Alex from GA

I grew up in Los Angeles and fly fished for trout in the Sierras but mostly ocean fished until a buddy started a fishing store in Burbank. I worked part time there and met many of the local fishermen and they invited me to go bass fishing. It turned out I was pretty good at it and got invited to back seat at tournaments. I still ocean fished a bunch until, in '99 we moved to GA next to Lake Lanier. It turns out Lanier is much like the So Calif lakes, deep with not too many weeds and I bought a boat and went bass fishing several times a week. A couple years we moved to the upper part of the lake and one of my neighbors waded small rivers to catch Shoal Bass and invited me. I bought a kayak about 2004 to fish the smaller rivers which I still do but all over the state for the GA DNR bass slam. Do to the cold winters here, 40s, we bought a trailer in central FL and I had to learn how to bass fish all over again with all the vegetation. Due to advancing age and health issues I'm not fishing a much as I was but still go and enjoy it.

That's what I do too.

I have a couple of those I use for salt water. I also have a wood box that has a panel on the front that unlatches and swings down to expose a drawer and an open place in the bottom for larger stuff.

My first tackle box was an Umco that my parents bought me for pitching a no hitter in Little League in about 1953. I still use a Worm Expert from the early 80s. I also have a bag that holds 4 3700s and 2 3600s for salt water.

Grandson has 10 days before going back to college and called to go fishing. It got hot about 11 and the boat wouldn't run over 7 mph so we came home. Caught 6 bass with him catching the largest which was a LM. They wouldn't take anything we tried except a worm. We don't go often but always have a good time. He took movies and they were way too big to show.

My first baitcasting reel was filled with green nylon braided line some time in the late 40s. My conventional saltwater reel was filled with the same line until mono was available in the early 50s I think. When I bottom fished for rock cod lower than 200' I used dacron on a 6/0 Penn reel. When I took up bass fishing in the 70s I used mono until I move to GA in '99 and bought some fluorocarbon for my baitcasting finesse worm reel. About 2015 I tried a spool of Power Pro for my spoon jigging reel with a short mono or fluor leader. I'm a late fan of braid for spinning reels with a fluoro leader and I like it fine when I'm fishing a tight line. I still have a spool of 12 lb dacron and 80 lb on a 6/0 Penn.

When I was saltwater fishing in CA I used Maxima green on my saltwater conventional reels. The diameter is a little larger for the lb test but it never failed.

Took a box of red worms and went fishing from the dock yesterday and caught a tiny channel cat. Then I took the boat only on the trolling motor and caught a couple of small, 10-12" LM. Spent a couple of hours on a nice Saturday afternoon. Bringing my worm back to the boat I had a follow and got splashed by a nice bass right next to the boat.

Avid also makes a good aluminum bass boat. A friend has a 20' with a 200. Agree with others, closeness of the dealer is a big deal..

Meant a super fluke. I throw a spook on a baitcaster. I've always used mono or braid on my spinning reels and fluorocarbon on baitcasters; think I'll continue.

Bought a couple of spools of Big Game fluorocarbon in 6, 8 and 10 lb test. Yesterday I put some 10 lb on a Shimano 2000 size spinning reel and went fishing. I trolled it behind the boat for 5-10 minutes to straighten it out and wound it back on the reel. Tied on a super spook with a 3/0 hook as straight as I could and casted it a few times. It snarled with the first few casts which I got straight and casted again a few times. It snarled again and I cut off 20 or 30' and went back to fishing. Fish were boiling and I cast again and the fluke went 30' with a big snarl. The line feels stiff for use on a spinning reel and I don't recommend it. I transferred the line to a baitcasting reel and am going to try it. More to come.

Had my dominant, right, shoulder replaced a few years ago and had to cast left handed. As long as there was open water I could do it.

What happened to your month of not fishing? Your cataract surgery seemed to heal nicely, happy for you.

Haven't been fishing since I fell out of the boat last Wednesday. 4:30 to 7:30 this afternoon trying to catch a bass. After managing to stay in the boat today I caught 3 LM bass on worms. The lake is mostly a spotted/Alabama Bass lake but not today. My neighbor called about 2 and said there were fish around his dock tearing it up but I couldn't find those. We've had rain everyday for a week. The larger fish was inadvertently taken with a movie mode and is too big but it weighed 3 lbs and was 17". oops

Probably the reason the rod broke is too much heat removing or replacing the tip top. Get a tip top that slips on the rod, not loose, get the heat melt glue that is for tip tops, shave the glue and pack it in the tip top, heat the tip top, not the rod, and push it on while turning it to the right place, finally, with your finger nail clean the excess glue off the rod.

What ever charger you buy be sure it's lithium battery capable. That's what your next batteries are probably going to be.

Caught my 2nd largest bass on one. Also had a gator eat one but didn't hook it, have the blade with a tooth mark.

Congratulations, you done good. Hope you enjoyed your vacation.

What casts says. The only black bass in Florida are LM, Florida Bass and Suwanee Bass.

Our grandson wandered by this morning and I corralled him for some help. Removed rotten tires on camping trailer and retrieved my rod from the lake. All that was lost was a pair of sunglasses. I'm a happy camper again.

We have a winter trailer in FL on a pond and I make several casts a day there when I'm not out fishing elsewhere. I've been known to fish in my PJs and robe.

I have a hospital urinal on board but was too macho to use it. Not anymore!!!

My wife and I both have had our eyes done with good results. It’ll be fine.

Once under the console; it was tough to get it out from under there.

Went to the bank to grab a tree limb to relieve myself and the boat slipped out from under me. I was in 3’ of water but fell anyway. The automatic vest worked. I managed to get back in after a long time while and found my cap, sunglasses and new rod I built a few weeks ago missing but didn’t see it. Got my cap and went home figuring I’ll get it tomorrow. Called my son to ask what to do about the IPhone and he said they’re waterproof. Removed the case and put it in a box of rice. Banged my back on something and am in pain but it could have been a lot worse. My neighbor is going to don a mask and retrieve the glasses and rod tomorrow. I did manage to catch a LM for the Georgia Bass Slam.