Deadeye-1

Well I did some researching and found out what it is. Seems to be some disagreement on how the line is retrived, but the concept is the same. Good Luck and keep posting!

Alright I gotta say that I find this thread interesting. However since I have not ever read the book, could you explain exactly what stiching a worm is?

I used to leave about 1/4" when tying an improved cinch knot. Then I had some fish lost and I noticed that the tag was slipping a little. Now on that knot I leave 3/8-1/2. On a palamor knot, which I've started using again almost for everything, I still leave about 3/8". Palamor is the simplest and easist knot to tie and one of the strongest knots known to man.

I got this as a Post from the FWC on Facebook. Overall they (the FWC) do a good job here when it comes to fishing.

If I remember correctly, I read an article awhile back that stated the average bass fisherman in the state of Florida catches 1 bass per hour. I've had days fishing on the St Johns River where that has held true, while others I have caught an average of 2 per hour. That being said in a 4-5 hour period I have never caught 40-50 bass. So for me I would rather catch 5 Good Ones VS 10 average ones. If I COULD catch 40-50 then maybe I'd reconsider. Maybe I need to start fishing some of the lakes that are known for better fishing!!!

Well like I had said before it has been hit or miss for me lately. Today it was HIT HIT HIT. My friend and I went out fishing on his boat today in the Lake Woodruff area. We put 45 Bass into the boat, including 9 that were real nice sized keepers. Two went 3 lbs and several were over 2 lbs. Today we set three records for us. My personal best for Most Bass Caught in a Day, Our Best Day fishing as a Team, and for my friend the most Bass ever landed in his boat in one day. Maybe things are starting to change back to normal after TS Debby.

It's not as popular color today as Junebug and Watermelon Seed is, but we still sell them. My boss swears by them on one of the lakes near us. Claims it outfishes every other color on that Lake. I've used them and have caught fish on them. I prefer Junebug or a Black with Blue tail, but I always have a bag of Fire & Ice on board.

This has surely had an effect. At least in two ways. 1) With the introduction of some much needed rain, the water levels have greatly gone up in Central Florida. In the past weeks I have been able to fish in places where there was no way that I would of been able to do before. If my boat is now able to get into these spots, you can bet that the Bass have moved into them as well. With the Bass moving into new areas it greatly spreads out the population and you may not be catching in spots where you used to. Higher water allows fish to feed in areas that offer a new/different food source. There are new weed beds now covered in water. One spot I fish I can hear fish splashing as they feed way back into the woods--- where there is no way I able to get to them. They have not left or stopped feeding just changed where they do it. It's up to you to find out where they have gone. 2) With the increase in water runoff due to the rains, there has been a new influx of Tannic Acid from the Cypress Trees introduced into the waterways. This causes the fish to feel "sick" and may not be feeding like normal until either they adjust to it or it gets diluted. Fishing for me has now been hit or miss. One week I caught 14 with 7 being of legal keeper size, had I chose to keep any. The following week I fished the same area and caught 2 small dinks. Two days later a friend fished the same waters and caught 13 with 5 keeper sized. Several days later fished it again and caught only 4, but two were 4 lbs and 6 lbs. The Bass are there. In Florida we don't have the deep drop offs and ledges that are talked about fishing this time of year, so what do we need to do? I'm finding that the Bass that are born in the shallow weedbeds and live their lives in them don't seem to move all that much when the weather gets hot. Fishing seems the best at first light and late afternoons. Another idea is to fish rivers where there is current, and most likely some dropoffs. Good Luck.

I use two products. One is called Kicking Bass, has a strong Galic smell and is made from/with natural fish oils. WARNING: Stuff sticks to everything and you will smell it for days if you get it on your clothes and such. I pour a small ammount into each bag of plastics as soon as I open them and allow it to absorb deeply into the plastic. It is availble as BPS. Second is from Berkley and simply called Bass Attractant. You can find it at BPS and Wal Mart. I squeeze a little onto the worm every so often. First time I used it I caught 12 bass. Used it while fishing with a friend, who was using the exact same bait as I was, and I had 7 in the boat before he even had a hit. I am convinced that both of these products have improved my catch ratio.

I read an article one time (don't remember where) that stated that the average Bass Fisherman in Florida catches 1 bass per 2 hrs of fishing. Last week I fished from 7:00 AM until 5:30 PM. Caught 14 bass. Thats an average of 1.33333 bass per hr. Thing is I had 8 in the boat by 10:00. Then it was one here and one there for the rest of the day. Rarely is it that you will catch 20-30 in a 2-4 hr period. Those day are magic IF and WHEN they ever happen. I have had friends tell me of days when they happened upon a group of schooling bass where two of them boated 60 fish in 2-3 hrs of fishing. It does happen, but not often. Those are the days that will stick in your memory forever.

IMO there is nothing more vaulable than experience. I am learning to fish the St Johns River in central Florida. On the main river I've had days where I have caught 2-3 fish, while in some of the feeder runs I've had days where I've caught 10-15. For me those are good numbers, but for some of the guys I know that have grown up fishing the river those numbers mean nothing. These guys know where the fish are at any time of year and regularly put 20-50 bass in the boat per outing. The local weeknight tourney usually takes 15-25 lbs to win in 3-3 1/2 hrs of fishing. I could have the best equipment, but until I learn the water as good as they do it is doubtful that I would win. Same with the Pros. They are Pros for a reason, they are the best at what they do. They have learned how to look at a lake/river and know exactly where to go and what to do to catch fish.

My local Wal Mart has a Lews Combo for $99.00. It is their Laser Reel, with 8 bearings, and their Speed Stick Rod, 6' 6" MH with Micro-Guides. Not a bad deal for under $100.00 You can get a Lews Speed Spool at most shops for $99.00. It has 10 bearing and comes in 5.4, 6.5 & 7.1 ratios. Many good rods available for the $100 and under range now. Skeet Reese rods run $59-99, depending on where you buy. Lightning rods run around $60.00. Falcon Buco run around $130. Really up to you as to what you like.

Great ponits. I fished a spot this week where a friend of mine told me he always caught fish in the main river (St Johns). I set on what I thought looked like the best spot on the Navaonics Ap for 3+ hrs and never got a hit, although there were fish busting all around me. The next day I talked to my friend about it and showed him a picture of the spot on Google Maps. He pointed out that where I was sitting is where EVERYBODY that he see fishing the spot sits. He then showed me where he sits. Afterwards I looked up the spot again on Navaonics and found a slight, suttle difference on the spot where he was sitting. Suddenly it made sense. He has never used anything to look at areas, just has fished there his whole life and knows where he catches fish. By then looking at the river for other spots that offered the same things as his spot, I believe I have found at least 4-5 other spots that should produce as well. If I didn't have a friend offer me a little help I probably would of never realised the slight difference that seems to make all the difference in fishing the river. Can't wait to get back and check it out now!

Ok. Since we all seem to agree on New Water, what can we do to make learning new water easier/better? For one I like to look at Google Maps and study the terrain, In Florida we do not have much for ridges and valleys so I try to find where there are Oxbows in the river that form points. Also look for where feeder streams enter the main river. Another thing I did that has helped is to download the Navaonics Ap onto my I-Phone. This shows me the channel areas and where the flats should be. Best of all is get a friend to take you along that has been fishing the area for years and learn from them. Another option (one I haven't done) is if they hold a lot of tournyments on the area go fishing that night/day and spend most of your time just looking/studying where those entered are fishing. Go back later and see why they were there, then look for other areas that offer the same situation. What do you do that helps you with new water?

Thanks for all the info guys, this is one lure that I have determined to learn to use this summer. Lots of people say they use them but few will tell you how.