geo g

Great effort putting out the barrel and maintaining it. That is something that warms my heart and I commend you for it. I had a pleasant surprise in the everglades at the Holey Lands out in no mans land. I saw a large group of trucks running the levees, stopping, and getting out while I was fishing deep in the everglades. These banks are full of gators and snakes so its rare you see anyone get out, and walk the banks. One truck stopped close to me, so I asked what was going on. They were all members of the airboat club and they volunteered to clean up the banks, out in no mans land. There are 30 miles of canals these guys were cleaning up. It was heart warming to see these tough guys, spending their time, helping mother nature. There are still a lot of good people in this country.

Sunday Evening and Wednesday Evening. Post monsoon rains. Water - light stain. No wind. Cloudy. Current - flowing from heavy pumping. All last week the monsoon rains had lake water way over the banks. The water was the highest I have ever seen since they built the lakes. After days of fishing between rain storms the bite was horrible while the levels were super high. Sunday night I went again and the lake was down about 4 feet and back in the banks. Not expecting much I headed for the culvert pipes to see if there was flowing water.. Whenever water flows the big bass stage close to pick off easy meals. The night did not disappoint. I caught a 22 inch and a 23 inch bass and a bunch of smaller bass fishing deep in the vicinity of the flow. Today we had bad storms again today, and again the bass were staging in close proximity to any moving water. The fish tonight were bigger, and I caught a nice group of peacock in the mix. They were killing craws, U-vibes, and stick-o. It has been a phenomenal big fish week and the peacock were going nuts chasing bait all over the lake. I ended up catching 6 Peas. Find current and you will find big fish somewhere close. I fish these lakes all the time, and current is so important to catching big ones in these waters. Its not always like this, and without current it can be tough, but your fortunate when it happens.

Lots of great information in those previous posts, and under normal conditions, in most bodies of water, very true. The exception to what was said is underwater springs that produce a constant stream of water at the same temps all year long. These spots can be magical in winter when surface temps drop way down into the 40's in Florida and all forms of aquatic life seek these warmer waters. In summer when it is unbearably hot, and water temps get into the 90's, these deep springs supply a relief from the heat at a constant 72*. Because of the flow and current O2 levels are also good. The everglades has several spots with springs in the canals, that are famous for stable catch rates during some of the most difficult times, during these extremes in temperature. Subsurface temps are key to finding these areas. Just another use for this type of tool.

If I take someone out in my boat, I will do everything possible to give them a shot at unfished water. I am also happy to tell them what I'm doing and how I'm doing it. There are no secrets on the boat and I will often ask them what their going to do. If I see a likely spot, I will sometimes tell them to throw back in that hole, or on the shady side of those branches. I'm not out there to compete with anyone, I'm out to enjoy the situation, and hopefully they will enjoy it also. Its all about having fun!

I like Floro with a jerkbait. Especially a plastic jerkbait. I like to throw it weightless and It will sink deeper in the water column and floro will disappear under water. Weightless allows for max movement by the lure with the slightest twitch of the rod.

Yes, it is crazy right now what mother nature has done to us. We were finally getting a really good bite in the glades, and then we get monsoon rains, day after day. This has got the water quality all screwed up, and it will take some time to adjust back.

Sun Sentinel 6/10/17, has a big article in the sports section about the Everglades Restoration. A new area has just opened.

I will not be going in the boat for at least a week. Water levels are brutal, having gone up so high, in such a short period of time. When it rains this hard, this long, the PH in the water sometime gets all screwed up. It will take some time for the water PH to balance out, and the fish adjust. When this happens the fish just seem to shut down, big time! It will be tough all over for a while.

We have all been there done that. I feel your pain!!!!!

Its really not dead sticking, because as you pick at the line and the rod wiggles on your lap, that bait is moving. It might be slight movement but as you pick and pull that thing is wiggling! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It takes weeks for all the water from Orlando south to drain into the lake. Plus I'm sure the Army Coop will not let the lake get higher then 13' at the start of the hurricane season.

So many things seem wrong with the scenario. Like someone else said, fighting a freshwater bass for 2 to 3 minutes is way to long. If my line is breaking, I'm changing line brands, and beefing it up a little. If its clear water think about Fluorocarbon. Finally fishing Florida with big bass and very thick vegetation, breaking off just doesn't happen that often. Change the game plan, evaluate your equipment, and what your doing. This should be an easy fix!

With all this rain the canals are going up feet not inches. The Alley bonanza on bass may end, just as it started. This will definitely scatter the bass.

I would rather fish somewhere else, or not fish at all! That stuff can get sucked up in the big motor and cause an over heating problem.

I just used. 50 pound braid with a jig and a 7 ft. Gator snapped it like it was thread. Other then gators it will be great.

At Lox they stay hidden until the sunsets. If you scan the flat with a powerful light you would see lots of eyes when the sun goes down. They can disappear quick in that thick grass.

Alligator Alley MM 39 North Side 6/4/17, 6:30-noon, heavy cloud cover, slight wind, temps low 80's, water light stain, water levels up, water temp 83*. Went this morning with Dave to get some fishing before the rains. It was a beautiful morning for fishing with cloud cover, light winds, and no rain. We started fishing right away at the ramps and fished toward the bridge. The bite was constant with the stick-o and u-vibe. I flipped a football swing jig back in the pads, and caught a few chunks right away. I flipped back close to the sawgrass wall and felt a heavy weight right away. I set the hook and the fight was on. I soon realized it was not a fish, but a 7 foot gator. A couple of head shakes and the 50lb braid snapped like string. My little friend was now wearing my football swing jig as jewelry. We had another bigger gator posture right in font of the boat, with his head up in the air, mouth open wide, back humped and vibrating, and a large bellow. This guy put on quite a show! Around 10:00 the weather looked bad, but suddenly cleared. The north canal was lightly stained, and the south side canal was almost chocolate. All our fish were caught in the north canal. The bite remained throughout the morning and we finished with 50+ bass caught, one mudfish, and no exotics. The disappearance of the exotics has been true mystery. Where do a million Oscars go? As soon as I got back home, backed the boat in the garage, the skies opened, and monsoon rains. We were very lucky today!

They never have used big motors, its always been just T/M.

Let us know how you did!!!!!!!!

Its amazing how many of us have caught fish while working on a bird nest. One time I actually caught a bass with no bait on the hook, just the naked hook hanging in the water and no hook set.

All year long big bass are always going to be close to a supple food supply. They will seek shade in the heat of summer, either from heavy cover, structure like docks and lay downs, or a combination of both. The heavy cover makes for comfortable shelter, good ambush points, cooler water, and the most important factor, higher oxygen levels. Oxygen levels are an extremely important variable that is often depleted when water temps climb into the 90's, during this time of year. Find these locations close to a drop-off, and you may have struck gold. In the heat of summer I will always look for weed lines close to drop-offs, even if the drop-off is only a few feet deep. Bass will move up and down these depth changes especially if the drop-off provides shade in the morning or afternoon when the sun is low in the sky. At mid day I will focus of the thickest, greenest cover close to the drop-off. In Florida we a blessed with loads of heavy cover, but also have oxygen depleted water in many of the deeper parts of our lakes from decaying vegetation down deep. Find the greenest, thickest, stuff and fish it during mid day heat. O2 levels are especially important in any summer pattern.

Take a pellet gun with you and have some fun. If its Legal!!!!!!!!!!

Weightless senkos, and E-Z swimmers, in the grass beds, jerked and stop have draw decent size bass. Trick worms wacky with a 1/8 weight jerked off the bottom and then free fall back, in ten feet of water has done well around the north side pad fields. Sinking Rattle trap swimming around the narrows between the north and south sections have done well. Senkos and a 7 inch culprit worm did well around the dock over by the apartments. I caught a 6.5 under the dock. If the water is clear watermelon red color, if muddy in some areas, Junebug. A deep diving shad rap has caught bass at the south end by the turnpike. I fished it a bunch and have always caught fish. I have seen otters and a bald eagle at the lake also. You can enter the park through the exit before the park opens if you have a boat rental scheduled. After the rental you can fish from the shore if you chose too. Good luck.

Thanks JM and Rick, things are looking up for a while in the Glades. JM, did for fish Lake Placid, if so how did you do?

Turkey lake is right next to Universal studios, they have a great boat rental deal. You have to call ahead and rent a boat. I think its 25 dollar for the rental. Lots of info on this site about it. Good luck