FloridaFishinFool

I don't think you have ruffled any feathers. Please feel free to speak your mind. Tell your side. I think we all understand your concerns as an individual land owner, but I think the majority of us are more concerned about poisoning our waters and killing wildlife more so than temporary flooding issues which I think is very important to you and we understand that, so please feel free to say whatever you want to concerning this issue. It is good to hear all sides so we can all have a better understanding of it all. One thing we all have to realize, is that the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers really messed this state up decades ago when everyone thought it was a great idea to dig massive canals and drain the water off the land so that the land could be claimed by man and used by man- with little to no regard for Nature. This was a huge mistake. Sugar cane growers and cattle ranchers were behind much of land grabbing back then. The waters use to flow down through the center of the state through Okeechobee water basin and on into the vast grasslands of the everglades where it was filtered before running off the end of the state into Florida Bay where all that water washed out the bay and kept it clean and alive. When mankind tampered with this natural water flow and stopped the washing effect of Florida bay, it began to get filthy and dying. The move today is towards undoing the damage caused by the U.S. Army Corp. Of Engineers and restore this natural water flow, and much, much more needs to be done in this direction, but unfortunately for mankind, over the more recent decades a lot of new humans have moved into and onto the very lands we need for Nature to reclaim this natural water flow path, and so this is going to lead to conflict no doubt about it. Our human created filth (surface pollution) has to run off somewhere... But what is more important? Killing Nature so we can conquer every inch of land for ourselves? Or try and find a balance with Nature and restore what we have damaged even if it means relocating humans to do it? It boils down to what is more important to us and what are we going to do about it. All sides are welcome to share opinions so please don't hesitate to do so. For anyone seeking information on this problem here are a few links... http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/everglades/ http://www.evergladesrestoration.gov/ http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/maidment/grad/dugger/GLADES/glades.html http://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page/portal/xweb%20protecting%20and%20restoring/americas%20everglades http://www.epa.gov/everglades http://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/cerp.htm http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/materials-based-on-reports/reports-in-brief/everglades_brief_final.pdf

It is already happening:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-lake-o-pumping-change-20160201-story.html South Florida Emergency Pumping Into Lake Okeechobee Ends Feb. 1, 2016 Ten billion gallons of pollution-laden water was pumped into Lake Okeechobee during four days of emergency measures to avert South Florida flooding, officials disclosed Monday. Amid an already rainier-than-usual winter, heavy rains last week triggered the controversial "back pumping" of water from South Florida's vast farming region, the Everglades Agricultural Area, north into the lake. That helped protect lakeside towns as well as sugar cane fields and vegetable farms from flooding, but at the expense of allowing fertilizers and other pollutants that wash off the land to end up in the lake. And that back pumping came at the same time officials were starting to discharge water from the swollen lake out to sea for flood control, despite the potential environmental harm to coastal fishing grounds. By Sunday evening the emergency pumping into the lake had stopped after water levels south of the lake were brought under control, according to the South Florida Water Management District. But in just four days, the 10 billion gallons of water pumped into the lake from the south equated to filling up about 15,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The pumping was necessary to "protect thousands of families, businesses and property in the Glades communities," according to a statement from the South Florida Water Management District. That pumped in water, usually low in oxygen and high in phosphorus and nitrogen, can lead to fish kills, toxic algae blooms and threaten drinking water supplies. Prolonged back pumping can lead to dead zones in the lake, scaring away fish, wading birds and tourists alike, environmentalists warn. "We are glad it's over. ... If it keeps going, it gets worse and worse," said Paul Gray, an Audubon Florida scientist who monitors Lake Okeechobee. "It all adds up." The short duration of this round of emergency pumping means the environmental risks to the lake should be minimal, according to Randy Smith, spokesman for the South Florida Water Management District. Yet the El Nino-driven rainy weather during what is supposed to be South Florida's dry season could end up triggering more back pumping, according to the water management district. January's rainfall, averaging 9.18 inches across South Florida, was the most for that month since 1932, according to the water management district. While pumping water from the south into the lake has stopped, the lake draining to the coast continues. Lowering the lake level by draining water to the east and west coasts helps ease the strain on the troubled dike that protects South Florida from flooding. The Army Corps of Engineers on Friday started draining up to 1.8 billion gallons of lake water a day to the east into the St. Lucie River. As much as 4.2 billion gallons per day is also being drained to the west into the Caloosahatchee River. That draining is good for protecting the lake's erosion prone dike, but big discharges of freshwater from the lake into normally salty estuaries can kill fishing grounds and fuel algae blooms that make waterways unsafe for swimming. Dumping lake water to the coast and out to sea also wastes water that could be used to replenish the Everglades and to restock South Florida supplies during droughts. The Army Corps of Engineers tries to keep Lake Okeechobee water levels between 12.5 and 15.5 feet above sea level. On Monday the lake was 16.14 feet. To ease South Florida flood risk, Lake Okeechobee draining to resume South Florida flooding threats are triggering the pumping of polluted farm water into Lake Okeechobee, just as more lake water is set to be drained out to sea. While that helps protect lakeside communities and South Florida farmland from flooding, the draining and dumping can have harmful environmental consequences for the lake and coastal communities. "It's really bad water," said Paul Gray, an Audubon Florida scientist who monitors Lake Okeechobee. "It has got really high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. ... And here we are getting ready to dump extra (lake) water into the estuaries." Rising waters during this rainier-than-usual winter are triggering the Lake Okeechobee water management difficulties. To ease the strain on the lake's erosion-prone dike, the Army Corps of Engineers tries to keep the lake level between 12.5 and 15.5 feet above sea level. The lake level Thursday was 15.54 feet, which was nearly a foot higher than the average level for this time of year. Water from Central Florida drains into Lake Okeechobee, which gets tapped by South Florida growers for irrigation and also serves as a backup water supply for South Florida communities. But during heavy rainy periods, the lake fills up faster than the water gets moved south and that can trigger flood-control discharges to the east and west coasts. Now in addition to the increased flows of water from Central Florida, flood-control concerns have prompted the emergency practice of "back-pumping" water into the lake from South Florida's vast farming region. Rising water levels raise concerns about the lake's troubled dike, considered one of the country's most at risk of failing. Draining lake water out to sea lessens that strain on the dike and makes room for water expected to flow in from future storms. But redirecting lake water toward the east and west coasts also wastes water that could restock South Florida supplies during future droughts. And discharging large amounts of lake water toward the coasts can harm fishing grounds and fuel algae blooms that make water unsafe for swimming, scaring away tourists. The Army Corps of Engineers on Friday plans to start lake releases east through the St. Lucie River. Also, ongoing lake releases west into the Caloosahatchee River are being increased, the Army Corps announced Thursday. "The heavy rain this month has limited the ability to send any water south," said Jim Jeffords, the Army Corps chief of operations for Florida. "We will look to start releasing (water) when possible east and west in order to slow the rise and maintain storage capacity in the lake." Back-pumping water from the south into the lake, which started Wednesday evening, was necessary to protect the "lives and property" of people living near the lake, according to a statement released Thursday from the South Florida Water Management District released. Environmental groups have long raised concerns about back-pumping, warning that it flushes fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants into Lake Okeechobee, which can lead to fish kills, toxic algae blooms and threaten drinking water supplies. But the back-pumping is allowed to avoid flooding and "will continue as needed," according to the South Florida Water Management District. This year's El Niño-driven wet weather has boosted Lake Okeechobee at a time when the lake water level is usually on the decline. An El Niño weather pattern occurs when warming of the eastern Pacific typically translates to a wetter winter in Florida. South Florida has averaged about 13 inches of rainfall since November, which is about twice as much as usual so far during the fall-to-spring dry season. Lake Okeechobee's water once naturally flowed south, overlapping its southern banks and replenishing the Everglades. But decades of draining to make way for South Florida farming and development redirected that water, flushing much of it out to sea for flood control. On Friday, the Army Corps plans to increase that draining by discharging up to 756 million gallons per day of Lake Okeechobee water east into the St. Lucie River. In addition, up to 1.8 billion gallons of lake water per day could be discharged to the west into the Caloosahatchee River. The new round of lake water discharges could have harmful consequences on coastal fishing grounds if they linger into the spring spawning season, according to Mark Perry, executive director of the Florida Oceanographic Society in Stuart. Perry maintains that the coastal discharges could have been avoided if water managers were willing to hold more water in the farming region south of the lake or had moved more water south sooner. "We are kind of disappointed that they haven't done more to move water south," Perry said. "They just have to manage (water supplies) better." Projects are in the works that could enable holding onto more of the lake water that now gets drained out to sea. Lake Okeechobee's 70-year-old dike is in the midst of a decades-long rehab. And slow-moving Everglades restoration plans, which call for building reservoirs and water-treatment areas, are expected to create more South Florida water-storage alternatives. While that multibillion-dollar effort has been slowed by funding delays and construction problems, work has begun on a reservoir expected to eventually hold some of the lake water that flows to the East Coast.

You can always just beat the banks of lakes and canals at Disney and do fine and save some dough. Use google earth satellite to spot out some places to fish. Virtually every resort has lakes or canals around them.

I won't run mine dry! Manufacturers recommend using oil only. No grease! Grease causes the small rod bearings to stick in positions that causes the bearing to not operate as it should. Oil usually won't do that. I always oil mine and never had any problems in decades of use. Only had to replace one or two when the plastic insert holding the bearings in place fractured and broke apart. Infamous reel repair man Alan Tani recommends Corrosion X for AR bearings. I use it as well. It works. But yes the bearings are available. Most baitcast reels use a couple of particular AR bearings that are basically all the same with small size variations. You can find a manufacturer part number on the AR bearing itself and cross reference it. Quite often you can find a replacement without going back to Lew's or whoever that will have a huge markup. Boca actually has their own catalog for these bearings. http://www.bocabearings.com/images/drawings/One-Way-Bearing-Catalog.pdf I buy mine in bulk directly from foreign manufacturer and saved a ton. Here in America they want like $12 for one bearing while I was able to purchase 10 AR bearings for less than $12 for all 10 bearings. I have used 2 in years. And when I junk old reels I always save the AR bearing from them so I have quite a few in stock myself just in case... Try looking up anti reverse bearing on ebay and see if you can find one the same as yours. I did. Here is an AR bearing for a Shimano stradic 2500FH. Notice it is written right on top of the bearing itself NO GREASE! It does not say NO OIL! Oil does not prevent these bearings from working but grease will! Forget the reel manufacturer's part number and price. Look on the bearing itself for an original manufacturer part number stamped into the part itself by the company who actually made the bearing Lew's used in their reels. Take the number off the bearing itself and cross reference it through google for all size information and even sources to buy it. You might find it on ebay too. This AR bearing has a number F-223251 on it. Google that number and all sorts of info pops up. The same will probably happen for whatever bearing you find inside your reels too. Make sure your bearing is grease free. Once degreased lightly oil with a lightweight oil and see if it will work for you.

Don't they all look alike? Mike, I doubt if you have ever seen this lake! There is no public access to it, and you have to know someone who lives on it to fish it which is why you see a canoe in my photo because I could not launch a boat into this great lake. I had to use what the land owner had available. And since this lake is not very big, paddling around it in a canoe was just fine with me. There is virtually no fishing pressure what so ever on this lake. So very few people ever fish it. I went to college with the son of a land owner on this lake. We were room mates in college and so I have fished this lake off and on for nearly 30 years now. I wish I had property on this lake! Houses on it are pricey, usually in the $300,000 to $500,000 dollar range and there are less than 20 homes on the lake and only on one portion of it as these photos show untouched shoreline. And no, it is not Lake Delancy!

The doritos commercial I mentioned above is causing quite a firestorm of controversy all over the world, but especially here in America: Super Bowl Doritos Ad Upsets Pro-Choicers for “Humanizing Fetuses” Doritos®, YouTube A Doritos advertisement shown during the Super Bowl has sparked controversy over its possible implications for abortion. “I’m buying Doritos!” prominent pro-life filmmaker Jason Jones wrote on Facebook. “Best pro life commercial ever.” He added: “Babies are the star of this super bowl!” The chip maker’s advertisement featured a woman pregnant in her third trimester getting an ultrasound. Her husband is nearby eating Doritos, which the the ultrasound reveals is attracting the attention of the baby in the womb. What happens next is a bit strange, so we’ll let you just watch the commercial to see for yourself if you want (video below). The pro-choice organization NARAL Pro-Choice America was dismayed by the ad,tweeting that they didn’t like “that Doritos ad using [the] anti-choice tactic of humanizing fetuses.” Lots of people responded to NARAL’s tweet on Twitter, pointing out the obvious fact that fetuses are in fact human already. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'Never eating your chips again': Viewers slam 'disturbing' Doritos Super Bowl ad featuring a woman giving birth prematurely Hundreds of viewers have slammed Doritos Super Bowl 'Ultrasound' advert It shows woman going into early labour because unborn child wants crisp Aussie filmmaker Peter Carstairs made 'Crash the Super Bowl' competition Many viewers said they would never eat Doritos again after seeing advert See Super Bowl news and commercials at www.dailymail.co.uk/superbowl By JENNY AWFORD FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA PUBLISHED: 21:42 EST, 7 February 2016 | UPDATED: 08:43 EST, 8 February 2016 A Doritos Super Bowl advert showing a woman going into early labour has been slammed on social media as 'chilling' and 'disturbing' for trying to make a premature birth 'appetising'. Hundreds vented their frustration at Australian filmmaker Peter Carstairs' 'Crash the Super Bowl' commercial which opens with a father loudly eating Doritos during his partner's ultrasound. The tongue-in-cheek commercial ends with the mother screaming and giving birth after the unborn foetus lunges out of the womb in pursuit of some of the chips. It sparked heated debate on social media, with some declaring the advert 'hilarious', but many other vowing to never eat Doritos again. Unsettling 'Ultrasound' Super Bowl commericial for Doritos Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% 00:00 Play Mute Current Time0:00 / Duration Time0:30 Fullscreen Need Text +9 A Doritos Super Bowl advert showing a woman going into early labour has been slammed on social media as 'chilling' and 'disturbing' +9 Hundreds vented their frustration at Australian filmmaker Peter Carstairs' winning 'Crash the Super Bowl' commercial which opens with a father loudly eating Doritos during his partner's ultrasound The Sklar Brothers ‏tweeted: 'Nothing's more appetizing than an extremely pre mature birth. Way to go Doritos. #SB50' Mindy Kaling tweeted: 'That Doritos ad was chilling.' Brandon McCarthy tweeted: 'We'll start with the idea of premature babies and then work backwards,' said the Doritos ad exec.' Mattie tweeted: 'Thanks, #Doritos, I'll lose weight by never eating your chips again.' Ronan tweeted saying: 'Doritos. No. Disturbing.' The 'Ultrasound' advert did not win Doritos' 'Crash the Super Bowl' contest - worth some $1 million - but the company was so impressed they decided to run it anyway, Mumbrella reported. +9 The mother turns to her partner with tears in her eyes, only to find him stuffing Doritos into his mouth +9 The father can be seen playing with the baby who knocks his head against his mother's womb trying to get the chip from his fathers hand +9 'Really you're eating Doritos, he's eating Doritos at my ultrasound, do you see what I have to deal with,' the mother says Set in a doctor's consultation room, it shows a couple watching an ultrasound monitor as the doctor says: 'And there's your beautiful baby, any day now.' The mother turns to her partner with tears in her eyes, only to find him stuffing Doritos into his mouth. 'Really you're eating Doritos, he's eating Doritos at my ultrasound, do you see what I have to deal with,' the mother then says. But the baby can then be seen trying to reach for the crisps on the ultrasound monitor. And when the father starts teasing the foetus by bringing the Doritos closer, the baby then suddenly bursts out, much to the horror of many viewers. Amanda Dodge ‏commented: 'alternatively titled 'made by white dudes for white dudes.' Never eating Doritos again…' Charlah ‏said: 'I'm never eating Doritos again.' +9 When the father starts teasing the foetus by bringing the Doritos closer, the baby then suddenly bursts out, much to the horror of many viewers +9 The father, mother and doctor can all be seen screaming when the baby suddenly lunges out +9 Hundreds of viewers said they would never eat Doritos again after watching the advert It was not met with universal disapproval as many, including Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, tweeted to say they found the advert funny +9 Aussie filmmaker Peter Carstairs (pictured) made the 'Crash the Super Bowl' competition Billah said: 'never having kids/eating Doritos ever again.' But it was not met with universal disapproval as many tweeted to say they found the advert funny. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson ‏tweeted: 'That Doritos baby ultrasound commercial could win best commercial of #SB50.' The advert was up against David Rudy's 'Swipe for Doritos' and Jacob Chase's 'Doritos Dogs' for the big prize. Mr Carstairs told Daily Mail Australia that the concept of childbirth is really different between a mother and a father. 'The guys I wrote it with really liked the idea when it comes to child birth and the concept that mothers usually see the process as really spiritual and life-changing. 'Dads are usually sitting in the corner, watching the footy and keeping to themselves and mums get annoyed with this. We thought we could play with this idea,' said Mr Carstairs. With an element of truth behind it Mr Carstairs said that with 'every source of conflict there is always an element of humour.' 'It's always good to have a bit of a squirm,' he added. When asked whether he was anything like the man in his commercial when his own children were born, Mr Carstairs responded 'not quite' but said that he understands that both parents go through a different journey.

The Dorito commercial was by far the best one and topped my list.

MP3 player and headphones sometimes. While I would like to listen to just the sounds of Nature too, quite often out on the St. Johns river are quite a few airboats and those can be very loud, so earphones block most of that noise out and the music drowns out the rest! I prefer an MP3 player because I can program it with specific music I'd like to hear while fishing with no commercials or obnoxious DJ's like we hear on FM radio all the time. And, using an MP3 player is not running down my trolling motor battery.

Thanks Mike! I am on their list and get the updates so I figured I'd share them here too. I am really looking forward to fishing the newly flooded 10,000 acre area recently developed by the state for fishing. It should be a big bass producer soon enough! Here is some more info on what all the state of Florida is doing for us bass fishermen! The Black Bass Management Plan! http://www.myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/black-bass/ The final Florida Black Bass Management Plan can be reviewed online, or printed using the links below, along with summary materials and background information. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission approved this plan at a public meeting in St. Augustine, Florida, on June 9, 2011. We would like to thank the thousands of anglers who provided input either in person, or via surveys to help ensure this plan included a broad public perspective. We also greatly appreciate the hard work of the Technical Assistance Group (TAG) that helped interpret the public input and merge it with our best scientific recommendations to develop the plan. The TAG was comprised of representatives from a variety of public stakeholder segments such as avid anglers, tackle shop owners, lure manufacturers, tournament anglers, fishing guides, outdoor writers, university researchers and tourism destination marketers. We heard from more than 7,500 people, who completed either the first or second survey (or both) or spoke with our biologists. The complete plan can be downloaded if you choose. There are also simple 3-panel (letter-sized) and 4-panel (legal-sized) brochures summarizing the plan. See links below. Together we will ensure Florida is the undisputed "Bass Fishing Capital of the World," thus helping significantly to enhance the habitat not only for bass but for all aquatic species and people. Promoting the quality of our fisheries will also tourists and generate the next generation the cares further helping our economy and local businesses and improving the quality of life for families and children by getting them involved in a lifetime of healthy, outdoor recreation. Thank you for joining us in this effort, Tom Champeau, Director Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management Black Bass Management Plan (June 2011 PDF Files): On-Line Version of the full Florida Black Bass Management Plan. Three-Panel (Letter-sized) Brochure--A brief overview of the plan, for general public ( 1.3MB). Four-Panel (Legal-sized) Brochure--A slightly more detailed overview of the plan, for fishing clubs and businesses ( 1.6MB). Florida Black Bass Management Plan--The complete plan with introductory materials and all of the action items, including annotated references, for scientists, students, sponsors and enthusiasts ( 4.1MB). Rack Card--Used for providing the public very general information and a link to this site ( 256KB). Black Bass Management Plan First Year Updates: More than a year after the Black Bass Management Plan was approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in June 2011, much progress has been made towards fulfilling the goals of the BBMP. The First Year Updates Report summarizes this progress, and provides links to detailed reports on individual Plan components. Background Materials (Archives): First Draft Florida Black Bass Management Plan ( 400kb; Printable) Appendix I - Survey Results Appendix II - Team Members Appendix III - Communications Plan Appendix IV - Pro/Con Dialogue December 2009 - Initial announcement of the initiative April 2010 (125KB) - Information on efforts to collect public input. May-Jun 2010 Update (21KB) June 2010 - Information on the current status of Florida's bass fishery. July 2010 - Survey results and first Technical Assistance Group Meeting Powerpoint with first Survey Results presented to the TAG group, June 2010 (324KB) Powerpoint update presented to FWC Commissioners, June 2010 (2.2MB) Powerpoint submission to FWC Commissioners, June 2011 (2.2MB) Fellsmere Water Management Area The Fellsmere Water Management Area is a component of the Upper St. Johns River Basin Project, and will add an additional 10,000 acres of restored wetlands to the headwaters of the St. Johns River. This land, formerly owned by Sun-Ag Inc., was previously used for pasture, citrus and row crops. Now, the wetlands will become the primary source of irrigation water supply for the remaining agricultural lands owned by Sun-Ag Inc. Anticipated project completion is in September 2016. The benefits The Fellsmere Water Management Area will: Restore agricultural land to wetlands, reducing the annual amount of phosphorus and chloride flowing to the upper St. Johns River. Result in a mosaic of wetland types that will provide habitat for a large number of species, including migratory waterfowl and listed species. Decrease the frequency of freshwater discharges through the C-54 canal to the lagoon to less than a 1-in-100-year storm event. Conserve groundwater that is currently being withdrawn from the Floridan aquifer. Augment dry season flows to the St. Johns River, enhancing downstream aquatic environments. Increase water storage in the Blue Cypress Lake watershed.

(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) Feb. 4, 2016 Florida Fish Busters’ Bulletin February 2016 Suggested Tweet: Black #Bass Management in #Florida yields benefits for anglers! http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/1346e7e #TrophyCatch #Fishing Photos available on FWC’s Flickr site: https://flic.kr/s/aHsktKrPYM Black Bass Management Plan yields angler benefits By Bob Wattendorf Progress has been made in all four major areas targeted in the Florida Black Bass Management Plan: new opportunities, habitat management, fish management and human dimensions. The Florida Black Bass Management Plan (see bit.ly/FL-BBMP) was approved almost five years ago by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), after fisheries biologists gathered and weighed input from anglers, businesses, university researchers and other conservation professionals. New opportunities: Fellsmere Water Management Area is on its way to becoming a 10,000-acre bass-fishing hotspot. Now that the FWC has overseen construction of boat launching facilities, planting of desirable aquatic plants and bottom sculpting to create drop offs, islands and other fish and wildlife habitat, the St. Johns River Water Management District is allowing the reservoir to fill. As an added bonus, more than a million fingerling-sized bass will have been stocked by the time it fills. In the near future, these modifications will allow Fellsmere to become one of the best bass fisheries in the country. Fellsmere is adjacent to the world-renowned Farm 13/Stick Marsh bass fishery, making the area a desireable destination for anglers. Habitat management: Another key element of the plan is a new Hydrilla Position Statement. Matt Phillips, from the Invasive Plant Management Section, said, “This new policy allows hydrilla to be managed on a waterbody-specific basis, using a risk-based approach rather than the previous mandate to reduce hydrilla to the lowest level possible.” Want to see what’s happening on your favorite lake? Visit the “What’s Happening on Your Lake” webpage (see bit.ly/FWC-plants), to find detailed aquatic plant management schedules. Habitat work also continues statewide, using grants to implement a variety of Aquatic Resource Habitat Enhancement projects, including drawdowns and dredging to remove muck, and other strategies. In addition, FWC staff and partners are adding popular fish attractors or gravel spawning beds to enhance recreational fishing. Fish management: Fish stocking, along with ongoing research to increase survival of fish stocked into the wild, is a prime example of this aspect of the Plan. The Florida Bass Conservation Center in Sumter County and Blackwater Fish Hatchery in Santa Rosa County continue to produce quality fish for stocking public waters. Over the last five seasons nearly 19 million fish have been stocked into more than 250 public water bodies. All were recreational species, including bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, crappie, catfish, striped bass and sunshine bass. Research is also being completed to evaluate whether angling for spawning bass (aka bed fishing) has a negative impact on natural reproduction. So far, results suggest that catching bass off their spawning beds poses little risk to a lake’s bass population in Florida. Human dimensions: Combining fish management efforts, growing knowledge about bass biology and impacts from angler harvest with public engagement led to a complete review of current black bass regulations. This exemplifies how applying the science of human dimensions to the Black Bass Management Plan benefits anglers and fisheries. It all comes back to you. A two-year process of integrating public attitudes and desires with fish population studies resulted in a new approach to simplify statewide regulations while managing harvest to produce more trophy-sized bass. FWC Commissioners will consider this proposal at their February Commission meeting outside of Tallahassee (see bit.ly/FWC-Havana). The plan’s signature new program ̶ TrophyCatch ̶ completed its third year and is providing fisheries managers and researchers with valuable information. TrophyCatch is a citizen-science approach to encourage catching, documenting and releasing largemouth bass over 8 pounds. By providing anglers with sponsored incentives, a website gallery of catches and information on proper handling of these prized fish, TrophyCatch has documented release of more than 3,000 trophy bass back into Florida waters. The program is helping to conserve these valuable fish and to promote Florida as the “Bass Fishing Capital of the World.” Research at the Florida Bass Conservation Center is comparing handling approaches for big bass to see how different methods affect them. Whether held vertically by the jaw, or cradled in two hands horizontally, there were no notable problems with dislocated jaws or reduced survival. Attaining more genetic samples from TrophyCatch bass, along with a tagging study, will help document future recapture of individual fish to prove survival. An angler this year provided an interesting video of catching a trophy bass on a shiner, weighing it by the jaw, taking a fin clip and releasing it – and then coming back 15 minutes later and catching it again (seebit.ly/TrophyCatch_Double-Take). By going to TrophyCatchFlorida.com anglers can register, submit fish and examine trophy catches from around the state. The FWC will continue to evaluate methods for handling, documenting and conserving bass to ensure the best survival possible and that increased pressure on trophy bass does not adversely impact the numbers or size of future trophy populations in Florida. Instant licenses are available at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or by calling 888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356). Report violators by calling 888-404-3922, *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone, or texting to Tip@MyFWC.com. Visit MyFWC.com/ and select “News,” then “Monthly Columns,” or bit.ly/FishBusters for more Fish Busters’ Bulletins. To subscribe to FWC columns or to receive news releases, visit MyFWC.com/Contact.

There are a few of us "Orlando" fishermen on the forum here who enjoy opportunities to meet fellow fishermen and fish together when we can. I'm out near the St. Johns river north east of Orlando, but I work in the tourist trap area and quite often fish around there after work just beating the banks on some of the great canals and lakes and retention ponds down there. But I am open to fishing anywhere in central Florida. What part of Orlando are you in?

I'm glad Florida does not charge me by the rod! Yet! I think I prefer putting limits on the catch rather than putting limits on the tackle! Biggest U.K. Fishing Rod Licence Changes Ever! THE biggest rod licence upheaval ever is underway as the Environment Agency are going to advertise for massive changes this spring 2016. The changes are likely to start in 2017. Proposals include making the licence valid for one year from date of purchase, allowing spessy anglers to pay for a third rod rather than for four, and scrapping the £5 juniors licence so all under 16s don’t have to pay. In an answer to a parliamentary question, Fisheries Minister George Eustice confirmed proposed changes to the licence from April 2017, including “a full year rolling licence rather than a fixed single season; a licence for a maximum of three rods rather than the current two and a free junior licence for anglers under the age of 16.” The Angling Trust welcomed these announcements because it has received a great deal of feedback from members that the current rod licence arrangements are not fair. Anglers who fish three rods, but currently buy a pair of two-rod licences, will be better off. Angling Trust campaigns chief Martin Salter, said: “Carpers will obviously be pleased but tench and bream anglers like myself, who usually fish large pits with two rods at a time, would sometimes like to use a third rod to switch quickly to a new method or to stalk a fish showing in the margins. “Whilst many anglers I know won’t buy two separate licences at the moment, they would be happy to pay a fair price to use a third rod occasionally. We are particularly pleased that the EA have taken this forward and are prepared to forego the income from the £5 junior licence. “I certainly wouldn’t mind paying a bit more for my own licence if it meant that more juniors under 16 could fish for free, because anything that attracts youngsters into our sport has to be good.” (Full length story published in print magazine)

Denny Brauer! One of my all time favorite hero's of bass fishing! (Not Ike! Never)

I beat that bait monkey around the block again today! Scored a really nice deal at a local pawn shop... Shimano TMS-X70MH (Teramar Inshore rod) St.Croix PS66MHF (premier rod) Shimano Stradic 2500FH Shimano Stradic 4000FH I got all of the above for $50.00 out the door! And when I get done selling some of the gear I don't want, it will actually look like the pawn shop paid me to walk out the door with this stuff! But I thought $50 for all of it was a good deal. I looked up the shimano rod and there is one on ebay right now for $120 and the St. Croix rod is listed for $80, the stradics are a couple hundred for both. Not too bad of a deal-day randomly stopping at pawn shops as I drove errands. I got a kick out of one pawn shop that had one Berkley lightning rod marked incorrectly as a Bill Dance signature rod for $59.99 while I just got the good stuff for much less.

Can someone post a video link please? Thanks!

Good seeing you there! Looking forward to some good fishing times this year! Glad you got to do some bass fishing and caught one on your first cast. I love it when that happens on that first cast because you think more are right behind that one and then sometimes you don't catch another one or even get another bite! Hate it when that happens. I was wondering what was going on with WS too. He got way too emotional. Not sure if it was just his win got to him, or the pressure, but he did seem kind of surprised to see some family there who had arrived unannounced. I like how the MC covered for him so he could regain his composure. That was nice of him. Did I hear correctly that this win in Florida has now qualified WS for the classic? Besides all the tail end drama of the weigh in, I was really impressed to see some homies at the top! So glad all the top spots did not go to fishermen not even from Florida. Kind of nice when the home field advantage is an advantage!

It would also depend on the circumstances... Would someone be going up against him on his home turf fishing for smallies they never fished for before, or would he be on their home turf? Or, would both be out of home base? KVD would be tough to beat in any given situation because he has many years of experience under his belt. But it is a toss up when fishing! Even lucky can win sometimes! Even a blind squirrel can find a nut sometimes!

I started a thread on pistol grip rods because I grew up with them and used them for many years. And due to a recent injury have gotten back into using them because of the ease of using them, more like a wand in your hand and so easy to use. I am now expanding my collection of pistol grip rods and modifying some old ones with new guides and spiral wrapping them. Just today I was asking on that thread about boron rods and what are they like??? I really enjoy using the old pistol grip rods. I see that today people are going for longer, and longer rods, but you know, those rod lengths are actually working against the fisherman as far as leverage is concerned. A shorter rod is actually an advantage to the fisherman and his muscles while a longer rod is working against the fisherman. We see this in action with a lot of salt water rods today used for some really big fish are actually only 6 feet long or less to fight huge marlin with for example because a human just does not have the muscle strength to fight a marlin on an 8 foot rod or longer. The leverage is just too great against the human in the fish's favor. The same holds true for the old pistol grip rods. They are shorter, but easier to use all the way around and most users of them swear they are far more accurate when casting. As for the boron rods, I have never used one, but on ebay they are going for $250.00. I can only wonder why? You asked are they keepers? That is up to you. Compare and judge for yourself. Take a read on what others have to say about them and their uses: I'd be thanking him for both of those rods!

Denny Brauer says trim them to about one inch or so. But I would experiment cutting a little at a time on the way down...

I am looking for a couple of good well made pistol grip handles- vintage type- not the new cheapo plastic crap made today. I'd like to make some custom pistol grip rods this year. Right now I am finishing up retro-fitting 3 of my old vintage pistol grip rods with new guides done in spiral wrap. Anyone here know where to buy these "weibe" reel seats? And does anyone have experience with boron rods? What are they like? I've never used one. Are they whippy or, rigid and fast? Any opinions of boron rods? Anyone using them today? Do they still make them I wonder?

Agree. What he said.

This G-Loomis rod just sold for $126.51 + $15 in shipping for a total of $141.51! Not bad for a useless old pistol grip rod! Must just be a wall hanger but I doubt it! I just found another rare shimano pistol grip rod on ebay made of boron. http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPER-RARE-EX-Shimano-BB-1552-Japan-Bantam-Boron-5ft-6in-Casting-Rod-/381535312139?&_trksid=p2056016.m2518.l4276 SUPER RARE EX+++ Shimano BB-1552 Japan Bantam Boron 5ft 6in Casting Rod Buy now price $250.00 plus $11.35 shipping. Double foot guides all the way to the tip, which has an angle to it more extreme than what I am use to I wish I could afford to add this one to my collection of pistol grip rods!

WEIGHT LEADER Wesley A Strader Spring City, TN Weight: 50- 5 BASS PRO SHOPS BIG BASS LEADER (DAILY) Eric Panzironi Longwood, FL Weight: 7- 8 Place Name Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Total Fish Total Weight Fish Weight Fish Weight Fish Weight 1 Wesley A Strader 5 21- 9 5 15-11 5 13- 1 15 50- 5 2 Cody Detweiler 5 14- 7 5 20- 4 5 15- 8 15 50- 3 3 Mark Rose 5 14- 5 5 17-13 5 17-15 15 50- 1 4 Eric Panzironi 5 17-15 5 16-13 5 13- 6 15 48- 2 5 Chad Morgenthaler 5 19-10 5 14-10 5 11- 0 15 45- 4 6 Stetson Blaylock 5 17- 0 5 15-15 5 10- 2 15 43- 1 7 Bobby Lane 5 11- 0 5 17-15 5 13-13 15 42-12 8 Kazuki Kitajima 4 12- 3 5 20- 3 5 8- 3 14 40- 9 9 Ish Monroe 5 16- 1 5 15- 6 5 7- 9 15 39- 0 10 Jason Williamson 5 18- 8 5 14-13 2 2-11 12 36- 0 11 Terry Scroggins 5 13-13 5 17-12 3 4- 6 13 35-15 12 Brad Knight 5 22-11 5 7-10 2 3-11 12 34- 0

Wish I could but I gotta work all day tomorrow, but how about a rain check on that? Tomorrow afternoon at 4PM down at Bass Pro on I-Drive is the weigh in and awards for the Southern open tournament and I plan on attending that event along with at least a couple other members here so join us for that. It should be fun. Where in Winter Park were you planning on fishing? I use to live in Maitland for many years and I am very familiar with Winter Park. I fished every inch of the Winter Park chain of 6 lakes and other places in that area...