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A few have mentioned how they like to fish during fronts. A little rain is one thing, but a lightning storm is something not to fool with. Here in Florida with our flat terrene, and surrounded by water, you don't need to stick up high to become a lightning rod. We have more people killed by lightning in this state then any other state. When there are signs of lightning, its time to get off the water and seek shelter. This should be monitory during tournaments. How foolish to risk a life to catch a fish.

If you fish a lot jt happens to everyone. I have lost them and found them. I was running the rim canal at Okeechobee wide opened and did not tie down my rods. STUPID!!!!!!! I watched a 200 dollar rod and reel go over the side. I have also accidently kicked one over the side, in six feet of water in the reeds, but big gators were in the area. Not worth the risk! Came back a few days later with a big three hook gaff, but no luck . Then one day while fishing I pulled in my line, and someone's line came in with it. I kept pulling in about 200 yards of braid and a nice rod and Team Diawa reel came up at the end of the spool. I was able to use the rod but the $250 reel was beyond help. That was an expensive set up, I know someone was ticked!

The first one I would get is: 1).Gama EWG #3 hooks thin wire 2(.1/32 & 1/16 Bullet weights 3). Senko 4" bait in Watermelon / red 4). Zoom trick worms in watermelon / red 5). Zoom super flukes in watermelon / red You could spend another $1000 dollars but that's all I would need to catch bass.

I have had a similar thing happen on fishing trips. First cast I have pulled in a quality bass followed by two or three more. I'm feeling pretty good and say to my partner, " we are in for a super day". Then for two hours nothing. Not even a bite for either of us. I learned my lesson, I now keep my mouth shut!

If you are going to fish this area often, I would up grade all my equipment, at least a big Medium heavy rod, at least 20 pound test, and probably braid. You are going to lose a few fish but I would hand line a bass up and would wear gloves to reduce cuts. I have seen pier fisherman that have a square net with a long rope. The fish is pulled over the net and it is pulled up and it folds around the fish. I have seen them pull up a 50 pound ray. This is just too much trouble for a bass, at least in my opinion! Priority for me would be finding an area to fish without these problems, even if the fishing was not quite as good. This is far less then a perfect place to catch, Catch and Release Fish safely without injuring them.

Congrats on finding a good pattern. Night fishing is a constant battle with the mosquitos in south Florida. Especially when its hot and humid! You definitely have a better shot at a big bass. Just love black buzzbaits, black jitterbugs, and big black worms.

In south Florida we have had 20 out of 22 days of rain. These were not showers but thunder and lightning lasting almost all day.. Its really cutting into my fun time.

That would be the last time I spend any time with that guy. He has a lack of respect for others and mother nature. He is everything that a outdoorsman should not be. I'm sure he is violating laws while driving and while operating a marine vessel. Where is a marine officer when you need one! He should be excluded from any and all tournament activities. We just lost 4 young people in three boats in South Florida, on the 4th. A combination of boating and drinking. There should be no excuse, and no tolerance for it!

I have fished real senkos for about ten years, and got tired of paying their outrageous prices. I went strictly to the BPS stick baits, especially the 4 inch ones, watermelon red, Okeechobee, black, and morning dawn. I have not dropped off the catch rate at all, they hold up better, and I have saved a bunch of money. No need to pay those prices. Its all hype!

Don't be so hard on yourself! It is obvious that these bass are not out there chasing fast moving baits, so slow down and fish a slow moving bait that will drop through the water column like dying fish. A dying fish will jerk a little, and then slowly float down toward the bottom, and then jerk again. I would use a Zoom Super Fluke in watermelon red, or a senko type bait in any watermelon color. Fish these baits slow, giving a short jerks every once in a while, and then long pauses. Be a line watcher many times the bait will be picked up on the long pause. If this doesn't work, take up BOWLING!!!!!!!!!!!!

In south Florida there is a wide band of time when bass will spawn. As someone else said, weather fronts, water levels, moon phase, will all have an effect on when the spawn will start. There can also be more then one spawn during the year. Florida bass are much more sensitive to weather related fronts then there northern cousins. The spawn can easily be put off by any of these conditions.

Tuesday 7/15/14, Alligator Alley MM 39 north side, light wind, mostly sunny, temp 90+. I went out today with friend Steve Johnson at 6:30 AM. We ran east to the dead end and were on the fish right away. We both had our big fish hooked up in the first 5 minutes, before the sun came up. The fishing was consistent until the sun got high and the heat set in. Then the bite got more difficult. We caught some nice bass under the bridges. The shade there made a big difference. The bass were close to cover most of the morning. If you were not deep in the pads, close to the sawgrass, you were not on the fish. There are some large fires burning south of 75. We saw the lightning strikes this morning while driving out there. They did put up warnings along I75 about reduced visibility. We finished the day with 35 bass between the two of us. There were a couple of real friendly gators today, but nothing like last week bumping the boat. At least the rains held off today, until I got the boat back the garage. A successful day!

Depends on what time of year. but most often: 1).4" senko 2).Zoom trick worm 3).Gambler Cane Toad

Steve now that's quite an honor. Congrats to you on the catch and your personal achievements!

Great job catching a real trifecta !!!!!!!!

In southeast Florida we have been getting hammered by severe thunderstorms for the last 25 days. The fish continue to eat day after day, but you just can't get to them, way back in the everglades. Water levels are way up. The food is in the glades and they leave the canals and follow the food source. Hundreds of miles of thick saw grass full of bugs, small fish, snakes, frogs, snails, lizards, crayfish, all on the big bass food supply. As soon as they can, the big bass leave the canal systems and follow food through the river of grass. Summer becomes a challenge here in the tropics. Although you can still catch isolated big bass, it becomes much more difficult. If you have an airboat and can get to isolated openings in the grass miles from open water you will probably do quite well in the summer. Its a very rich, unique, ecosystem. We don't get the cold fronts in summer that you do, but a cold front would be welcome right now by everything living.

Don't worry guys , if you fish often enough it happens to everyone once in a while. Keep your line wet and good things will happen!

I agree with Skippy, fish the flooded area hard. All kinds of bait in that newly flooded areas.

That's part of living in the outdoors in south Florida. We have a lot of idiots that will buy these exotic animals and turn them loose when they too big. We have a serious Python problem with thousands in the glades up to 20 feet long. They have found a six foot Nile Crock in a Miami park. All kinds of nasty fish, spider monkeys, lemurs, monitor lizards. A telephone lineman got bit by a green mamba in Broward County, and a king cobra was caught in Homestead. They all do well when released since we are in the tropics. A lot of these animal were released when hurricane Andrew flatten about 50 square miles of South Florida.

Regardless what anyone says, everyone gets skunked once in a while. When those dog days of summer come around, find an area with some current. Even if its wind blown current, find current to catch fish. Current will get the whole food chain going, and the bass will follow. Also in the summer fish early, or fish late. Take a siesta from 10 until 5.

Alligator Alley MM 30, north side, temperature 90, humidity super high, water levels up. Because of the threat of thunderstorms and the safety of the bridges I fished the Alley again this week. I tried to get a partner to fish today, but my friends are smarter then I am and stayed home. Weather was unbearable with light rains and super hot. I ran a couple of miles east, to the cuts on the north canal. Started with weightless Flukes and caught fish right away. The area around the cut openings were the best. Moved to the south canal, and worked my way east toward the weir. I switched to a weightless senko, and I caught several more and then the best of the day, a 3 lb fish. The humidity got to me at 10:00 and I called it quits. Caught about 19 bass and a big mudfish. Did not have any problems with the gators today, unlike last weekend. There was a huge wide body in the first cut. Overall a decent day but super hot.

Like most have said before, watch your line for any jump or slight movement. When letting a bait fall on slack line, once the bait hits the water, I will pull an additional yard or two of line to get a true free fall. You will see your line jump way before you feel it. So always be a line watcher, have a fast reel to take up slack quickly, then set the hook hard.

Since I fish for relaxation and fun, I am not a run and gun guy. I fish places I have fished countless times over the years and trust the techniques used. Therefore I will work a bait I trust and then switch to another bait if things are not working. No bites in an hour and I'm off to my next spot. You can't catch fish unless your lure is in the water! More likely to move if its a new body of water.

I will count down a 1/32 texas rigged zoom fluke to the proposed depth and then work it back to the boat. Have caught a bunch of quality bass walking it back at mid depth range in some deep holes.

Quakenshake, congrats on your PB. Just keep your line wet and good things will continue to happen. A personal best is made to be broken.