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Goose that's a nice one for sure. Just goes to show small baits catch big fish. If it is there, they are going to eat it. Congrats brother!

That's glen, that's a great article.

Good luck on your recovery. Lower back pain is the worst. Rest, but don't rust. Keep your line wet and anything is possible!!!!!!!!!!!

Dwight thanks for the post and pic. Good picture but I would try to keep it off the ground for catch and release.

Wow that must have hurt! If you fish long enough its going to happen especially if you use treble hooks. After doing it several times I always carry pliers but more important a good pair of wire cutters in the boat. Wire cutters get the job done if it goes all the way through, or just push it through. When you least expect it ---- happens!

I too agree with what Frank W. said. Isolated clumps are better then a huge clump. Fish will use them to seek shade. An isolated clump will draw fish from a larger area. May catch two or three from isolated pads. I like to Use t-rigged plastics on small clumps and frogs or swim baits on huge clumps. You can always flip the big clumps.

I had not been checked in ten years in south Florida fresh water, in the boat. Then last year I got checked twice in two weeks by the same guy. I told him you checked me last week with no violations. He did not care and did a complete inspection again. When finished I told him I'll see you next week! There are definitely way too few officers for all the water and wilderness areas. Far more dangerous job then most people think, since many of the encounters they have are with people with high powered weapons, many at night with no back up.

Welcome, lots of great information on this site for all levels of fishing. Good luck and let us all know how you do catching.

That is a good idea watching the selves, but I would still buy some of the hot items. What's hot is catching fish. The word is out! Try some and then try your secret baits. You can't lose under those conditions. Once I went to BPS and found Zoom Centipedes were always low in stock. The little plastic bait was hot in south Florida and was a catching wonder. This was before senkos came on the market, and took the heat off this little bait. Your doing the right thing watching the selves for the hot items. Buy some and them turn to the internet. Good luck!

It is all good. Fish slow or fish fast. Change up and see what the fish want. The fish will tell you what they want, believe it or not! The fisherman's job is too adjust, and make changes. More weight, less weight, change color, change size, change depth, target structure, slow down, hop it, drag it, dead stick it. The fish will give you the clues. T-rigged plastics are soooooooooooo versatile. I love them!!!!!

Use line strong enough to get the job done. Which includes getting the fish through the junk and in your hand. Also retie frequently!

It takes a considerable amount of concentration and patience to fish plastics slow. Like all phases of society our population today is not known for their discipline, or ability to patiently wait for good things to happen. The now generation wants the bite now or move off to a new location. Run and gun!

Violinguy I could not agree with you more!

That's a beauty. Thanks for the report and letting us know what you were using. What body of water were you on? Thanks again!

Lots of good info in those post. I like to fish the whole water column until I find the right depth for fish willing to play. I the Everglades and canal of south Florida we have an unlimited network of canals that cut through the entire region. These canals are mostly 6 to 30 feet deep. Working the entire water column means presenting a bait that slowly falls through that column from top to bottom. Sometimes fish will be right under the vegetation canopy, sometimes suspended, and sometimes near the bottom. A weightless fluke or Senko will slowly float through that column until you find the right depth. It has worked for me for years. Once you find the right depth you can change your speed to target those fish. I have fished with guys that will work themselves to death to catch one or two fish sticking with a top water pattern or throwing a heavy jig for one or two fish. That's not for me. Find where their positioning themselves and catch a bunch. Pulling in numbers is they way to go. The fish will tell you where they are and how the want it.

That's why they call it fishing not catching!

Nice job Dave. That's a hawg! Keep your line wet and good things will happen.

When I go out it is to relax and have fun. I want to catch fish, so if there 8 pounders or 1 pounders the bite, hook set, and landing is the important part for me. Everyone wants a hawg, but the important part for me is action. Nothing bothers more than an hour of nothing !!!!!

Everything can look different in the dark. You may go out with clear skies and cloud cover move in. Be a little off course and stumps become a problem. That being said, I would love to throw a jitterbug, or big zara spook at night out there.

Nice, looking forward to more video from you showing a few big hawgs. Good effort!

Those are the days we all hope for when we head for the lake. Congrats brother!

WVBassin87, don't feel bad we were all newbies at one point and have all made mistakes at one point. The important thing is you are here and getting involved. There is loads of information on this site if you search. Just keep posting away and someone will give you a positive response. The more you use the site the better you will get. Good luck!

I have caught many thousands of fish and never had something like that happen. That is certainly a freaky thing.

Not a chance! Maybe if you drop something on the bottom of the boat a sudden noise might spook a fish close bye but music or conversation not a chance. A sudden start of a trolling motor on highlight spook a fish. Unless you have a boom box in the boat with heavy bass, there is no problem.

I have seen the same thing in Weston. If they can bite it it's a meal. It's amazing how big a fish they can eat. Fish are a prefect shape.