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Let the fish tell you, try them weightless, twitches, maybe even with a small bullet weight. I think the key with these spillways here though is too locate where the fish are behind the underwater barriers or in the calmer water. Try flipping a creature bait or jig inside the holes in the weeds letting it sink to the bottom. I have caught alot that way. The spill ways here are fairly shallow (4 feet) until it opens up into the canal, which is around 8-10 feet. Sometimes moving down the canal you will find more fish away from the stronger current. Don't be surprised to hook a snook or tarpon even out in Lehigh, I have heard that they have been caught even out in that area.

the spillways here have cleared out with all the recent heavy downpours so it is clear of weeds. Do you use a baitcaster or spinning reel. It seems that you can cast a weightless plastic much further with a shimano curado baitcaster compared to a spinning reel. It took me awhile to figure out where the fish were holding in the spillways here, so make several casts covering all the area especially if you can't see in the water well. These places at night time have been especially productive for me, actually it seems better than in the day. I believe maybe the fish come up more often under the cover of darkness to feed. I also believe with this summer heat that these areas provide plenty of oxygen for the bass so you may find these small areas holding alot of fish. I am still learning alot about bass fishing every day and read and fish constantly. Once you figure these spill ways out you may catch a couple dozen bass in these areas. Good Luck.

Hey, Fort Myers here, We have the same type of "spillways" here that I fish alot. I have done really great throwing a black horny toad weightless and letting the current take it while paying very close attention to my line. You will see when they take it. Also, look for barriers under the water that the fish will hide behind waiting to ambush forage. Also pay close attention to where the current looks strong and try to find an area of calmer water, sometimes these calmer pockets will hold a number of bass, at least in the spillways that I fish. I also fish a football head jig, in any color, and that has produced alot of fish. Cast up to where the water is falling into the canal and let it sit, sometimes you will be hooked up up before it gets to the bottom. Line watching here is also very important, especially with a jig. Dont let these little areas fool you as I have caught a number of bass in the 4-7 pound range in these areas sometime. Also, 4 inch swimbaits in these work very well, try the spro BBZ 1 shad, and another that not alot of people like but I have found success with is the revolution shad, they will absolutely slam these little swimbaits. Let me know, maybe we can fish sometime.

Goodto hear that you had great customer service from strike king. I had issues with a couple king shads, emailed them a few weeks ago and still waiting to hear at least a reply from them. The king shads kept breaking at the hinge. At $20 plus a bait, that's ridiculous if you ask me!

I should get them early next week and I'll let you know. I know you are a big advocate of the 6 inch. When are those 8 inch weedless coming???

I just bought ten of these 4 inchers from Huddleston. I was thinking that these will be excellent baits when fish aren't looking for giant sized meals like the eight inch. I was wondering what your thoughts on these baits are and how you would fish them.

good lord, Great fish!

Definitely can't hurt and hopefully enough input from local anglers will only stress the importance of a healthy fishery for Florida. I am going to have some friends fill this one out to!

That's a shame if true, I was looking at these baits as well today and I decided I was going to get a couple. Maybe I 'll rethink that decision!

I went out Tuesday night around 1100. The bite didn't really start until 130 AM when the moon was finally visible over the treetops. I caught three nice bass this night with this one being the biggest. It was approximately 24 inches and weighed 6.51 pounds. I was happy and disappointed at the same time as I thought it was going to be much larger but can't complain about catching three this size that night. I have come to enjoy night fishing much more than daytime.

I don't think it's a rumor or misinformation. I also read that Kurita slapped the water and revved his engine for a period of time before landing his 22 pounder. I did read he does this before feeding/then fishing in areas that he knows holds big fish. I have read some guys in California stating that bass know when the trout stocking trucks come in and you can see large bass "staging" just outside the dumping area.

I have owned a slop n frog mojo for three months now and last night the ring popped out of the guide last night! I ordered a Kistler broomstick today. I really like the mojo slop n frog, but after that, I will not buy another mojo again. If it was older and used alot more then I probably wouldn't have cared so much.

haha, funny you mention that as I was just looking at the 300 model and I think I am getting that next. I have another reel I have spooled up for my 8 inch huddlestons with Seaguars 25# flouro on it. The problem I have now is that when these bigger bass (7-8+) get buried in the weeds I have alot of problems getting them out. It seems that the fish are more weary of the powerpro I am using so I am switching back to mono. I really thought about flourocarbon but I am afraid that if I backlash, looking at some of the kinks that get in there I think it could compromise the integrity of the line???? I don't know maybe someone here could tell me otherwise? I was thinking more along the lines of 20# big game or 25# seeing the difference in diameter between the two is only .001 in size. Maybe that makes a big difference, I don't know. Appreciate all the help.

What is the largest monofilament line that can be put on a Curado 201 E5 and still have good castability and be easily managed. I would like to go 20-25# range. What are the most reliable monofilament lines in your opinions? Thanks for all the input!!!!

your gear will work until you smash a ten plus pounder and it takes you straight into the grass or weeds then you'd have to get in the water to get her out! I'd say heavy rod with 30 pound test. Toho is loaded with cover that big fish (10 plus) and smaller ones will bury themselves in! Good luck while youre there! If you're in open water that may be okay what you have though. Other guys here will be able to tell you exactly what to use though!

Ive got the st croix mojo slop n frog. It may be a tiny bit tip heavy, but I don't mind it at all. My concern was how it handled big fish, and after 6, 7, 8, and 10 pound largemouth bass brought in on it, it performed very well for me. I will buy another one later. I have no complaints so far.

I do, it's called a zara spook! j/k ;D

Landed an 8 pounder today, lost one at least 10 pounds. So my goal this year will be that 10 pounder that got away from me today!!!

I've never fished it either, but I will soon and I will fish mile upon mile of this thing. I have heard there are large double digit bass in this thing amongst several other fish species I don't care much for. I am still pondering whether to go by boat or just drive along and walk the banks. It seems small enough that walking it may be better, but I have no idea what it looks like towards the miami side where a boat may be more preferrable. I can't imagine going and not being able to catch dozens upon dozens of bass there, looking at it from google earth, it seems that along US 41 most anglers would be searching for snook or tarpon??? I can't imagine there arent' bass well over ten pounds in there also.

Anyone fish the Tamiami Canal? What works best in this canal, and is it better near the Miami side or Naples side? Anyone caught double digit largemouth bass from this canal? Thanks for all the input!

Since I am so obsessed with catching a 10+ I will take day 2. After that I'm sure my obsession will grow and be looking for that 12 next and so on!

We usually do good with topwater here, but this past full moon phase topwater was producing very little action. Dragging worms slowly across the bottom worked this time. Just when I thought I had a good idea of what they wanted and when???

Was just wondering how many of you guys have caught a ten+ while fishing at night and how did you catch it with what lure/bait??

I havn't really bed fished much, but after reading how alot of guys get some really big ones this way, I gave it a try just recently. To make a long story short, I sat on this bed for about an hour and threw everything in there that I could think of. I have no ideas if there were even eggs there yet. In the end, the smaller male, maybe 4 pounds, commited to a black plastic worm slowly twitched through the bed after about the tenth try with it. I am also curious to learn more on this subject.

Awesome Pics! I spent 8 hours fishing yesterday and caught a few 5 pounders and after seeing your pictures I'm heading back out now. Keep posting pics, great to see the Fl guys catching big ones!