N Florida Mike

I agree that more often than not a bass will explode when they hit something on top water. But not always. I caught a 7.3 once , on a booyah pad crasher frog. I had thrown the frog between a dock and some grass. I had not twitched the frog yet. I heard a splash out in the lake behind me, so I turned to look. When I looked back, I didn’t see my frog. I noticed the slightest ripple where my frog had been - no splash or sound. The line was moving to the right- I set the hook and landed the fish. That fish basically sipped in that frog. Very delicate take for such a big fish.

As far as Gator speed is concerned, I totally believe they can run 30 mph. But it is for a short distance only. I’ve never seen or heard of a Gator giving chase to run down its prey , except short distances . It’s just a short, quick burst and they either catch it or miss. But they don’t keep running after something. I spooked a 10+ footer on the bank once ( I was in a boat) When it saw me it stiffened, then ran ( very quickly) down the bank, into the water, went under my boat, and through a pad field, pulling down the tops as he went. I believe that one ran that fast for the short distance he ran...

I love that show. I do sometimes get a little bored with it . I like it best when they mix it up with family and friends gathering together and do other stuff, like froggin, crawfishing, etc. My favorites are the Landry’s and Edwards families. They seem the most authentic, and especially willie Edwards. He catches the most big Gators by himself . The show has similarities to some of my friends where and when I was growing up. One of them killed a 14 ft Gator and the other a 11.5. within a half mile of each other on a creek off the St Johns. Both of them were pre- teens at the time. I could tell you some stories about those two... real Florida crackers.

Carp

Nothing is much different for me. Plan to fish tomorrow afternoon out back as usual. I was out working on my dock a little while ago and a neighbor was coming in from fishing . They had caught 11. First time I’ve ever seen him out fishing. Almost nobody fishes the lake but me. Can’t understand why you’d even want to live on a lake and never fish.

I’m very good at it with spinning but not casting gear. Not planning to learn. - I ain’t got time for that, lol. It seems to me more of the pros use spinning anyway...just sayin’

My best guess would be around 500 last year. In my life? ? ??‍♂️??‍♂️

Very glad for you Darren.

SMH. ^^ Trying to get pizza for the family. 8 people waiting + the workers in a little room about 20 by 6. If I wasn’t sick I may be now! Hungry maybe but... Aint skeered! ? Now people are getting p.0d they’ve been waiting so long. Employees arguing now. Been here 40 minutes.Still no pizza. Never again!

Same here. I take steps away and they keep trying to close the gap. ?

? I had a Briggs and Stratton that lasted around 16 years for me and it was a few years old when I bought it!

The son in law does some scrapping . One day he found a moderately aged motor guide trolling motor laying out at someone’s trash. All that was wrong was it needed new clamps put on!! It could have been used without em! Put a 5.00 pair of clamps on it and got over 5 years out of it!

You can’t fish anywhere?? Busy again today. People are home and finding stuff wrong.Got 3 appts already scheduled tomorrow. Thought Id be slow, so I kept my fishing stuff in the work car, but haven’t even had it out since I started the post! Got a lot of lost ground to make up though...I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

My situation is that I am 100% paid by commission for what I sell. I have not lost my job , because we are considered “ essential “. But I haven’t sold near as much because some people are scared to buy anything right now. Had 2 potential customers tell me that yesterday. My wife was laid off right before the virus got here. She says the mortgage co. won’t help us because neither one of us lost our jobs because of the virus. I hope she’s wrong. I’m going to call them anyway. We’re already almost one month behind.

Picked up an all day side job today for this Saturday that will help . Trying to decide whether to do it all myself or get an out of work relative to help . Think I’m going to try and do it all myself. Got another smaller side job that I’m planning to do the next Saturday , good Lord willing .

Found out yesterday that we are considered “ essential” . Getting a lot of stops I guess because people are home and see the needs that they wouldn’t have seen had they been at work. Driving’s a breeze- no traffic!?

Wore em out this afternoon on the zoom super fluke in watermelon seed and red. Biggest was 4.1 . Most were caught dead sticking the bait , and the biggest fish were caught fishing the slowest. My favorite kind of weather. Cloudy , 5-10 breeze blowing the way you want it to. Temps in the 70s. Nice get away for me today.

Merry Christmas!

^^9 Another Ruby...

Same here.

I changed my hot water heater before. Hooked it up and it leaked pretty good at the fittings. A little extra thread tape and we were good . One of my sons is a plumber by trade so he keeps ours in good shape nowdays.