Mike L

Ditto There are times that I leave my frog combo with 50# original PP on the deck and use the big stick with 80#. Yeah’ I’ll lose a little distance but it’s really not that of any issue. Some of the stuff I go frog hunting in especially on The Lake, ya gotta give it all you got to get her head up and out. Mike

Beautiful

In my unscientific opinion, a bass will go limp because you have your finger in its mouth bending her lip backwards which it’s not intended to do and then held in another unnatural position being vertical. The next time you lip a fish (which if not done correctly will cause more damage than using a net or laying down) after she “gives up”, hold her the correct way by supporting her with 2 hands under and outside her body, and then see if she is still motionless to the same degree the entire time. Mike

What you need to do is find the “best” compromise between line capacity, casting distance, torque for pulling power with high enough speed to get her in. There isn’t one specific reel that does it all As I said Its a compromise. Usually the higher the speed ratio the less overall torque it has and vice a versa. As long as you get a quality named brand reel as was suggested and more, you’ll be good. Personally I sacrifice line capacity and casting distance for fairly high speed (6 something) which gives me enough power to get her up and out. Mike

Most of my uncles and cousins served, but only one died with his boots on…. Uncle Jim Sergeant 101st Airborne Division Normandy France June 6, 1944

The same reason your car, refrigerator, jeans etc have their logos on what they sell. Heck, If I made something to sell I would do the same thing. Just do what @Alex from GA said… Tell them to leave it off. They may not be happy about it but it’s your money Mike

Yep Every one Mike

You don’t need 20+ rods or $500+ ones to justify using them. I like keeping my equipment clean and always in good working order regardless of how many I have and how much they cost. It may be “inescapable/inevitable” that they will “abused/scratched/scuffed” But a little cheap protection will go a long way to minimize it Mike

Congratulations!! Other than the muscle cars none of that other stuff matters! ? Mike

Too many to list… I’ll just say there isn’t anyone on here I wouldn’t fish with Mike

Good fir you!! I completely agree, It just infuriates me when an animal or especially kids who can’t defend themselves are neglected to the point where it’s life is in danger or obviously in pain. I’m glad you called animal control and hope in turn they called the police. Mike

I use the Gambler Quick Change KO skirts. All you do is slide it on the hook shank and you’re ready to go. I like this style as it has a rubber ring around the opening which helps to protect the knot. Just takes a few seconds Mike

When punching I usually grab a June bug or red/shad Rage Bug first and go from there, then either a Rage Craw or a RI Sweet Beaver. When sight fishing a bed always a white Rage Bug or full size Brush Hog When flipping or pitching in moderate to heavy grasses, I really don’t have a specific favorite. I could chose from a 10” worm to a 4” craw. That decision is always based on depth and clarity of the water, weather conditions and the type and condition of the vegetation. Mike

I’d much rather throw a T Rig over any and all other technique and it’s not even close. I rarely throw a jig as I’ve never felt it gave me any advantage whatsoever over a carefully chosen T Rig given the waters and conditions I’m in. If I think I need to add bulk to my offering, I’d rather just add a skirt and experiment with different sizes, shapes and colors of different plastics instead of being locked into one and waste time retying a jig every 10 min. My weight choice was made before I pick up a rod. The only place I’ll throw a Carolina Rig anywhere in the state, is in the Rim Canal in 20 fow on Okeechobee. Mike

When retrieving anything through a pad field, keeping aware of any pad movement a few feet away, let it sit on a pad a few seconds as @Boomstick explained with no movement. Slowly drag it off and let it fall to the bottom and repeat, If it gets that far! When working any bait through fairly thick vegetation of any kind, don’t just stare and concentrate on your bait. Keep scanning the area around it looking for any unusual movement. Especially if the movement is coming in your line’s direction! Mike

Ditto That said, some Fast action rods are almost like a Moderate regardless of what “action” the manufacturer labels it. I have no use for the so called moderate, slow or parabolic action rods. Mike

Yep, and that’s where being dialed in and knowing that real possibly could happen is the difference between hooking up and thinking you’re just hung up. Mike

The Florida Rig’s effectiveness is to keep your bait together in one compact unit. If you’re dropping in the middle of vegetation you don’t want the weight hitting bottom with your plastic hung up. Other than for that reason there is no advantage. Mike

Ditto!! Mike

Senko, Yum Dinger, Shim E Shake, Stick O General, all are more durable. Over the years I’ve used them all one time or another but always seem to have more success using the Berkeley General when t rigged with any weight. However, when throwing weightless I still use the Senko because of the difference in its action compared to the rest. None are used extensively tho Mike

Most times it’s a Magnum Speed Worm over, in and through most anything that grows. If and when that bite dies just give me a foot thick matt of hydrilla, the big stick, and a big weight and leave me alone. Mike

I use Trokar hooks for most all techniques and presentations and have for years. I don’t Ned or drop Mike

No, it’s probably not a coincidence. A Senko is the most popular stick bait used most everywhere in most conditions by the most people who use them. The way they rig and how they use them is more telling than the brand. When I throw a stick bait, which is not often because I feel I have better options, I use the Berkeley General. Mike

A few of the smaller lakes are about 1-11/2 hrs away. Okeechobee is 2 When fishing tournaments on lakes further north and more centrally located in the state I’ll push it to 3, any more I’ll just spend the night. Mike