soflabasser

My fishing style depends on what I am fishing for and what I feel like doing on any particular day. I am comfortable power fishing as I am ultra light fishing.

The #1 tip I can give a beginner is to make having fun your priority. Take time to learn the place you are fishing. Focus on learning how to fish a handful of lures to the point you are very comfortable. Understand that you will not always catch bass on every single trip. With time you get better and you will be a successful bass fisherman.

I agree with your definition and your friends definition of a expert and will add that a true expert can catch bass in any state they visit without relying on someone taking them fishing or hiring a guide.

@Paul Roberts and @BassNJake I have caught lunkers in ponds less than 1 acre to Lake Okeechobee which is one of the biggest freshwater bodies of water in the USA. I thrive in places people overlook and the reason I thrive is I do my best to figure out what the bass want in the places I fish. For example I caught a double digit bass from land in a highly pressured park that almost everyone thinks is a bad place to fish. I have observed those that complain about this park and noticed that they all fish very similar to each other. It is no surprise they all have similar results. I do not care much what some sponsored fisherman tells me is the best technique, I follow my own path and it has worked very well for me to the point I have no need to hire a guide for bass fishing. With that said bass fishing is a hobby you learn for a lifetime and I do my best to learn from others and from my fishing trips.

Location is not the most important thing, knowing how to present your lure is. There are places I fish that most people would overlook since the fishing is difficult and most think it only has small bass yet I have caught lunkers in those waters. One of the biggest mistakes I see bass fishermen do is that they fish the same lures with the same techniques everyone else does in the area. It might work good for regular bass but it is not the best way to catch a 8 pound or better bass in a highly pressured body of water, especially from land.

Everyone knows people who consistently catch fish regardless of weather and other adversities. These are the people I consider to be true experts in fishing. Anyone can catch fish when the bite is good but not everyone can catch fish when the bite is not good. For example I know a lot of people that complain that it is hard to catch bass in canals when it rains heavily for weeks yet there are people that thrive in these conditions. Others complain about cold fronts yet people still catch fish even during the worst of cold fronts. The best thing we can do is to continue to improve ourselves and step up our bass fishing game and accept that bass fishing is a hobby that you will learn for a lifetime no matter how good you are.

That looks like an easy place to cast a lure. Fishing in a heavily forested area where you have less than 6 feet above and around you to cast is much more difficult. You can try casting lower and see if that helps.

Welcome to the forum

My ultralight rods are Ugly Stiks and they have done a great job catching me many species of fish. With that said choose the rod you like best since you will be the one fishing it.

The way you present your lure is the most important thing in bass fishing followed by where you are fishing. Everything else is third at best.

Well said! If you can catch quality fish throughout the year by yourself with no guide you are an expert fisherman.

A true expert bass fisherman is someone who has no need to hire a guide and they consistently catch their own fish. Experts do learn from others but do not have the need to pay another man to take him fishing. With that said there are many expert bass fisherman.

Learn how to fish heavy aquatic vegetation and you should do well in Florida.

Lots of people are catching muskies now so that is always a good option this time of year.

I wrote this over a year ago and I will write it the same today. You do not need expensive swimbaits to catch big bass. What is more important is that you fish somewhere there are big bass and that you do your best to learn how to fish a couple techniques. With time anyone can catch a 8 pound or bigger bass if they work hard for it.

LOL!

If I could only choose one I would choose free dive spearfishing since it is both hunting and fishing. I can vividly recall many spearfishing trips where I patiently hunted a big fish and these are some of my fondest memories. Second would be multi species fishing.

Welcome to the forum

Looks like a good tackle box. I have the regular version of the size 3700 and I am very happy with them.

For me hogfish is by far the best tasting fish I have eaten and the fresher it is the better. I would rate hogfish 10/10, mangrove snapper 8/10, walleye 3/10, and bass 2/10. Worst tasting fish I ate was bowfin.

Plenty of backpacks for under $50 that are good for fishing. Choose the one you like best.

I could care less what some sponsored fisherman or the majority of the crowd says when it comes to what I wear when I go fishing. I dress the way I want and fish the way I want. So far it has worked very well for me.

It is better to master a handful of techniques than fish over a dozen and not know them well.

Most people need to go back to drivers ed since they do not know how to drive. For example you should drive more careful where it is raining and I see more people speeding when it is raining. Learn how to use your turn signal correctly your car has it for a reason. Another thing is tailgaters are responsible for many of the car accidents. Do not argue with the speed limit since people much more knowledgeable than you are the ones that make those speed limits for safe driving.

A Rebel crawfish is lure Northerners use for river fishing and I have caught bass with them in South Florida. The Ned rig is another lure that catches fish in both Northern and Southern waters.