riverbasser13

I use a 6'6" M spinning rod for swimbaits over 4" in length, usually with a 1/16 or 1/8th oz belly weighted hook, for swimbaits under 4 inches I drop down to an ML 6' 6" spinning rod and use a 1/32 or 1/8th oz hook. I also try to use the lightest possible line for the situation that I can, just because I feel it gives the bait a more natural action. I haven't used the keitechs before but they get a ton of great reviews on here, good luck and have fun catchin 'em,

Great news, that's a pretty amazing recovery.

Nice fish, way to go! Great job on the catch and release also!

Watching other people bass fishing when I'm working on scaffolding 30 feet in the air. Well, at least I'm outside working on a lake.

I've bought two reels from them and everything went smoothly.

I like the Zoom paddle tails in bluegill flash with either a 1/16th or 1/8th weighted hook. I started with those because they are only ones I can get at Wal-Mart.I've also used some local made ones (7fifteen) that I like, and I'm waiting on some Gambler EZ swimmers from Tackle Warehouse. Whichever ones I use, they are a big part of my bass catchin arsenal.

If you already have the hang of it with an UL set up then you should be good to go. If you don't already have a reel in mind to go with your MH rod, I would suggest something in a 3000 or 4000 size, that way you could spool it up with braid and get a few more inches per turn as well. I always felt like the best way to get a bass out from under a dock is to "steer" them out rather than just drag 'em straight back to the boat. So spinning gear has always worked well for me at skipping docks overhanging trees, etc. Plus its fun to practice when your not catching fish.

I fish a Zoom super salty fluke in pearl white 90 percent of the time, the other ten it's a green pumpkin Creme, sometimes with tail dyed chartreuse with spike it. Usually weightless with a 4/0 or 5/0 hook.

That's an excellent example of why bass are so fun to fish for.

There are a couple of bait shops in the area, fisherman's world is on the port side and there is one on the river side also. We never fished artificials much, but I bet the guys at the shops could help you find some good spots to wade in the river or canals to fish. Seems like a red and white Mirrolure or a DOA shrimp in a natural color are pretty standard lures for the Indian river area. Its also fun to cruise the docks when all the charter boats get back for the day and see what they caught.

Jetty park is right there near the port, if you wanna try your luck in some saltwater. There are quite a few different species in the inlet usually, reds, snook, trout, sheepshead, sharks and sometimes even tarpon or cobia. Cut mullet, live finger mullet or shrimp are usually good places to start.

All of the above are great suggestions, I'd like to add a weightless 4" senko or yum dinger rigged tejas style to the list. Pick a color and skip cast 'em upstream past the log then drift 'em back to you.

Man those are nice lookin fish! Way to get after those late fall bass!

Nice fish! Your on one heckuva hot streak.

I think I'd have agree with snooksalot, snook\reds\jacks all have different fighting styles and they are all fun as heck to catch. Whenever I fish inshore saltwater I'm pretty happy with whatever I catch. Except maybe too many catfish. @notevenanibble, I'm kinda in the same dilemma haha, I guess it's nice to be spoiled for choices. I'm trying to pull off a cape romaine trip once work slows down, I've heard they have great fishing out there. That fly shop is nice, the folks that run it are super nice.

I caught my first smallmouth last summer on the little Tennessee near Franklin, NC. The section by needmore road has some great spots for wading, and there some places near town that rent canoes and offer shuttles. Most of my fish have been caught with a 4" yum dinger in green pumpkin. Good luck !

I usually like to keep it pretty simple (green pumpkins, whites, black n blue. But sometimes I hit the water just to experiment and try something new I picked up from the sale bin. Interesting how colors can change from region to region and so forth. Usually if they aren't biting I either switch colors or retrieves, then a different lure, but really I have no set plan I just check out the conditions and make and educated guess.

I was having the same dilemma recently and ended up going for the 3000 size mostly because I think it offered a little more versatility. Just my .02$

Nice photo. That's some good looking bass habitat right there. Does that stay flooded all year?

Dayum that is a monster snook!! Good idea for a thread, I love catching all three of those kinds of fish. I grew up in central Florida fishing for bass inland,then heading to the saltwater on the weekends and holidays. Hooking into a big red or gator trout is awesome but snook are in a class of their own. My saltwater background is why I still bass fish with all spinning gear. My favorite three lures: DOA Shrimps, Mirrolure twitch baits, and a rattle float with a nice frisky finger mullet. I live in upstate South Carolina now, and am definitely jealous of my buddies who get to fish mosquito lagoon or N Indian river on the weekends.

You might want to check with a guide in the Sebastian inlet area or if you can drive further south ft. Pierce. If your staying near the attractions you can jump on the FL turnpike or 528 and be at Sebastian in around 2 hours or Ft. Pierce in about 2.5 or 3 hrs. Good luck and abide all the game laws, the FWC does not mess around and goliath grouper are very protected, I think there is a captain named George Godze or Gotze who has a good reputation. Good luck and hang on!

I've had a lot of success using the yum boogee tail as a trailer. I like the subtle waving action of the arms and they are on sale at my local Wal-Mart.

Never step on a saltwater catfish while trying to unhook it.

I've been fishing spinning gear since I was a kid, but didn't hear about backreeling until reading about it somewhere on here. Haha we could never figure out why the reels we used went backwards anyway. I've been trying to learn but always forget during the fight.

I think Jason Christie has a good shot at it. Whoever takes it will have to versatile February on Hartwell can be nice and spring like or downright nasty cold and windy. Plus there is a ton of variety on that lake also.