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your smart to do that!

Lots of damage to other homes, but nothing like this ladies house!

Fire department came during the storm but had to cut their way down the streets because other trees had them blocked.

I rented a house on Lake Chatuge for the 4 th of July week. In the middle of the night a storm came up and a big tree cut a house in half just a few doors down the lake. Trees were down everywhere.

The best part is spending quality time with your boy! Thanks for the tips Lee!

No problem, we all learn to adjust to what Mother Nature gives us!

Watch what you ask for, its not pretty!

A & E Podcasts is a relatively new one. Everything from lures and how to use them, too building your own high end fishing rods. Some really interesting stuff.

In south Florida a good half day in the boat is over 20 fish with one or two in the 4 to 5 pound range. We have had past conditions during low water conditions, where 100 bass were a regular occurrence. The last few months with high water and super hot conditions this has been a struggle. The big old girls are so far back in the thick junk, where the boat can't go. Airboats are what are needed and miles back in isolate pockets. It has been a tough, these conditions really stink, the amazing thing is someone always manages to figure something out!

In south Florida the heat index has been above 110 for the last two weeks. Humidity is super high, with temps in the mid 90's. If your planning a trip make the trips short, early and out by noon or before. As a football coach in south Florida for over 40 years, when I started we had limited water breaks with maybe two short breaks during a two hour practice. That changed 20 years ago to a break every 20 minutes of practice. Then 10 years ago it went to unlimited water provided during practice by a team of student trainers that were there during every minute of practice. Water was not only there to drink but also squirted on necks and under helmets. Oh how things have changed. You need to drink on a schedule, and not wait until you become thirsty. If you do wait, you will already be dehydrated. Drink often, and stay covered as much as possible. I will try to drink every fifteen minutes by always having cool liquids available and easy to get too on the deck. As one gets low, I will take out a fresh one. During summer I will always take three times more water then needed just in case of a mechanical problem, making hydration a critical concern, if supplies get low. Always keep working emergency numbers handy in case a problem, remember in the heat, time exposed is your enemy. Lots of liquids are needed during these pressing times.

My father was a gardener in south Jersey and went to the doctor with a growth in the groin area. The doctor removed a large swollen tick from his crotch. Lucky for him he didn’t get any side effects from the tick. That was a first for him.

I have caught both many times. Going to college in Ohio I caught small mouth many times, and living in Florida for the past 40 years I have caught hundreds of peacock up to 8 pounds with many in the 4 pound range. Pound for pound nothing beats a Pea for vicious hits, aerobatic jumps, and long runs pulling drag. They are pit bulls of freshwater. The fight doesn’t stop when landed, and will tear up a thumb in a heart beat, not with sharp teeth but muscular rapid explosions unlike a largemouth which usually stop once caught. We are so lucky to have them here in south Florida, and they are here to stay! You know immediately it is something special once hooked, way before you ever see it. They have the eye of a wild Tiger!

Fishing south Florida we have no shortage of big bass and thick weeds fields. On several occasions each year I have had bass snagged on wood or weed stems. From the boat I usually just continue with pressure and change angles by moving the boat, or going in with the boat and digging the fish out. But from the bank it's a different, much harder to change angles with all the bank growth. What I do is let the fish settle under tight line. then if I can't power him out, I will give it slack line and watch the line until I significant movement. Then I will set again, and keep heavy pressure. They often free themselves. I never use less then 15 pound straight Floro, or up to 65 pound braid with a floro leader. Heavy conditions often require heavy gear especially when pulling through heavy pad fields. My local lakes are surrounded with weeds.

Pound for pound nothing beats a peacock.

Always on, i will flip the switch at the boat if I feel the fish is still to green to land. Then I will let some line out and let the fish swim a little more. Never give a fighting fish total slack or it may end up coming off. Only do this with bigger fish.

With plastics always set like it’s a monster fish. Figure it out later. Some big fish don’t hit it hard, and some 2 lbers feel like monsters.

No, too far north. Palm Beaches are their limit so far. Can't survive cold temps.

I have caught catfish, smallmouth, largemouth, and peacock. Peas are pound for pound the hardest fighting freshwater fish. Living in south Florida we catch them all the time. The pit bulls of fresh water.

Costas in green mirror. They are about as good as it gets for site fishing, and eye comfort. Been using them for over 20 years.

d**n that just hurts my head!

Great gator bait, just throw into a pad field and hold on for a fight. You may end up with a big snake.

I’ve been pooped on several times. The worst was early in the morning and running down an Everglades canal, lined by big trees on both sides. The boat was doing about 50 mph and suddenly I had about 20 water birds rise up and take off in the same direction I was going. They were right in front of my boat, and I was gaining on them. Suddenly a big crane emptied his bowls right in front of the boat, and about 10 feet in the air. It was like a crop duster spraying a field. Me and the boat were covered. I don’t run them down anymore. I slow down quickly, I learned my lesson that morning. It was a crappy morning!

Good move by you. I catch Peas every week. I have caught hundreds over the years, and they are getting more common to catch. I would never thumb a pea with a treble hook in it's mouth. I don't use a net and have no problem thumbing a large black bass, or even a small mouth bass. Peas are just all muscle, with an attitude, and never quit even when on your thumb. I do thumb them with single hooks like a fluke or swimbait. I place the thumb deep in the mouth and squeeze hard. It's amazing how much force they can put together when on your thumb. You can feel their body tense right before the explosion. They are like holding a pitbull vrs a poodle.

You should try a big Peacock, there is no quit! They will tear a thumb up quickly!

I had a best friend I fished with for almost 30 years. He suddenly moved away to New Hampshire from Florida. Now who does that? It was like losing a brother, devastating!