Big Jon

I was stationed in Okinawa Japan and got to go to Churaumi Aquarium. The main tank with the whale sharks was mind boggling. http://oki-churaumi.jp/en/ I have seen 5-6 pound largemouths jumping clear out of the water as of late (My PB is a little over 4 lbs, so these are big to me). They were just outside of my casting range. I was stuck on shore. That has been happening nearly every morning for a couple weeks as the temperatures drop.

For some reason I trust the fish to be more clean than people, but to answer the original question, I just wash my hands when I get home.

Yeah, I can see that, based on the title. Maybe I should have been more clear.

I can understand that. I enjoy my alone time, but I recognize that she might go only once in a while. Once I get a boat, she will probably want to go more often.

I was surprised actually, since she wanted to keep fishing for a few hours before she caught one.

My wife just started fishing, and I have enjoyed her company. To be honest though, I like the time to think by myself. She's not going to be there every time, so I will enjoy fishing by myself or with her.

I have not used a leader, but I use the Alberto using braid with some cheap mono backing. I check the knot at the lure every so often and after every bite. I retie about every three fish depending on what the line looks like.

Three actually, the youngest is not taken.

The whole experience. The funny thing is that she caught one really small white bass. She hated the spinning reel, but when I gave her the baitcaster, she was all for it. I don't know really, but at the end of the day it was getting dark, and she just kept saying, "This is the last cast."

I took my wife fishing this Saturday. She wants to go fishing every day now. I usually go every morning until I have to go to work. She even picked up a baitcaster and was a natural at it. The bad news is that she only wants to use my favorite rod. I'll have to save up money to get her a good one. (she doesn't want a cheap combo like the other two I have) The good news though, is that she is already scheming on ways to get a boat.

When I first picked up a baitcaster, I spent hours with just a wait on the line casting before I went fishing. Otherwise, I just fish. Oh, and I watch a ton of youtube videos about fishing, watching tournaments, watching what experts are doing when it counts.

I agree on all of the above. I have fished at ponds like this. I made the presentation small, and as quiet as possible. That's what actually got me to learn flipping and pitching.

I think that if I had a boat, lakes would be preferred to ponds. I think for bank fishing, I have had better quantity with ponds. However, I have had better quality with lakes. I think the option of boat vs. no boat is the key for me. I have not fished a river, so I don't know about that.

I agree about the seasonal thing. I can say that since the weather has cooled off, I have caught a lot more. Mostly because I bank fish and they are getting back up into the shallows. I have caught a couple dozen largemouth in the last two weeks (about 30 minutes to an hour of fishing a day). Though there were a few in the 3 pound range, I would say I am around 1.5-1.75 pounds on average, 13"-15".