soflabasser

Lots of big bass get caught in little ponds so yes it is possible to catch a big bass in a small body of water. As long as bass have plenty of food and optimal growing conditions they will grow large even in a pond less than 1 acre.

How many bass I catch an hour depends on where I am fishing, and what size bass I am fishing for. Have had awesome bass fishing trips where I have caught over 60 bass in less than an hour and several +100 bass days. South Florida is very unique and has an extremely healthy fishery. With that said any day I get to bass fish is a good fishing trip regardless how many bass I catch.

Welcome to the forum

You should have a good time fishing Lake Oconee since it is well known for striped bass, hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish.

By far the worst thing in fishing is obnoxious greedy people who follow the bent rod pattern. If you see someone fishing alone or with their Wife they most likely have no interest in you joining them. Finding your own spot and catching your own fish is much more rewarding than copying someone else at least it is for true Outdoorsman. I find it is best to not talk to them, ignore them and go to another fishing location. My fishing time is for relaxing, spending time in the outdoors, and to catch fish.

A good fisherman is able to adapt to the conditions and is comfortable fishing several different techniques. Sometimes the fish want a slow retrieve, other times a reaction bite, and sometimes they will hit anything you throw at them.

Make sure to get a spinning reel that is proven to handle fish over 20 pounds since blue, flathead, and channel catfish can all grow to this size and much larger. The cheap reels are ok for small fish but you will be better off in the long run with something that can handle large fish.

Most of the time I bring 1-2 rods with me when I am bass fishing and see no need for more than 5 rods, even on a boat. The truth is a bass fisherman can do well with just 1 rod and reel if he knows what he is doing and the fish are biting good.

The fish you are holding in your hands is a white perch.

For around $100 you can get a Penn Fierce which is made for saltwater fishing. I have a couple and have caught big sharks with them so they are more than good enough for catfishing. These reels are very durable as well.

It might be good enough for bluegills and for a quick trip but they are garbage compared to a Shimano, Penn, or other reel brand that has been proven for decades. Get it if you want just don't expect it to last you for long. You will be better off investing in a reel that can last you a decade. Like the saying goes you get what you pay for.

BOAT = Bring Out Another Thousand

My favorite bass rods are worth less than $100 each and with these rods I have outfished many people with +$200 rods. These rods are not the most sensitive rods in the world but they are durable and strong which to me are most important attributes a rod needs. Knowing how to detect a bite and when to set a hook is far more important than how sensitive a rod is.

I like to use heavy action rods for bass fishing since I often fish in areas with heavy aquatic vegetation.

I consider a crappie to be big when it is over 13 inches and anything over 14 inches is a very big crappie.

Find places you are allowed to fish at night and fish there. Night fishing is not for everyone but it is a proven way to catch bass in a highly pressured body of water. Understand that if you fish the same way most people do you will most likely have the same results they do.

Welcome to the forum

Welcome to the forum

I like using medium action rods for jerkbait fishing.

Try fishing at night.

Welcome to the forum

You know it is Winter when people start posting spinning vs baitcasting threads. With that said I have caught fish much larger and powerful on spinning reels than any black bass so I prefer to fish with spinning reels for bass fishing.

Booyah makes very good spinnerbaits. Those a color and size you feel will work best in the area you are fishing in.

Welcome to the forum

I have had fishing trips that I caught over 100 bass in 1 day, caught most species of black bass that have been identified, trophy bass, and other awesome bass fishing trips. Longest fishing road trip I did was well over 1000 miles of driving in 1 week.