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Several days ago the fish were active here in the everglades. Pre super moon!

We caught some better fish deep along the bottom of the canal, in 14 foot of water. Lots of little ones right against the shore line.

Saturday 11/12/16, 7:00 - Noon, temps 70's, wind Light, water clear, water temp 73*, no current. Went out this morning with friend Dave. We ran down the east canal to the bridge and fished back to the west. It was a cool morning and we were both freezing by the end of the run. We began fishing top water. Dave threw a devil Horse and I threw a Gambler Cane Toad. We both had swirls but no hook ups. I went to plastics and the bite was on. Soon we were both throwing an array of plastics. We had constant action the rest of the day on senko type baits, flukes, trick worms and Dave's mystery bait. We had several doubles and many back to back catches. We finished at noon with over 70 bass caught, a bunch that wrapped in the pads that came off, and one that flew over the boat, and broke off on an extra hard hook set. We then moved to the big lake with the same kind of action. There was only one other boat out there all day. It was a great day to be on the water, with lots of action, and near perfect weather. The glades seem to be coming back, although the big bottom girls did not play today.

If you have any vegetation in those lakes I would try fishing a 4" senko Texas rigged, or any senko type bait. I have caught bass all over the country on these baits. Watermelon red for clear water and Junebug for dark stained water. In clear water I would use Floro line, or at least a Floro leader. They will catch in the thickest cover or open water. Fish slow, and then change the technique to a jerk action, or just pull and stop. It will catch bass of all size, just find the right action. Don't use more weight then needed for your conditions. I often use a 1/32 weight this produces a slow fall though the water column, and more action on the bait. The bait will walk along the bottom with a jerk and stop action. Deadly!!!!

If you want to learn how to fish a new bait, go out with just that bait and nothing else. If you don't, you will often turn to something you have more confidence in too soon!

Largemouth21 unless you live in one of those states with deep draw down reservoirs void of heavy vegetation, I would never buy a 7' rod medium light. You never know when that big bass is going to pass by and take the bait. If the lake has vegetation I would go with nothing lighter then a medium, and preferably for me, a medium heavy. All my waters have thick weeds and pads everywhere. Whatever the targeted species, you need to muscle them out of the thick stuff.

There are more then you can name. 1). L28 canal can be accessed off 41 out past the Indian Reservation on the north side of the road. It is a dirt ramp and you go a mile west in the boat and then the canal turns north west. There are seven weirs that sometimes have water on them to get the boat over. You will be out there alone. 2). Little 67 runs parallel to big 67. The ramp is off 41 at the 20 mile bend. It is a narrow canal with a ramp just north of the plane crash memorial site. You will seldom see another boat out there. 3). Go out to the Holey Land off 27 at the Broward Palm Beach line. When the road turns from paved to gravel, continue west all the way to the big pump station. There are dirt ramps out there at the Miami River you can explore. 4). If you go out to US27 and the Broward/Palm Beach line, instead of going west to the Holey Lands, go east over the bridge and then several miles east down the dirt road there will be a dirt ramp that get little action at all. There is a big rock in the water at the ramp so be careful. There are tons of others to explore, just go on google earth to help with the search. In my younger days I did a lot of exploring.

Go to Turkey Lake right by Universal Studios. It is part of the Orlando Park and Recreation department. It is a limited access lake with boat rental trackers donated by BPS. The rental is only $25 and only T/M power. The lake has big bass and a variety of structure, vegetation, and depth changes. It is a natural lake with a input stream and exit creek. You will need a rental reservation on line for the boat, although you can fish from shore free. I have fished it at least 8 times and always caught fish of various size up to 8 pounds. It is the best rental deal in the country. Only 8 boats a day allowed on the property, all catch and release and no live bait. Don't miss this opportunity if you have a chance to go. There is a contour map on line which helps in your prep.

I think its all crazy. I want a high speed reel. If I want to slow down just turn the handle slower. I often fish at a snails pace with plastics, but I don't need a special reel to do that. Its crazy crap! What I do need is, if I feel the slightest tick of that line, I need a reel to take up the slack fast so I can get a good solid hook set. Fast speed for me all the time for everything. I can slow the hand as slow as I want, any time I want! No need to buy another reel to do that, I already have enough, ALL FAST! Just one opinion, everyone has one.

Fish around the water control structures with current. Snook love to hang around these structures. There are also freshwater snook, tarpon, and jacks that live their whole life in freshwater. They also hang out around moving current, the closer to the coast the better.

Over the years I have caught a lot of bass and peacock in the canals leading to Osbourne and Ida. I have not caught a Clown Knife but I don't throw live bait. I mainly throw senkos, zoom flukes, trick worms, Gambler E-Z swimmers, and swim frogs like Gambler cane toads. Look for Intersecting canals with some current flowing through the area. There should be a lot of current for some time since they are dumping water out of Okeechobee toward the ocean. Clowns you will need live bait or a Rapala #11 jerk bait silver or gold. Peacocks love them too. Good luck!

The bite will be on as long as a severe cold front has not already came through. You will need heavier line since most of our waters have heavy vegetation and some big fish. Recommend 15 pound Floro or 15 pound Berkely Big Game. Fish afternoons after water temps rise a little. Should be great fishing! If fishing the banks, wear boots and watch for the big lizards. They may be up in the grass sunning themselves. I love winter down here!.

Fish don't stop feeding for long. Even in ice out conditions they feed, as you can see from all the northern guys that ice fish. So slow down with a confidence bait, and let the fish decide if its time to eat.

When things really get tough go to a 4" senko with very little weight and fish it very slow. Let it free fall all the way to the bottom and then just slowly pull it slowly a foot or two and sit again. If that doesnt work, after the free fall, jerk it along the bottom with some pauses along the way. If that doesnt work let it free fall half way to the bottom, then walk it back half way through the water column, just like a zarro spook on the surface. You might have to go weightless to get a walking motion out of the bait. It has saved many tough days for me.

Dry spells come and go for everyone. Your fishing big fish waters, so just stop second guessing yourself, and things will turn around soon. Your moo joe will be back soon!!!!!

I know I have caught the same fish twice since both times I broke - off and caught both fish with my hook still in its jaw. They both had no problem eating with my Gama hook still attached. I'm sure its happened many times over the years I just never took notice.

Loxahatchee Federal Preserve, Broward, West Palm Beach County Line, Saturday 10/22/16, 7:00-Noon. Went to Lox Saturday with a friend, Rick. Our first real cold front was moving through from the north and the wind was blowing 10-15 MPH all morning. There was blue bird sky and wind out of the north/west. Water levels are high. so moving around on the flats was no problem. Vegetation is thick on the flat, with matted vegetation two feet under the surface. All said, less then ideal conditions for fishing, but just a beautiful day to be out on the water after 6 months of 90* weather. We ran west down the canal and entered the massive flat, and fished back to the east with the wind at our backs. I caught a bass early in the cut to the flat, and then a slow steady bite with lots of small bass. The big bite was not present at all, at least for us. The grass mat which is at least a thousand acres of thick stuff was a perfect hiding place for the bigger fish. The problem is everything looks so fishy. I stuck to a senko bait and a gambler swimbait. The Swimbait got no action at all, and the senko got action as long as you walked it several feet deep right above the weed pad. If it was not in constant motion you had no bite. Rick tried several baits like a big worm, hollow body frog, jig with little success. We finished the day with 14 caught, another 4 or 5 hookup that came off at the boat. It was a fun day, with low humidity and 70^ weather, and a final break from the brutal summer heat. We look forward to months of pleasant, comfortable temps.

Wow what a monster.

Florida bass will get lock jaw for a short time after a real cold front moves through from the north. Once it passes through and the temps adjust they will go to feeding again but not actively chasing baits. You may need to slow down and place a bait in their face to trigger a bite. They eat all winter but a lot more sluggishly. The last thing a pro wants to see is a Florida tournament and a nasty cold front on the same day. They will often flip heavy mats because the thick vegetation works like a blanket for a while. Big cold front and Florida Strain Bass = Lock Jaw!

Just my little friend!!!!!

I don't ever want someone rifling though my stuff at any time. We would have a problem if they went on the boat without permission. At the same time I never have a problem telling someone what I caught them on. I have even given some young people the bait I was using. I also know having the bait is a SMALL part of knowing how to catch them. You need to know how to work the bait that day, because everyday brings changes to your technique. If you can't figure it out, you could go home skunked ,while someone else kills them. Isn't it strange how someone always figures out how to catch them, even on the toughest days.

I have recently retired, one year ago. I don't fish anymore now then I did before retirement I fish almost everyday. Once or twice a week from the boat and 4 or 5 days a week from the bank. I thought before retirement, I would be out in the boat almost everyday. I quickly found out that I don't like fishing from the boat by myself. I enjoy fishing with others and have several friends I enjoy taking out with me, not to share expenses, but to share the enjoyment of fishing and good conservation. I have never charged anyone a dime to fish with me other then sharing a good time. After fishing for over thirty years with good friends, its not the same in the boat by yourself. Sharing the fish with others is part of the enjoyment of fishing for me. The laughs, jokes, and conversation are a big part of it. Things for me did not change after retirement, I guess I need to find friends that are also retired.!

U of Florida has bathometric maps of all the major Florida lakes. They are online free, and good quality, print and laminate. Check your Universities for similar maps of your state lakes.

I use Floro most of the time with plastics. First of all not all floros are the same. Some have a lot more problems then others. I use Berkely 100% professional grade. I love this stuff for sensitivity, strength, and durability. I'm sure there are others that are good, but I like this stuff. It is expensive but worth it. Next don;t over fill your spool. You will have a lot less problems if you leave a 1/16 inch of empty spool at the top. Then spray your line often to help eliminate problems. I always look after making a long cast to make sure there is no slack on the spool. Always pull out any slack before winding in line. If you ever get a backlash, be very gentle fixing the backlash. You cant be rough with this line or you will get creases weakening the line. The sensitivity is exceptional, and except for flipping and top water, floro is my line of choice.

Chasing them you often disturb the feeding pattern, and scatter the pattern. You can sit out there and hope it reforms, but it is often frustrating. I have had better luck when I have been close enough to make long casts around these disturbances, without starting the big motor. Birds in the distance I have motored over then shut down, and then troll over to the action. I would not leave a productive area to go chase these fish.