ifishflorida

This year I have spent more time and caught more fish flipping than any other method. Many weeks I don't even pick up another rod. It is hot down here and fish like to head for cooler water, especially on hot and sunny days. If you have hyacinths or other floating mats of vegetation you might find dropping a bait through that cover to be the most effective way of catching the fish.

I like using different models of 3700 size boxes. I carry a soft pack that fits several of them plus a spinnerbait box. I fill different boxes with lipped cranks, others with lipless cranks, others with various soft plastics, topwaters, etc. For most situations I am familiar with the water and I already know which few boxes I want to carry. If I travel I will take a wide variety and after a look at the water I know what I will feel be throwing and will load those boxes into the pack. It is an efficient system for many people and one that that has worked well for me since I decided I didn't need to carry enough tackle to stock a sporting goods store. If you fish tournaments as a non-boater the guy you fish with will also appreciate it.

The lake I fish most often drains on a twenty year cycle through a sinkhole. It is between four and five thousand acres. Walking that dry lake bed taking pictures and making notes can be another great tool just like aerial photos. On a shallow natural lake it can be surprising to learn how evern subtle changes in depth can affect fish where fish congregate and plant growth.

Can't tell you how many fish I've seen hanging on a wall caught on a cricket, worm, or crappie minnow. Lots of people would be unhappy if that is how the next world record is caught.

Gear Head - a term I have seen fly fishermen use for conventional anglers

I'm with DDbasser. The time is coming for me to put the rods away. I will still get to fish some on days that I hunt but for the most part fishing will come second.

For the last fifteen or so years I have switched between conventional and fly tackle. A couple of years ago I fished with nothing but fly rods for the entire year. I fish mostly fresh but also inshore saltwater with flies.

Rat-L-Trap makes different models including floating and a suspending model they call a "Red Zone". They work much better in a shallow water column like you described.

I have had plenty of skiers and jet skiers run over me and I have also had fishermen come right in on top of me when seemingly we were the only two people on the lake. I have even had fishermen shut down right in front of my duck blind and start casting in my decoy spread. Rudeness and inconsideration isn't limited to any group.

I remember some controlled tests years back that compared different lures and the memory of a fish when caught on them. Consistently the fish would hit some types of baits for a second time sooner than they would others. I do not recall the time period between being caught or order but a plastic worm was the one that the fish would most consistently hit sooner after being caught on it. Anyone else remember reading this years ago?

Maybe he just has the biggest hand in the world. I doubt if that fish is near 20" but you are welcome to think anything you want. He asked for a guess, I gave him one. How much bigger do you think that fish is than this fish?

I'll say 2 1/2 pounds

One first and one third place finish this year on water I had never fished before. Will finish in the top eight for the year and qualify to fish our "Classic" tournament for better money. It is a Megabucks style tournament that is our last of the year. At my home lake my numbers are down. I keep records because my memory ain't too good so that keeps me honest. I have not put in quite as many hours at that lake but I am down almost 350 fish from this same date last year. So, it has been a mixed blessing for me this year.

Tallahassee, Florida