N Florida Mike

What an encouragement. This is what it's all about y'all. Look for someone to show kindness to this year !!☺

At least 8 pounds.

I usually fish all winter , but man , this next week is looking rough. Highs in the 30S and 40S here, which is pretty rare. So , when I don't fish , . I clean up my fishing room and re-organize tackle and service and reline reels. And check frequently on Bassresource.

I culled 150 bass out of my lake this year to thin the herd so the fish's average size would improve. I'm sure I released at least as many as I kept , and that doesn't include fish caught elsewhere. So , at least 300 bass. That doesn't include other species that I don't track at all. It was a fairly good year for big fish. (not if you compare to 18ranger ) but I got one over 8 , and one over 7. several more over 4.

Same dog bit me a long time ago !?

Wow, only 3 months? Try Roy Clark on the pick in. The man could play anything.

I heard " my last day in earth " and some " cluck ol hen " Wish I could figure out how to post a video. My son can play guitar , mandolin , bass , banjo , and ukelalie. He's gotten into that progressive stuff , like Chris Thile plays these days.

I wouldn't try to tell someone how to spend their money but even if I was rich monetarily , I don't think I could spend 400.00 on a rod, or even 300.00. I think the most I've ever spent on a COMBO was 130.00. I'm happier and content catching fish with what I have , which is definitely not high-end.

What the heck is a cliff bar ?

I only pack a lunch if going all day. Black Coffee at home before leaving and at the store on the way.Usually a ham & cheese or turkey sammich , Snicker bar, honey bbq lays tater chips, Nabs , waters and a cherry coke zero to drink on the way home. Had the urge for a banana on last week's salt water trip. I am 99 % not superstitious but I confess I did think about it when I bought it. After about an hour and a half of fishing and nothing but a shark and dinks being caught , I suddenly remembered the banana and ate it real quick. I threw the peel overboard .We ended up having a good day with some nice fish.

I second the motion on shiners but you better start saving up for them now, 'cause they ain't cheap unless you catch your own. I've never fished Harris but I'd try 10 inch red shad , black grape ,or tequila sunrise culprits or ol' monster worms.? I think " hez" lives on or near Harris but I haven't seen him on here lately.

I got a 25.00 gift card to Academy. That should just about pay for a new scale. My old one just quit working the other day. And no , it wasn't the batteries. If I had another 25 , I would stock up on senkos and flukes. I am way low on them right now.

Lonnie , Im trying my best to keep y'all entertained .? From what I'm seeing on the weather channel , it looks kind of bleak up there. Not exactly warm here today either. Global warming at its best !?

Was planning to go again today after finishing a 5 hour project. So I had everything ready to go around 2:30 And my wife says " Can you pick up some pizza for supper at 4 ? " I tried to cover my aggravation with her request. I'm thinking, I already did all this work and now this ? Anyway , I got it a little early and got on the water by 4.Cold for here, cloudy,and slick calm. Decided to start fishing east side of the island. Got this fish on a watermelon seed ol' monster off a brush pile, and another on a 4 inch Senko. Caught a 10 inch fish on the 10 inch ol monster , then a short time later had a big un follow and engulf it. Must have not had it all the way in his mouth , because I swung and missed. Then, the bite pretty much died for the last half hour.

Aunt Jemima!!?

Usually to the side. It has a tendency to go upward even with a sideways twitch. I also occasionally catch one just reeling it in across vegetation. I fish them all year but I probably use them more from spring to early fall.

I play 5- string banjo in the Scruggs style. I love bluegrass, bluegrass gospel , and old-time music. And some of the old country. I love Jerry Reed as well. Favorite bluegrass band is the Stanley brothers and Ralph Stanley and the Clinch mtn. boys. but I love Flatt and Scruggs , and Bill Monroe, esp. his instrumentals. And Ricky Skaags , Alison Krause to name a few. Also a wide- range of others. I could talk for hours on this subject! I haven't met hardly anyone that listens to the old time mountain music ( where bluegrass came from ) , but I love it as well. A lot of these musicians are fairly obscure ( or dead ) but you tube has opened up a lot of it that you couldn't have heard before.

I use spinning primarily , but have used flukes with bait casters. Zoom super flukes will cast fine with your gear. I Texas rig them and use no weight. I use a 3/0 wide angle gamakatsu hook. I catch most of my fish just throwing it out and letting it sink.Let it sit for 20 seconds or more. If they don't want it that way , after letting it sit , twitch twice and pause and repeat. I use primarily watermelon colors but have others in my fluke box.

I grew up in the area and would be glad to help. Send me a pm and we'll get started. Mike

It's low 50s for a high today , and misty rain.Toughing it out !?

You'll shoot your eye out!!?

I got out again yesterday around 4. I decided to fish the North east to east side of the lake , which has usually been the least productive part of the lake. Conditions were cloudy , cool , and almost calm.I caught this fish within 10 minutes after starting on the trick worm , and caught a few more before dark.

You're on the right track. My little lake is similar to yours. The fish want a slow, natural looking drop. I try to go as weightless as possible. I think one of the biggest keys to success on a small water body is rotating baits. I have 8-10 favorite soft plastics I use. Most often , I get the notion to start with a particular bait , based on the current conditions , time of year , or just a gut feeling. I go with that game plan , and can adapt if needed. My current top 5 that I rotate , ( kind of like a football team substituting players in and out ) : Senko type baits Zoom flukes Zoom trick worms Ribbon tail type worms Creature type baits : Zoom baby brush hogs, super speed craws These are my first team . I have others that are like a second team. I also do fairly well with spinnerbaits around floating weeds mats , and with hollow body frogs , and swimming frogs. One bait that gets little popularity but works well for me in the summer is the Zoom Z- hog. Color :My lake is slightly stained ( Fairly clear ), so I do very well with watermelon seed on cloudy days ,and wat. red on sunnier days. Grape is another good color , and tequila sunrise. I use June bug or black grape in low light. I have tried jigs ( and will try again ) with no success . I cannot use crankbaits without getting a wad of weeds each time. I am experimenting with various topwater baits. The best has been the devils horse. But to emphasize rotating baits : Don't use the same bait every time. Find baits / colors that work well and add them to your tool chest. Then you can pull them out based on your past experience ( log )?? as conditions or gut instinct leads you. I also try not to overfish my home lake ( its very hard not to ). If fish get too much pressure they are harder to catch in general. Hope this helps !