N Florida Mike

Around where I live,theres so much development I think the wild animals arent sure which way to go . Theyll be a new development and old growth swamp or woods right behind it.A 600 pound hog was killed recently in a back yard of a neighborhood that borders the last big uninterrupted woods in SE Duval county.Old meets new. Our new Northeastern citizens are especially amazed ( or appalled ) by the amount of critters behind their houses.

I was surf fishing one time and the current dragged my line over the guys line next to me .Instead of trying to untangle it( which is always what most people do ) He cut MY line, and had his little daughter bring me what was left.I was really ticked off, because he lost or kept my weight ,then the manly man sends his little girl over to do his job.I stared at him for probably 30 seconds and he just kept his head turned.I had to leave,which is my way of staying out of a confrontation that surely would have happened in my former life.The thing that calmed me down slightly was that I heard him tell her something I think in french,and I didnt want to scare her anyway.So maybe thats how they do it there....?? Maybe Im just more bad tempered than I should be.

Ive caught 40-50.1 fish over 8 pounds,and a 4 pounder.Several 3s. A lot of dinks this year.

I think yall are confused about what I meant.I dont take that long to set the hook.I mean I let the bait SIT that long before I start working it back in. I do probably take longer than most but never 20 seconds,!

How'd the tournament go ? Nice fish.

Unique ,but I rarely kill a bass unless Im culling some out.Ive caught hundreds of fish this way and cant remember 1 fish over 3 pounds that I didnt release healthy. If the fish is gut hooked I cut the line and back the hook out backwards so the barb isnt involved. Im not talking about a long time here,just longer than most.I just lose a lot of fish setting too early.

I fish a senko a lot,but usually weightless. After I cast,I watch the line.,sometimes youll see the twitch and the line may slightly tighten as the fish moves. After waiting maybe 10-20 seconds, I pick up and feel gently.If a fish is on youll probably feel a peck or slight surge to let you know there's a fish on.You will almost always see motion as the fish will move once he takes the bait. I have missed more fish by setting the hook too early than too late.The exception to this would be if you see the line heading into an area you have a good chance of losing the fish in ( docks,weeds,pilings etc.) In that situation I set the hook immediately. So when I feel the tap or see the movement I swing the boat if needed,get myself in position,see which way the fish is going,and I may even pull on the drag to make sure its just right.THEN I set the hook.I usually sweep set horizontally to the water and will usually hook any fish except sometimes not dinks. The way I tell the difference between a fish and weeds is feeling the peck or seeing the movement. If it dont peck or move it aint a fish!!!

Ive been interested in F Panthers for many years.I can take you to the exact spot where the last known panther was shot in Duval county in the 60s.It was killed in a magnolia tree in mandarin fl,which is southern duval.Where I grew up. And I have been to bok tower once when I was a kid.Pleasant memory of being with my parents.As I recall,it looked out over miles of citrus groves.

We have had panther sightings for years,even though FWC would say there are none up here. I think they are overall a very good agency, but they consistently hold that there are no panthers in North and west Florida.I sometimes wonder if theres something political going on with it.Even though development has changed NE Florida there are still a lot of woods panthers can hide in.There was one that was killed way up in GA that had travelled all the way from S Florida and was determined by DNA to be the cub of a known female in S Fl. I may have seen one when I was 10 or 11.off hwy 1 N of st Augustine.It jumped out,saw us and jumped right back in the brush. Just saw a quick glimpse.

Bears regularly seen in st johns county just south of where I am.There was a panther run over in st johns county a few years ago.

No bears ?

Yeah man it happens. I lost a 5 pounder last week pulling me into some eel grass.Broke the line ?. My favorite reel is n the shop so I was using a spare.The drag didnt slip when it should have,so now it's retired to catfishing.( old wore out reel ) The funny thing is,after the line broke,the fish jumped completely out of the water as if to say " See ya! " I actually about had a melt down.Have lost several big fish this year due to unforseen circumstances But I got my 3rd biggest fish ever this year.? Look at it this way- you are close to great sucess just getting the fish to bite what your throwing.Good job on the " rebound "fish !!

They are probably getting used to what youre throwing. ?

I carry a decent outfit in my work truck tool box but not my best stuff.I dont seem to have any problem.

Theres probably bass in there.I have been skunked more than once in ponds I had caught plenty of fish in before. All good advice above. My favorite 3 baits mentioned above are senkos,super flukes,and zoom trick worms.If the waters fairly clear,use watermelon colors.If its murky,use black/ blue. I do better weightless,but thats another thread topic!! I fish my way slowly to drains,then fish them REAL slow.I catch more fish somewhat parallel to the bank,instead of casting straight out. Some of the biggest bass I ever caught were the only ones I caught at a particular location.There may not be many,but they may be monsters ,esp. if its 15 years old or more.

2 girls on a farm got attacked by a rabid one in the next county over and thay finally shot him.I was wondering if this one was too,since he was running around in the daytime.

Working in a residential area right by the river today mid morning and this fox comes running Cross the road.I was like dang are you lost ? Hopefully yall can enlarge the pic.and see him( or her)Its just right of Center at the bush. Share some of youre animal pics.

cloudy days: watermelon seed. Sunny days: Watermelon red low light: June bug,or darker colors. I have had a good bite occasionally on the grape with green sparkle and chartreuse tail also. Talking fairly clear water for these. For the Yamamoto senkos these may not be the named color but try to get the closest to these you can.

Maybe I missed something with this "rate of fall" thing. I used to use a 1/4 oz weight a lot and switched mostly to no weight.Occasionally I will use a bb shot now but only to help cast very light baits. Since I switched to weightless,my catch rate has gone up 75%. Not saying anyones wrong but its different strokes for different folks I guess. I will fish more weight if its real windy or deep water but otherwise,its weightless.

Bass hunter and jon boat.Keepin' it simple.

I sold my bass boat to avoid all the upkeep hassle.Bought a jon boat ,kayak,and bass hunter through the years.Less hassle,but Ive had leaks in the jon and kayak,and have had lots of trolling motor issues because thats about all thats left to go wrong! Most of them are battery issues. I was buying a new( so I thought) battery every year or so for 40-50 bucks from a local battery store.Came to find out that they were rebuilt batteries,thats why they were so cheap,and didnt last long. Ive learned a lot about batteries but they are mysterious at times.

We call em mudfish in my area.( bowfin that is) I hooked one over10 pounds once while bass fishing with live shiners and thought it was a huge bass until I got it almost up on the bank.It started snapping with those cutters and bit through the line and flopped back in. I wasnt heartbroken.

Got out for awhile this evening and got this 4.3 not long before dark.Caught her at what I call " big hole " the deepest water in the home lake.Caught her on a 5 inch senko,purple with a chartreuse tail. Caught 4 other fish too,some on the watermelon trick worms. Seen a decent fish on a bed but couldn't get her to eat.She did chase a lizard once. Nice,cool evening on the water.

Overall : Jesus loves me. Fishing: There he is.

28 in NE Fla.this morning. I believe its only the 2nd freeze we've had this winter. The fishing was just starting to get good too......