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In South Florida with our thick weedy Lakes, I could not agree with Hank Parker more!!!!!!! Our water temps are often in the 90's in August and September and the dead vegetation falls to the bottom and decays. This kills the quality of water deep in our lakes COME SUMMER. Bass will seek out shallow weeds because the weeds provide shade from the intense summer rays, ambush points, and most importantly oxygen. The exception to this is if you can find an underwater spring pumping fresh, cool, water into the lake. The old timers that know the lake cherish these spots. It can be a game changer not only in the heat of summer but also in winter when a severe cold front passes through. Florida Black Bass don't take to sudden cold spells, and will seek these constant water producers.

I have had my share of bird nests over the years. My worst ever have come when my back cast hits a back seater's rod, or some vegetation along the shore, or overhead like a tree branch. Once that happens, you can't pick them out!!!!!!

Nice job Mike. That's a hog for sure.

In the big lakes most of my luck has been on plastics, fished close to shore, and allowed to free fall off the ledges. Those big lakes are deep, and many bass hug the rock wall, or up on the shallow flat when in feeding mode. Early and late the deep rock walls will provide shade, where many hang out between feeds. The end of the north canal provides lots of vegetation, and cover for some nice fish, during current changes. There is lots of water out there with over 20 miles of canals, and unlike the Alley no big thick flats for bass to disappear into during high water. They are pretty much locked into those canals regardless of water level. The thing I like most about the H/L is the clear, clean water. most of the time They will position themselves around pumps and flood gates if you can find gentile current and not wide open pumping. The biggest fish I have caught out there have been during gentile current at flood gates. Good luck out there. Backlash, did you hear any shooting going on out there? I hope they stop the insanity.

Use a different carrier, the USPO is the worst! Its all attitude!

Great report. Glad you had some luck back in those flats . If you go further west and then back in the flat, there are trails that go way back in no mans land. Thanks for the report again, there are double digits that have never seen a bait way back in there.

Keep at it, confidence in what your doing has a lot to do with your success rate. You will continue to get better regardless of what your throwing. Believe in the bait and concentrate on the little things. Only good things will happen. i would love to fish with you if we were 300 miles closer. Good luck buddy!

Gotfidhyfingers, your right about the location. It was probably in the east canal. They said the shooting occurred 2 miles west of 27, the ramp is 6 miles west of 27. I hope they find finger prints on some of the casings left on the ground. If they eventually find the gun, they can find the shooter. in the mean time they need to arrest all illegal shooters in the area. We are not safe in a boat, a bike, or hiking those levees. It's so hard to fix stupid, arrest is the only way.

I have fished the Holey Land for years and every time I am out there there are a group of teens with high powered rifles shooting off hundreds of rounds in all directions. The state needs to fine and arrest the violators as soon as possible. They have killed one, and more will die if they choose to allow the insanity to continue. It's not the guns or bullets that are the problem. It just impossible to fix stupid, give it a gun and we are all just collateral damage!

All year, all conditions, ponds, lakes, and rivers, from the bank or from the boat, without a doubt, senko's and U-vibes in watermelon red and junebug. W/M in clear water, junebug in stained water. Sometimes they want it slow, sometimes jerked, sometimes constant movement. It worked from southeast to Midwest waters.

Yes the signs are up but that is for the air boaters going into the flat. Your ok in the canals.

Anyone ever fish the Erie canal? I have been to several fishable locations but never fished it. Is the water quality any good?

I use 50 lb braid for flipping real heavy cover. For the most part, I hate the stuff!!!!!!!!!!

Friday 1/30/17 6:30-Noon Alligator Alley and then Holey Land Temps 90* Water Temp 88* Went to Alligator Alley with Steve this morning. Water was up to the top of the ramp. If it gets any higher it will be in the parking lot. There was no sign of life in the canal. No gators, No fish, and no action. It is apparent the fish are way back in the flats feasting on everything, and staying cool in the thick cover. By 8:30 without the slightest bum,p we packed up, and headed north to the Holey Land. The Holey Land was at normal pool height, but you could see where the recent levels were up above the bank. We motored to the big lake and starting catching 12 to 14 inch fish right away. Unlike the Alley, the water clarity was exceptional in the big lakes.We caught bigger fish at the pump stations even though they were not pumping any water. Steve and I had several doubles, catching schooling fish where the canal meets the big lake. We ended the day at noon catching over 20 bass. The biggest were in the 2.5 range. Because of the high water the ramp was super slimy. I bit the dust at the ramp not once but twice loading the boat. It was like being on a sheet of ice. I have loaded at this site for years, but it took the slim to a new level. Watching me in action today at the ramp was a real comedy show. It's been a long time since I went swimming in the swamp, even if it was involuntarily..

Fishing the last 45 years in south Florida , our water temps often get into the high 80's or low 90's. Everyone often thinks bass will go deep, but our weed chocked lakes often have poor quality water deep. It is often low in O2 levels from decaying vegetation. Bass often seek heavy green vegetation which supplies both shade from the intense sun, and plenty of O2 which it produces. The thick weeds also provide great ambush points. So don't over-look thick shallow cover in summer!

Thanks Goose!

The Harney Pond Canal is plenty deep with a hard sand bottom. It holds plenty of decent bass, so you don't even have to leave the canal. Running the lake right now is just a crazy thing to do! Lake needs to come up over 13 feet before I would ventue out on the lake.

What is the best way to stabilize a canoe for fishing?

Lox Road Ramps, Friday, 6/23/17, 7:00-Noon, Partly Cloudy, Temp 90*, Water Temp 85^, Water Stained, Water Level way up, All Flood Gates Open. Went to Lox with Steve Johnson this morning. I have not been there in a month and water levels are very high. All the flood gates were fully opened, and there was a strong current to the south and west. We moved to the flat right away and fished west down the spoil bank. I caught a nice two pounder on the third cast with a Rage Craw. There was a lot of surface movement, but most was gar and mudfish. Caught a few more in the same area casting to the spoil edge. We drifted with the current to the second small cut. We then moved out in the main canal and drifted another mile west. Steve caught a few on the jig and craw deep. We decided to make a move and ran up the north canal several miles and fished the reduced north canal. We both went to a U-vibe and both caught some nice bass on the west side. Some areas were very muddy, and some much clearer. Find the clean water and you'll find some fish. We ended the morning catching 14 bass, a few big misses, and a mudfish. We threw U-vibes, white and w/m red, stick-o, Rage Craw, spinnerbait, crankbait, trick worm, fluke and swimbait. The U-vibe and Rage craw caught the majority of the bass. Big fish were in the two pound range. It was a nice day, with good company, and we had the place almost to ourselves. Water is pouring south and into the north end of Sawgrass.

With the summers heavy rains, and water levels up, find spots with current. Big fish will position themselves along the edges of this current in ambush mode. Big fish have a hunger that will be satisfied with an easy meal.

Bass302, I thank you for the post, I feel your pain. I have a father 92 and a mother 90 both in a moderate stage of the disease. It is great to have them for as long as I have, but sad to see what it does to their bodies. I cherish everyday they are still with us. God bless you, and your family.

Find water flowing at the cuts and fish will position themselves.

I agree with Barehook. I just don't like that part of the lake in low water conditions. Go WEST young man!!!!!!!!!!

I'm out there all the time during the weekdays. If you see me, stop bye.

Looks like the stick marsh! Lol