gar-tracker

A very important thing when jig fishing is to make sure you real down to the fish before setting the hook, in other words make sure you have taken in all the slack, you can get away without this more so on a worm or craw, not jigs.

I wouldn't spend a lot of money on the rod get a med action 6'6, BPS have a lot of decent rods, then get a med range spinning real, these are pretty good for the money. http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Extreme-Spinning-Reels/product/11092105011328/

You know its funny you mentioned this, 20 years ago I doubt I would have done this, in its infancy along with my being a little older upon its introduction I thought the Internet was just full of a bunch of weirdos, but as time went on I wound up meeting some lifelong friends through the web. All it takes is a little common sense. The world is a big place, getting to know people from all sides sometimes helps put some understanding into things we may not fully grasp.

Awhile back a member posted here from Italy explaining that he dreamed of coming to American and fishing Okeechobee and Toho. This sparked my interest and I was curious as how much bass fishing goes on in Italy. I offered him a spot on my boat if he makes it over here and low and behold I found out he was serious. I have a good friend that retired and lives off Lake Toho in Kissimmee and I live off of Okeechobee so I told him where to travel to and where to stay and picked him up for 2 days on Toho, then I brought him to Okeechobee where he stayed at my place and we fished Okeechobee for 4 days. He spoke limited English and I less Italian, but we communicated fine. I learned more Italian and him English. His fishing skills and mechanics were very impressive and heres the results. While I couldnt find him his trophy he did lose a 5 to 6 on Toho and caught a few 5s on Okeechobee. And we caught tons of nice keeper fish in the 3 to 4lb range. Im the old fart, couldnt give him all the glory. Thanks BR!!!

Im going to start photoshopping some photos as soon as I learn how to E mail someone.

They will serenade them at times, but as for signaling them they usually just use their hands.

Back when I would bring a lot of different friends fishing they had one chance at that. I couldnt even get them on time when i would pick them up, If I had a dime how many times i would pull up to a dark house to pick someone up. drove me nuts. Thats why you find as you get older "one monkey doesn't stop a show."

For a trophy Id go to Stick Marsh or Toho, Okeechobee isnt know for its double digit bass, now it will give you three 8s and a 9 and a slew of 5's, but hard to crack that 10 mark they have too quick of a growing season ans not enough cool deep water.

Hey now, leave me out of this!!!!

I won a tournament there without even starting my boat other then to put it on the trailer. Of all the canals I used to fish the Alley was always the prettiest and most enjoyable to me. Lots of great memories.

Well I re powered my Bass Boat with a PROSX 250 and love it. And just picked up a Flats/Bay Boat for the coast.

Apparently a long forgotten rule is lights off at the ramp at night. This has completely gone by the wayside and it drives me nuts. Along with getting the boat ready in the lane.

Most likely probably one. According to those photos you don't need one.

..own 1 boat. Red Fish, Snook, Im coming for you on my off days.

I agree, if its over 300 dollars, unless they didn't let them collect the money. That was confusing but I think he meant in past events. Which I have mentioned before that IMO those are the dudes that are suspect to me the ones that just show up. Iv spent 32 years in Law Enforcement and have seen people stabbed over 5.00, anytime money is involved people will cheat, I just put it out of my mind and refuse to let it ruin the sport I love. What comes around goes around, I know a dude that was revealed to have been cheating by an estranged ex wife, he used to win all the tourneys up at Okeechobee. She explained how he did it to a T. He wound up never entering any tournaments again and stopped fishing, had to abandon the sport he loved, he recently died a poor old buzzard with Alzheimers.

That is a cool picture.

They may hang out a recoup after being in a live well all day but then they move on.

All excellent info, except with all due respect : "All the tourney fish get dumped in the north end of west Toho, so you don't have to go too far to catch good sized fish." Those fish swim like packs of wolves and will be out of there the next day, they have caught tagged fish on the complete other side of Okeechobee, as well as 30 miles away in the Glades from point of release.

Nice fish, good idea to pitch those jigs. I

Funny you said that I rarely keep fish but this thing didn't even smell like fish. Thats why I tried it. Plus they're basically put in to harvest.

Hold on technical difficulties. * bangs on answering machine with cane*

While at Okeechobee A Hybrid Sunshine Bass cross between a Striper and a white bass hammered a trap this weekend, she was ripping out drag like crazy I thought it was a catfish, I knew it wasn't a bass the way it fought. I got two nice slabs off it and we ate it last night, man it was very good. Notice the new 250 ProSX Now we're cooking with grease.

Depends ion where they are caught. In Florida certain areas seem to give the fish slightly mineral taste but in most of the big lakes they are nice white mild meat. I rarely eat any but when I do I soak them in milk a little while. Seems to take care of that, our lakes are very fertile. Dip in Beating egg Dredge them in Instant potato flakes Fry lightly on each side in about 1/2 inch of oil. This comes out so good if you place a fillet on the top of your head your tongue will beat your brains out trying to get at it.

Cedar Key?

If I was out there Id cast towards the bank,