SoFlaBassAddict

Thats an interesting looking bait. I may have to try that modified fluke one of these days.

Agree 100%. The 8 inch Gamblers are great. I actually need to pick up another bag or two. All I've got left are Junebug I believe...

Sometimes I'll tear the paddle a bit (think zoom ultravibe speed worms) and use them as a topwater bat. Otherwise a t-rig weighted or weightless.

Heck if I know, but it's got one monstrously long tail on it...

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I do have a couple bags of swimmin senkos in my bag and have had some success with them. For a pair of 6 year olds they aren't necessarily as durable a bait as young kids need. Nick, I plan on picking up a few packs of swimming flukes as soon as I can get them. That Huddleston minnow in the AYU pattern looks great. I'll probably grab a couple of those. I may also pick up some of those Berkley Hollow-Bellys.

So as I get ready to really start fishing again I'm looking to use some more swimbaits this year. I would prefer to use soft plastics just because I can bury the hook in the back and make it a mostly weedless rig. What baits would you guys recommend that looks similar to a Golden Shiner. They are killer live baits down here, and I need something that my daughters can use. Live shiners get expensive after a while...

Love me some soft plastic frogs. Zoom Toads, Gambler Cane Toads, Rage Shad (technically not a toad, who cares), some local hand pours, etc etc. For the most part I use a 4/0 Twist Lock, occasionally a 5/0.

Don't quote me on it, but I believe the bottle says something along the lines of the best time to use it is when you first spool. It was either that, or on some show I caught it on. That being said, I've sprayed it on freshly spooled reels and let it dry overnight like the directions suggest. You can just spray it on while fishing as well. I love this stuff, I'll probably pick up another bottle or two when I re-spool all my saltwater gear.

mmmm....fishing porn.. Sweet looking rod.

Wish I had a Dick's closer to me. Closest one is over 50 miles away

Proud owner of a special events and production company based out of Miami.

Back you evil beast!! The worst part is that the d**n monkey has sunk it's teeth into both of my six year olds now...

This thread made me think...I need to get some junebug colored flukes...

I've got tons of purple and purple variations in my box. One of my best colors this year has been Junebug Red. Just normal junebug color with some red flake stuck in it as well. Works great for me.

Good luck with the weather....

I've never had a problem with either of my BPS' honored online or catalog prices in store. The customer service reps have gone online for me and checked out the prices and been happy to go with those.

I went out early this morning and got a decent topwater bite. Then had some success on slow retrieved spinnerbaits. Then I was slowly working a swim senko and picked up a few nice fish on that. You don't always have to be slow and low, you've just got to give the fish what they want. I was burning a rage shad across the water this morning and had a blast.

It was like 30 degrees for a week and a half. Thats friggin cold for this area. Drawback is now all the dead iguanas and anoles in my area. I guess it's better to have those than dead fish like other people down here...

You shouldn't have any problems buying used if you're smart about it. Get it thoroughly check out by a marine mechanic, etc etc. People buy used cars all the time, some have good luck, some have bad luck, some say screw the luck and do the legwork to make sure they don't buy a lemon. Down here insurance is not required I don't believe. You'd be smart to have insurance just in case. And if it's not required, it d**n well should be. Hell, I'd love to see the state implement required marine drivers licenses.

I r mind reader... And thanks guys, the stupidly hot water worked just fine....I wonder if I can add some scent to plastics like this when I need to straighten them out...

So as I've been going through some of my gear to hopefully go fishing tomorrow morning I've noticed that some of my plastics have minor kinks in them. Like the tails on swim senkos, tails on zoom speed worms, etc etc. I know it's from the way I store my bags more than likely, but I was wondering if you all have a way to straighten them back out somewhat. I'd guess probably a lighter to soften the plastic a bit, but I'm not really sure. Let me know what you all think.

Nice kayak you've got there. Wish I had the cash on hand to get into kayaking right now.

Nice read in that article. I saw several largemouths cruising the shoreline on my lake this afternoon. Hopefully the peacocks won't be far behind. Yay for warmer weather!

Winner winner chicken dinner.. I let my engine warm up every time I launch no matter what. I always figured it was a common sense kind of thing. Mind you, I have an older engine on my boat and I'm not sure how the newer motors work. I would assume the same holds true though, warm it up before jumping all over the throttle.

Doesn't Ande mono still have the most world records? At least I know thats what used to be their tag line. I use mono on all of my freshwater gear. If I ever had to do some flipping into heavy cover then I might use braid for freshwater. My offshore trolling reels have braid on them. My offshore casting gear has mono, jigging gear has mono with fluoro leaders. Mono is cheap and it works.