Robert is correct the two best all round hours for bass are first and last light. After that find cover, any fallen tree or cover you can see like old trees in water are good. My choice for that time of day is any lure that swims and wiggles on top, jitterbug, jointed minnow, frog style lure will attract bite. If choose to fish during latter morning or afternoon you will need your fish finder to locate under water cover or watch where a land form seems to come to a point before going under water. Likely a drop off near a creek channel, bass will stage out off the drop off, use Texas style rig here. Finally when I am out mid morning or later I look for shad or bait fish being terrorized by larger fish you will see them jumping and larger fish surfacing, usually in a cove just off the main channel. Throw even a lead head grub or your jointed minnow that will dive some with a faster retrieve right through the bait fish. Can be a lot of fun. Good luck.

WhiteWater flyshop waders really light weight and have mid torso belt to help if do get wet from them filling up to bad. I always wear floatation vest in case go swimming.

OJ is right and in addition if new reel often the line will be twisted coming off spool which will also promote bait to return. You can try throwing your bait out and then hold the line right above the reel with one hand and reel in putting pressure with fingers on line to try and stretch or straighten a little. Also often after throwing several times the line will quit curling as much.

The other thing to do is when the bait came off and reeled in line and retied did you notice it was twisted or straight. If straight it likely broke off if twisted then likely knot failed. A decent brand of 6 lb test will certainly hook most fish and if lucky and a larger one let the drag out a little looser that way rod and drag doing most of work until fish tired. Likely your knot on bigger hook not getting tight enough versus line breaking.

Yep when fish seemed a little picky added small piece pork rind to encourage the bite like Spiritof27 says.

agree very helpful, just moved near lakes with Walleye most of my experience have been central U.S warmer water lakes thanks

Ronniejw is correct finding drop offs and structure is critical. Fish will be there. You really have two decisions IMO first how big a screen do you need the smaller the less expensive and then what's your budget. For instance I use both Hummingbird and Lowrance. Haven't tried the other brands. For the money Lowrance has a reliable product that shows good depth as in drop offs and pretty good structure in their Hook series. I have the more expensive one on my dash but for the money the hook in a smaller screen can do most of what you what within a smaller budget.

not sure where you are but the lakes east of Charlotte are good. I was on lake Tillery last weekend bass fishing and several folks fishing with success in the channel for cat. There are a series of lakes in that general area similar to Tillery.

Bass face right on, if catch and release you can also find similar rooster tail brand with a single hook, regardless easier to get out and make barbless if need to. The ultra light also just makes more fun and lighter line I think matters when pulling bait across fish's nose and they smack it. I also like the Classic Vibrax® | Blue Fox - Rapala it ranks up there as well. Finally I usually always have a small spoon to use when Panther Martin not getting job done. You have those 2-3 baits and have a back up or two for each in case break off you will do well. Let us know how you do.

Spiritof27 is correct if really panfishing then 2lb fish is exception. Braid is meant to go with smaller diameter and still get great test strength. So a 3-5 lb braid will be very stealthly-they wont see as easy and more test than need. Good luck

I have had that problem but could usually get reel apart. When that has happened to me usually have Grands have been using my stuff it is line got into gear box. That could be why get harder to crank old line tightens up. If can get far enough apart to get a toothpick or small needle nose in the gear box and carefully see if can get ahold of some foreign stuff including line it will fix problem unless something I have not encountered. good luck

Good question-remember or my experience is stream fish smallies, trout etc are facing upstream so if throw upstream you have to really retrieve quickly in faster moving water to get a good presentation. Therefore my luck has been no more that 45 degree up and often it would drift down to closer to cross stream before good retrieve. For spinner/spoon it is all about have it move like food so even a 45 down stream on slower water has worked well because you have better control of the speed of retrieve. I have had trout visually come after a spinner that came from behind them as it was swimming ups stream on my retrieve.

I have used both and because as others say the Canoe has more storage for me it was more versatile. I also experienced catching larger fish with both and found easier to go to knees and land fish in a canoe. I also personally find it easier to move around if get stiff in a canoe versus my kayak, younger folk probably don't have same issues. I also prefer paddling a canoe with two especially if the other is not experienced. All they need to do is move water I steer etc. I always kept gear in both in floatable bags or cases because you will eventually flip both. Oars can be adapted to a canoe, work well just more to carry in and out. Actual casting/fishing from both was similar except when alone again could put knees on seat in canoe and be a little more elevated. Good luck

All advice is correct but I also don't fish much at nite. My add would be to pickup a few crickets and some chicken livers or big night crawlers if can find. Crickets of course with a float for just longer cane/fiber pole. Start with liver on a smaller treble hook with the weight on bottom and a tied wire leader about a foot up on Cat poles. Once start catching bream use the to small to clean as bait for the Cat's. Dead or alive Cat's love'm. I actually have had some of my best catfishing in the heat of the day fishing deeper spots but Cat's can be active all day and the Liver starts attracting them because of blood and smell. Bream fishing to pass the time with Cat poles and a semi tight line with drag very low. That let's them take the bait and start to go. Give a little line, set the drag and hall back like catching bass to set hook. That's my two cents.

Good to to have you involved. Lots of good information here.