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Great looking fish. I'm sure your heart was pumping when you landed that Hawg!

Lots of good info from a bunch of people. If I look for the biggest mistake people make when they fish it's that they fish way too fast. If fish are not in an aggressive mood you have to slow down. Everyone will become a better catcher if you keep this one tip in your mind.

What motivates me to fish. 1). Fun 2). Social interaction with a number of friends. 3). Relaxation 4). Execution of skills 5). Anticipation of rewards 6). Being with nature. 7). Teaching others.

I have been catching loads of fish in the everglades fishing 7 to 8 foot drop offs. Been killing them with senko type baits fished parellel to the drop off. Fishing weightlesss let it slowly fall all the way to thwe bottom, and then jerk and pausel it slowly along the base of the drop off. It has worked well in Weston also. Have caught some big Weston fish using this technique this month.

At 65 Florida residents are FREE, FREE at last!!!!!!! At least there is something good about being an old fart.

That's the glades for you. During low water periods it gets crazy in the canals.

Unless its a tournament or a contest, I would not waste too much time worrying about it. I don't like to sweat the little things. I do believe we should be as honest as possible, but its hard to control the actions of others. So don't worry about what you can't control. That's my personal opinion, and view on life, its just too short!

New Jersey New York New Hampshire Maine Penn Ohio Missou Alabama Georgia Tenn Ontario Quebec Florida for 40 years

I had a chocolate lab that if I took fishing would jump in the water too chase all those moving sticks WITH TEETH. In the everglades he would not have lasted long.

A lot of good info given in all the posts above. If I was going to use one bait, easy to use in open rocky lakes or from the bank with heavy vegetation, I would go with a 4" watermelon senko type bait, Texas Rigged weightless. It will catch fish anywhere in the country and cast a mile. Fish it slow with long pauses, and short jerks. Keep repeating the short jerks with long pauses and watch your line closely. You see the line move at all, take up the slack and when you feel some weight, set the hook hard. Easy to use, and will go through almost any type of cover. Good luck. Keep at it and you will catch fish.

Like Lou said, you get used to them. Fishing the everglades all the time we will see loads of gators of all size during the low water dry season. Sometime we would be pushing ten decent size gators down a canal as we move along. They seldom come within 10 feet of the boat. If you move toward them they usually move along with you. I have hooked a gator by accident and it hung onto my bait until it decided enough was enough. I would not want to be in the water with them, especially at night.

I live in South Florida and Frog Toggs are the best here because they are not that hot to wear. They are priced well, very lite weight, water proof, and come in all sizes, including Jumbo and super Jumbo. If you fish in the heat, these are the way to go.

I fish at least 5 days a week, many times from the bank, weekends from the boat. I'll give you a couple of clues. 1). Most people fish way too fast. SLOW WAY DOWN!!!!!!!!!!! 2). When things get tough, DOWN SIZE. A 4" senko type bait Texas Rigged, excellant all across the country. 3). Make little movements with the bait and then let it sit still as much as 15 seconds. Then repeat. 4). Find a drop-off close to vegitation and fish it hard. 5). If you catch a fish don't move, they are often in packs. 6). Be a line watcher, any movement take up the slack and when you feel the fish, set it hard. Good luck, I hope this helps a little!

Down here in South Florida I have been killing them on 4" Senko type baits, Texas rigged. Fished weightless for a slow fall, and lots of pauses on the retrieve. For south Florida any watermelon color is excellant. Its a great little bait that casts a mile.

In normal lakes, there are so many variables from one body of water to another it is hard to pinpoint one reason. Here in south Florida all our bodies of water are almost all connected to south florida water management system of pumps, flood gates, and canals. When they start the huge pumps every body of water drops or rises depending on the direction of the flow. We get a more consistant blend of water from different areas if they are connected.

I have fished Lake Martin, close to Auburn Alabama, several times,. It is a old compound with lots of Islands and Coves. We got lost for hours. The huge deep coves would deadend and the small insignificant openings would be the river channel, very confusing. Caught a few little bass, but not much luck overall. I wish I could help you but the only advice I will give is, don't go far unless someone in the group knows how to get home. It all looks the same, especially when it starts to get dark.

MM35 you have several ways to go. 1). You can use the east ramp at the rest area and fish back toward the east toll booth. 2).At the middle ramps you can go north or south on the Miami river, or go west along the Alley. 3}. you also have the west ramp. You can throw top water, swimbaits and speed worms, but I would not forget senko type baits weightless and fished slow. Good luck.

When fishing from the bank keep the wind to your back and you can throw anything effectively. From the boat its another story. Spinnerbaits are a traditional big wind bait.

Went to Vista View last night 3/12/14, killed them with 4" senko weightless.

Check out the Freedom Hawk Kayaks they are quite unique.

It was a snake haven when it used to be a old dump site. Before it was ever a park those lakes were there into the 1960"s. There is a 5 foot gator in the big lake right now. Look around carefully if your going to go wading through the weeds.

I have had several weird catches over the years. 1). I knocked out a duck on the water with a worm and a bullet weight. I didnt even know the duck was there. I must have hit it right on the head. After a few minutes it woke up and swam away. 2). I have hook a 5 foot gator and dragged it around for 10 minutes before he came off. 3).The most interesting was In the everglades, a big redtail hawk hooked in flight. He flew into my line while my cast was in flight. The lure worked its way up to where the wing meets the body and sunk in. The hawk dropped into the water on its back with its talons and beak going crazy, like he wanted to kill us. I reelled it to the boat and he moved on to the shore edge. Thank god he unhooked himself, because I had no clue what to do with an angry bird of pray.

Any wind over 20 MPH and I park the boat and fish from the shore. From the shore the wind usually is not a problem especially if you keep it to your back. I will put out a sea anchor if the wind cranks up while I'm already out there. It really slows the boat down.

I have fished those lakes a few times, and used to row with the Miami Rowing Club in the early 70's. . Anything is possible in those lakes they have landlocked snook, tarpon, manatees, as well as all kinds of exotics. Everything and anything is possible in those lakes.

Sunday 3/9/14, Went out today from 7-noon. First 12 casts, 12 bass. It doesn't get much better then that. Total for the day was at least 75, with the biggest over 3 pounds. Another fun morning on the Alley.