When you add the weight of 5 swimbaits, 5 jig heads, and the rig, you get a minimum of 3 ounces for most Alabama setups, indicating that you need heavy equipment to fish well. The bulk of elite fisherman employ a 7-foot, 6-inch or longer flipping pole in conjunction with a high-speed reel spooled with 65-pound braid or 20-pound test line. Even then, they often stick to deeper waters over rocky bottoms where they can find bass hiding in crevices.
In conclusion, if you plan to spend your time in Alabama fishing for white bass, you need a boat load of gear. The good news is that once you have the right stuff, you won't need much more.
Although reels are less important for efficient cranking, many experienced fishermen use reels with 4:1 or 5:1 gear ratios to slow down the bait and offer more force when cranking in large fish. Because you'll be making lengthy casts, make sure the reel has sufficient of line capacity.
Shallow crankbaits work well around rocks, docks, submerged timber, and shallow grass lines. The secret to success with shallow-diving crankbaits is to fish them without concern for getting them tangled up.
For bass fishing, utilize 8 to 12 pound test monofilament or fluorocarbon line with spinning gear and finesse presentations. Increase the tensile strength to 15 or 20 pounds in thick cover. A braided main line in the 30-50 pound test range is extremely adaptable for casting large swimbaits, crankbaits, jigs, and topwater equipment.
Bass will not bite through 10-pound-test line, but if you try to pull them up after a few minutes they will snap it. If you want your line to last longer, use something stronger.
The best line for fishing bass depends on what you're trying to do. Are you looking for fight at the boat ramp? Then you should use heavier line. Is your goal to catch more fish? Then go with something lighter.
You need to match your line to the situation. When fishing in cover, choose something thicker so that you don't tear off branches when making a presentation.
Overall, 8 to 12 pound test is the best choice for fishing for bass. This line is strong enough to fight at the boat ramp and work well with spinners and twitches.
Catfishing Equipment You Must Have
Spinning gear is ideal for catching largemouth and smallmouth bass. It's simple to use, casts smoothly, and works well for light or finesse presentations. But there's a reason why every bass pro carries a baitcaster arsenal on tournament day. Spinning gear allows you to put more food on a hook than any other method, which means you're likely to catch more bass.
Baitcasters come in two main styles: spinning and crank. Both work by using the same basic principles of action and balance, but they differ in how the mechanism is operated. With a spin-cast baitcaster, you turn a hand wheel or press a button to rotate the arm that holds the spinner. This spins the metal blades around the shaft, creating enough friction against the water to attract and hold bass bites. A crank-cast baitcaster is turned by hand like a keystone at the end of a lever. The lever is attached to the shaft of an internal motor that spins rapidly when activated, giving the baitcaster its name.
There are many different types of spinner designs, so it's important to find one that fits your fishing style. Some spinner rigs include a short section of shank attached to the end of the blade that sticks into the fish upon a strike, while others do not have a fixed shank length.