Everglades L29 Report, And Caught The Wrong Species

[Backlash123]

Took my dad out today for a little fishing.  We caught 50 fish in approximately 3 hours, but had to leave early due to catching the wrong species.

 

 

After a quick trip to the urgent care, some anesthesia, tetanus shot, and band-aid, I'm good to go again.

 

Did I mention I hate treble hooks!

 

[SFL BassHunter]

Wow! I hate treble hooks too. I seem to snag them on everything. I've caught my tackle bag numerous times, my fishing shirts, my shorts, my car seats, but luckily not myself! 

[BassinLou]

Ouch!! that happened to me last year i think or the year before out in the glades. I was using one of the F7 Rapalas, caught a dink of all things, he wiggled loose and I  felt a sharp sting, i look at my hand and the treble went into my thumb past the barb. After a failed attempt to remove it, off to the ER i went. 

[SoFlaBassAddict]

After hooking myself a while back I decided to start pinching down the barbs on all of my treble hooks baits. Haven't noticed any lost fish because of it. Easier to unhook them.....and me.

[gar-tracker]

Man thats a bad spot to have one, the string and press method works every time.

[Backlash123]

It was an interesting situation.  Here I am holding a 2 lb bass still hooked and a treble hook in my finger.  Once my dad was able to cut the other hooks to free the fish, then I proceeded to open the split ring to free the hook from the lure.  I tried to push the hook through one time, but lacked the testicular fortitude after I felt the pain.  I then proceeded to cut off a piece of braid to try the string and press method, but was not totally sure on how to do it, so I decided not to experiment.  So time to load up the boat, and head on over to urgent care.  All in all it worked out fine (especially after the anesthesia), what hurts the most now is the d**n tetanus shot in the arm, it feels like I was punched 20 times in the same spot.  

 

What stinks the most was having to cut the trip short.  The day was warming up, and the bite was getting more aggressive.  I'll have to wait for next weekend.  Has anyone been out on L67?  What's going on out there?

[geo g]

Ouch, I'm sure hurt like hell. I've been hooked four times, always a crank bait snagged, or the fish coming unbuttoned at the boat. I have pushed the barb through my finger and then cut off the barb, no problem. The string thing never worked for me, and I tried it several times. Went to the same ER a month apart. Same doctor was laughing at me the second time. Don't fish crank baits very often anymore, my Co-Pay went up too much!!!!!!!!

[Backlash123]

Ouch, I'm sure hurt like hell. I've been hooked four times, always a crank bait snagged, or the fish coming unbuttoned at the boat. I have pushed the barb through my finger and then cut off the barb, no problem. The string thing never worked for me, and I tried it several times. Went to the same ER a month apart. Same doctor was laughing at me the second time. Don't fish crank baits very often anymore, my Co-Pay went up too much!!!!!!!!

I hear ya.  I usually don't fish crank baits either because I hate treble hooks.  This was the second time I've been hooked.  The first time my brother in law got me in the back of the head with a topwater lure.  The ER pushed it through, and cut off the barb.  When they were done, my brother in law wanted the lure back, but I told him "nope" it's my lure now.

[Pz3]

A finger hook like that I would probably wuss out and go for the anestesia too. Fingers have to many nerves.

Had an xcalibur go in my arm a week or two ago. Pass the barb.... I just pulled it back out with no pain at all. It managed to stay under the skin though and didnt get into any muscle.

Soon enough im sure ill peg myself again ill take a little video next time.

[The Commodore]

After hooking myself a while back I decided to start pinching down the barbs on all of my treble hooks baits. Haven't noticed any lost fish because of it. Easier to unhook them.....and me.

Yeah I try to remember to pinch my barbs all the time.  Not because I have hooked myself past the barb (well when I was 7 or 8 I got very large hook into my leg while offshore fishing) but because my friend hooked a Florida soft shell turtle in the mouth with a red eye shad.  I'm a animal lover lol, so I basically performed caveman surgery on this poor thing to get the treble out of his mouth as it would cause him to starve to death if I left it there.  Won't go into details but a side cutter is essential in fishing and I did get it out of his mouth after about 15 minutes and the help of my other two friends (those turtle are d**n powerful and this one was about 25lbs).  I know if those barbs were pinched down I would have gotten it out of the turtle in far less time. 

 

As long as you keep a tight line and fight the fish correctly then it should not come off the fish, especially treble hooks.

 

Oh and to the OP, the glades are amazing.  Those fish can be on fire some days.  Not many places besides Big O where people can catch 50+ in one day (three hours for you, d**n).  I have yet to get that golden day on the glades but look forward to experiencing it.  Thanks for the post.

[Backlash123]

I'm going to start pinching down the barb on treble hooks going forward.  As far as the glades, simple techniques get the 50+ days.  If you want to catch a lot of fish, use a watermelon fluke.  Lot's of fish but mostly small, at least that's my experience.  I know there a people catching some real pigs out there, just look at that bag that was brought in in the KOTG tournament last week (30+ lbs).  I don't know how they do it but there out there.  I'm still trying to figure out the bigger fish in the glades.

[BassinLou]

I'm going to start pinching down the barb on treble hooks going forward.  As far as the glades, simple techniques get the 50+ days.  If you want to catch a lot of fish, use a watermelon fluke.  Lot's of fish but mostly small, at least that's my experience.  I know there a people catching some real pigs out there, just look at that bag that was brought in in the KOTG tournament last week (30+ lbs).  I don't know how they do it but there out there.  I'm still trying to figure out the bigger fish in the glades.

 

I agree, there some sticks out there that really know the glades and produce some beautiful catches. Leaves me scratching my head knowing I still have a lot to learn.... LOL.... 

 

As far as catching 50-100 bass a day, it's really easy. Go out between now and probably til June, right before the rains start, and throw soft plastics. Flukes, frogs, stickworms, trickworms, the list will go on and on. You will catch a lot of bass. 

[piscicidal]

I'm going to start pinching down the barb on treble hooks going forward.  As far as the glades, simple techniques get the 50+ days.  If you want to catch a lot of fish, use a watermelon fluke.  Lot's of fish but mostly small, at least that's my experience.  I know there a people catching some real pigs out there, just look at that bag that was brought in in the KOTG tournament last week (30+ lbs).  I don't know how they do it but there out there.  I'm still trying to figure out the bigger fish in the glades.

 

Leo and I weighed in 30lbs Sunday, and we had AT LEAST that on Friday had we decided to stay and jack our fish.  I believe I can go out there right now and get 10-20 bites from +5lb bass in an eight hour period.

 

I had to completely retool how I approached fishing out there...you can go out and pitch a senko/fluke outside the pads and catch 100-200 fish a day.  But you are not going to get a 25-30lb bag doing that.  There are very specific methods and presentations that you need to do to get those big bites. There are also very specific locations that those big fish are located.   It takes a good understanding of how those everglades fish react to weather, current and water clarity to identify where those better areas might be.  And there is a seasonal aspect to the bite which occurs out there, and I'm not just talking the transition from flats to canals.  Also, you better to be able to find fish with the big motor and not the small (trolling) motor...those big fish move around a lot and you need to have a methodology for covering water and identifying where those schools might be.  The good news is they group up by size...when you catch a 6, hold on cause you'll probably catch a couple more soon. 

 

As always, the most important factor is time on the water.  I have been fishing the King of the Glades series for four years now.  I have learned so much just fishing against and getting to know some of these guys who have gotten it done out there over the years.  You see what the top guys are doing at different times of year and eventually you start putting patterns together and identifying trends.  I am still not even close to having the puzzle solved.  We have something that works right now.  I really like our chances for the Open tourney coming up on April 27th.  We won a couple tourneys back in December/January.   But we have a long way to go to consistently go out there and catch 20-25lbs like the top guys do.  You have to enjoy the process and be willing to put the time/effort/money toward getting those bigger fish.

[Backlash123]

Piscicidal,

 

Thanks for words.  I've learned the lesson, just throwing soft plastics on the edge of the pads produces lot's of fish, usually nothing with size, sometimes that's fine (like when I take my kids, father, etc).  But in order to get the big bites I know I have to change the way I do things.  I'm still learning how to bass fish.  I've been fishing all my life, but 90% offshore fishing.  I've recently started to fish bass tournaments, and I've learned a ton.  I'll keep reading, trying different techniques, and spending money, it's all part of the game.  Hopefully someday I'll get consistent enough to start landing some of the bigger fish.

[piscicidal]

I hear you...I'm about 4.5years into this bass fishing thing and like most things in my life, I pretty much dove in head-first.  I was a walleye fisherman from Minnesota who moved to Florida and dabbled in saltwater and other stuff before going after the green fish, hard core.  I still have a long way to go, but I feel like under certain conditions I can be competitive.

 

If you end up at a Holiday Park tournament this month and see me come and say hi.  I'll be there for the open on 4/27 for sure.

[1234567]

Mike great read in the glades fishing. Some interesting insights. Definitely gets the wheels upstairs turning. I font fish the glades much but it makes sense. The one time I fished near holiday park on a cold windy day I blanked. Never been Back since lol.

[Backlash123]

I definitely agree with what he's saying.  It's relatively easy to go in the canals and catch lots of fish, but there is definitely a technique to catching the big ones.  I've been finding certain techniques land you bigger fish, what I'm working on figuring out is when to use certain techniques throughout the year, and where to use them.  It's about putting time in.  I try to go there every weekend if possible, and I can tell the difference in my catches every time I go out.  I know I have A LOT to learn, and that's ok, it's fun figuring it out.  Forums like this help a bunch.  I've learned a lot from this forum already and I'm sure it will continue.

[piscicidal]

Robert drove down from Royal Palm Beach yesterday to sample some of the awesome fishing we've been on at Holiday Park.  The Park didn't disappoint.  After one hour our five biggest went 29lbs.  After two hours our five biggest were over 32lbs.  The bite slowed in the last hour, but it was still an awesome day of fishing, with many over 5lbs.  

 

Here is a picture of Robert with our two biggest....the one on the left is 8lb 10oz and the biggest fish I've caught at Holiday. 

 

[salmicropterus]

Mike, It was a great job out there for you and Leo. I think it may be harder to figure out the consistent big fish bite in the canals at Holiday than up at the Lake. Everything does truly look the same in those canals. What differentiates the good stretches from the not so good is beyond me. Like everyone, I've caught the occasional hog on a random basis, but to do it time after time like those canal rat sticks like Steve and Rodd do amazes me.

[piscicidal]

David, I hear ya.  There's probably 100miles of canals in the holiday park system.  They all look the same and they all have big fish in them at one time or another.  To consistently catch big bags like those top guys do is a major achievement. 

[BassinLou]

David, I hear ya.  There's probably 100miles of canals in the holiday park system.  They all look the same and they all have big fish in them at one time or another.  To consistently catch big bags like those top guys do is a major achievement. 

 

LOL... with pics you have provided recently, including this one with Rob, you include yourself on the list, of one those guys  imho. 

[Backlash123]

Those are some impressive catches.  I'm headed out there this weekend to see if I can drum up one those hawgs.

[BassinLou]

Robert drove down from Royal Palm Beach yesterday to sample some of the awesome fishing we've been on at Holiday Park.  The Park didn't disappoint.  After one hour our five biggest went 29lbs.  After two hours our five biggest were over 32lbs.  The bite slowed in the last hour, but it was still an awesome day of fishing, with many over 5lbs.  

 

Here is a picture of Robert with our two biggest....the one on the left is 8lb 10oz and the biggest fish I've caught at Holiday. 

 

 

Mike did you and Rob land these fish using the same technique for each or various one's ? 

[piscicidal]

Lou,

 

Robert and I each used one rod the entire night.  And yes we were using different techniques.  It is a common strategy that one person throw a bait up top and other person to fish something down, in order to figure out what the fish are doing.  And that's all I'll say on that, right now... 

[BassinLou]

Lou,

 

Robert and I each used one rod the entire night.  And yes we were using different techniques.  It is a common strategy that one person throw a bait up top and other person to fish something down, in order to figure out what the fish are doing.  And that's all I'll say on that, right now... 

 

Thanks Mike. You guys went night fishing?  Although the curiosity is there, I will never ask you guys what you are throwing. ...  I sent you a PM but your mail box is full.