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I will throw out an idea. Right next to Universal studios in Orlando is Turkey Lake. It is part of the Orlando Parks Department. It is a private lake that BPS supplies with Tracker Boats with T/M's and depth finders. These are the only boats allowed on the lake. Rental is a half day for about $30. When going to a convention, I always rent at least one day and have always caught good numbers up to 6 pounds. It is a fun day from first light to noon, and you can't beat the price. Other members can go to the park while your fishing. They even rent tackle if you need it. I have never seen a better deal anywhere in the country. The lake has plenty of bass. Reservations are a must, and fill up weeks in advance. If you decide to go I have a bunch of info I can give you.

If your in his boat your stuck. As he is up front doing his thing, cast out the back and every once in a while let out some line so when he moves your bait stays in place. I have done this a few times when fishing in someone else's boat. I am like you slow and methodical, unless someone is proving me wrong. Then I can pick it up, usually with a swimbait, jerkbait, or top water.

If it feel wrong don't do it. If you cant touch it, don't buy it!

Usually rent a lake house every year for a week. Last year we rented on Keowee and for me I might as well been fishing the moon. Natahalia is my personal favorite for beauty, and fishing. Have caught small mouth, large mouth both there. A true mountain lake.

The bass will tell you what they want that day, that hour, and that minute. In weeds I throw a Texas rig 90% of the time with some form of plastic. Worms, senkos, creature baits, U-vibes, swimbaits, and Flukes, are all on the menu. I usually use a wacky rig only on deep ledges, and steep drop offs. I will hug the drop off and fish parallel to the deep ledge. I let the bait drop to the bottom on slack line, and then snap it up off the bottom, and then fall again on slack line. Canal ledges are my fav area to throw it. Usually they are straight down and 8 to 14 feet deep. The fish will tell you how long to let it sit between snaps. For me this technique has saved many a painfully slow day!!!!! Instead of senko type baits, I like Zoom Trick Worms. They are longer, when hooked in the middle you get great action from the two sides both on the snap off the bottom, and the fall back to the bottom. They are irresistible at times!

New ramps, new parking area, fishing still a little tough but still able to a few. It won’t be long the bite will explode.

I have had a bass boat for the last 40 years and one of the biggest bass I ever caught was in one of those deep pits next to an expressway interchange, with minimal visible vegetation. They are all connected to the water management system of South Florida by way of culvert pipes. No boat needed, just go exploring!

I fish 5 days a week from the bank and enjoy it as much as when I take the boat out. A good pair of leather boots are good for the snakes. I would go packing in any crime area. I fish a lot of commercial and industrial areas where there are man made lakes they dug out for fill. These all have bass and often good size ones. Most are not posted and I am seldom questioned. The opportunities in my area are vast.

Well we all chimed in, how about a report. Where did you end up going, and how was the fishing?

Might as well be ringing a dinner bell!

I fish almost everyday, all year round, either from the boat or the bank. I am somewhat of a slow fisherman with plastics or jigs usually. The first cast I throw out and race that bait in, because when I catch on that first cast its sometimes a curse for the rest of the trip, at least in my MIND. I think I might be superstitious!!!!!!?

Had a friend with a home on the lake. He did well on a canal that led to the Kissimmee River, with a HB Frog.

As a life long Florida fisherman with shallow weed filled waters, to go to a mountain lake with little vegetation, draw downs, and just structure changes to key into, it’s like fishing on the moon. I have rented mountain homes on lakes with depths of 150 feet and a skunk is not usual for me in these clear small mouth lakes. I have such admiration for the pros that have to adjust to these conditions regularly. Also never leave home without toilet paper!

I real stupid move for me was, while on vacation I took the kill switch out and hid it in the house. If someone broke in the garage they couldn’t start the motor. Upon returning, I planned a trip to Okeechobee with a friend. A 1.5 hour trip one way. Got there the motor would not start, NO Kill Switch. One p***ed off fisherman. real dumb!

Thanks to anyone that had anything to do with this tribute. It was special and so was the man. I feel so sad for his family and the kids that were left without his guidance through life. He was a classic, and will always be remembered as a great fisherman, and a good person. RIP young man!

It just doesn’t bother me to tell. When I write a fishing report I always give approximate location, conditions, what baits, and how I used them. There are so many fish out there, plenty for everyone. We join these sites to share information, we even have guys producing vids to teach others. Even with all the sharing, some just won’t get it!

A great tool for scouting new bodies of water. Lots of detail when you zero in. Laydowns, depth changes, grasses, pads, launch areas, docks, culvert pipes, bridges, feeder streams, release areas, and rip rap! Amazing stuff!

Slow down, down size, and pauses. I get the bait to walk the bottom, then pause. Usually always get bites, of various size. Almost forgot, lucky underwear, no bananas, no hook ups on first cast, promise a kiss for any willing to play, hats on backwards until I break the ice. Just all the normal stuff!

Usually the topography above the water line continues into the lake below the water line. When fishing a new lake I always scan the banks to check this out. In your scenario I will fish a wacky worm parallel to the bank and slowly move out to deeper water until I find fish. Let it fall deep, and then snap it off the bottom and fall and settle again. Or fish a crank bait parallel to the bank.

Dwight is 100% right on your chances. The O is so vast and so shallow that a big wind will change everything quickly. Fish will move out of an area quickly and the wind will stir up the quality over night. Finding fish, is finding clear water. Spraying has been none stop lately on the south end. Headwaters is a designer fishery, designed to produce trophy fish. There are shelter areas, deep holes, selected grasses and weeds. It was stocked by the state with restrictions, and no spraying. Big fish have been caught since its opening. The down side is the crowds, especially until the snowbirds leave for their home waters. Big fish live in both waters, it's just harder at the O unless you fish it all the time, and understand what weather does to it, and how the bass move! Not easy for a novice, or a lot of pros.

Once had an Anhinga hit my fluke underwater. I felt a hit and was about to set the hook when the bird came up with the fluke in its mouth, but not the hook. Lucky for me because these birds will try to stab at you with that sharp beak. Got half the fluke back, the other half went to the BIRD!?

Caught a big Peacock on a Black Danc'n Eel! ?

It doesn't happen very often, but it has happened. I will start practicing the accuracies of my casting. Can I hit that opening way back in the pad field. Can I hit that cypress knee under the tree with the bird nest. Can I hit the break in the weed line with this wind. I try to find the most difficult, distant, targets to reach. It becomes a game of darts, or target practice, and usually the skunk suddenly disappears. If I reach my target it is like a personnel accomplishment, go for the impossible, have FUN, forget about the lack of bites! I go to a range because it's fun, same thing with a lure, hit the target!

Local Walmarts here always have Zoom products cheap! Love floro for my plastics. Not all floro the same, Tylene Professional grade my fav. Hate rude, thoughtless people on the water.

Many lures are designed to catch fisherman, not so much fish! The helicopter lure, Roland pumped up those sales! Lol