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Key components! A heavy duty garbage bag, for the empty livewell, A roll of of toilet paper, clean wipes for multiple uses, and an empty Mason Jar so I don't need to stand on the edge of the boat any more. Its as good as the throne at home. Don't Leave Home without it!

Birds are always a good sign. I go to a fluke or hard jerkbait into the frenzy, and start off fishing fast, and slow down if the bass are deeper. Birds are not wasting that energy unless bait fish are in the area, and being driven to the surface.

I usually start with a faster presentation, like a swim bait, or swim frog, or a top water. Then if the bite is slow I will go to plastics like senko, U-vibe. If that shows little action I will down size to a centipede, beaver bait, or wacky rig finesse worm. and slow down, sometimes painfully slow. Then lastly I will go big, with plastics and vary the pace until I get some action. Lastly I usually go home, and have several adult beverages!

Over a 40 year period of fishing south Florida this is the time of the year they will be occasionally more aggressive. Last year I had an 8 footer slap the side of the boat with its tail. Also on the Alley we had a female, guarding a nest on the bank, bump the trolling motor with her mouth. Luckily she didn't grab it! The scary thing is when you think they can propel 2/3 of their body out of the water in a heart beat. This threatening behavior is very rare, but both happened last year. They will sometimes rush the boat but usually turn off at the last moment. Don't want to be in a Kayak! Often the mid-size ones are the biggest pain in the butt. We are still living with true Dinosaurs. That's a mid size one, they just seem more aggressive then the big ones!

Thanks Hawgenvy, we too caught a bunch in the middle of the canal deep. Super flukes and u-vibes were killers deep. The bridge pilings were hot for some quality bass. Did you fish one of those tournaments?

I'm not going to give you a specific rod or reel since there are so many quality brands out there today. You don't need to spend a ton of money, there are so many medium price combos that will do the job. Your technique is the important factor, not so much the equipment. BUT for Florida I would recommend a 7', or 7'4" medium heavy rod, and a fast retrieve BAITCASTER reel. With this set up you can handle heavy cover, as well as finesse fishing, top water, and pitch and flip. You just may have to adjust the line strength. There are lots of brands, in the medium price range, that will catch you as many fish, as any high priced combos. Don't waste your money in the beginning, there is plenty time for that! Good fishing buddy..

The important thing is having fun and getting the skunk off. Patience and slowing down are two big factors. Congrats!

I used super flukes for quite some time and they were killing them deep.

Saturday 5/5/18 6:30-Noon cloudy wind 0-10 south east water dirty, 78* Went with a friend Rick and from MM30 ramp ran east to the man made cuts on the north canal. Fished a quarter mile each side of bridge #3. The cuts are often good when water is flowing out of them. We started with top water frogs with little action except from gar, and oscar. We moved to U-Vibes and Senkos and the bite was on. Most bass caught deep, swam along the bottom. We moved to the bridge and it was every other cast. They were stacked in along the pilings and a fun time. We caught between 45 and 50 bass, and another bunch of junk fish. Because of weather conditions deteriorating around noon, and a sudden drop in temperature, we headed out of Dodge. Just got home and tucked the boat in the garage and the skies opened. Another fun day in paradise, catching numbers were good, good company, and pleasant morning temps.

I agree with you!!!!!!

Obviously, the big bass are not chasing baits. When that happens, put a U-vibe of Senko on and fish on the bottom slow with frequent stops as much as one minute. They are curious creatures and will slowly move closer to investigate. Once close they will attack once the bait moves a little. When things are slow, slow down is key for me. Once you catch one, go back again to the same spot. They often hang out in groups of the same size. One area may provide action from two or more. During these slow times, bigger ones are often deeper, and slower to the bait.

I will usually start on the outside edges, especially when they are associated with a significant depth change.

The only important thing for me is keeping that big girl alive and healthy. I take a measurement quickly, cut a piece of mono for a girth measurement, take a picture, and get a weight, then get that fish back in the water quickly, to be caught another day., If you want a mount that will last forever and be in great shape forever, get a quality replica. In Florida with all our heat, and humility, skin mounts will deteriorate and need TLC by a professional in the future. Quality replica's look just as good, and last forever.

Thanks Captain Bob, that was great you got one of our Vets on the fish. I have been fishing 41 out by the Indian Property. The catch has been about the same, with lots of 2lb bass. The weir is getting pretty shallow last trip. Thanks for spending the time with one of our heroes.

Aley MM41 Saturday 4/14/18 7:00-noon sunny wind 10-15 SE water temp 78*-82* water dirty Went to the Alley with new friend Roberto. We ran west to the Indian Properties. We started catching right away,catching bass sometimes back to back. The bass were deep with many caught in the middle of the canal in 12 feet of water. We caught a few on top water early. The bass we caught had sores all over their body. Looks like some kind of infection. They were all fat for their size, and aggressive once hooked. Water quality was getting worse so we ran to the south canal and fished toward the warning in the canal. The south canal was worse then the north even though the water was cleaner. We finished with over 40 bass caught, several warmouth, oscars, and a big mudfish. 90% of the fish were caught along the bottom of the canals. U-Vibes, flukes, stickbaits, and frogs caught the majority. It was a fun morning and good company.

They have a weight that goes in the hollow tube and then you Texas rig through the weight and weedless. I used it years ago and it worked well. Hollow tubes were a big deal 20 years ago. Great old school bait.

If your a catch and release guy who actually counts. Who really care if I catch 27 exactly, or around 25. There are too many things to do while fishing then pull out a counter. Remember you can’t catch anything unless your lure is in the water. don't do things that keep your lure out of the water. If this floats your boat, go for it! Not important to me!

The only factor that effects my decisions the most is wind. I will choose a place to fish because of wind. Once above 15 mph steady, I stay home, because I can. I will choose a place sheltered from heavy wind, and a place where the wind can push me while I fish. I don’t like fighting strong wind, and being on the TM all day. The other thing is lightning. I will pick a spot with bridges I can tie up under until a storm passes. I am blessed to have productive bodies of water with many substantial bridges.

Use Floro, make long casts, fish drop offs, weed lines, and if the suns out, thick weeds, docks, and lay downs. If that doesnt work slow roll the bottom with plastics. If you know bass are in there, you’ll eventually find them.

Lots of variables involved. If you have an opportunity just go fish.

3 to 5 pound bass are fun to catch and not that small. Just go out and fish and stop worrying about catching 10 pound bass.

I would tell you the exact same thing as Graham.

I use as light a weight that is possible for the conditions that day. Many of our man made lakes are full of jagged rocks both on the bottom and the rock walls. A light weighted plastic will come free much easier then plastics with a heavy weight. If you feel resistance don't set unless you feel a pull of the line. If snagged, lower the rod with slack, and then pull straight up. This usually frees a snag when from rock. If you just set and pull you usually lose the rig. The lightest weight possible solves most of the problems. With light weight you just fish slower especially in deep water. When I talk of deep water I'm talking 10 or more feet in Florida.

Never a leader. The weakest part is the knot. I will use a mono backing so the line doesn’t spin on the spool, but never a leader.

Not as important as other factors like placement, type of bait, rattle vrs no rattle, vibration vrs no vibration. Color is not key in my book.