RobbyZ5001

Yeh, I may look into that. Chances are they wouldn't let volunteers do more of the fun stuff though like electrofishing ect.

I agree 100% Fisheries was fun most of the time. Unless it's Dec-Feb sloshing around in snow and streams for 10 hours a day, or getting rained on all day when its 40 degrees out. Some great times, and I def miss it some days.

Not sure if you've raced already haha. I won with lithium to lessen friction and weights. I can give you a deal on some tungsten fishing weights if it will help you get the W. LOL

I graduated PSU with a Fisheries Science degree. I worked for the Wyoming Game & Fish, Pennsylvania Fish and Game, and a private environmental consulting company working with coal and gas companies. Government agencies have good benefits, but there's no money in any of it. So if you think you'll pay off $100,000 in student loans doing it, goddddd blesssss you. Masters is also the norm now so chalk that up to $140,000 debt. Basically be happy with being broke and struggling doing something you enjoy. Otherwise change your path.

Good report. Okeechobee didn't treat many people nicely in the last BFL. Water is getting lower, little front came through. Fished it for a few days had a handful around 4-4.5 but otherwise slow.

You're very impressive. I will call you Hawgslayer aka RareFishHunter aka InvasiveSpeciesCatcher. Keep crushing it man!

Triggered hahaha That's a lot of bass hating from a guy on a bass centric forum. ? Anyway, thanks for the input! Sounds awesome to me man! I look forward to it for sure. lol don't tease me. I don't even mind getting skunked, just enjoy getting out. Fishing therapy.

Obviously. Fishing the bank is pretty lame, but I guess a necessity if it's the only option... Thanks, I even have a degree in Fisheries Science from PSU. I'll go reread my text books ?

It's amazing how much water there is here and little of it I know. I'm down for some bank fishing with a fishing buddy too. I'll pass on the bait though haha. Just not my thing.

I've reached out to a couple guys, but nothing panned out yet. So here's my call for help haha My boat is in Roland Martin Marina waiting on backorder parts =( So I am stuck with just tourneys until after April. If anyone is in southern or central Florida and has an open backseat I would love to join you. I will of course chip for ice/gas ect. Just looking to get out on the water while i'm broke down. That's my plea for sanity, thank you! ?

and you were concerned! Nice!

Picture upload on this site is terrible, so you'll just have commentary. FLW Marshall meeting was cool. I sat at the table with Bolton, Thrift, Tutt, and Charlie Evans. Ate some good BBQ, got to ask questions to the speakers. Day 1 I drew Charlie Ingram. I met him where he was staying and we headed over to launch together. Super nice guy, he had a solid day weighing around 16lbs. Some males fry guarding and nicer fish in about a 100 yard stretch of flat pads worming. He was sitting decent after day 1 with chance of check and top 30 cut. Day 2 I fished with Bailey Boutries. He had an 18lb sack day 1 with almost a 10lb fish caught off a bed. He's probably the youngest angler being 19, but super nice guy. He had a tough day caught 4, and had about a 3lb fish jump off. That would have gave him a 10k payday, tough lost fish. Pretty complicated tournament. Continues warming trend and some bass were moving up to beds, but much slower than originally thought. Dead flat calm for 1&2. Day 3&4 should be interesting because it's a change in weather to wind and rain. Should be a fun one to watch. So as a marshall, it's a common sense deal. Know the rules, make sure you wear PFD when big motor is running, normal stuff. Talk if they want to talk, don't if they don't. Don't talk about your fishing on the water, or previous days anglers fishing. Common sense stuff.. You send hourly updates and pictures on your phone to the media guys, or you may get an Ipad which you do the same on. This gives them the info on the live updates and pictures. If your comfortable backing a vehicle you'll probably be asked to load and unload. Your'e guaranteed to marshall day 1 & 2 day 3&4 will be given priority based on how many events you signed up for. You'll be granted 1 entry for doing day 1&2 and additional entry if more for a chance to win a new boat at the end of the year. They combine your day 1&2 angler weights and you can win up to $2500. It's a good experience, and you'll pick up some tips for sure. Personally, sitting watching someone fish for 8 hrs while I am on the water isn't my cup of tea. I may do another, but as of now most likely not. If you're considering it I would definitely suggest giving it a shot. Any questions let me know. If anyone has tips on how to upload pictures without it being a pain let me know I will toss some in here.

Ah, I understand. Yeh, I follow that with fishing bfl's in general. I get everyone fishes differently. I HOPE the people I get like to talk otherwise it will be a long day. I've only fished the toho area a couple times. So it will be nice to see some different water. Man, bummer couldn't meet up for the BBQ... If I enjoy this event, I will probably do the next one in GA.

Bummer. It's going to be weird just hanging for 8 hrs. I'm going to probably be bored out of my mind, but I guess I will see.... Yeh I fish BFL's so I am pretty familiar, but I will brush up on them. Hope all is well with the family!

I decided, why not. I'm going to be a flw marshall for the tourney on toho 2/7-2/10. Anyone else by chance in the area or going to be a marshal? Free BBQ, chance to win 2500 and a boat. Why not.... I'll keep ya updated of who I get for at least 2 days and how it is.

Seems to me they are related

Decided I needed a therapy session. I've never fished Lake Garcia, so I figured I would give it a shot before MLF Championship happens this Sunday 2/3. Started 8AM Ended 430PM Air temp ~60 Water temp ~60 Overcast So I have never been to this lake before, and totally winged it. I started from the ramp making a right on the big motor, found I needed to go to the trolling motor REAL fast... it's about 0.5-1.5ft of water.... If you go here... stay to the left LOL Worked my way out to better water punching, throwing swim jigs, chatterbait, MS Slammer, senko. Got to better looking water 3-4' scattered grass pads cattails. It took me 2 hours to get my 1st fish 2.5 lbs punching a mat w/ 1.5oz tungsten & BB Cricket and took another 3 hours to get my second fish 1.5 lb same punch setup. I tried a lot of different looking water and baits, but no luck. Later in the day when I got sick of punching and fighting the wind I went to scattered pads tossing a swim jig w/ Havoc grass pig on the back. I was fishing scattered pads and got into them pretty good. No size all 1.5-2lb fish working the pads. I pulled in around 20 fish in 2 hours. No piggies to speak of, but happy something came together. I think it's only going to get better. I wouldn't be surprised if they pull in some good bags in the MLF championship, and if Hackney gets through to it he will be a contender for sure with working the mats.

I didn't mean to make it sound like your a bad stick. I hope you didn't take it that way. I have been in Florida for over a year now and my PB is still from Pennsylvania. I also have been skunked on Okeechobee multiple times so there's that lol. Awesome you're making the leap! Post the results for better or worse! Catch em up!

If you catch good fish, fish boater, if not fish as rider. Electronics are variable depending where you are fishing. I'm assuming you're not on good fish if you're blaming the electronics though.

Rough tourney, cold, rainy, windy. Small field for the 1st tourney of the year with 120 boats. I think this is due to low water conditions and higher entry fees this year. I fished as a non boater. Fished some shallow water and a little 5-7' channel, as well as the rim ditch in various places. I fished swim jigs, trig senko, rattle trap, wake bait (handful before I knew it was going to be a tough day), chatter bait. I didn't carry any dropshot baits or any TRD's, but they would have been worth a shot in the rim ditch for the tough bite. My boater was fishing shaky head with a trick worm, swim jig, some other old school worms. He hit one spot where he boated 3 fish in about 10 minutes. It was about a 20'x10' spot, but they were in it. That was all for him for the day around 7lbs. Luckily I was able to pull a 4lber on trig senko on the rim ditch. Had one fish hang on a swim jig, kind of seemed like a gar type deal. The 4lb fish was good enough for 30/120 on the non boater side. I was 12 oz out of the money, pretty rough tourney... They can't all be easy, but I am glad I picked up some decent points. 2/7/19 I decided to try out this marshal deal for the FLW tour. So I will be around the Toho area 2/7-2/10 if anyone heads up let me know.

and his steak dinner he shares with 2 forks with his co. I don't understand, he probably would have got less for that expectation. I always give $40 unless i'm in the money then more. and his steak dinner he shares with 2 forks with his co. I don't understand, he probably would have got less for that expectation. I always give $40 unless i'm in the money then more.

I think you should give it a shot. It's cool to see different peoples strengths fishing certain water certain ways.

You don't have what division (unless I overlooked it) Not sure if this link will work, but there is a facebook group I use every year. Also contact your previous co anglers to see if they want to link. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1539582139611356/ If link doesn't work just search TH Marine BFL And Costa FLW Series Information And Linking

I'll play. I've fished as a co-angler for BFL's for awhile. I only had two bad experiences out 21 fished. 1st- Dude was just a terrible fisherman and inexperienced with the boat. He had a brand new 21' Ranger, we were fishing the potomac out of smallwood. It was blowing putting maybe big 3s on the river. We sat on trash point a few hundred yards away from the launch ALL day in an area maybe 30x30. I was the only one to catch a fish and it was a snakehead. I suppose I rather have him do that then spear some waves tossing me out of the boat I guess... 2nd- Potomac again boater fished hard maybe 2/3 the day (lot of time left, not far run from weigh in). I had 4 in the boat with one being 5+ boater had 2 dinks. He literally put his rods away tossed the dinks over and let us drift to the back of the creek and wouldn't run the trolling motor or fish. I continued fishing because I had a shot at a check, but couldn't finish out my limit since we were in garbage water from drifting. This one sucked.

Thank you all for your responses. I have cleared some inbox space for messages. Especially for RW.