don't get overly obsessed. When I do want better fish I go to better water, there is a limit to what I can catch in a bass pond, there is no limit in the ocean.

Most of the time in my experience bass don't come back after the initial strike, but nothing is absolute as I've had them hit the lure a second or third time. Peacocks on the hand don't give up until they have the bait. That bent hook looks like most of mine as I'm lazy to change them, but when I do it's a 3x or 4x hook.

As far as I'm concerned there is a time and place for mono or FC line, but not for bass fishing. If I had a spinnerbait problem, which I don't, I'd be using 20# braid tied direct, which will handle 1 heck of a fish.

I've bought mono or copoly that I didn't like but to my knowledge never had a bad spool, I buy line where ever it's convenient. I keep my lines in my garage in Florida year round, it get's hot here, no problems. I can't remember but 1 cracked guide (top guide) severing my line, don't even use hook keepers. I can remember tying bad knots and having my line scrapped up due to rocks or fish, when problems arise that's usually the culprit for me.

Hey this is fishing forum.........lol My son in law went to Venice couple of years ago,sent me the pics, that's one place I need to go.

With all the freshwater coming out of the spillways the outgoing tide has been dark, but snook like that. The fishing isn't really as good as it's been in other years, it's just starting to get a little better. Yesterday morning ( Friday) 1 small tarpon about 15#, imo one of the more fun fish and I prefer catching juvies, 1 cuda strike but no hook up. Heading offshore this morning.

Most freshwater "bucket fisherman" are stationary fishing in limited space. I do believe they can affect small bodies of water but not larger ones. I may not put all the blame on them, I fish small bodies of water that no one fishes but me and I don't even fish them every day, my fish are released. My catch rate is no where near what is was last year, different weather, changes in vegetation and water depth seem to have made an impact. One of my ponds was quite hot last year and this year it's been terrible, another one about 300 yds away has the identical vegetation and bottom structure and it produces some decent size as well as numbers, still not quite as good as last year.

I use nothing but general purpose spinning rods for any style or lure type, what I buy is mainly based on the reel. I do go for a bit more comfort for my freshwater set ups, not as much for my saltwater ones. For $150 you can get a really nice rod, I spend 75-100 on my freshwater and 100-150 on salt.