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They could be gar, mudfish, catch fish, or bass. They all make big top water splashes or swirls. If you see a lot of splashes in a given area, then its probably not bass but rather fish that gulp air, because the water quality is poor. Mudfish, gar, and Asian catfish, will do this all the time when O2 levels are low. Bass will either move off to better waters or go lethargic. If its a small southern pond this happens very often.

Congrats on your love of fishing. Whatever anyone tells you, or whatever you read, there is not substitute to time on the water. Fish with as many fisherman as you can, and watch what they do. You will learn a lot of good things, and things to avoid. I take people out all the time, and have learned as much from them, as I have ever taught anyone. You never stop learning new tricks, if you stop learning you get worse. When your planning a trip, just don't go blindly back to the same area without a new plan. Ask yourself, how has recent weather patterns going to effect these fish. Is the water rising or falling. How are they going to be effected by seasonal patterns. What is the wind direction and will it cause current. Fish will stack up when there is current. Where is the cleanest water in the lake. In our shallow bowls, find clear water and you usually find fish. These are just a few of my thoughts before hooking up the boat for any fishing trip.

I left Ohio 45 years ago because of the weather. Fish 5 to 7 days a week, and the winters are just heaven. Fish at least 300 days a year now. The only down side is the occasional hurricane. Never regretted coming south!!!!!!!!

If you can consistently figure that out from looking at a map it's time to put up some money and play with the big boys! It's a lot harder then that.

If your going to okeechobee, get a guide. The lake can be overwhelming. If you go from the bank the lakes around 'Ava Maria university hold nice bass. It's in the west Naples area.

Find some of the deep wood piles and a monster fish may come your way. I have known guys that pulled out DD fish in 20 feet deep sunken brush.

I'm sure there are some, but if you saw them attacking bait fish they will attack your bait if you find the right bait.

What a neat thing to do!

I will go with a weightless fluke and let it slowly sink through the water column and then jerk and stop at the desired depth. It will be an erratic presentation. Like a dying wounded fish.

I always have a plan before I go to any body of water. The plan always begins with a weather report, and studying the weather patterns for the area days prior to the trip. Is the water rising or falling is always important. My most important factor is wind direction and wind strength for that fishing day. Heavy winds prior to a trip will often turn the water chocolate, which always makes fishing more difficult. Our Florida waters are traditionally shallow and it is important to stay off the trolling motor as much as possible while fishing. Let the wind be your friend, and propel you silently why you fish. This is key to any success on days when the bite is tough. Off and on the T/M in a weed filled flat, is like a burglar wearing a flashing red light at night. On windy days I will drag a wind sock to slow the boat and still stay off the T/M. 1). I will always have a Hollow body, or swim frog weightless for top water. 2). Plastics a senko, fluke, or trick worm. 3). A flipping rig, jig or 1oz. bullet with a beaver. 4). A swimbait rig, Gambler E-Z swimmer. That's the basics. I will pick a body of water after studying the morning weather report. I am very luck to be surrounded by about 7 close bodies of water that provide a number of different situations on any given day. The key is always, keep the day simple, enjoyable, and share it with a friend!

It all depends on what the bass and bait is doing at that particular period of time. In florida the bigger bass will go to where ever the food source is at that time. They didn't get big by starving! In florida if water levels are high big bass will often go into the thickest, shallow flats where they feast on frogs, bugs, snakes, small gators, and of course bait fish. It is a safe, diet rich environment. The heavy flipping guys usually bring in big bags of weight in these shallow weed filled flats. When the water drops in the dry season, the bigger bass seek out deeper pockets, where they are not trapped in the shallow flats. They didn't get big by being stupid. Breeding time they seek out areas of the lake with bottom types condusive for bedding. Shallow hard and sandy bottoms. Current also has a lot to do with finding bigger fish. Always interested in an easy meal, big bass will position themselves in slack areas adjacent to current pathways. Culvert pipes, funnel points between grass islands with wind are good ambush points. Florida is different then a lot of places around the country because water levels dominate the life cycle so much. For us deep water is often 10 feet or less and bass spend so much time in 3 feet or less of water. It is a rich shallow environment where bass grow quick and pack on the pounds. Our Florida strain bass have been transported all over the country to improve the quality of other populations from Texas to California.

I fish drop-offs all the time. In south Florida we have loads of man made canals and lakes that have shallow flats and then a deep drop off usually 8' to 15' in depth, and straight down. Bass love to hang against these walls for shade, ambush points, and safety from the shallow weedy flats full of big gar and gators. Big girls will leave the spawning flats and go deep after the spawn to recover. I will often fish parallel to the drop off, especially if the wall provides shade while the sun is on an angle. I often use a senko or fluke and let it flutter down the wall to the bottom, then I will fish it slow with a jerk and long pause, or I'll pop it off the bottom about 3 feet and let it flutter back to the bottom. I use as little weight as the conditions will allow so I get a more natural presentation. I will also slow roll a 3/4 spinnerbait with a Colorado blade, or black and blue jig along the bottom maintaining contact with the bottom, right next to the drop-off. Again this is a parallel presentation, a lot of our drop-offs are straight down. Brew City Bass, if you fill out your personal info we will have a better idea of where you are fishing, and the conditions you maybe under when giving a response to your questions.

It hasn't happened yet. We have been waiting a long time for the levels to drop. We just had some super heavy rains down here so we will have to wait a while longer.

I have done a lot of things that are more stupid then that! The nice thing about Florida, is at 65 you don't need a freshwater license any more. There are benefits to being an old fart. I did go to Lake Okeechobee one time and left the kill switch at home. I couldn't understand why the big motor would not start. Like many others, I ran down a canal and noticed water in the bottom of the boat. No plug in! I have lunched the boat by myself, and forgot to anchor the bow line to the trailer. I watched while the boat drifted off down the canal. That's just a few stupid moments over the last 40 years. My mother once went to the bakery and then the post office with a bunch of bills to be mailed. She dropped the pie in the mail slot and came home with the bills. So it is a family thing!

You see or hear the strike don't set until you feel some weight. Much like a hollow body frog set.

Lots of good advice, Like others stated watch the videos on reel set up, spooling line on reels, check all your guides for any problems, and ease up on the casting distance. Make nice easy smooth casts until you get the hang of it.

I don't care if the fishing is great. I;m not going to subject myself to this kind of crap. Find a better place to fish with other fisherman that are not low life's. The whole thing seems very strange to me! After fishing for over 40 years, I have never run into a situation even close to this.

I lost a fishing buddy of 30 years and there is not a trip I don't think about Tom. He always said," A bad day fishing, is better then a good day at work." The funny thing was, Tom was my boss!

I have fished Lake Osbourne several times from the Prince Park Ramps. I was targeting Peacock but this was before the big freeze.

Don't think so much about seasons. You are almost in the tropics, so weather patterns don't last for long periods. You will sometimes have heat in the winter, rain in the dry season, wind in the winter, dead still in the summer, several major spawns a year, and an occasional hurricane. The traditional seasons that govern bass patterns are not here. Think more about how fishing patterns adjust to the short term weather conditions, and the controls of the government. Is there a front coming from the north. Has it rained hard north of the lake, from Orlando south, so water levels are rising quickly, and keep rising for weeks. Wind draws current on this shallow lake, where is the clean water going to be. Corp of Engineers is releasing large amounts water west to the gulf. What will this do to the patterns. This info is found all off the web. Weather alone is not the only factor, man controls the lake in a big way, and they have screwed it up several times recently. It is a very complex lake to learn and consistently do well. The ones that are the most successful fish it regularly, and have a network of contacts that share their knowledge. It will be a fun learning experience if you can fish it at least once a week. The lake does not follow the normal patterns you will find reading seasonal facts from a bass magazine. These Florida bodies of water like Poga, Kissimmee, Toho, are a real challenge for some of the most successful pros on the tour. Good luck, it is always enjoyable to be on the O even if your not catching them. It is a special place!

There are a bunch of videos on line that show you how to remove gut hooked fish safely. Although I seldom gut hook bass, it happens once in a while to everyone that fishes frequently. It is a simple process, and a lot simpler with big fish. Good video's are available. One tip, if you see the fish is gut hooked, make sure you net, or lip the fish while in the water. Don't lift them out using the rod. This puts all the pressure on the hook, and whatever its hook too. The videos will explain it a lot better then me trying too.

Deet is the key. !00% deet is what your looking for. Long sleeve clothing and pants will help. I just wait till the sun comes up and they are gone.

Great spec fishing in the rim canal on the north west side. Big slabs!

The problem with Chobee is it keeps changing. If you only fish it occasionally, areas you fished last time can look different the next time you go. Vegetation's will grow up so much so quickly, wind will blow mats from place to place. Bass will move to different locations following their pray. When the wind blows hard, areas that were clear will turn chocolate When that happens things get very tough. Wind will raise and lower water levels as much as two foot just from wind driven current, in this huge shallow bowl. Areas that you fished last time, may be too shallow to get into this time. One thing I can tell you for sure, if you can find clear water you can find fish. Follow the weather reports for the last few days before you go. Try to find protected areas from the big blows. Clear water may be in those areas. If hard winds are out of the east, the west side of the lake will be muddy. The lake, and the fish, are constantly changing, more so then in deep reservoirs. Up to date info in the planning of a trip is key for guys that have success week, after week, on the Big O. They will adjust to what mother nature gives them.