roadwarrior

Once a location is selected my main consideration is "moving" lure or bottom bait. Next is depth.

Give us a pricing point for the rod and the reel so we can give more specific advice.

Geez... "That's a good-un". Another 6 ounces and it might weigh a pound.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/bass-pickwick-111320.html

If you are new and can afford to hire a professional guide, pay attention and you might learn more in one day fishing with him than fishing a year or more on your own. I fished ToHo with ghoti last January. Gary started out with a 9 lb bass. A little later I caught my Personal Best (January 5, 2020). We were fishing an area we would have never considered ourselves...NEVER!

Okay, but as much as I like "fishing", I like "catching" a lot more. Hiring a great guide will put you on fish in his back yard. I have had bad guides, good guides and great guides. I like fishing with men that have the skill, personality and experience to manage the boat and find the fish, especially on that special lake.

200 yards for $12 https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/seaguar-invizx-fluorocarbon-fishing-line?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&affcode_c=&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-rj9BRCAARIsANB_4AC5Wgqeo1I7pWl5LAo-pIzTBiXh9vj5g4NRkWu4opaDEYqyAiHuT-saAsgjEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

BPS/ Cabela's has Seaguar InvizX on sale for $12. Give #8 a try, I think you will like it a lot! https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/seaguar-invizx-fluorocarbon-fishing-line

I'm saving what I have left for a trip somewhere else. Ned rigs are the favored forage for Tennessee River rocks!

No, it can only be fished MY way!

Well, I understand why a guy NEEDs a Porsche as he approaches 40... https://www.porsche.com/usa/models/718/718-boxster-models/718-boxster-s/' but a Porsche SUV just doesn't make any sense. https://www.porsche.com/usa/models/cayenne/cayenne-models/

Surprising... Not many in our generation like "millennials" beer. Heavy hops do not appeal to my tastes. I prefer aged rice...Bu...Bu..Bu...Budweiser.

Yes, there are experts. Start with the professionals on tour. Next on my list is Steve Parks (Big O). Then there are certain guides, Tim "Hotdawg" Curtis at Bull Shoals and the White River http://www.hotdawgguideservice.com/. "Cuda" http://cocodrieinsidecharters.com/charter-fishing.html. And the next group would include a dozen or more BassResource members. Some guys can just "smell fish".

Seriously, you will always NEED something else. Start with just one rod & reel and a handful of lures that you are going to use NOW (when you start fishing). To get started read the "Fishing Articles". https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_articles.html

Hmm... A PB makes my day!

I had my best day ever during a BassResource Roadtrip at Pickwick fishing the Fish Head Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad trailer. https://www.google.com/search?q=sworming+hornet+lures&rlz=1CAWPBA_enUS925&oq=sworming+hornet+lure&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0.8292j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Many of our members who target big bass only suggest 10-2, which matches pretty closely...Fish Chris comes to mind.

It's my job to wake up the birds.

Welcome aboard!