Florida Bass Club September Tournament

[dsidle61]

Water levels are definitely way up here in Jax.  Went out this evening only about an hour and a half bc I had to take the wife along.  Started out with a wacky senko, got nothing again.  2 days in a row w no bite on the wacky senko is a rarity for me.  Hesitantly switched over to a frog (ribbit bullfrog) first cast put it about 2 feet off the bank and boom got hit, fish jumped and spit me out.  kept working the same bank got another hit, this one a nice size this time jumped and snapped me off, must have had a bad tie on or something bc thats the first time in a very long time ive had a break off and the fish was nice but not THAT nice, ive been putting off using braid bc honestly ive never used or needed it but im gonna get it spooled on for the spawning fish anyone have a favorite??.  got another hit a little later on but didnt take it all the way.  SO long story short i was skunked again lol.  The good news im taking away from today is that i had a nice hook up on a big fish with a frog that this time snapped me off. I swear one of these days im gonna land one of these frog hits and probably shed some tears of joy. May only get out one more time before the end of the competition so im hoping i either land the big one then or can hold on to third w my slim lead!

[AK-Jax86]

Water levels are definitely way up here in Jax. Went out this evening only about an hour and a half bc I had to take the wife along. Started out with a wacky senko, got nothing again. 2 days in a row w no bite on the wacky senko is a rarity for me. Hesitantly switched over to a frog (ribbit bullfrog) first cast put it about 2 feet off the bank and boom got hit, fish jumped and spit me out. kept working the same bank got another hit, this one a nice size this time jumped and snapped me off, must have had a bad tie on or something bc thats the first time in a very long time ive had a break off and the fish was nice but not THAT nice, ive been putting off using braid bc honestly ive never used or needed it but im gonna get it spooled on for the spawning fish anyone have a favorite??. got another hit a little later on but didnt take it all the way. SO long story short i was skunked again lol. The good news im taking away from today is that i had a nice hook up on a big fish with a frog that this time snapped me off. I swear one of these days im gonna land one of these frog hits and probably shed some tears of joy. May only get out one more time before the end of the competition so im hoping i either land the big one then or can hold on to third w my slim lead!

I use 30lb Power Pro braid. They sell it basically everywhere, a majority of guys in the comp use it.

I had to pick my girl up from work and stopped at this pond for half hour. Got 6 strikes but didn't land any of them. One cast I get a hit and set the hook feel the fish on and then it spits the frog, the frog floats up I reel it in and have it 2 feet in front of me then a huge wake comes from the left and the fish launches itself at my frog which just goes out the water and the fish hits the shore face first half it's body is on land and then shoots off. I've never seen anything like that before it was pretty cool

[JaxBasser]

Suffix 832 is really good.

[dsidle61]

I use 30lb Power Pro braid. They sell it basically everywhere, a majority of guys in the comp use it.

I had to pick my girl up from work and stopped at this pond for half hour. Got 6 strikes but didn't land any of them. One cast I get a hit and set the hook feel the fish on and then it spits the frog, the frog floats up I reel it in and have it 2 feet in front of me then a huge wake comes from the left and the fish launches itself at my frog which just goes out the water and the fish hits the shore face first half it's body is on land and then shoots off. I've never seen anything like that before it was pretty cool

Well at least im not the odd man out missing some fish on frogs. I will say though its the best action ive seen on a lure, some of the hits are fantastic.  Had a situation like yours the other day had the frog in about a foot  of water in front of me i was turned around for some reason and as im lifting it out of the water i hear an assault right in front of me and then see the bass wiggle its way back into the water and take off

[BassinLou]

Reading both Dsidle and Deepdish. Both situations, unless deepdish changes already, braid would have increased your chances of a hook up. Especially if your frogging. You're looking to maximize the hookset. on a frog, be it soft plastic or hollowbody, you have to secure the hookset with those big hooks. Braid in my opinion, increases that chance by having zero stretch. That and the backbone of the right  B/C will increase the chance even more.

[BassinLou]

I almost forgot, my everyday outfit has 30lb power pro, on a 7ft MH Avid. My everglades outfit is a 7'4" Rage on 50lb braid. Trust me either set up, when you hook up on a nice bass, you feel the connection right away. When my arm and shoulder act like the shock absorber, I know that fish isn't going anywhere.

[BassinLou]

CONTEST UPDATE!!!

 

I have a feeling many of us are going to hit the water pretty strong this weekend. At least I know I am and my gameplan is in place. Here is the latest top 5 and their numbers.

 

1. Tightlines Jax  5 fish 100"

1. Deepdish Panda 5 fish 100"

2. Dsidle 5 fish 85"

3. MCS 5 fish 83.5"

4. JaxBasser 5 fish 83"

5. CapitolIP 5 fish 79"

 

I am currently in 6th with 78.5", I will closing that gap really quick, beginning today. Dsidle and MCS, I luv ya, but I am aiming for one of your spots.

 

 

*** Big fish honors right now go to DeepdishPanda with a 6.3lb 21" fish. BTW AK pics pls!!

 

Good luck everyone. This is going to be a mad dash to the finish line!!

[AK-Jax86]

Reading both Dsidle and Deepdish. Both situations, unless deepdish changes already, braid would have increased your chances of a hook up. Especially if your frogging. You're looking to maximize the hookset. on a frog, be it soft plastic or hollowbody, you have to secure the hookset with those big hooks. Braid in my opinion, increases that chance by having zero stretch. That and the backbone of the right B/C will increase the chance even more.

All these past trips have came on braid. I only have one spool of mono and floro all other 4 are braid. MCS told me they are opening an Academy on our side of town about 10mins from me I can't wait for that save me a lot of time and gas.

[AK-Jax86]

I almost forgot, my everyday outfit has 30lb power pro, on a 7ft MH Avid. My everglades outfit is a 7'4" Rage on 50lb braid. Trust me either set up, when you hook up on a nice bass, you feel the connection right away. When my arm and shoulder act like the shock absorber, I know that fish isn't going anywhere.

I'm gonna have to go out and buy me a more stable rod for those glade fish. I have a 7' St Croix Medium Heavy Inshore Rod and a abu Garcia spinning reel.

Lou keeps telling me to work on the baitcaster so I may just purchase a nice heavy rod and put one of my bird nested baitcast reels on it and get back to practicing.

[BassinLou]

AK, the time is approaching, where you would have wished you were more proficient on the B/C.

[AK-Jax86]

AK, the time is approaching, where you would have wished you were more proficient on the B/C.

Yea it's looking more like I will buy another spinning rod and reel combo lol. My only problem is birds nests lol every baitcasters only problem

[BassinLou]

Yea it's looking more like I will buy another spinning rod and reel combo lol. My only problem is birds nests lol every baitcasters only problem

 

I highly recommend you do not buy another spinner. You have enough of those. You really need to practice on the B/C. Practice...practice.... practice. You have to train your thumb. TRUST WHAT I AM TELLING YOU. Many years ago, I was just like you. Spinners galore. Then a old timer friend of mine showed me the ropes on using a B/C and I slowly started to learn how to use one. Was is frustrating and challenging? YES!! But, I stuck with it, and I am very glad I did. You will only understand through time, that your leverage is different on a B/C imho. Your hooksets are different, the list will go on and on. Bottom line, its a very important skillset to have for LMB fishing. Some will disagree, but many more will agree.

[AK-Jax86]

I highly recommend you do not buy another spinner. You have enough of those. You really need to practice on the B/C. Practice...practice.... practice. You have to train your thumb. TRUST WHAT I AM TELLING YOU. Many years ago, I was just like you. Spinners galore. Then a old timer friend of mine showed me the ropes on using a B/C and I slowly started to learn how to use one. Was is frustrating and challenging? YES!! But, I stuck with it, and I am very glad I did. You will only understand through time, that your leverage is different on a B/C imho. Your hooksets are different, the list will go on and on. Bottom line, its a very important skillset to have for LMB fishing. Some will disagree, but many more will agree.

I understand that and I agree it's just easier to do something she you have someone that shows you. Like you said it's about training your thumb before I got my birdnests I had a nice streak of casts.

My problem is the birdnests. I don't know how to get them out seems like when Urey I make it worse. The wind knots I get from using braid on my spinners can be bad too but manageable. I do to even know where to start when it happens on te BC

Any insight to that would be helpful but every best is different lol

[BassinLou]

AK, if you are getting birdnests that big and hard to get out, then unfortunately you are not using your thumb at all. LOL. The best thing I can tell you is practice with one of your frogs, a used one preferably. They have the right weight to practice. When you go to cast, do your best to cast easily at first. Avoid trying to whip it to other side of the lake. You will definitely overrun the spool by doing that. I started side arm at first, and over time I went over hand. My next challenge this upcoming season, is perfecting the pitch. Guys make that look so easy. Also remember to adjust the reel like explained to you months ago in one of our PM conversations. You should look up that conversation as reference again.

[LgMouthGambler]

You can adjust the baitcaster so that the only time you need to use your thumb is when the bait hits the water to stop the spool. I do exactly this, and its very easy to cast and get great distance and control. If you really want to get good with one you need to buy the right reel. Spend the money the first time, and you wont have any regrets. Go buy a Chronarch200E, spool it with 50# Power Pro, put it on a good MH F rod, and call it a day. Start with 3 breaks and some spool tension, and work your way by backing off the spool tension. Once you got that down you can go to 2 breaks and adjust the spool tension as needed.

[Diggy]

I'm gonna have to go out and buy me a more stable rod for those glade fish. I have a 7' St Croix Medium Heavy Inshore Rod and a abu Garcia spinning reel.

Lou keeps telling me to work on the baitcaster so I may just purchase a nice heavy rod and put one of my bird nested baitcast reels on it and get back to practicing.

Which reel do you have? (bait casting)

[AK-Jax86]

Which reel do you have? (bait casting)

I have an abu Garcia Orra sx and a revo STX

[JaxBasser]

You should be able to set that STX up to where it will give no problems.

Turn on 3 of the centrifugal brakes, set your spool tension to where the spool stops as soon your baits hits the ground when you drop it from the tip, set the mag brakes to about halfway.

You won't get amazing distance but it will help with the birdnests. Work your way down from there.

[BassinLou]

Operation come back is underway. I caught a 17" to cull out one of my 15". This puts me at 80.5.  Three days left!!!

 

[Diggy]

I have an abu Garcia Orra sx and a revo STX

I dont know what to tell you except turn the brakes up high, even with a loose spool you shouldnt be backlashing. My gen 2 sx is a backlash machine unless I baby it or turn up the brakes 3/4 of the way up. I keep the spool tension super loose, just enough to take out side to side play in it.

 

Set the mags on the stx and see, im not to familiar with the centrifugal brakes on those models, but try messing with those also.

[dsidle61]

well maybe hell has frozen over but i had some good success on my frogs this evening.  Went 3 for 6 nothing worth a picture all about 13-15".  But success none the less.  Got 2 of them on a bullfrog ribbit and the other on a white zoom horny toad.  On the topic of braid, like i said ive never used it or needed it, when i started up here i spooled up some 12 pound mono (up in PA i usually used 6)  and i noticed i lost a lot of feel on my lures, mainly my lighter soft plastics.  Im hoping that the braid will give me some of the feel back and obviously give me some more strength in my line. On the baitcaster topic, ive never used one of them either.  Ive always been intrigued by them but ive strickly been a spinner guy.  Honestly if i ever decided to switch id need to do some serious research bc i wouldnt even know where to start.  I also use a pretty short pole at 5 1/2 feet, ive found that im much more accurate with my casts with the smaller pole and I feel like i can rip the hook hard and quick.  I know the one downfall is i lose some of my ability to eat up slack line on a hookset.  Im about due for a new rod, ive had mine for probably 8 years or so but i dont think i could make the jump to a 7' rod, ive fished several before and its just so strange to me. 

[AK-Jax86]

Operation come back is underway. I caught a 17" to cull out one of my 15". This puts me at 80.5. Three days left!!!

Nice fish Lou in tryna get out this weekend but plans usually fall through

[AK-Jax86]

well maybe hell has frozen over but i had some good success on my frogs this evening. Went 3 for 6 nothing worth a picture all about 13-15". But success none the less. Got 2 of them on a bullfrog ribbit and the other on a white zoom horny toad. On the topic of braid, like i said ive never used it or needed it, when i started up here i spooled up some 12 pound mono (up in PA i usually used 6) and i noticed i lost a lot of feel on my lures, mainly my lighter soft plastics. Im hoping that the braid will give me some of the feel back and obviously give me some more strength in my line. On the baitcaster topic, ive never used one of them either. Ive always been intrigued by them but ive strickly been a spinner guy. Honestly if i ever decided to switch id need to do some serious research bc i wouldnt even know where to start. I also use a pretty short pole at 5 1/2 feet, ive found that im much more accurate with my casts with the smaller pole and I feel like i can rip the hook hard and quick. I know the one downfall is i lose some of my ability to eat up slack line on a hookset. Im about due for a new rod, ive had mine for probably 8 years or so but i dont think i could make the jump to a 7' rod, ive fished several before and its just so strange to me.

What size pole do you use? Because you ain't gonna be able to hold up with some of those Orange Park spawn fis froggin.

I was using a 6'9" but now I use a 7' medium heavy rod. That's not a big jump but it makes a difference I feel

[AK-Jax86]

Operation come back is underway. I caught a 17" to cull out one of my 15". This puts me at 80.5. Three days left!!!

Did it again what you catch em on

[BassinLou]

Did it again what you catch em on

 

You're right I did, sorry. This one was also caught on a u-vibe, buzzing 2 ft from the shoreline.