I Live in Vero Beach Florida. 25 minutes from Headwaters Lake. I don't have a boat right now. I occasionally hire a guide. They usually want me to buy and fish shiners for a chance at big bass. That's true enough but I'm 75 years old and have been fishing all my life. I've owned some nice boats to include big Grady-Whites and Pathfinders and Mavericks, and will be buying a Scout bay boat again but right now I'm hiring guides. My personal best was 9 lb on a Senko on the big O.
I prefer the challenge of using artificial baits. I guess next trip I'll start out with a few shiners, then finish the day with artificials. Which do you find more satisfying at the end of the day?