Fishing_FF

Yep, the Bomber Long A. It gets thrown in the shallows or in areas the hydrilla has grown up to the point there is only a foot or two of water above the hydrilla. Basically its for an area where I can't get a suspending jerkbait like a Bomber Long A SP or Lucky Craft Pointer to run without getting fouled up.

Welcome fellow Floridian!!!

There were actually warning on the radio and TV against picking up frozen iguanas this past winter. It even made it on the news all the way up here in the Orlando area, even though we don't have any iguana populations up here. The warning came after a guy picked up a bunch of frozen iguanas and threw them in the backseat of his seat. What do people do in their car when the weather is cold outside? The iguanas eventually thawed out while he was driving. Not too happy with their new environment, they tried to escape their new car enclosure. The driver lost control and crashed. 3, 2, 1....commence laughter!

Summer....frog without a question.

Cool, thanks for the info. If we could get them to cut back on the spraying, fishing would be great. ?

Both are great for morning topwater bites. Ivanhoe is a bit clearer especially the western side, so try some lighter stuff like watermelons and green pumpkins. Underhill is a great lake for black and blues.

The lakes in the downtown Orlando are part of FWC's Fab Five program (Clear, Ivanhoe, Starke, Turkey, and Underhill). I can't help with Clear Lake as I no longer fish there after friend's SUV and trailer were vandalized the last time we went. The ramp and dock are in a bad section of town. FWC has actually removed the fish feeders as angler's weren't using them. Any guesses why? Ivanhoe is a good lake that sees quite a bit of fishing pressure on the weekends. Weekdays there is hardly anyone there. The ramp is on the east side of the eastern lobe of the lake. However, there are parking spots on the west side (I-4 divides the lake east and west) on the perimeter road as it approaches towards I-4. If you use hardbaits like a jerkbait, throw something you wouldn't mind losing. Ivanhoe has a very health population of chain pickerel and gar. Starke is still dealing with a bad algae issue that is causing the water to be green. It is getting better, but until it is resolved, not a lake I frequent. The last 2 years, FWC haven't hit their fishing numbers on this lake because of the water quality issues. Turkey is probably the hidden gem of smaller lakes. Yes, Lake Toho, Lake Kissimmee, and Lake Okeechobee hold the giants, but Turkey Lake is the giant keeper of the Fab Five program. It is a boat deed restricted catch and release lake for bass, so you won't be able to bring your own kayak or boat. If you do, the penalties are the same as if you were poaching. However, the city of Orlando runs a boat rental program for around $30 for 4 hours of fishing in the mornings (7AM-11AM) Thursday-Sunday. This time of year, you can call a day or two in advance and get a spot. The lake has been set up by FWC for a fishing quota of 1 fish for every 2 man hours spent fishing. I've always surpassed the quota. They just recently started a kayak and canoe rental program, but don't have any details on it. If you call for info or to rent, be persistent as the entry gate handles the boat rentals, campsite reservations, and park entry. Underhill is the other catch and release lake in the Fab Five. There is no boat restriction on this lake. The lake almost always has a couple boats on it every day of the week, and sees lots of boat traffic (fishing and waterskiing) on the weekends. I am catching less fish at this lake than I have in years past. Since it is a catch and release for bass, it isn't restocked like Ivanhoe, Starke, and Clear Lake are with bass. Part of the issue have been from an otter and large gator (probably both since removed as I haven't seen either in a while), but not before they along with people not abiding by catch and release have done a number on the bass population. I wouldn't be surprised when FWC does their next survey of the lake to see the numbers down and a potential re-stock in the future. FWC has stepped up the law enforcement patrols here, and last time I was out, had signs warning about poaching. Hope this helps and good luck!!!

Gambler EZ-Swimmer on a 4/O Owner's Beast hook and a Gambler Big-EZ on a 5/0 Owner's Beast hook. These have replaced the other swimbaits I was using, and also make great spinnerbait and chatterbait trailers.

I was out on Kissimmee for a couple days pre-fishing a tournament. The goal was to check a number of spots in the chain from Toho on our way to Kissimmee. We had already found a honey hole (multiple 5+lbs) near a ledge that was surrounded by hydrilla weeks before. With the heat, the plan was to check some shallow areas with pads or reed, but to really target the mats. The mats were gone. We went back to the honey hole to find the hydrila was gone. When we got back to the ramp, there were a pair of SFWMD boats. They asked how we did, and we were honest, not great. They told us that they have been spraying pretty heavy to kill off the hydrilla as it should improve the water flow and fishing. Yeah....well..... So the question is, are they spraying Okeechobee like this too, or is it just the water level?

95% spinning. I added a pair of baitcaster because when prefishing or tournament fishing an area flipping/pitching/punching, I was just too slow with a spinning reel. I close the bail by hand as that’s the way I was taught and it helps prevent line twist issues. This however adds time, so I got a better tool for the job.

The Gambler Quick Change skirts are nice if you want a thin skirt that can be changed out without having to retie. Even the regular Gambler punch skirts seem a little thin. They are also a more fragile skirt material, so I find they tear up quicker than a good 55 strand punching skirt. Give the Gambler skirts a try and see what you think. The punch skirt I use is from Mike at Siebert Outdoors. You could call it a shameless plug, but I’m now just getting close to wearing out the original set I ordered from him 6-8 months ago.

Originally it was to help the lures through the weeds, but now it is for bulk after switching my creature baits to Gamblers. The Gambler craws and creatures were designed for flipping and punching with slim profiles for sliding through heavy cover without losing the appendages. Over time, they will still rip and tear, but I have more problem with the claws and appendages being nipped offed by fish. The skirts did help when I was using Yamamoto, Netbait, Berkley, Keitech, Zoom, and a few others.

Of course......is it a jig or a skirted Texas rig....i don’t know, but it works. The credit for the design goes to @Catt and @A-Jay. I simply copied their designs.

Everything has been said and it is true: outstanding products, exceptional customer service, and a great sponsor of BassResources. Rather than repeat this again, I'll just let a photo of Mike's work speak as to why there is only one skirt I use for the jig setups, punching, and replacements on spinnerbaits.

Swivels are suppose to be used with drop shot rigs. However, with companies making hooks with swivels attached to it, the swivel becomes unnecessary and allows a line to leader knot to be used instead. Gamakatsu currently has 3 of these hooks with swivels, a circle, a drop shot, and a worm hook. I throw drop shot, Ned rigs, and weightless 4" Senkos all on the same ML rod. I leave the leader attached, tying on the drop shot swivel hook, a mushroom head jig, or EWG hook for whichever rig I want to throw.

Suffix 832 10lb braid, modified double uni knot, and Yo-Zuri HD Carbon FC 10lb (5-6').

I've got 7 spinning reels at the moment (hey, never know when you NEED more :). 6 out of the 7 have 30lb Suffix 832 braid on them. The 1 reel that doesn't is a finesse setup on a MLF rod for drop shots, Ned rigs, and 4" weightless Senkos. I use to have some of the other spinning reels rigged with 10lb braid. However, I was losing fish when I had to drag them through the hydrilla or other weed line that surrounds pretty much every Florida lake. 30lb braid still casts well, not quite as far as 10lb, but I'll take that for less break offs.

Last time I spoke with Lisa from Venom One, several questionable species had be DNA tested, but all came back as either Burmese or Rock. There probably are hybrids, just not collected yet. All pythons that are captured or killed during the hunts are brought into for identification and testing. Its how FWC knows pythons from the Everglades contain high levels of mercury, and warn against consumption of python meat.

It is a good all purpose rod as @Matt_3479 has mentioned. If I can only grab 2 rods when I go fishing, it is my pair of St. Croix Avid Xs. One is a MF and the other is a MHF, both with Shimano Stradic Ci4+s on them. The MF is sensitive enough for a dropshot or weightless 4" Senko but is I'm primarily throwing lighter spinnerbaits (3/16-3/8oz) and hardbaits (5/16-3/8oz lipless cranks, crank baits, poppers, prop baits, jerkbaits). For heavy cover work or heavier baits like Texas/Jika rigs, the MH excels even for pulling largemouths out of pads and grass. Is it perfect? No, that's why I have a heavy flipping stick for pitching/punching for really heavy cover and even a MLF rod for clear water, light line finesse techniques. However, if I'm bank fishing and only want to carry 2 rods or am hiking into explore or get to a remote fishing spot, the Avid Xs are my go to rods.

I haven't seen anything on a sizable Retic population, but FWC and Venom One have been tracking a growing Rock Python population. They are seeing both increasing numbers and increase range (area) of the Rock Pythons. While Burmese get super big, the Rock Pythons get the award for aggression. They attack hundreds of people in Africa every year. There is an African snake and reptile training group that provides classes on handling snakes and lizards. The group does more venomous snake classes as the African people would rather face the Black Death (Black Mambas) and cobras than a Rock Python. That says something right there. There have studies look at the possibility of a Burmese and Rock Python hybrid. All pythons are of the same genus, and it is believed they could in fact interbreed. Its never happened before as are located on different continents. However, Reticulated and Burmese Pythons are both found in Asia, and hybrids have been found. The fear among herpetologist is the creation of a large, super aggressive snake in Florida.

Both the M and MH will give you enough backbone, but the difference is what lures and weights will you be throwing on it? I have a pair of Avid X, a M and MH, both with Stradic Ci4+ reels on them. Since I’m fishing from the shore, I generally carry only 2 rods. The M matches the lure weights of the topwater (frogs, poppers, props), crankbaits, and jerkbaits I throw. The MH is my plastics rod, throwing weightless stickbaits, wacky rigs, T-rigs, jigs, and smaller swimbaits like the Gambler EZ Swimmer. Does is cover everything? No, I have a ML for dropshotting and 4” weightless Senko and a H rod for big spinnerbaits and swimbaits like Gambler Big EZ and GZs. But the pair of Avid X covers 90% of the baits I throw. Pick what you want to throw and match the rod power to that. ?

You beat me to it, and that’s what I hear.

Nice! I have an Avid X MF that I tried both the Stradic FK and Ci4+ on. I went with the Ci4+ because like you said, it felt better on the rod. I loved the combo so much that I took the winnings from a tournament and got an Avid X MHF with a Ci4+on it. LOL Good luck and enjoy!!!

It is because of this type of scenario that I always make my boys where a life vest. There are a couple floating docks that we fish because they are loaded with bluegill and other sunfish. There are no railings on these floating docks, and all it takes is once misstep before they are in the drink. Glad your daughter is okay and thanks for posting this video!

Welcome! If I am fishing flukes, it is generally because the bass are chasing shad. If this is the case, my retrieve is a double twitch of the rod, reel up the slack, and pause. Here is a good video of the technique I use: The fluke I use are either the Yamamoto D-Shad or the Gambler Super Stud. The D-Shad is definitely a heavier fluke that I prefer to fish weightless, but the Super Stud is a 6" fluke that is available in colors like Junebug that the D-Shad isn't. Weightless, they go on a Gammy EWG style hook and on Owner swimbait weighted hooks when they need a little extra oomph. @ohboyitsrobby mentioned the double fluke rig or donkey rig as some call it. I'll through this during the shad spawn, which is occurring for us now here in Florida. Cast past the shad pod and retrieve straight through them. There is a thread on here if you search double fluke that will pull up Scott Martin's video on how to set up the rig. As for the swivels, some use them instead of using a splitshot or Mojo rig. The swivel adds a little extra weight like a small split shot without causing potential damage to your line by crimping the split shot to it. I have also seen manufacturer's like Gary Yamamoto recommend a swivel for weightless plastics like a fluke or Senko. I got to speak to one of their reps at a trade show, and ask them why they recommend a swivel. The answer was simpler than I thought it was going to be: Gary Yamamoto recommends the swivel because new angler often don't get the plastic straight on hook, which causes the lure to spin and twist, and the swivel helps prevent line twist. I asked because if you watch videos of Gary fishing, he doesn't use swivels. It wasn't stated but rather implied, once you are proficient at rigging weightless plastics straight on the hook, the swivel can be eliminated. Good luck!