David Whitaker

I would say approximately 8 pounds. The length suggests a bass in the neighborhood of 7.5-8 pounds but with the girth being clearly a considerable amount, I would guess the fish at 8-8.25 pounds.

Exactly. However I have heard many state that in that small amount of time that the bass is off the bed, even if it is handled and released healthy, that invaders can take advantage of the opportunity, lessening the amount of genes in the gene pool for large size. This study focused on this. The only way to prevent mishandling would be education and word of mouth. For now, at least this study backs up the ethical factors that play into fishing for spawning bass with proper handling. Furthermore, the study also focuses on the survival rates of the offspring, not necessarily the survival rate of the spawning fish themselves although I'm sure that data was taken into consideration. http://myfwc.com/research/freshwater/sport-fishes/largemouth-bass/bed-fishing-research/ This link explains the study in a little better detail and with some data. I wish it included all of the information and data presented to us but it is a great summarization of the study and the conclusions brought from it.

With the spawn coming upon most of the country and with it full swing and almost over in Flroida, this is a HUGE topic on a lot of angler's minds. It's always been a huge debate in bass fishing in ethical terms: bed fishing. Many are against it, thinking it hurts future bass population, but a recent study conducted by Florida Wildlife Commision (FWC) answered this dilemma. This past February at the Bassmaster Southern Open's captain meeting, FWC showed the results from an AMZING study. Every variable was perfectly covered. In summation, they studied spawning bass in multiple regulated ponds. They knew the exact amount, size, and length of every bass in them as well as being tagged. During the spawn they would troll and even snorkel/dive to find beds and investigate the spawning behavior of all the bass. In half of the ponds, they measured the amount of bass that spawned and the amount of offspring after one year. They did the same with the other half of the ponds but all of the beds were fished. They caught every bass that would bite. From what I remember, I believe they caught 1/4 of all the spawning females as well as a certain larger amount of males. All caught fish were immediately returned after data was taken. In the end, the ponds that were fished put out MORE offspring. They were even able to tell exactly what parents made each bass and what bed they came from due to the magic of genetics. This is only one controlled study and I'm sure there will be more to come. Also, it can be taken into consideration that these were Florida Strain Largemouth and the bass were released back to the same area as the bed they came off of as soon as statistics were taken of the fish. So there is reason to speculate other strains and species may have a different turnout as well as keeping a fish in the live well may cause a different result. What can be taken from his study however is that fishing for spawning fish may not be as bad for the species prolification as we may seem to believe. Something to take into consideration next time you're staring at a double-digit!

It's always been a huge debate in bass fishing in ethical terms, but a recent study conducted by Florida Wildlife Commision (FWC) answered this dilemma. This past February at the Bassmaster Southern Open's captain meeting, FWC showed the results from an AMZING study. Every variable was perfectly covered. In summation, they studied spawning bass in multiple regulated ponds. They knew the exact amount, size, and length of every bass in them as well as being tagged. During the spawn they would troll and even snorkel/dive to find beds and investigate the spawning behavior of all the bass. In half of the ponds, they measured the amount of bass that spawned and the amount of offspring after one year. They did the same with the other half of the ponds but all of the beds were fished. They caught every bass that would bite. From what I remember, I believe they caught 1/4 of all the spawning females as well as a certain larger amount of males. All caught fish were immediately returned after data was taken. In the end, the ponds that were fished put out MORE offspring. They were even able to tell exactly what parents made each bass and what bed they came from due to the magic of genetics. This is only one controlled study and I'm sure there will be more to come. Also, it can be taken into consideration that these were Florida Strain Largemouth and the bass were released back to the same area as the bed they came off of as soon as statistics were taken of the fish. So there is reason to speculate other strains and species may have a different turnout as well as keeping a fish in the live well may cause a different result. What can be taken from his study however is that fishing for spawning fish may not be as bad for the species prolification as we may seem to believe. Something to take into consideration next time you're staring at a double-digit!

I have used some of Dirty Jigs stuff in the past like their HP Flipping Jig but a lot of their newer stuff like the Canterbury flippin' jig and their normal Arkie-style flippin' jig looks amazing and would love some input as to if y'all have any experience with them and maybe even their football jigs. Love their color choices.

Shock blade is REALLY nice, especially with colors and attention to detail. Doesn't seem to rise in the water column as easy as the Z-Mans do especially with swimbait trailers like a Gambler EZ Swimmer which I use.

Can't think of Strike King making the color but I know XCalibur made the Xr-series trap in an all chartreuse/green and yellow. Closest I've ever seen.

Here in Florida both will catch scores of bass and it's honestly a confidence issue. I feel like I can fish a fluke more versatile and year-round than a trick worm.

I have found this to be untrue. Watched a video from LunkersTV on YouTube where he ties mono and flouro leaders on a c-rig and with various lengths and the underwater footage shows very little, if not zero difference between the two leaders and the action of the bait/buoyancy. It all depends on water depth and maybe clarity that you should base your leader off of. If you're fishing deep I'd go with flouro to get a more positive hook set and shallow I would use mono because you don't need the near-zero stretch of flouro for a positive hook set. And it's cheaper, so when you don't need to use your expensive fluorocarbon leader material, why use it?

So I'm a pretty big believer when it comes to rattles on my jigs, frogs, and Carolina rigs. I saw this new rattle on the market recently that some of you may have heard of. They're called "Sonar Balzz" produced by Hog Farmer who are known for their A-rigs. I understand they are bead-sized balls that float with 6 ball bearings inside that produce the sound and a hole through the middle for attachment (for those who may not know). I am, however, skeptical to try them. Does anybody know how, if at all, to attach them to a jig? It would up my flipping and swim jig game a bunch. And, how many come in a package? Can't find that number ANYWHERE.

I always wondered why a lot of traps come with a smaller back hook. I like the Red Eye Shad and the Shaker Z when it comes to shimmy.

I love to throw the normal rattle first but I like to make it sound different from everybody else throwing hundreds of times past the fish with the same rattle. I'll drill a hole through the bottom into the rattle chamber with a drill bit just large enough to drive through the bottom without being too big and ruining the bait. Shake out 1-2 BB's (if they don't come out, use a file to slowly largen the opening) then reseal the hole with epoxy or some other type of resin. File it down to be flush with the bait. This will make the same bait everybody else might be throwing like a SK Red Eye sound different and more appealing to the bass. For me it's better than any one knocker because no matter what, everybody else will have the same bait and throw it at some point if it's on the market. Give em something they've never heard. It'll also give it a different shimmy on the fall and fall a little slower making it just that more appealing.

Pretty much everybody on here will either agree or disagree, no really "in between" on this, but I keep it stupid simple when it comes to color choices. A lot of anglers go crazy when it comes to colors having everything from watermelon to ballistic sunfish Shad citrus purple haze ? Which isn't necessarily a bad thing when fish are in a tweaked out state, but when it comes to me I stick to the basics. On a normal outing or tournament I pretty much bring what I know I can get bit on which is watermelon red, Junebug, black and blue, pearl, and a bluegill pattern like Houdini or Copperfield. If I can't find a strong bite on any of these I'll move to a "tweak" color as I like to call em such as Okee craw, river bug, Junebug red, or watermelon. Maybe even a crazy color like gold rush by Gambler. My choice is first based on water color. If it's clear water I like to stick to watermelon red 90% of the time. If it's stained I'll stick to a Junebug, black and blue, or white. Around the spawn I'll be more likely to throw a bluegill pattern in any water color. In general if I had to pick one it'd be Junebug cause here in Florida it will work ANYWHERE ANYTIME.

It's an amazing bait, I love the ballistic sunfish and the lava craw pattern.

Throwing a lipless crankbait, or "trap" as we like to refer to em as, is one of my FAVORITE tehniques on grass lines, especially after a cold front and any time during the spring. I'd like to say I've mastered the technique but as we all know, there's always room for improvement and everybody has their personal secrets. Share yours below, I would love to hear your thoughts on the techniques and what y'all do to tweak it. Especially those fishing in the south and grass impoundments.

Alrighty guys I'm looking to get more into flat sided crankbaits this spring on hard cold fronts and how to fish them more effectively. I like the Jackall Bling 55, 6th Sense Crush Flat, and the DT-Flat. What rods do y'all use for your flat siders? The majority of my fishing is shallow wood and grass lines.

Hey guys I'm looking to get either the Dobyns Fury or Savvy 734C (or both eventually) for Florida grass fishing swim jigs and skinny dippers. Which one do y'all think is better for the money?? I know the Fury is great for the price, but would the Savvy be worth the extra $70?

Thanks y'all, think I'm gonna try out the Fury ??

I live in central Florida and fish the Kissimmee Chain mainly and if you know this chain, you know how much grass, pads, and hydrilla there is. I LOVE to fish a heavy cover swim jig, mainly a 1/2 oz. Gambler Heavy Cover Swim Jig with an EZ Swimmer trailer. Heavy grass, heavy rods, heavy line. For those of y'all that fish this, what's your preferred Rod?! I'm looking for the right one, I love Halo and Fitzgerald rods.