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geo g, Thanks for that piece of info! That is golden. Looking at the map I think I'm going to launch on the ramp to right right as you go into the park. I believe that is the 84 canal?? Are there any underwater obstructions that I should be wary of while on that canal? It also appears that I could run this canal for miles opposed to the canal on the other side of the park as it looks like it is blocked off by the C14 canal? Thanks!!

I was on the trolling motor easing up to a spot once and some guy in a very nice boat passed me up by about two boat lengths dropped his trolling motor and preceded fishing. He may have been in a tourney, maybe not and I don't care. The next one to do that I'll blow up the spot by preceding to drive around in circles in front of him til he leaves. Did he feel entitled because of his rig, who knows and again, I really don't care. If I feel in the right mood, maybe I'll just follow him around the rest of the day and continue the pattern. I give the same amount of respect that's received. I will pick up and drive way around guys on the bank, in other boats. Like others said, it really is just about respect for others. To be fair, these types of situations aren't very common. Most anglers shore or boat exercise good judgement and give respect to others on the water.

Like some have mentioned there are other quality jig makers out there. Mike's business approach is textbook. He puts out a quality product at a great price and treats all his customers like they are number one. You can NOT beat this approach. I have contacted him on a couple of occasions and he has always come through. I will not buy any other jigs but his for all reasons stated above. Also as Shimmy stated the versatility in how many different ways you can have your jigs built to order is fantastic.

Ahh thanks Capt.!! I didnt go here last time because I figured I couldnt get in early enough. Thanks again!

Does anyone know if the boat ramps are accessible before the park opens? I'd like to launch really early but i believe the park opens around 8 or 9.

Looks like a bandit 400 or 700. Cant remember the number.

Dude, niiiiiiiccceee!

I don't like the sound of that...I never knew that was a dumping ground for the gator boys. I did hear that the lake was infested with them and now I know why.

I read that and am very optimistic about trafford. I joked though that both bags were caught from two teams cruising the shoreline and catching the five biggest bass in the lake off beds. I hope later we hear about some real giants being caught again. My hopes are high as this lake is only thirty miles from me.

Contact him through youtube and invite him over.

I bought a 6 inch bull shad painted in bass by Dwain Batey a couple years ago and to be honest it was the best paint job I've seen on a bait. The bad thing is i never fished it, not once.....

Tracker did the bass hold on to them or do they spit em quick. The zoom horny toads theyll hold onto forever it seems.

Haha....just to clarify it was 16.99 per box. Still a great deal for 48 frogs and a plano box.

I can not tell you how well these work, but I did buy 5 boxes of the 49 piece humpin toad kits at 16.99 online and at that price it is the best deal for frogs hands down. Since I'll be using mine for snakeheads Im not expecting to get more than one fish per frog which is fine. Another reason why I was looking for biggest band for my buck. In hand they look as they would work as well as any other frog except I don't think that they are salted like the zoom horny toads which I was hoping they were. First thing I did was put one in my mouth and I tasted no salt!

I get what Jrob is saying......to SOME swimbaiters it's all about the swimbait and the image of chucking these huge baits . If you catch a DD on a "fairy wand" it doesn't qualify for SOME as a great catch because it wasn't a swimbait....if you catch that same DD on a swimbait all of a sudden for SOME you've attained instant respect. Jrob is spot on, it's a technique/tool that can be utilized and at the right time and location it can produce big results!

Tossing food at it would be a horrible idea. It will keep coming back and not to mention if someone sees you it could get you a visit from fwc. This could be bad for some little kid down the road as well that has no idea the gator is conditioned to a point.

While big swimbaits catch big fish(bass) and little ones, they are not conducive for me in a lot of areas I fish. I have caught bass on eight inch hudds and while exciting at first I realized most of the big fish were where I could not effectively fish them in my area. IMO opinion small swimbaits are not much different than throwing crankbaits or jerkbaits, still targeting the same fish. Guys get pumped up because everyone talks about how hard it is to catch them on swimbaits and they get surprised once they realize a three pounder will absolutely choke an 8 inch hudd and the shock factor starts setting in! Also the drawing power of some swimbaits are phenominal....they'll reveal size fish that you hadn't realized were there.

You won't see many pictures of 15 pound bass because quite frankly, there are not many 15 pound bass in most place. Given the odds only a few states harbour bass that big, more states than most people believe in general, but also the fact that very few people have caught a bass that big. I'm from South Florida and I would be shocked to see a 15 pound bass caught from my area. Are they here, absolutely but they are very hard to come by.. Now a world record bass from my area I just don't believe it is here.

lol, true that mudfish are the same fight wise. Too be honest I want to catch one(snakehead) to see what it taste like. I've heard they are really good. Since i don't eat bass and rarely saltwater fish anymore, I figured what a better way to make a long trip worth it by bringing home some snakehead dinner once in awhile!!

Lou gave good advice..if you're out following a cold front as well and the water is cool all gators will be on the bank sunning themselves. There was a post on another forum where a gator was actually putting it;s front feet along the side with it's head up over the boat. Although extremely rare, it's probably attributed to the fact someone was feeding it. don't dangle lures over the side either! In general they usually mind there own business unless your throwing topwater.

VERY NICE! I'm on the fence also about getting a new boat. I didn't realize how much more gas and speed I'd need when on Lake O!!! 32 mph just isn't cutting it anymore!

This is the exact ramp I was thinking about launching at. Lou does this canal also hold snakeheads. I apologize if my questions are redundant and annoying except I have no idea what canals people are talking about when they say l67, c17 blah blah! The only one I'm familiar with is the c14. I think these canals have other names as well besides their C names?? I think Capt. Shane and D. Martin have vids on this canal??

So true, leave every lure at home and work that jig!!! IMO you can always get bit on a jig. I spent a whole summer a couple years ago working a jig. Many days I blanked until I realized the thud's I was getting work boulders I was bumping but a fish. It took awhile for me to develop a feel for them and still to this day I have trouble and am missing tons of bites I'm sure. There are some Excellent Jig guys here, I suggest you send them a pm as some are really good about helping out. (WRB) comes to mind. don't get frustrated either because you will lose a lot at first and continue to lose them even as you better working them through cover.

That's a good one especially on the drop! Since Kent took my guess I'll say 4.8

I agree with a lot that's been said here. Every time before i leave I formulate a plan based on predicted weather conditions for the following day. So many times when relying on past experiences and places that produced have failed to replicate previous situations experienced were coming up empty and change was needed. One day out I was flipping, bluebird skies, post cold front had moved in and winds were fairly calm. I figured fish would be super tight to cover. Maybe they were but I stumbled across a giant school of bass and got on em good and never would have even thought of it except for finding them by accident that day. I do agree that conditions change fish activity and fishing the same way all the time minimizes your chances of having a more successful outing. Sometimes it's as easy as letting your plastic sit for several seconds before moving it that produces bites opposed to working the bait right away after it hit's bottom. While most agree I think that is a big reason why most of us love fishing. It really is a thinking man's game even when your out just fun fishing.