Best Fishing Line For Bass Fishing - Mono, Fluoro, or Braid?

 What is the best line for Bass fishing? Basically, we have to choose from braided fishing line, fluorocarbon, or mono (monofilament) when deciding which fishing line is the best to use. So, how do you choose which line works best? There are several determining factors when deciding line choice. What are you fishing for? Where are you fishing? What typed of structure are you fishing? What is the clarity level of the water? And, what will you be fishing with? In this video, I'll go over my personal opinions on the subject, and fill you in on which type of fishing line I use most.

Related Videos: Best Knots for Bass Fishing: https://youtu.be/O5HIfax5mrM Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging: https://youtu.be/lD4hwYAhs1g How to Fish a Fluke - https://youtu.be/OYG7jAYZ-Pc How to rig & fish a Texas-rig Worm - https://youtu.be/P51FrUXtElo Best Frog Lure for Bass fishing - https://youtu.be/NXSGt9Mss6c How to fish an Umbrella / Alabama Rig for Bass - https://youtu.be/AxUWFZIwJkE Best new TopWater Lures for Bass Fishing - https://youtu.be/Ml4GCvcFGrY Please like, share, comment, and subscribe! I've been a full-time bass fishing guide & tournament angler for over 20 years. I'm on the water over 300 days a year. I've fished all over the country, and have fished with anglers from all over the world. I share fishing tips and techniques, and make videos for Bass fishermen of all skill levels. Let me know what you think of my videos, and feel free to give me some ideas for future content. YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/2xeuZxj Website: https://www.chucksguideservice.com Check out: https://www.cpflures.com My Other Website: https://www.guidefishing.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckipippi... Twitter: http://bit.ly/2wso46m Facebook: http://bit.ly/2vO7JIu Chuck Pippin Jr. Chuck Pippin Fishing, Inc. #fishing #bassfishing #fishingline

Fall Transition Bass Fishing in Florida

Fall Transition Bass Fishing in Florida

The fall transition in Bass fishing has begun for most of the country.  Water and air temps are cooling down as we reach the frigid winter months.  But, what about Florida?  Is there a Fall transition in Bass Fishing?  If there is, when is it? Check out my latest Youtube video, which explains the differences between Fall transitions in Florida, versus the rest of the country:

Video Link:  Fall Transition Bass Fishing in Florida

Why Minn Kota Talons? Benefits & Uses

     Shallow Water anchors have been around for some time, and many changes and upgrades have been introduced.  As most of you know, my anchor of choice is the Minn Kota Talon.  I've had the pleasure of using both brands of shallow water anchors, so my opinions are not one-sided.  If my only choice was to purchase one at retail, I would definitely choose the Talon over other brands. 

     Before I explain why my choice would be a Talon, I'd like to go over the many different uses.  Some of them are obvious, and some are not well published. 

Uses of the Talon

• Sight Fishing - Boat position is one of the most important key elements when sight fishing for spawning Bass.  If it's in your budget, I would always suggest rigging your boat with two Talons.  One is great, but two is always better.  With 2 Talons you can position your boat exactly where you need it, and not have to worry about using your trolling motor to keep your boat from pivoting out of the zone.  Talons also deploy straight down so your boat anchors right where you intended it to be.  Other brands scissor back, then down, sometimes pulling your boat backwards from the position you had intended to be anchored. 
• Fan Casting - Whether your anchored off a shallow point, a submerged or emergent grass bed, or trying to find that sweet spot on a shell bed, utilizing the stopping power of the Minn Kota Talons will allow you to effectively cover every inch of a spot within your casting distances without missing key areas, due to boat repositioning. 
• Live Bait Fishing - I've been a professional guide and tournament Bass fisherman for over 18 years.  It's still hard for me to believe that at age 39, I've been doing anything for that long.  Fishing for trophy-sized Largemouth Bass with live Wild Shiners, though not possible through out much of the country, is a staple when it comes to being a successful guide in Central Florida.  Sometimes I use my Minn Kota Fortrex 112 to troll shiners over open water and submerged grass beds.  When it gets too windy, however, or when I find a concentrated school of Bass, I usually deploy my 12' Talons to hold me on the spot.  It's way more convenient, and less messy, that dragging out 20 lb. anchors, dropping them down in the mud and tying them off to a cleat.  If I Talon Down on a spot and the fish move, with a couple clicks of the button, I can easily retract the Talons and reposition the boat.
• Docking - This seems to be the least talked about, but probably one of the best, uses for a Talon.  The picture below was taken by Tim Price (Minn Kota Pro-Staff Manager) at an iCast event on Lake Toho from 2015.  Notice there are no dock lines securing my boat to the floating dock.  With both 12' Talons deployed, I can keep my boat anchored securely in the spot I parked it without worrying about it slamming into or rubbing up against the dock.   In the world of Bass fishing, more now than ever, your boat is your biggest investment.  Why would you use a $2 dock line to tie it to dock that was clearly not built by anyone who actually owns a boat.

Benefits of the Talon Over Other Brands

• Rigging - If you own a socket set, and you should, and you know 'left loosey, righty tighty', you can rig your own talons.  While it's still more convenient to pay a trained professional, it can easily be done at home.  I've personally rigged dozens of them. 
• Storage Space - The electrical rigging of a Talon consists of 2 mandatory wires and an optional green wire (warning signal - to the ignition).  Smaller, 17' & 18' bass boats are very popular here in the Orlando/Kissimmee area because of lack of garage depth in most of the houses.  Smaller boats mean smaller battery compartments.  Other brands of shallow water anchors use hydraulic pumps to stow and deploy their anchors.  These pumps have to be mounted somewhere.  Many times there is barely room for one pump, let alone two, in the battery compartment of a small bass boat.  If there's no sufficient room there, where to you mount the pumps?  In a rear storage compartment.  Smaller boats have less storage to begin with.  Now you have to give up one of those compartments for hydraulic pumps?  Doesn't seem like a good decision to me.
• Docking Again - As I mentioned early, Minn Kota Talons deploy vertically; meaning their telescopic construction deploys them straight down.  Other brands scissor back and down, which if in a shallow docking area, could mean another boat may dig their boat and/or outboard prop into the anchor.  I've seen it happen several times.  "My poles are down. Don't hit them," is an often heard comment while staging before early morning takeoffs at both fruit jar and sanctioned tournaments.

But What You Want

      I didn't write this blog to start a conversation as to which brand is the best, or make a statement that one is inferior to another.  This article is simply my educated opinion on why I choose to use Minn Kota Talons over other brands of shallow water anchors.  I fish 300+ days per year.  I have to depend on my equipment to perform day in and day out.  I will not use a brand simply because it's free or discounted.  The money my customers pay me to perform far outweighs the products I can receive from a sponsor.  So, this is why I choose Talons as my brand of shallow water anchor.

Thanks for reading!

Chuck Pippin Jr.
Chuck's Trophy Bass Guide Service - Orlando / Kissimmee, Florida(407) 580-8458

My First Blog...

     Over the last few years it's been suggested to me by industry professionals, and requested by my customers, that I add a blog to my arsenal of online networking/marketing.  Before last Sunday, I was never able to, or came up with lots of excuses as to why I could not, find the time to set up all that is involved.  Before last Sunday, I was fishing nearly 7 days a week.   Well as many of you already know, I took a little fall early that Sunday morning that has now provided me with the time (more than enough time) to set it all up. 

     One wrong move while preparing my new Ranger Z519 for my 6 hour, Super-Half Day guided fishing trip with Tom M., a regular customer of mine, and I find myself laying on my back trying to catch my breath.  The same, 'right hand down on the gunwale, swing my legs over the edge, jump off the top deck, and plant both feet on ground,' maneuver I've done nearly every day over the last 18 years didn't end the same as it normally does.  Somehow, my toe caught the edge of the boat, or my hand slipped... I can't really remember.  I do, however,  remember seeing stars, white flashes of light, and gasping for air.  The only noises coming out of my mouth resembled those frequently heard by zombie characters on The Walking Dead. The next thing I know, Justen Moore, one of my best friends since childhood, and a fellow guide, and Al Laman (also a guide), were standing over me; telling me not to move.  I'm a little stubborn.  For those of you that know me, telling me not to do something usually means I'm going to try it.  So, I had them help me back into my truck.  After sitting for a few moments, still trying to catch my breath, it hit me that I probably wasn't going to fish that day, or for several days thereafter.  Against the advice of all that were around, I drove myself home and made a call to my wife (Erica).  Probably not the wake up call she would've wished for that morning.  Erica is a RN who is currently studying to be a NP, so I was in good hands.  After explaining to me how dumb I was for driving myself home, she called an ambulance. 

     To make a long story short...  I spent most of that day in the ER, and learned I had fractured my T12 vertebrae.  For the past 6 days, I've been laying on my back, watching a lot of television.  The combination of Oxycodone at night and Tylenol by day has helped alleviate much of the lower back pain.  A couple days of having nothing to do was kind of nice.  But after 6 days of the same, I'm extremely bored. 

     Not sure when I'll be back on the water. Hopefully, very soon!  I have an appointment with a specialist on Tuesday.  We'll know more then.  My little injury, or setback, is nothing compared to some anglers I've seen on the water...  My little injury is merely a stubbed toe compared to anglers like Clay Dyer, and some of the Wounded Warriors anglers.  Some of the obstacles they've overcome to realize their passion for Bass fishing tremendously outweighs anything I'm experiencing.  I hold those anglers in very high regard.  The time I'm having to spend off the water is simply a precaution to avoid any long term, or more serious, injuries.  I'm sure I'll make a full recovery and everything will be fine.

I support my family by Bass fishing.  There aren't very many people that are able to say that.  I feel I am fortunate and blessed to be able to make that statement.   I plan to continue supporting my family this way for many years to come.  Looking towards the near future, I have decided that I will step aside from fishing the remaining two tournaments of this year's Bass Master Southern Opens.  I don't think it would be a good decision, both physically and financially, to attempt it.  Hopefully, I'll be back next year.  As far as guiding goes...  Hopefully, I'll be back out there in a few days!

This is the only blog I'll post about this.  All future blog subjects will be:

• Fishing Tips: lures, equipment, how to's
• New products
• Supporting my sponsors: Ranger Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Minn Kota, Talon, Humminbird, 13 Fishing, DOA Lures, Snag Proof, and Toho Marine & Outdoors
• Tournament updates & results
• Random fishing stories - I have a lot of them

I hope you enjoyed it.  Please subscribe and share!

Chuck Pippin Jr.
(407) 580-8458
www.chucksguideservice.com