Alex from GA

Rainshadow Immortal IMMWS68MXF-TC, cork split grip, CRB palm swell reel seat, Mudhole SSR guides. Use with 2000 reel with 12 or 15 lb braid and 8 lb FC leader. Use for finesse worms and 1/16 or 1/8 oz TR.

That Guadalupe Bass is a good looking fish.

I fish a lot like you, rivers and creeks and have built several blanks that interested me and I settled on a Rainshadow Immortal walleye XF blank either 6'2" or the 6'8" medium. IMMWS68MXF-TC or IMMWS62MXF. I have minima or SSR guides and a comfort hump handle on both. Either 6 lb mono or 15 lb braid and a leader. I use a 1/16 or 1/8th oz bullet sinker and a Zoom finesse worm.

I quit wearing one when I got a cell phone then my daughter bought me an Apple Watch that I wear maybe once a week. When I'm fishing there are clocks on each locator.

Chome and blue.

My buddy and I use to fish several times a week but since I've been going to FL in the winter he found another partner and I fish alone 90% of the time in the lake. In rivers I haven't fished alone in years because if I get in trouble I don't have the physical ability to get myself out of it. No big deal to take pictures; I prop the phone on the dash and shoot away when I'm by myself and I don't have to share the good fishing spots.

I think we've both been blessed with our love of the outdoors and adventure. In addition to my fishing addiction I/we spent many many days riding and racing dirtbikes in the deserts and mountains of the western US.

I had to do that in a float tube many years ago on a lake in the High Sierras in CA. It was a long walk back to my car.

When I fished with a Mitchell 308 with 4lb Stren I back reeled for bonita. 2024 reels have a much smoother drag. Nice smallmouth.

I think MN Fisher wins but mine's prettier.

I've hired a guide a couple of times, once in Savannah to catch a redfish and the other in Mexico for bonefish. The Mexican guides were really helpful in seeing fish and telling me where to cast my fly. I brought my own outfits. The Savannah guide provided a casting reel with 65 lb braid for a 2 lb redfish. When I caught a small shark he told me not to touch it when I grabbed it and removed the hook. Like Swamp Girl I'll put the boat in the best position for my guest to catch a fish and recommend exactly where to cast.

You might ask Shoalbandit. He's very knowledgeable about those rivers.

Is there a prize for the smallest bass? In trying for my GA Bass Slam I was Redeye Bass fishing from the bank, because I can't paddle my kayak, and caught my only Redeye. BTW they have to be 8" and this wasn't near that. Swamp Girl is more appropriate than Old Crickety, I like it.

IMO if the fish can see you they don't bite. If you know there are fish, back off and wait until the fish normalize.

If you're going to put the head on the console put it on the transom; if the head is going on the bow put it on the front. No issue with the cable lag or anything else. I hope this is what you're asking.

I've lost several rods in lakes and rivers but the best one I've seen is by my buddy's dad. We were trolling for albacore off of San Diego and had a hook up. While bringing the fish in he laid his rod across the rail while gaffing the fish. I watched an albacore grab his feather and head for the deep very fast.

It wasn't in my leg, the hook broke.

I have a friend in Gainesville that does that. If you want his number give me a PM.

Just think of all the people that didn't get the opportunity to get their string stretched, you did good. The fishing my way is a lot tougher than it's been but I have been going out some and even catching a fish. This is what happens when you leave a salt impregnated worm on a hook for a while, lost a good one today.

I've been using a 200 for about a year and it's been OK. The drag on mine doesn't start as smooth as I'd like.

Bend the barb not all the way down to the shank of the hook, leave enough barb to hold the worm.

I have a bunch of Shimano 5:1 reels that were high speed when I bought them. If I didn't know better now they work for almost everything I throw except frogs.

The problem was we had a truck 5 miles downstream. I was in a borrowed Coosa which was a ***** to paddle.

The wind is not my friend. Once I spent 3 days fishing a river in FL going downstream and the wind blew me back upstream all 3 days. This was in a kayak.

I use a 5'6" spinning rod with 6 lb mono on my kayak in small rivers. One thing I do is pinch my barb 1/2 or more down and sharpen my hook. I also skin hook the worm to make sure it comes out of the worm easily. I use a 1/0 worm hook with a finesse worm. If using a trick worm I use a 2/0 hook. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Good luck/skill.