N Florida Mike

Some of you may remember I got a good deal on a new Lew’s orange crush combo last year. I like the combo a lot , but have a problem. I set the hook on a 3 pounder , and landed it , but the reel handle bent while I was fighting the fish ! I took a pliers to it , and bent it back close to its own shape, but now it wobbles some. I don’t think the handle is fixable- it’ll probably just do it again. I need a handle and would like the same kind, but now I’m not sure a new one would do the same thing or not. It’s the first time Ive ever had a handle bend like that… Any suggestions?

I had 30 minutes to fish before a thunderstorm and got one on the junebug magnum speed worm…

Just to admit how little I know about ffs, I just found out about it in the last month. I watched a guy on a video catching lots of fish, big ones too, while using ffs. And it was at one of my favorite lakes. He caught more fish there in one day than Ive caught there in years. At first I was excited, but then it faded. To me , it takes a lot of the challenge out of fishing. Whats kind of funny is the friend I fish with just got his first depth finder in his life last year. We always did pretty good without it. We haven’t really figured out how to use it to our advantage yet, and now this… We’re planning a trip in 2 weeks and I promise we will be discussing ffs !!🤣

First real job was working on a farm for around 6 years. I also worked at a gas station , on a shrimpboat, was an assistant pastor and maintenance man at church for awhile, also worked for the county parks for awhile. Got invited by a friend to work at a lawn care company. I switched companies 5 times through the years as opportunities came, and learned the other areas of pest control.Took a year off and did landscaping but went back to pest control the next year, although I did side work in landscaping for years after that. In pest control I was a tech, manager, and sales inspector which I still do now. I also have a part time security job at church. No real high paying jobs, but it’s been enough !

Glad you were in the right place at the right time, and were willing to go the extra mile to see a great outcome!

Tried a couple of our church ponds early this morning. Nothing going on at the pond I get bigger fish in, so I tried another pond and got 3 dinks on the Magnum speed worm. I enjoyed the suspense right before the hook set, then a slight letdown when I realized it was a dink… Went home and cast a little before breakfast, and got a nicer one on the super fluke…

I miss saltwater fishing for several fish in particular. Redfish, flounder,sheepheads, to name a few. My schedule hasn’t been good to let me get back to these fish. + I don’t have a boat for that at present…

Use Shiners ! 😉

The fishing in my lake has declined steadily in the last 3 years after starting to see otters again. My best day 3 years ago was 35 also, and a 7.6 the same year with an 8.1 the year before . Im hard pressed to catch 10 in the same amount of time, and fish even over 4 pounds seem to be rare. If I could get a shot at the dern things I’d take it…

Slow at work so I hit the water around 3:15 to dark. Windy , sunny and cool. Decided to fish around our Island first and they weren’t there. Moved on down to the south end , and finally got one on a super fluke. Caught a couple more on it before switching to the Uv speed worm. Got a few more, then switched to a 10 inch grape shad culprit worm, and got 2-3 more as the sun set. I was a little suprised the bite wasn’t better. Got every fish dead sticking . Still cant find any real big fish, although Im seeing some bedding going on . I think the otters may have really decimated our fish over 5 pounds…🙁 All in all, a relaxing afternoon on the water though …

I’ve never played hockey, or been to a game , but I’m not opposed to it. ( Going to a game, not playing lol ) I think I’d enjoy it more than golf or soccer anyway.

Nobody on my side of the family that I know of has had diabetes. I have eaten a lot of sugary treats but it doesn’t affect my blood sugar in a negative way. My game plan for sugar control is not total abstinence, but moderation. I almost never buy snacks with sugar anymore, but if there’s free stuff at work or church, Im down for it . Even then, I don’t gorge myself with them. I’ve even cut way back on the sweet tea… and that says a lot ! Excess sodium is a bigger problem for me, and I watch that very carefully! Im glad you are seeing good results from that Koz. Here’s to healthy eating!

Not sure I’m understanding the concept…🤔. I have a hard enough time catching them WITH hooks…

I’m not sure what the heck y’all are talking about, but whatever it is, I hope my work doesn’t start using it…

Ive done real well with red shad culprit worms in a variety of waters. My 2nd best producing crankbait is mostly red. Not that I fish with it much though. I did real well once with the 4 inch orange senko, but never had much success on it after that. Ive caught a couple fish on an orange finesse worm but I rarely fish it anymore…

Sorry you had a bad day. I fished a 2 day tournament once, and my boat cracked open after hitting a big wave on lake George ( Fl). We patched the crack, but the next day the motor wouldn’t start. So we just trolled along starting at the ramp and still got 3rd place… Sometimes aggravations can be blessings in disguise…

Congratulations Katie!

It’s at Blountsville, which may be a little too far north for them. At least for a large population of them anyway.

Not me. I’ve fished for around 60 years now, and never get tired of it. I don’t go as much or as long as I used to, but time and age does that to you…

Grew up in mandarin/southside. Fished Julington a lot growing up. Also numerous ponds in the area. I fish mandarin park a lot and don’t catch much in there either, although I got a 7 pounder there years ago. Baits: I use texas rigged soft plastics with as little weight as possible. Flukes, senkos, yum dingers, UV speed worms ,trick worms, culprit worms, baby brush hogs, to name my favorites. Julington is next to impossible if you don’t have a boat. If you do, get up in the canals and fish slowly with big, dark colored worms. The bite has been pretty slow recently. They are started to bed, and that will increase in the next 2 weeks. If you have access to lake mandarin, fish there. I HAD access from a customer but never took advantage of it. Be encouraged though, the area has plenty of fish to be caught!

Im very nostalgic. The thing that gets to me the worst is the absurd amount of development in my area. I remember how it used to be. I’ve always been an outdoorsman. Most of My favorite fishing and hunting spots are now shopping centers , apartments and subdivisions. The culture I grew up with is mostly gone forever, along with most of the people. At least I got to see it how it used to be. I’m finally at a place where I could leave. But Im not financially able. Im also realistic. Spending time dwelling on how it was doesn’t help at all. Im very thankful for my present life , which is probably better than 90% of the rest of the world, and I have a bright future in store with the Creator. So , even though I’m a country boy stuck in the suburbs, I can survive and thrive in spite of the changes.!!

Finally got a decent fish on a grape shad culprit worm.

^^ This … Id swear the fishing was better then , in N. Florida anyway, when we kept most of the fish, than now, after 30 years or so of catch and release…maybe because the state’s population is 3 times what it was then?

Mine is an older I phone . I don’t think it can do that. It’s easy enough to down size it by going to the app each time. Its a lot easier than the way I used to put them in the br photo gallery.

What kind of phone do you have?