N Florida Mike

I went out offshore fishing with son and wife in his boat on Saturday.Haven't done that in a few years.I was skunked for the most part.He caught a 25-30 pound red snapper and my wife caught one 4-5 pounds.My biggest was a 3 pound or so amberjack.I had 3 fish break off 60 pound power pro.Kind of a humbling experience for me.But it was still fun to experience Gods creation with family.Got to see dolphins, sea turtles and big schools of spadefish on the wrecks.Not sure what the big fish were but I couldn't gain much line on them before it broke.

I fished a tournament on a lake I knew very well . I always caught a lot there And had a couple good patterns worked out.So on tournament day I'm super excited.No mechanical problems but that day the fish were not biting as good as usual.I missed every fish all day and had a hawg break me off under a dock.But I didn't quit and caught one(barely) keeper fish 5 minutes before the deadline at the boatramp.So at least I placed and got points toward angler of the year.So hang in there.

Mainly because my dad took me.When I was 4 I caught some kind of little fish while fishing at Ft Fisher NC.When I was 8 or so I caught a good size black drum while surf fishing at ocean isle beach in NC.Then I was hooked and wanted to go all the time( when I wasn't playing baseball).I started bass fishing when I was 14-15.And its consistently been my favorite although I love all kinds of fishing.I do it now for fellowship with friends and family and God,sometimes for food( although we usually eat more saltwater and other freshwater fish than bass.) And just because they're really interesting and fun to catch.I think they're really cool fish.The adrenaline rush when a fish picks up the worm..Enjoying time on the water but seeing the lights on at home down the lake...Feeling that nice little breeze as you make your way up the lake..Seeing the G-kids excitement in catching even a small fish...The shock of a fish nailing a top water bait when you least expected it...Seeing bass bedding around the full moon when you were expecting they would...And on and on And on.....

A 5/0 hook helps too.I use a lot of Zoom z hogs too which is like a frog but your catch rate is very good.But you can use them with the 3/0 wide angle hooks.

4-5 pounds

I cut chunks of bream up but don't use the heads for anything but chum.If there's a catfish around he'll eat it.Don't have problems hooking them-they hook themselves.

Love that lake.Used to fish it a lot.

Carp.

Now that's dedication man.

This is the one about my friends one that got away ( and the tournament with it) Our club had its monthly tournament at lakes Sampson and Rowell in Bradford county FL.We fished Rowell mostly and had a good bag going.I had Just picked off several good fish and my friend hooked at least a 4 pounder.Well, he was a net guy so he's yelling for me to get the net.But its buried under rod and reels.I get it out about the time the fish jumps and bonks into the boat and...gets off.Its like 15 minutes before weigh in.We came in 2nd by a pound or so.

My word.

Yeah I love blue side of the mountain by the steeldrivers

I was thinking how good all my fishing trips had gone for a long time now.I've got a system now, and as long as I stick to it, things usually go well. Enter my new(used) kayak.Somehow it keeps filling up with water.I thought it was the lack of a plug.So I used a large pencil type bobber to plug the hole.I had about 2 hours when the wife and mom went out.So I hastily get everything together and at the last minute decide to take my cell phone just in case.So I find a ziplock bag and make sure ( twice) that its sealed.I head out and get to my first spot. I keep checking where the phone is to MAKE SURE its staying dry.I probably checked 10 times and its high and dry.So in the meantime I get a large fish that followed my baby brush hog.It engulfed it and swims off.So I swing and the fish pulls off.Dang!So I fish a little more, look over, and now my phone is lying in water and it somehow seeped into the bag.So I paddle all the way back home with the yak full of water( again)In going as fast as I can to dry the phone iut( usually sticking it in a bag filled with rice will save it.So I get home and there's only 1 small bag of rice so I supplement it with some garlic mash potatoe mix.So now the phone smells like garlic and still doesn't work. So I regroup during the afternoon and find a couple small holes and patch them.zHeaded back out in late evening and caught 5 or 6.But I missed10 Including 2 big fish.Can't seem to get the hang of setting the hook in a kayak.Yak leaked a little but not as bad.I think In going back to my familiar Jon boat.And I'm almost back on track with this NEW phone.

I'm lazy sometimes and use a small one.Not that I use weight much at all.I feel like a bait sinking slower gets bit more.I mainly use a split shot when I fish a light bait , such as a baby brush hog around downed trees esp.Also in deeper water.

I don't fish a lot of traditional topwater baits, but I fish senkos a lot on top at dusk.Usually black.Nearly any T- rigged plastic across matted cover also.I used to miss more because I'd react too fast, but I've gotten better at it through the years.Had one the other night that came completely through a weed mat and flipped over so his tail was up.Not completely sure if he hit it coming up or going down but he just blew up on it.

Dang.Must have been a full moon or something.

Same here

Here it is.Its a pelican

Thanks.I'll try it.

It doesn't affect the natural presentation of it?

Thanks for all the help.Still assessing what to add etc.

Nice.We all need a break sometimes!!

??? What's that?

And it's such a productive lake for bass and always has been.Its a numbers lake but I get a lot of 3-6 pound fish.The main thing is keeping on a chore schedule .If I'm caught up on that, then the wife doesn't mind the fishing.But I can do a little casting between chores to satisfy the urge to fish.

The fish love the ymsnkos but there only good for 1-2 fish and they tear up.The 5 inch ones usually last for 2-3 fish.