GreenTrout

Years ago I got into ultra-light fishing for the bass. A new experience with four pound test and a two pound bass on your line. I used the Pooch and Teeny Torpedo but gave 'em up because the bass too many times took the lure that went deep and sometimes into the gills. No desire to ever go back... Old school basser...

Worms, spinner baits but the best is the lipless crank bait no more than ten feet from the bank they will slam it just like in a boat. Old school basser...

I live in a large urban area where the counties provide fishing opportunities from the usual city park lakes to the not so usual flood retention ponds and lakes that can be on bayous or in urban areas with FLB and other species. The deal: you get two rods in the counties and only one in some of the utility districts. Catch and release is mandatory for the FLB on most locations. Old school basser...

Old school basser...

I once fished with an old gentleman who be on the boat with two spincast setups. He would usually have one rigged with a Texas rigged worm and Devil's Horse on the other one. The reels were old Zebcos and Johnsons with a reel ratio of about 3:1 and would bring in per handle turn 15 to 19 inches. We fished farm ponds, State Parks and private lakes. He kept things simple and what he did he was very good at. He caught a lot of bass. Old school basser....

Cabela's Fish Eagle casting rods M & MH 6'. Old school basser...

Ditto. Old school basser...

I own a Pflueger Supreme (with a flipping switch) and Trion (baitcasters) I bought back about 12 years ago that make an annual visit to a professional reel maintenance service and they keep on tickin' Old school basser...

Is anyone suggesting a reel of 7:5 has the torque and power of a reel 5:1? Old school basser....

Old school basser...

Next time you get one, take your left thumb (right handed) and press down really hard on the line and spool and turn the reel. Takes care of most 'em, even the bad ones... Old school basser...

For my style of fishing and the waters I now fish, I use a 6' medium and medium heavy rod so as not to over move the worm with a 5:1 ratio reel and sometimes lower. I have caught a few bass by s-l-o-w-l-y crawling the worm along on the bottom. Old school basser...

I was in a Gander Mountain the other day to check out their reels that were on sale. A nice young man who works for them started up a conversation with me and told me the 7:1 gear ratio with 29 inches coming in per handle turn was an excellent reel for worm fishing. Not for me, I have always believed to work the worm slow and sometimes do nothing and leave it in the bass' strike zone as long as possible and the high speed reel paired with a long rod is not my style. Old school basser...

I own a 6'6'' Pro Guide Medium Fast action from Cabela's and would recommend it. Never had a problem with it. It's a good rod for the price and will get the job done. I've broken two rods in my fishing life and, both times, due to human error, not the rods. Old school basser...

Zebco 808 Old school basser...

From my mileage: Heddon's Baby and Tiny Torpedo, Devil's Horse, Zara Spook & Puppy, Rebel Minnow, Chug Bug, the Original Lunker Lure 3/8 oz buzzbait and, when confronted with lily pads and slop, the Snag Proof Frog. Old school basser...

I remember a time watching a gentleman skulling a jon boat on a good sized farm pond all the while using an old Abu Garcia Ambassador with casts that were a sight to behold. Old school basser...

Consider the Cabela's Prodigy, made by Diawa, believe it's close to what the Tatula is made by Diawa. Then the Pflueger Supreme Both come with a high speed model. Own 'em both never with any problems with years of fishing adventures with me. Not the high speed, though. Good fishing...old school basser...

Well, said. We all enjoy and fish for the magnificent LMB who gives us all pleasure. I have been in the presence of some bassers who do not use the most expensive equipment and catch plenty of bass. You gotta know where to find 'em and an expensive rod and reel mean nothing if you can't do that. Having said that, I truly appreciate the finer qualities of the upper end rods and reels but, frankly, they are not needed to enjoy the wonderful pursuit of the LMB. And a true basser never looks down on his fellow basser who has in his hands a setup that is not expensive. Never. Respectfully, the recommendation for a MH rod is not one I would go with. Instead, a good medium six foot rod for most beginning bassers is a good start. Casting with a MH rod is not nearly as easy to load to throw lures that are common like 1/4 ounce spinnerbaits. From there they will find the six and half medium is their best friend. Old school basser...

Absolutely it's worth it. I have a few bait casters that are well over 10 years old and performing like champs because I have them cleaned and repaired as needed once a year. Unless you are very organized and detail oriented, I would recommend you find a professional service to clean and repair your reels that is good at doing it. I use a guy who does a great job and uses an ultra sonic cleaning method. He just cleaned my Pflueger Supreme bait caster that is 10 plus years old and it's as smooth as silk and casts as well as any of the new fangled reels they make today. It's 25 dollars plus parts if needed. It's worth it. Good fishing...

Do you have a Gander Mountain in your area? They are really aggressively pricing their inventory. Might check them out. Some good deals... Old school basser...

He has also fished a lot in the South, too. It has been my experience in the State of Mississippi with a new opening of a lake, stocked with Florida strain bass, the fishing is great initially but once time goes on the catch rates decline, sometimes dramatically. Winkelman believes FLMB "go to school" and learn and adapt to the presentation of lures and many will not strike them. They are highly adaptable predators and an intelligent fish. Good fishing...

If you ever get a chance, read some of Babe Winkelman's writings about the Largemouth Bass. He will discuss some of the differences in the two. But basically, they are just alike with their predatory opportunistic killing patterns... Old school basser....

Guido Hibdon used a Guido Bug to catch a few big bass...I remember those days...with spinning gear, too... Old school basser...