Mobasser

Good way to start the season. Congrats!

Catt, most guys do. It's your style. I've flipped right hand and switched hands since I started flipping. I've never owned a left hand casting reel!

I learned first on Arkie bucktail jigs with pork eel trailer, then on Stanley jigs, with pork and plastic trailers. I fish them much like a Texas rig worm too.

Try to get your reel to balance. Most of the time it's near the top.

These are some of the oldest baits you can use. They'll always be popular. I've caught most fish on the Devils Horse by moving the bait almost in place, for a very short distance. I've never caught them whith a steady retrieve. As J Francho points out, the Heddon Dying Flutter can be good also.

I like that Dalton Special. I've thought about getting one for years, but never have

Well, I'm in the "older generation" camp. I like to eat fish, so what? I always obey all slot, creel limits and all other laws. I do the same with hunting, always have. I'll be this way all my life. Like I've said before, obey the laws, and enjoy a fish dinner! No harm done

In the early season colder weather- vegetable soup and crackers. Hot weather- can't eat too much so maybe a light sandwich and Hershey bar. Coffee is mandatory at all times!

Probably all older fisherman have done this. Jimmy Houston became famous doing it

You'll get lots of opinions here. Do a search in the search box on " fishing line". Lots of info on line there

Beetle spin, from a farm pond. I think 1967.

Actually , I like most fish I've ever eaten. Fresh and Saltwater, baked or fried. I have to draw the line on gar. They look like a fish that never evolved correctly. Too prehistoric for me

Well, to each his own. When I announce on 4rth of July, that we're frying crappie fillets, EVERYONE shows up, and theres very few ever left. Give them a couple of shots of Louisiana hot sauce, and it's the best tasting fish ever! But, that's just my opinion

My grandma used to cann carp. I never cared for it too much. I liked fried catfish much better. I've never eaten fried carp, but I've heard some folks like them

Chicken nuggets? I'd take a piece of fried bass any day. Kind of like McDonald's fish sandwich- made from only the finest carp available

I don't intentionally fish for catfish much any more, but sometimes catch them.while bass fishing. I'll skin them, and fry them whole or in chunks. With crappie,I keep a small cooler with ice in the canoe or boat, and fillet them with an electric knife at home. For just a few fish, a standard fillet knife works fine.

For some people, it may depend on how you were brought up. I've fished and hunted most all my life, and eaten fish and game all my.life too. We were taught to always obey the laws, which I still do. I let most of the bass go, but keep some , along with crappie to eat. I love a fish fry

That's a good mess there! Fry em up!

I've eaten my share. I don't see anything wrong with keeping a few for the frying pan. I've also eaten lots of deer meat, duck, quail, squirrel and rabbit too. Obey and respect the laws, and all is good

Mike, between these two I've done better on the Devils Horse. I use the 1/2 oz in shad pattern.

I fished some smaller tournaments years ago with an older guy, who carried little else but Culprit blk/blue plastic worms. He liked to use a spinnerbait or trap more as a search lure, then work the area more slowly with the Culprit worm. His approach was very simple, but I saw it pan out for him lots of times, with top 3 finishes and big fish of the day. He had less fancy tackle then anyone in the tournament, but had the utmost confidence in the Texas rig worm. It worked for him

Sounds like me too. As I've gotten older I've paired down what I take fishing. I have more fun, and can just focus on fishing- instead of hauling in all kinds of stuff that I really won't need.Plastic worms rigged Texas style will ALWAYS be in my tacklebox. I may be wrong here, but Catt pointed out to me in another thread that the plastic worm has won more tournaments than any other bait in history. In various sizes colors and riggings. But in the end it's still a plastic worm.It will always be my #1 confidence bait for sure!

Same for me.

That's another part of why I like plastic worm fishing so much. You don't need to spend a fortune to get into it. I've caught them on the Lucky Strike worms too. Good baits.

The craws must be their primary food source. It's weird, I've watched largemouth swim along, eying my worm then hit it, right before I lift it out for another cast. I've seen them reject spinnerbaits though. Only they know why their doing it. It's good you know about the smallmouth and crawfish.Youve found what they like most