Zcoker

Low water levels and chemical spraying. When the water gets real low out in the glades, big rocks start protrude, which can be very tricky to navigate at night. They stick out like ominous thorns. Many areas that were once easily accessible almost dry up. On the other hand, the fishing can be outstanding. Not uncommon to have 100 fish days. The big girls can corral up in the deeper holes. The landscape is more predictable as to where to fish. So I guess one thing can lead to another, something that I don't really like can become something that I can like, if that makes sense. As far as spraying goes, that I don't like period. We call it nuking down this way and it really does lay waste to areas that were once thriving and green. They use chemicals like glyphosate, diquat and 2-4,D to kill off water hyacinths and water lettuce on the surface, and hydrilla beneath it. Once sprayed, everything turns brown and dies and eventually turns to dark dust. The fishing in those areas turns to zero. Takes a long time for recovery, if at all. Recently sprayed area that was once green and thriving, now dead and decaying.

I run mono leader on most of my rods except my worm rod and punching rod. 30lb mono into 50lb braid, power fishing. The mono is only there for a little give in the system. I've played around with strait floro and it was way stretchy for my taste. Also, the line will break if the knots aren't tied right. Too risky. The places I fish like the everglades is more combat fishing anyway. The fight is very sudden and extremely aggressive, not to mention the fish can be quite large, and there's cover all over the place. So heavy line is a must...for me, at least. I've gotten so used to it that I never deviate no matter where I go and I always catch nice fish using it. Don't loose much fish, either. If hooked good, they all comin in!

S Waver hype can be good for some, not so good for others. I used the thing once and practically sitting got me an 8 pounder. Since then, nothing. Tactical Bassin swears by them. I guess it's just a matter of time if used long enough or used in the right places. For me, seems like most swimbaits have their moment, so to speak, where they shine. I've had the same thing happen with other swimbaits like the Sixth Sense Trace. Tossed it out one day and got a 9 pounder. Nothing much to speak of since. And I do give all of them a fair shot.

I've seen this same kinda behavior with saltwater species here in south Florida, like during our annual mullet run the predatory fish are so keyed in on busting up the mullet, that they won't even give any other artificial lure a second look, even if it looks very similar right in front of their nose. They just won't hit it. The lures even bump over them. Maybe that's the same thing going on with the herring and the bass, possibly. What I've found that works is to fish away from the bait schools, if possible. Seems like the predatory fish coming in for the feast will hit the lures first.

I think the biggest thing to take from all of this is that rod manufactures ALL have different ways that they rate their rods. So buyer beware, espeically if ordering them online. A rod that has an extra heavy rating, for example, could in fact be quite soft, more like a medium action rod here in the US. A lot of the Japanese manufactures like Shimano rate their rods with wording like "regular action" or "versatile power" whereas in the US we have medium, medium heavy, fast, extra fast, and so forth. Both can be lightyears apart. Best way is to handle the rod in person to get a decent idea on what you are getting into or how a particular rod might perform. But the true test, or course, is out on the water. A rod's rating that seems right in the store may fall flat on its face when trying to hook a nice fish, when working your favorite lures, or when casting all day.

I bounce around now, sometime just wanting to catch numbers, other times wanting to catch big bass. Usually what dictates this is being in a tournament of some sort, which obviously means the big bass stage. Other times I just like to go out and catch the numbers to be humbly fulfilled, which is not hard to do at all out in the everglades. Regardless of what I do, big bass have always been on my radar. Maybe not all the time but I'm always scoping areas out to come back later and get 'em! l also like to fish the way I want to fish without being bombard by this way, that way, or the other way. There's a lot of good ways floating around, sure, but sometimes it takes some good old fashion ingenuity to figure things out, and the only one who can do that is the fisherman. All in all, it's all about growing into your own person with your own style, form, and unique ideas. That's the adventure!

That feeling never crossed my mind. It's one of those experiences where the rush of catching a DD is as great if not greater than the actual catch itself. I once caught a bass that I weighed in close to 12 pounds and I was so rushed up with adrenaline and excitement that when I went to pull her back out of the water where I was holder her, she shook me off with a tail slap, saying bye bye! Only thing I could think of after that was to catch another one to have that rush all over again!

I do the same thing on all my worm hooks, smash the barb flat. Wish they'd sell 'em that way! A worm/worm hook will be swallowed very fast and unless the barb is flat the hook will rip a hole in the fish's throat when trying to remove it. With a flat barb, hook removal becomes so much easier with less damage to the fish. Just a matter of getting the right angle. Sometimes going between the gills is the only option to grab the backside of the hook...other than cutting the line...but who wants to do that? When you look between the gills, you can see the hook very close up. It's right there. It's easy to get at. Just be carful not to damage the gills. The hook slips right out from between the gills (if debarbed) and the line is then cut. Presto! Hook out/fish unharmed. Plastic worm fishing is a challenge because the timing is crucial for the setting the hook before the fish swallows the bait but even at that it's still very likely that the hook will catch the throat. I have yet to loose a fish with a barbless worm hook...that I know of. 99% of my fish come in.

I will add this: going after a DD bass or trophy hunting is an activity that can go way beyond regular bass fishing. It can press the limits with all things in life, including things never done before. I recall a quote about trophy tarpon fishing that I saved because I was chasing trophies myself with my Florida tarpon tag: "Tarpon addiction has led to divorce, fist fights and mysteriously sunken skiffs. Writers have described the experience as akin to electrocution without the harmful side effects; the transfer of energy from fish to angler provides a mind-altering jolt." It can be the same way with with DD or trophy bass fishing, imho. Gotta push those boundaries. Only in this way can one open the doors in pursuit of these very smart fish. They've been around for a long, long time, overcoming some incredible odds, including evading us!

Out of all of these statements, I'll take take "you could hook yourself to a big bass" because they practically drag me overboard! Yes, it's a very dangerous activity just like many other things in life but it can be done safely and responsibly, imho. I've adapted over many years to the night fishing life, so much so that it has become much like any daytime activity. That kinda normalcy and confidence has been earned, almost like a sixth sense. Takes time and a lotta experience to deal with any pitfalls at night. I wouldn't recommend to anyone to go at it alone but to slowly ease into it comfortably and safely. There's some great post on this site for anyone interested in night fishing, from guys like you as well as many others. Aside from that, there's a risk with anything in life, day or night, even while sleeping.

Gettin bigger and bigger. These everglades bass at night are insane!

Try some night fishing. I do it all the time out in the south Florida everglades and have great success with trophy size fish because they're the main player at night. They're sneaky, sly, and cunning. They might even follow you around. And when they decided to hit, it's like a bomb going off, so be prepared! Night fishing works well because it frees up the days for any other obstacle that would normally prevent you from going, like a job or a family. Just have to adjust with cat-naps and so fourth. I work full time, have a family, and put in just as many hours fishing as a single person with no responsibilities who fishes all the time. So it's very doable and does solve a lot of the problems that you described. Plus it offers you the biggest chance to get the biggest fish in any body of water. Guys like Pat Cullen figured the same thing out for himself, thousands for him. Jimmy Zinker here in Florida doing it right now and is into the hundreds. So try it. I know you'll at least start getting 7's and 8's because I get those all the time like clockwork. Regardless, most all fish that hit at night are going to be on the larger size. Just have to re-learn and re-adjust everything that you already know about bass fishing because it's a whole different world out there in the dark!

Take up night fishing. Everyone is asleep. You'll have ALL the time in the world for your me time. You'll also catch the biggest bass on the lake!

"Thinking outside of the box" may have a different meaning for some people. For me, it means inventing new techniques, tactics, and hardware, no matter where I'm fishing. I make my own spinnerbaits, for example, and tune them to get the fish, to get the bigger fish, yes indeed, which does work very well. Same thing with buzzbaits. Finding the right "sound" or "vibration" is what it's all about. It drives the big fish crazy which causes them to strike with a vengeance. May take a while with a lot of tinkering and it may be a tedious process to test them all out, but it does payoff quite well in all bodies of water that I fish. And the only way that I could've done it is to have and open mind and to, well, think outside of the box.

At night is espeically diabolical. The bigguns hit so hard down my way that it practically swings my kayak completely around. The fight is pure hand to hand combat in the dark and these big bass are very good at it. They're sneaky. They hit when least expecting, almost as if they are following me. And when they come off for whatever reason, it's bye bye see ya later. They win, which is what they are designed to do. It's also how they get so big.

Man, losing these PB fish must be a form of initiation. I've seen it happen and it's happen to myself and is indeed something that hangs around in memory for a very long, long time. Those "what if" moments that could've changed the outcome for a lot of people--gone in a flash. Sometimes I think big mama bass thrive off just that!

I'll be gunning for those 25 inchers. Already have a few 24's and with only an inch more to go, shouldn't be a problem. I've already tangled with a few that have fit that range, so I know it's only a matter of time. Just gotta keep 'em pinned. They have really BIG mouths!

The spots sometimes find me, of all places, often holding monsters. Spots that I would’ve never given a second cast to. Spots that have never produced. Just goes to show that some great spots can be right under your nose!

Sometimes ya gotta think outside of the box to get the job done, making your own way with your own ideas, presentation, and techniques...or even inventions. Sometimes the so called "norm" is not so normal after all, which means change needs to happen. Never fear to dive off the deep end. I've done it a number of times and haven't hit bottom yet!

Star 7.6 Plasma inshore spinning rod with a Shimano Stella 4000 XG reel

The Miami area is known for it's suburban Peacock fishery. Fighters! For LMB, Snapper Creek, Tamiami Trail, those canal systems down there have miles and miles of opportunities. Lakes around the airport have been popular. US 27 is wide open for just about anything related to bass fishing.

It’s one of those things where you just gotta pick up the pieces and start all over again, learning from any mistakes and making sure that those mistakes don’t happen again. Go over every detail in your mind and try to reason out exactly what happened and make adjustments accordingly. Sometimes this process can mean losing more big fish but eventually gets fewer and fewer. And once perfected, your confidence along with your gear should bring them in no matter what!

Up to about 15 feet but, yes, mostly shallow water. They very aggressive at all depths in my neck of the woods when it’s hot out.

Where I fish, no boat could ever make it out there let alone be allowed out there, which is in the Florida everglades. Sometimes the water levels get so low that it becomes very hard for even a kayak let alone a boat....mere inches! There's canals and so forth where boats can go but not way out deep in the marshlands, unless by airboat. The kayak was my only route. I don't think I'd even consider a yak if I lived around a bunch of nice big open lakes, no way. Just makes sense to get into something that is practical for the area fished, imho.

It's just the opposite down here in south Florida on hot summer nights. The bass are, well, they're lunatics! The will hit with an angry vengeance like no other, espeically topwater. Talk about a wake-up call. Goes to show just how different areas can be!