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I agree with those that talk about the north west part of the lake being warmer during those cold fronts in southern lakes. I have read in several books and magazines that the north west is shelter more by the bank, trees, hills, sometimes mountains, and gets a longer exposure to sun in the winter. Always made sense to me. When I fish Okeechobee in winter I always like the north west side of the lake. A lot of tournaments won in that part of the O. I always remembered the information going back 40 years. Good discussion topic! I don't know about the points as much, unless there are drop offs adjacent to the points.

Most definitely, I have one pond I can only fish on Sunday afternoons after the guard leaves the DSL site, in Plantation., Any other day of the week you'll be asked to leave in minutes. Fishing is good so I wait him out! Cleveland Clinic will kick you out of the west canal even though its on a South Florida Water Management Easement., and not their property. I don't argue, I just move to my next spot.

Backlash, I know there has been a tremendous amount of water flowing from the flood gates along 27 to the west. You should have some good current coming out of those flats adjacent to 27. Where there is current there should be some quality fish looking to eat. Good luck, I hope you have a good outing!

1/19/15 Alligator Alley, MM39 North Side, temps 55-70, wind 5-10 NE, clear sky, water light stain, w/t 69*, 6:45-11:00. Went out west of the river, to MM39 north side. The fog was so thick it was impossible to run the canal safely. I met Jim Sechrist in his boat at the ramp. Once the fog lifted a little,we ran to the dead end, and fished back to the west. We stayed about 20 yards apart so we could catch up on school and family news. I started with the trap with little luck today. Then switched to a Hollow Body and did not get even a sniff. I then turned to the Fluke and sticko and had slow steady results. Many bass were deep, just off the ledge and tight to the wall. There were no signs of bedding out there. We finished the day at 11:00. I caught 25 bass, all on sticko's and flukes. Jim caught some on a variety of baits. It was a relaxing day with good company and lots of conversation. It was a lot better then a Monday at work.

I agree with Lou, the Holey Land has good access all along. You can easily run all the way out to the big pump station and the Miami Canal. They recently mowed the banks out there so you have good visibility for the snakes. Endless bank fishing opportunities.

Backlash, Flukes and senkos are like dying critters in the water that they eat all the time. Jerk it and let it flutter down. A lot of hits happen while falling or sitting on the bottom. Just like the rest of the animal kingdom they target the easy meals. The weak and dying. Jerk then let it sit. Use as little weight as possible so you get a lot of flutter and glide on the initial fall. There are fish in all phases of the life cycle in south Florida. Although the spawning phase has started in some areas it is by far not the peak of South Florida spawning. Fish down here will also spawn more then just once a year. Without as extreme seasons as way up north, the spawn will continue for some time.

Pit boss, from the boat, but there are lots of opportunities to fish from the bank out there. The cabals all have levees that you can drive and fish. Just watch for the critters.

Thanks for the report. I will be out there Sunday. I love the place, so much water to fish. If you get some current from those pumps, the fish can go nuts.

Because of the type of waters I fish, 90% of my day is spent throwing a variety of plastics. Our lakes are shallow and full of heavy weeds. Most bass are associated with the weeds and pads and there location to deeper water. You need to target peculiarities and once you find a fish you have the gear to get it's head up quick and power it out of the junk. Texas rigging is a must most of the time, and at least 15 pound floro or mono. When in the jungle 65 pound braid is a good option. Long M/H or Heavy rods and strong baitcaster reels are the norm. Fishing South Florida day in and day out is not for light weight stuff.

I don't ever anchor, I will target an area and then position the boat so that a wind will blows me through that area and I stay in stealth mode, and not be on the trolling motor. This often helps when fish are easily spooked and the water is unusually clear. I like to be in stealth mode as much as possible. I will often pick a canal that runs east and west because the wind is out of the east. That way I fish all day and seldom on the trolling motor. Just run east and fish back to the west. This definitely helps put fish in the boat.

I don't like taking bass off a bed. One person taking a fish may not have much effect on a body of water, but get a tournament in there and 100 anglers and that's another story. Do that at the same time every year and fishing can't help from being effected. Being off the bed for only minutes and the bait fish will move in for a feast. I just can't get myself to target the future of the sport I love, for what a photo!

Dido Captain Shane. You hit the nail on the head. Sunday I fished the same area with little action on a frog, but steady action on the stick-o all morning. Feed them what they want.

I would not use less then 15 pound mono or floro. If your flipping heavy cover or throwing frogs, I would use 65 pound braid. The heavier braid does not dig into itself as much as the lighter stuff. I would not use less then a Medium Heavy rod. You will need some backbone to get their head up out of all that junk. Good luck!

I fish because its fun!

I don't know what a natural is at fishing. I started trout fishing with the boy scouts 55 years ago. That led to buying a Mitchell 300 and bass fishing a couple of times a year. Now 55 years later, its 6 days a week, either from the bank, or in the boat. I learn something new almost every trip, so I would not consider myself a natural, but rather a journeyman, surviving to fish another day. It has progressed into a passion, and a way to relax and unwind from the hustle of daily life. It has become a form of therapy, and since therapy is outrageously expensive, fishing has saved me, and my family a lot of money!!!! LOL Do you think the wife will buy that argument?

#3 for captain Shane anywhere from Okeechobee south. He is a great guide and a good person.

Jlo23, I can't wait to see that video. It is pretty out there with all the cypress trees in the area.

Shane, I have been with a guy we had to pull the canoe over several weirs, and several were bone dry. Now when you get out and walk over that weir you have to worry about pythons besides cotton mouths. It was thick with gators in the low water season.

Lots, I'm afraid to add it up!

Time for a road trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you had service I would have called 911. I know you can get ATT service out there. Miggasukee cops are about 5 minutes away, Police station is west of there on 41. . Glad your safe and sound.

Sunday 1/11/15, 6:30 to 10:30, Alley MM39 north side, water light stain, water temp 70, cloudy, wind light in morning then 10-15 from southeast. Went out today with old friend Pat from Miami. This was the first trip in the boat since the holiday vacation. Ran to the dead end just before first light. Started with a hollow body jerked threw the pads. Missed a big explosion way back in the pads, and then not a stiff for 20 minutes. Switched to old faithful and started catching right away. The watermelon stick-o, and fluke, just produced for both of us all morning. I threw weightless and most bites were on the initial slow drop on slack line. Just be a line watcher and look for any changes in the line. By 10:30 it started looking bad to the east. We put the boat on the trailer and headed back. We finished the day with over thirty bass, a lot of dinks and (4) over 2 pounds and (1) 3.5lber. Another nice relaxing day in the glades, with a good friend of 40 years. Just got the boat in the garage before the sky opened up.

The hotter the weather the brighter the sky the better. Summer at noon is an ideal time. You don't need to get up early to catch peacocks. I always had good luck with #9 and #11 Rapala stickbaits in both gold and silver. In the warmer weather you can trigger a strike by ripping them fast and steady.

Lakes in Weston and Vista View Park in Davie have been pretty good for both size and numbers this week. You have to fish slow and deep. Stick worms have been doing the job.

There is a dirt ramp along 41 just before the guard rail starts. I have no problem dropping my boat in although sometimes it does get muddy. It is a good run down the canal before it turns to the north west toward the first weir. If the water is high enough you may be able to power over the weir in a small boat. There are six more weirs to cross.