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In south Florida things can change very quickly. An example that happens all the time is, its a hot summer morning with blue bird skys, your having a good morning with fish after fish on top water, and then that sun rises 20* above first light. All of a sudden you can't buy a bite. This happens all the time down here. I often fish a spot called the Holey Lands south of Lake Okeechobee. Another example of sudden change is, you fishing the H/L and everything is dead calm. You can't buy a bite. This whole place is controlled by massive pumps of the South Florida Water Management system. All of a sudden they turn on the big pumps and you are now catching bass after bass.

I would have loved it, but in college I had no extra time with school, sports, women, and party time. I took a full load!!!!!!!!!

I use this site, and another Florida Fishing Site, as a form of log of my fishing success or lack of success. When doing a fishing report I always include the water body being fished, the ramps used that day, the date of the trip, water temp, air temp, wind conditions, water clarity, start and finish time, moon cycle, water levels, number of fish caught, size of fish caught, and lures used that day, and techniques being used. I DON"T include these facts for others, but rather for me to go back two or three years to see what was happening on this particular body of water, with these conditions, and these lures. It is an easy way to keep a log, call it back up when you need it, and its all on your favorite web sites. I try to pack these reports with as many facts as possible just so it refreshes my mind years later.

I have fished from a canoe several times along the Alley and Sawgrass both. That was 35 years ago when I was far less cautious. Like Lou said big gators can be intimidating, since that time I have had my bass boat slammed by a gator tail, and with a friend a big female hit his trolling motor, and held her ground and would not retreat. That being said, I have caught one of my biggest bass way back in the flats at sawgrass, in a canoe. It was a day I will never forget, very exciting and yet very peaceful in the out back! Most of the time we were in 1 foot of water and then we would find deeper holes. Deeper holes held quality bass.

Don't miss eating at Lazy Days Restaurant on the south side of the Island. It looks like a stilt house but its a quality place, beautiful view of the main cut, and the prices are not bad. If you catch some fish, they will cook it for you, for a small charge. I have been going there for 20 years. I never go to the lower keys without a stop at Lazy Days!!!

About 20 years ago I went to the glades with my principal, who was my best friend of 20 years. It was a late May morning with fog, high humidity and an unusual number of big gators in the L67 canal. This canal is the largest everglades canal, surrounded by miles of shallow flats full of everything imaginable. We ran about 6 miles from the closest road and shut down with no one in sight. I mentioned to Tom the incredible size and number of huge gators that morning, and it was still a half hour from first light. Tom had a brand new Shimano Reel that was top of the line. He made his first cast, and the zara spook went twice as far as any cast he had ever made. The spook was hanging in a tree at the edge of the canal. He asked me troll over to where the lure was hanging so he could get it out of the tree. I positioned the boat with the stern close to the overhanging branches. Tom needed about another foot to reach the lure so he decided to steep on a large bolder next to the tree. With one foot on the boat, and one foot on the rock, Tom found himself going into a split as the boat moved away from the rock from his pressure. All of a sudden I heard a big splash, turned around and saw Tom swimming in 8 feet of water with 10 foot gators within 40 yards of the boat. In the darkness and sudden panic, I had hit the off switch button on the foot control. Tom was yelling, treading water, and I finally figured out what happened to the trolling motor. It flashed through my mind at this moment, how I was going to tell everyone at school, how I took the principal fishing, and he was eaten by gators. I never saw anyone climb up that big rock so fast with a rod and reel in one hand, hat in the other, all while screaming for me to come get him off this dam rock. Once back in the boat and I knew everything was in one piece, we both laughed at the stupidity of the whole thing. Why he would ever step off the boat for a $6 lure in the dark, with monster gators everywhere. We laughed about this for years, and I have told the story many times at Tom's expense. Sorry for the long story, but My good buddy Tom is no longer with us, but I still smile and laugh with him every time I tell this story. A minute of shear terror, but years of gut busting laughter!

I think it is Lykesee's restaurant. Great catfish dinner! I have eaten there many times and never had a bad meal.

I fish in pad fields from the bank, almost every night. Pads are never a problem unless you get in a V in the pads. I fish worms, and senko type baits and 20 pound Floro line, almost all the time. First, if there is wind most of the pads will be positioned facing the same way, with the V's facing you or away from you. Facing you, or sideways, is usually not a problem, facing away from you, you will have V problems. You can prevent some of these problems by steering your line between the pads and away from the V's. To do this, you will have to have constant eye contact with your line. This is also good for noticing subtle bites and quick hook sets. Second, the more weight you use the more V problems you will have. I use a 1/32 and 1/16 Texas Rigged and a EWG Gama hook. Third, when you catch a V, slowly pull the pad under water and lift your rod as high as possible very slowly, and usually it comes right out, without exposing the hook. The secret is do everything slowly, use constant pressure and never try to rip it out. Fourth, when you hook a fish in the pads, get his head up as soon as possible, and keep it up on the surface as you bring the fish in. Never play the fish, or let them take drag in the pads. You will lose fish and the terminal gear if you do that. I have brought 9 pound fish through thick pad fields using power and constant pressure as quick as possible, surfing over the pads. I love pad fishing, and am blessed surrounded by lakes with excellent pad beds that you can fish from the bank. I hope this helps, it works for me and I have been bank fishing these lakes for over 20 years.

I also stayed in the Buck Head Marina trailers. They also slept a bunch of guys. Like you we also trailered to Fisheating Creek ramp and Harney Pond Ramps from the Marina. Several tournaments have been won in those shallow canals in the Marina neighborhood on real windy days.

I would say senko type baits will catch fish under all conditions. The 4" size will catch more fish, and fish of all size, then the bigger version. I personally used the bass pro stick-o which is a way better buy, and it's just as good a fish catcher as the expensive Japanese version. Use the least amount of weight for the weather conditions. The more wind the more weight. I often throw weightless Texas rigged, and fished slow on loose line so it slow flutters on the fall through the water column. I have caught thousands and thousands of fish on the little bait. Great bank fishing bait also. It seldom hangs up even in the thickest cover. It is definitely my go to bait!

I have been doing pretty well in Weston from the bank. You have to fish slow to be on the bite. When you think its slow enough slow down some more.

Great stuff, how did you take those samples and who did the testing? That's really impressive for the north country. What is the state record for Maine? Thanks for the post.

Wow that's an impressive sack of big old girls. Congrats guys!

Congrats on a great job on the O. Those are some really good looking fish. Did you hire a guide, or go it alone out there? What section of the lake did you fish? Congrats again!

I have lost a few real big bass and I don't let it effect the rest of my day fishing. The one exception to this was 35 years ago at Okeechobee. It was the first trip with my new bass boat and we were fishing the aquarium section on the south end outside Boy Scout Cut. I was throwing a big black and blue jig and all of a sudden the jig moved off to the side and I set the hook on a monster bass. She went airborne several times, the last time 10 feet from the boat. It was very shallow through the entire area, and the line snapped at the peak of the last jump. She was gone! I went back for three weekends in a row, and worked every inch of that area to death. She was gone, gone, gone!!!! That was the last time I let a fish bother me that much. Its all part of the game, you win a lot, and lose a few. This fish just happened to be the fish of a life time. It is a wonderful memory, better to have played and lost then never to have player at all!!!!!!

We have lots of new members joining and giving no profile information at all. They comment about fishing their waters and ask for advice from our members, but we have no idea where they live, or what bodies of water they fish. We don't need an address, or even a name, but a town, state, and favorite bodies of water would be nice. We are all very careful with internet information, but this general stuff helps us respond to inquires made by the masses. Many of us love talking about the sport we love, and this certainly would help.

Fish early, or fish late, noon might be a struggle, unless you find bedding fish. That's always a possibility this time of year in the south. Good luck!

I'm sorry but it was 20 years ago. The price was split between 6 guys with three boats, dock and electric hookup at the dock, so it came out way better then three hotel rooms and was a lot nicer.

We rented a house for four days in Buck Head on the north west side of the lake. The house was fully furnished and very clean. It was on a canal and we never had to take the boats out of the water. It took about ten minutes at idle speed to get to the lock. The only thing I didn't like was, you were on the lock masters schedule. Miss the last opening and you were out there all night.

Lol, lol, lol!!!!!!!

A lot depends on where your fishing, what part of the country, the amount of vegetation in the lake, and the experiences of the angler using the equipment. A lot of transplanted northern anglers, who grew up using spinning gear, will often continue using it in our southern lakes, thick with heavy cover. Why, because they grew up using that stuff, and that's what their used to, not because it is best for the conditions. If you look at the professional angler, he is going to match the equipment to the conditions. In thick southern lakes with big bass, 90% are going to spend the majority of their day using baitcasters. They use baitcasters for a reason, it is the best match for the conditions. You don't take a monster truck to a drag race, and you don't take a drag racer off road. Pros do nothing by accident, its all part of the overall plan. Do whatever makes you happy, but there is equipment made to handle certain situations better then other equipment.

We Can't really help you much, when we don't know where you live, what type lakes you fish, or if your fishing from a boat or from the shore. If your asking for advice fill out your profile. Example, if your were from Florida I would say yes a baitcaster, heavy line, and strong rods, because you will be pulling bigger bass out of heavy cover constantly. Fish Okeechobee, and you need beefed up gear, and strong line, or you will lose quality fish in the junk. If you fishing draw down deep lakes in the north with very little weeds and grasses, then you can get away with medium rods, lighter line, and spinning reels. Keep in mind the rods give you weights for that set up for max performance. You also have to consider the environment they frequent or you get very frustrated with your results. Fill out the profile it helps with all the answers, and what could possibly be so secret!!!!!!!!

In a neighborhood pond I saw a big bass take a baby duck trailing the mother. There was a loud explosion of water and the duckling was gone. Within a week all 8 baby ducks were gone. I believe that bass was targeting the ducklings. They are truly wolves of the water.

Jerk, jerk, long pause. Down size plastics and fish real slow. Most bites occur on the long pause. Be a line watcher and look for subtle movement.