Alex from GA

Unless your lakes/ponds have 9.9 hp limit get at least a 15 hp engine to be able to plane.

Finally made it to FL after several false starts. Called a buddy and he wanted to go fishing today, Monday, at the Rainbow River. We got there about 11 and headed upstream. Started fishing floating down river and caught a few small bass, my first bass of 2025. Using T/R worms we worked our way downstream and had a steady catch. I caught about 10 and my buddy caught some with a 4.32 kicker. Feels good to be on the water again.

I fished in the salt and the only conventional reels were right hand. I hold my rods usually with my right hand but can set a hook just as well with my left.

All you need is a heavier Rapala.

Last January I got sick and was in the hospital a couple times for almost 2 weeks and had to start over with being mobile. Ever since my balance hasn't been worth a darn. No more kayak fishing and have to sit in the boat all the time. My fake shoulder failed and it hurts to cast for a long time also. 84.

Zoom green pumpkin finesse worm, 1/0 worm hook, 1/8oz bullet weight, 6 lb mono.

Last year I gave a friend a '50s how to catch fish book that had some interesting information. This was before spinning and baitcasting and fly fishing were the methods used. All my Herters catalogs are long gone but I still have a rod I built and some lures from their catalog.

I'm a glasses wearer and used to wear the flip down clipons. My buddy had a pair of Cocoons that he had me try and they were far superior to the clipons. I look like a dork but can see pretty good with the Cocoons. They have a 2 for the price of one sale that I take advantage of.

I also tried Vanish when it first came out and discarded it the first time I used it. I've been using Vicious FC for at least 10 years on a baitcaster and even if it gets a bit shredded it works.

Up until a couple of years ago I used a Shimano Bantam 100 4.7 reel for worm fishing and even caught a fish. Then, when I used my last one because pinion gears were unobtainable, I bought some 7 and 8:1 reels. Can't say I'm catching more fish or casting further but they're lighter and wind the worm in faster past the strike zone.

South to FL every winter for the past 10 years.

I went from an electric steer to a cable controlled trolling motor and wouldn't have anything else. Instantaneous response compared to having to anticipate ahead.

Back in the '80s I worked part time in a tackle shop that a friend opened. I only fished in the ocean but and was taught how to bass fish by some of the customers.

Smithwick Rattlin Rogue works for me.

More than a few of us have been through cancer and are wishing you the best. I'll contribute with pleasure.

I helped on a Shoal Bass tagging project a few years ago, with kayaks on rivers a shock boat couldn't get on. The tags that were used were plastic and inserted along side the hard dorsal fin. What we were using works as there have been lots of tagged fish caught. We photographed, weighed, measured and fin clipped every fish for DNA analysis.

15'11" $35 for 3 years in GA

IMO the Sammy is the easiest walking bait to walk. I found one in a tree and used it for 3 years with much success. Mine was Blue and chrome.

I have a story about a 3rd world country. Years ago we were coming home, So Calif, from a week in Baja and asked a campground owner where we can dump our bags of trash. He took one and threw it over a cliff. We didn't give him the rest. Took it back home and put it in our trash cans. I saved a Great Blue Heron that was tangled in some fishing line and a young sandhill crane with a bunch of rope on it. The parents weren't happy with me handling their baby.

I have a couple of chests of drawers I buy at garages sales.

My introduction to the Mepps spinner was in the early 60s when I was stationed in MT and fished for trout. Probably over 1/2 of the trout I caught were caught on them. Haven't used them for bass just panfish in the past 60 years.

Red worms.

Redfish. They pull really hard and for a long time.

There is lots of inshore wading fishing around if you're interested. Look on GoogleEarth for ponds close to where you're staying for freshwater. A lot of ballplayers like to fish, ask around.

Use the other end of the calipers for an inside measurement, the part that's pointing up. No, that piece is way too small. The sleeve has to go over the broken piece, like Mick says. Caught many fish with this repair.