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Top water early and late. While the sun is high in the sky, drag a big worm through the vegetation and use heavy braid to get them out of the junk. Summer fishing patterns!

Alligator Alley Sunday 4/8/18 7:00-Noon Temp 85* Light winds SW Water clarity-Stained Water temp 77* Went out this morning to the Alley MM 41 with a friend. From the ramp we ran west, north under the bridge, around the weir, and west out to the Indian Properties. I started with a Zoom U-Vibe and caught four bass on the first four casts. It was crazy until the cloud cover broke up and the sun got high in the sky. The further east we fished, the dirtier the water got. The cleanest water was definitely out west. We made a move to the south canal and ran west again to the warning signs of Indian property. Again we began to catch good numbers, and solid fish. We ended the day at noon. We boated 65+ bass, a bunch of war mouth, and two giant mudfish. Water levels are still dropping and the catch rate should be exceptional until the summer rains start. Another great day of South Florida Fishing.

There are so many factors that go into the equation. Fill out your profile so we know what state, type of fish, and other things that start to narrow the variables. Can;t tell much from the information you gave us. In Florida 50 degree water will often give our fish lock jaw. Florida bass are very sensitive to cold water.

Alligator Alley MM41 Saturday 3/31/18 6:30-Noon Mostly Cloudy Wind light Water temp 74* Water heavy stain I went this morning with a good friend Rick. We put in on Mm 41 south side, and ran west and crossed over to the north side. Went out west to the Indian properties. Almost every cast you were being messed with by an assortment of different fish. The bass were deep in the canal and many were caught in the middle of the canal. Throwing to the bank would put you on warmouth, oscars, and Myans. Once the bait dropped 6 to 8 feet deep the bass bite was on. Lots of gators out there, but they showed no interest in the boat. We ended with 25 bass, plus a variety of other fish. I lost a big 6 pounder at the boat. That's what happens when you don't retie after 20 fish. If you go, remember you can't fish the Indian Properties without a special license. They have been aggressive with violators in the past. Another fun day of fishing south Florida.

If your flipping heavy cover, your using heavy weight to get through the cover. I would recommend 50 to 65 lb braid because you are getting a reaction bite, and therefore the line will not matter. The braid will also cut through vegetation better then any other line. For casting plastics I would always use Floro. It sinks, clear under water, and super sensitive. If you watch the pros, they often use it. Its expensive, but good stuff., Not all floro is the same quality. Buy good stuff. I use mono for all top water. It floats.

Right now get some Zoom u-tails in watermelon red, and Junebug. Sunny days W/R, low light and cloudy, or muddy, Junebug. Fish slow along the bottom with a steady retreve, if that doesn't work, snap it off the bottom and let it flutter back down. Its been good the last few weeks. Have a great trip.

Unlike other areas of the country, without real temp changes, our bass will spawn at various times of the year, from November to April, and even twice a year. I have not seen widespread bedding going on at any one particular time like some other years. I think the bedding has been spread out over a long period of time this year. Mother Nature has been all screwed up!

Anything that's not garlic!

I bank fish at least 5 days a week. I am blessed to be surrounded by man made lakes all with a good supply of bass, and places to fish that people will not bother you. Some suggestions for bank fishing that I have developed over the years. 1. All my lakes have deep drop offs where bass often hang regardless of season. 2. I make long casts so I can remain undetected by the bass. 3. I start by fishing the drop offs and let the bait settle before working the bait. 4. Since the bank is full of pads and grasses for about the first 10 to 20 yards, I use almost all Texas rigs, no treble hooks. 5. When things are tough, slow down. 6. I fan cast after working the drop off wherever I’m fishing. 7. Walk slowly along the bank, no sudden movements except setting the hook. 8. Always look for snakes along thebank when walking. I don’t worry about gators, they will show themselves way before you get to them. Snakes will freeze, and let you walk right up to them. 9. Always wear boots when walking the bank, never flip flops or Sandels. 10. After setting the hook always get a bass head up out of the water and surf it over the veggies or you will lose the big ones. They will always dive for root stems after being hooked. Heavy line is a must fishing the bank in south Florida.

Head to West Naples and Ava Maria University. Lots of man made lakes you can fish. Watch walking the bank for snakes and some decent size gators. Also Gulf Coast College in Naples has a few lakes. Hit Google Earth and look at all the possibilities out there. Good luck.

When bank fishing I want some solid boots and a good quality leather boot, to protect from the creepy crawlers. Places with thick grass are especially troublesome. I see snakes on a weekly basis. Most are non-poisonous, but I have come across several cottonmouths. An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure.

I have fished all over the east coast all the way up to lake Erie. I have lived in South Florida for 45 years now. Florida Strain Bass are much more sensitive to sudden fronts then their northern cousins. When a front is coming they usually put the feed bag on until the front hits. After a strong front, you can expect several slow days until they adjust to the temp changes. With post front conditions, and blue bird sky's things are going to be real tough for a while. Find some very thick MATS, they act like blankets for the big old girls. They will get some radiational heat from the sun on the thick mats from blue bird sky's. In winter head for the north side of the lake after a front. North side is sheltered from the north winds that follow, and the angle of the sun is longer, and more intense, on the north side, during winter. Severe cold fronts can skunk even the best, when it comes to Florida Strain Bass.

Very likely!!!!!!!! What does a senko, centepede, or beaver look like? Bass will kill them!

It was tough until about noon. Then I tried snapping a u-vibe off the bottom and letting it fall back. The vibration from the vibe suddenly snapping did the trick.

If your fishing an area that you know holds fish, you need to find a presentation that will stimulate a bite. When the bite is really tough, I will go to my confidence baits, and usually slow down. This didn't work this time, so I went to extreme adjustment and started ripping the bait off the bottom and letting it fuller back down. This is a technique I seldom use, but has been productive several times over the years. Suddenly the bite was on, and consistently. To me location, a bait you have confidence in, and the proper presentation for that day, that hour, that moment, is the key. Don't just keep doing the same thing over and over if it doesn't work. I used a U-tail and the ripping set off a vibration that stimulated the bite. This saved what was a slow day up to that point.

No I close the bail right away and just watch the line out at the furthest you can still see it. If it jumps or changes the rate of line fall, take up slack and if you feel weight or vibration set the hook. Don't leave the bail open.

Your right about that, it becomes all instinct and you just don't think about it. Time on the water solves those problems.

38 is a good number, and a fun day. See you out there.

A lot of times they are just little bait fish nibbling on the tail. Also next time just keep the bait moving until you feel some weight. See if that works.

When its tough, with blue bird sky, and sun get high, Cast close to the reeds, let it settle and fish slow. There are tons of bass there, either hugging the shade stem lines, or buried deep in the veggies. I'm going tomorrow morning.

I always enjoyed shows that not only taught you something but entertained you. I always enjoyed Hank Parker early shows. Shaw Grigsby, Jimmy Huston, and early Roland Martin before all the constant product pushing. These guys were just funny as well as great fisherman. The early shows were so much better then the recent stuff.

Bass are opportunists They will attack whatever is in their strike zone that will fit in their mouth. I have seen them take a baby duck but never a rat or mice. I have seen a guy cut one open, with a baby snake in its belly. No biggy, snakes hang out in the strike zone often. After that, I always look in the mouth before lipping them.

Lol, you guys are the best! I don't think it matters for bass, maybe at a trout stream. I make long casts, and most bass caught on the initial fall, or shortly after. Can't see me at the end of a 30 yard cast. I wear whatever is clean that day! Lol

I don't use the north ramps. Better access to the flats from the south side. Lox Road ramps, don't put in the airboat ramp area, go further up the levee to the boat ramps.

While doing your thing the way you like to do it. Always watch what others are doing. You can learn a lot about what to do and and what to avoid by being observant. Listen and don’t talk so much, people will give up information if you just listen. I always look at an event as a learning experience, and no matter how good you are, you can always learn something. I learn something new almost every trip and I have been doing it for 50 years. If you get a chance to fish with others always do it, especially experienced ones. Good luck