Shanes7614

C-14.... Most canals not connected to the glades SHOULD be safe. Loxahatchee is loaded with them as well. Also think abou a higher seat on a kayak means it's less stable. Out your weight higher the the center point. I wouldn't be a much concerned about them coming at you but in case of a capsize those waters are not places I would wanna take my chances. Idk where you are located but kayaking on a bunch of the local canals should be pretty safe. Scope out the waters before you fish them. PZ3.... Went again today to the Marsh and we started out on fire. Ranging from 1.5 lbs to 5lbs. 5 fish in less then an hour. Then the bite just STOPPED. Fished another 5 hours and nothing. Wind picked up a little but not even close to Sunday when BBD picked up that 7lbs on the way in. Weird place in general. I picked one off on a lipless finally for the first of the day. Then followed up with the BBD special myself one and him 2. He also got one on a swim bait. All scent fish but again just stopped biting. The local guys were fishing some weird open spots that I'm sure with electronics we could figure out why. As far as your shaky heads. It's kinda hard to finesse fish something when your surrounded by two guys throwing power fishing type baits. I know different baits are good to try but I think we were moving around too fast for that technique to really have worked out for you. I was a little surprised by the no frog fish for any of us. Only thing interested was that little gator. Lol. Try your shaky head on Toho in a little deeper water near a drop off.

I'm not to sure of that advice. Just recently purchased a canoe ad have already had a few minor issues. A lot of these places that hold gators where your launching at are used to people and don't have a fear of you. They will swim right up to you and snap at anything your put in te water including paddles. Kind of hard to relocate yourself whe your not able to paddle. I don't think they will come and just lunge at you or into or on your kayak but I personally don't think a kayak is the way to go. At least with my canoe I have side walls to protect myself and put a barrier between myself and the gators. Kayaks tend to flip a lot easier and I don't think swimming to shore to upright yourself and get back in is something you wanna be doing with gators present as well. Just my opinion. I'm sure many guys will tell you it's plenty safe. I've had a couple run ins where I ran a couple over and their first reaction was to snap at the canoe and paddles. When one took off it even made the canoe unstable for a moment of butt clenching fear.

BBD... Stick Marsh!!!!! I think that place may very well hold the next state record. We gotta start taking more pics and posting them. Wish we could have seen those couple fish you and myself lost. Can't wait for the next time!!!

Sticking wth plastics is probably the easiest way to learn and start out. I started as a young kid riding my bike to a local lake with a fishing pole and a bag full of different plastics and hooks to start. Cast to any kind if cover and change the ways you retrieve you baits. Tubes Texas rigged are also a good bet. Stick with mostly dark colored worms and you should do just fine. Try with no weight at all and then sometimes with a weight when it is colder or a storm has just passed. You can learn a lot about a lake with a weighted work just reeled slowly along the bottom to learn what kin if cover you may not be able to see from the surface is around. Rockier and sandy bottoms tend to be better for smallmouth if they are present in your lake. Weedy and muddier bottoms ten to produce more largemouth IMO. The last recommendation I can give is don't skimp out when it comes to line. Cheap combos can work really well but if you have bad line it's doesn't matter if your fishing with a 500$ custom outfit your still gonna lose fish.

Had an awesome day with BBD and JZ3 and we were just winging it... Seems like anywhere on the lakes will produce quality fish.

Any sizable LMB?

What area are you from?

If your a newbie to the sport don't feel as if any question is stupid. Although someone's you need to simplify things instead of overthinking them.

How is it south of palmetto park rd? Is that fresh water? Where on the canal is the spillway?

Has anyone ever fished this canal in the Palmetto Park rd area? Where would I be able to launch a canoe to get to this area? Any advice would be appreciated.

Is this place canoe friendly? Been reading a lot of articles about this place and would be a dream to fish it. If your ever looking for company let me know I'll be there in a minute. Lol

BBD... I couldn't have said it any better myself. It's not rocket science. Lol

Let me know the day and time and I'll even provide a great home cooked meal. Lol

Any way you could show a visual of that. Never been before and don't have much of an idea of the layout. Tried from lee rd and stupidly paddled the canoe trail with very few areas to fish.

Does the +1 mean I get an invite to fish with you? Lol

Use oatmeal. Non flavored of course and wait about an hour.

Fishing the northen canal or east-west canal?

Any advice on which baits are still producing and what areas a small boat/canoe should try to go to stay away from normal traffic? Any help woul be greatly appreciated.

Has anyone used these and had much success?

Today's best for me and largest Florida bass to date after being here 7 months.

Finally caught my first decent LMB in Florida. Was fishing in quantum lakes area. Caught about a dozen fish ranging from 1-3.25lbs. Partner today lost a monster of a fish that he couldn't move on a 7'6 heavy action rod with 50lbs braid. I'm guessing at least 7+. Stayed heavy on the bottom and then wrapped itself around the Lillie's and was gone after about. 2-3 minute fight. Wish I could have seen the fish to be sure of its size but will defiantly be returning to same lake to try a few more strategies I've read on this forum. Huge change of pace after fishing California waters for 2 years and New Jersey for 25+ years. Oddly Nj and Florida tactics are closer related then Cali and Florida even though the same strain of bass. Now if I can only find some of these d**n peacocks I would be super happy. Great info I've read and some super nice fish all you guys have been catching.

Sirsnook, were you in the canals? I did some fishing today at quantum lakes but still don't know exactly whic canals hold the peacocks.

Any interest in linking up with a newby both to the area and to peacocks to show them the ropes?

Geo, new to the site and been in Florida for only 7 months now. Any certain places you can recommend on Osborne for peacocks? Would love any info anyone could give or if anyone ever wants a partner for the day I would greatly appreciate tagging along with someone who knows the local lakes in the area. Lake Ida as well.

Pm me and let's get together. Still looking for my first peacock.