South FLA

Here is a great sunset pic over Presa Gustavo Díaz Ordaz (Lake Baccarac) and the Sierra Madre mountain range that surrounds it. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to land any monsters, however witnessing Dwight's PB catch will forever be etched in my mind, The place is magical and I hope to get back soon!

Yeah, that's me. I get that alot about Adam Sandler, lol!

Darn it! Can't get out of the Kitchen!

Trust me I know, if you are thinking to move to Sunny South FL, I can help you out with the process at Beach Town Real Esate. Think Juno Beach, warm winters, snook (like bass, but in saltwater and BIGGER) and no state income tax. Please disregard my previous post about murky waters, gators, humidity and temperature.

What up J?!!!

Thanks A-Jay! Glad you're liking the Hawg Handle, ... shameless plug!

Hello all! It has been awhile since I have posted, I like the changes (Bravo Glenn!) and I am glad the forum is still going strong helping out fellow fishermen and women! I am posting to get some recommendations for my family's 2019 Summer Vacation (Mid July to Early August, for 7-10 days). I want a place that offers not only good smallmouth bass fishing opportunities in the SE, but also has lake front housing for rent and that is reasonably close (1 to 2 hours) to a metro area, but not too busy (something unlike Lanier). We have two boys, 5 and 9, that I will most likely be pulling behind the boat tubing when we aren't fishing or exploring the lake (Easy navigation, don't want a lake with tons of unmarked rock reefs or sunken trees or unmarked channels/hazards), I will be towing my Ranger 2410 bay boat from S. Florida. My wife, being a Florida native, isn't a big fan of murky waters with creatures that can eat you, so water clarity and lack of gators/ameobas is important (I think most of you will understand...lol). Lastly temperature is important, we are tired of 95 degree days with 95% humidity and 85 degree nights w/ 99% humidity, and water temperatures that feel like a hot tub at night! So think fishing, tubing, clear water, no gators, with nice lake front housing with easily navigation that is close enough to other activities for kids/wife to enjoy! I was thinking the following lakes based solely on fishing, but need to know if they would be satisfy the above requirements, but I am open to others. 1. Pickwick Lake 2. Dale Hollow 3. Kentucky Lake 4. Chickamauga Lake 5. Cherokee Lake Dwight you can text me your recommendations. Thanks in advanced!

http://www.okeechobeeprostevedaniel.com/ Class act knows the lake the the back of his hand and can give you some pointers navigating.

Man, nail biter of a game! Go Noles tonight!

Recently upgraded my Garmin on my older (2003) Ranger and wanted to post pics for you DIYers. I used the Bass Boat Tech mount and all I can say is "What a perfect fit!" Used my existing custom hole shot plate to mount the transducer, took some pictures for you to view.

Another vote for a Tatula, coming from someone that has owned and FISHED just about every reel on the market as part of Hawg Tech. Smokes are great for about a full fishing season, great casters and I will leave it at that, Tatulas bang for $$$j but are impossible to beat.

Keg belly right there!

My rights stop where they start encroaching on the rights of others! So if I am fishing and someone catches a bass, bluegill, etc and its legal to keep and they choose to keep it, then so be it! Its not my place to use my paradigm to judge his or her actions. In your position, your mom wanted to be nice and you as her son respected her wishes. So you in my opinion you did the right thing and respected her in front of total strangers. However, you could talk to your mom later and say "Hey mom, I believe XYZ (explain your logic) and thought that in the future if anything like this happens, I would feel better if I could release the bass." Not to hijack the thread, but what do you fellas do when you know a bass isn't going to make it because it was gill hooked our otherwise and is of legal limit? I keep'em since I have a cousin that will eat anything, and he sure fries up a nice bass and even if my cousin wasn't around I would keep them. However, I know some friends and relatives that no matter what release them, to be part of nature's cycle. I see it as waste, they see it as feeding other animals (turtles, fish, gators, etc), By the way small bass are much better than HAWGS to eat!

Shimano for sure and as fishnkamp says try the Tatula! I have sold off all my Quantum other than one, use to love the Smokes, but not after heavy use too much play develops. I'll chime in on the bearings, for the most part factory bearings that are in good to excellent condition when cleaned and lubed properly are great performers, they cast great and are silent. I have some reels that have factory spool bearings that I keep clean and lubed and for the application they suffice and performance difference of a ABEC 7 ceramic is not needed, cast heavy lures for short distances (1/2 spinner baits, buzzbaits, bombing snook sized jerk baits,etc.). However, I don't care if its Boca Bearings, Hedge Hog Studios, Hawg Tech bearings, or any other high quality ABEC 5 or 7 ceramics, they will absolutely outcast brand new factory SS bearings that are cleaned and lubed correctly if its the correct scenario, no doubt about it! So just be careful when you hear blanket statements without explanations. Now, depending on what application is, is it necessary? Casting lures that catch wind then not so much (think big buzz-baits, spinner baits, blade baits), flipping super light lures ceramics will require less effort, tough to describe, but you'll notice when you do. Bombing 5/8oz lipless lures then give me ceramics. It depends on application and what you desire out of your setup. The quote "You don't need a Porsche to go to the corner store," comes to mind, but you may need it to win a track race or turn heads on way to corner store! Also, ask yourself if your factory bearings suffice and if they are in good shape, why replace them? However, if your required application benefits from further cast and your factory bearings need replacing, why not consider replacing with ceramics? All bets are off if you want silent bearings, ceramics lose that battle. I can guarantee that if you take a factory new SS ball bearings vs brand new high quality ABEC 5 or 7 ceramics and you give a 7' Tatula Frog Rod, 30-50lb braid of choice, a Shimano Curado E, I, Lews SS, Revo or other quality bait-casting reel of choice and a Spro Bronzeye or Popping frog, I and any skilled caster can out cast properly maintained and lubed factory bearings. Ceramics are louder yes, you can add oil and slow them down and make them quiet, but if you do you just defeated the purpose. It like putting bald tires that are too skinny on the Porsche, you can't get the power to the pavement. To back my statement up, I will pay your plane ticket or gas bill to my house for a 2 day weekend fishing trip (please give me least a 2 week advanced notice), put you up in my pool house with loaded refrigerator and cold beverages, and take you fishing on my Ranger Bay or Ranger Intracoastal for Peacock Bass, LM, or Snook depending on what's biting. However, at the end of your trip we will go down to the local Gander Mountain, buy a new bait-casting reel of your choice to test and mount it on my frog rod and run the test in my backyard canal/pond system, if the ABEC 7 Hawg Tech or Boca or Hedge Hog bearings (you bring Hedge Hogs or Bocas) don't outcast factory SS bearings on the setup I just described, I will go back on this forum eat my words and say that SS factory bearings are equivalent to ABEC 5 or 7 ceramics when it comes to casting distance. However, if factory bearings don't outcast Hawg Tech bearings, I expect you to return the favor in your neck of the woods or reimburse me for at least the plane ticket/gas money and come onto this forum and say otherwise. Deal? Just send me a PM and we can schedule it. It will be fun! Here are the assumptions 1. New or like new SS factory bearings that are properly cleaned and lubed (Shimano Oil, Abu Oil, Rocket Fuel, etc) 2. New or like new quality ABEC 5 or 7 Ceramic Hybrid bearings that are clean without any lubrication 3. Same rod, new in box factory reel, and same lure setup as described above or my lipless crankbait setup. Only difference is the reel bearings when comparing casting distance in similar conditions. 4, Full casting effort is made every-time and you don't fluff cast on ceramics or ss bearings. Why do I know this because i have run this test various times using new out of the box reels to test! Not just one or two reels, but 20-30 reels at least and it does make a difference, is it a waste of money, it depends on who you ask and the application, does it merit changing bearings out, that is subjective, but I can test my objective claims.

Once you find out where the spots are, lets go fishing in November, my deer camp is in Merriwether county..... I have access to some private waters too!

If you have a small boat Lake Catherine and connecting canals are all pretty good towards the N. end of Palm Beach County, middle you have Lake Clarke Shores, Palm Beach Canal, South County Lake Ida, out West you have Loxahatchee national wildlife refuge. My favorite for top secret spot that is not so secret and you can rent canoes and float down the river fishing for some Hawgs is River Bend Park. Lastly, any of the many canals, retention ponds and golf courses have tons of bass in them, I dare to say better fishing in small waters than places like Lake Okeechobee and Everglades National Park.

Mounted in my livewell

I did the research and asked around, called Yamaha and spoke with an engineer for a local boat manufacturer and they both recommended that if clearance is not an issue than trailer your boat with the engine trimmed down and jack plate all the way down. However, I don't know of one bass boat that can clear the road when fully trimmed down, so I use a product called Moto-Stop, yes expensive and most likely over kill since you can basically do the job with a correctly fitted piece of PVC, but to each his own. Here is what Yamaha has to say about it: How should I transport my Yamaha outboard motor? Proper transportation is important, because an improper transport can cause damage to your outboard, or boat or trailer, and, more seriously, could lead to personal injury. Check your Owner’s Manual carefully for instructions, as the procedures vary from model to model. Yamaha now offers an accessory for transporting called “Outboard Trailering Support.” Learn more about the Outboard Trailering Support, as it is not designed to be used with every model. You may visit the Parts & Service section to view owner's manuals for 1998 and newer outboard motors or you can order your manual online.

Mostly, nothing! Unless I know its a Hawg and I say "get the net" since I have been fishing with saltwater sized trebles and don't want my partner bleeding like a stuffed pig later...lol. Saltwater its all about the FISH ON!

No my family high tailed it out of there when the Castor regime, came knocking on the door and confiscated all of my father's property (farm, vehicles, and arms) for the the good of the people, so I refuse to go back until they return our property. However, family members I have in Cuba say the fishing is excellent if you are a tourist, as they do not allow locals to fish the reservoirs , unless you are ranking governing official, know someone, or work for the government as a guide.

if short-term forecast are inaccurate..........

I'm your huckleberry....I live in Palm Beach Gardens, just south of Palm City and I can show you the lay of the Lake if you'd like. I launch most of the the time out of J&S, OkeeTantie and Henry Creek, all on the East/North side, but know the entire lake well, been fishing/hunting (Incredible Duck if you got the time to scout) it since I was a kid (over 30 years) and know plenty of guides' secrets (shhhh...in..er...S) and the community holes. Also know the areas that are risky when levels drop below 13.5ft....! Usually don't tournament fish, but know plenty of 5 by 3 dudes, that fish for the $$$$. Do you own a boat? Send me an Email to Robert@hawgtech.com to coordinate and welcome to the BR community, place is full of great information and genuinely nice people, one piece of advice avoid that Dwight character he'll get you kicked off prime bass spots.....

Online auction site and search for Tatula.... $93.88 with free shipping and be happy!

Any dominant gators follow you on the Yaks down the canal as you were slaying HAWGS? Congrats on area you scoped, gotta love Google Earth and honey holes!

Wish I was this cool, but I am not. I have left the plug on top of the bumper and forgot plug before I left the house on a 45 minute trip to ramp, forgot to take rear straps off and wondered why the boat would not come off trailer, forgot the motor support was on, forgot to untie the front strap, forgot to trim motor up fully when leaving ramp (oops), busted my butt on a slippery ramp and saw by buddy require knee surgery after doing so, forgot to put plug in, forgot to turn breakers on, etc etc. I have learned a lot from my mistakes, I am sure as you get experienced you'll be as efficient as even the most seasoned veteran. However, don't practice on a busy weekend or on busy ramp it could get you killed. http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/04/14/man-run-over-at-holiday-park-boat-ramp/