Big Mike in Fl

you aren't understanding what I'm saying, I don't want the death and tragedy, in my mind it would be awesome if the storm came through and just destroyed pool enclosures and nothing else. Maybe you misunderstood me, but I am NOT wishing bad on people, but I do understand what my industry needs to get back on its feet, and btw, it isn't just my industry that benefits, just like the original person I quoted said, he needs them for his work as well. does a police officer need crimes? does the military need war? do doctors need illness? that's what I'm trying to say. and with all of that said, you go from making 45k a year, to just over 10k and see what you'll want to be able to survive, and provide for yourself, and maybe children wives and family... so call me selfish if you want,but that's not what its about.

I feel the same way, I worked in the aluminum construction industry (screen rooms and hurricane shutters) for 4 solid years and worked my way up into a respected position in the company I was in, however with the lack of hurricanes, coupled with the poor economy, the company I worked for shut down, and now I'm changing oil and tires at walmart, for scarcely more than minimum wage. if a good solid cat 2 storm came through, it would completely jump start that industry again and I'd be back to making a decent living. However, I hate saying that I want storms to come ,because I know how horrible it can be, and we experienced it in 2004, when 4 storms hit Florida. I just want to see a few minimal storms come through, knock down some screen rooms, and scare some more people into upgrading their protection, then I'd be back to work

I guess things are vastly different here in C. Fla for me. I hunt only Wildlife management areas (public lands) and the possibility of even seeing a shooter deer is small, I've been hunting for about 7 years, and have only shot at one deer. I do all the scouting, I do all the research, I use the right gear, but the pressure, along with the timing hurts. most fo the bucks aren't even moving until the sun is gone. I do however get opportunity at wild hogs, which to me is as much of a trophy as a big buck (remember florida deer are smaller then up north, but the hogs get huge) I don't hunt with a bow, because I don't have one, I hunt with a rifle (30-30) though every shot I've had coulda been taken with a bow. for me,its about being in the outdoors, its about the hunt, its about the adrenaline rush, its about the meat, its about all of it. I don't hunt over a feeder or a food plot, but I dont' see anytihng wrong with it, those people are making the effort as much as those of us who stalk and hunt, the effort is in a different way, they have to maintain the plot or feeder, locate the optimum spots for them, and ensure the right feed is put to use, its a different style, but to think they aren't working for their kill isn't true. basically, they are bringing the deer to them, insteaqd of searching for it, and I see nothing wrong with that.

there is a spillway near the turn pike and portr st. lucie blvd thhat is awesome for snook when the water is flowing, find it on google earth as I can't give you direct instructions, as for bass, i don't know, I've never really bass fished down there.

I have an XPS walker that I like a lot, its got a great wide walk, but it is a little more subtle than my spooks, it works better for calmer water or when the sun is up higher. the rattles are quieter than a spook, and it doesn't disturb the water as much, but boy does it walk nice, however I will say that the hooks don't seem great, they need ot be changed.

Roger, I respectfully disagree with your stance on the hunting of gators, and, the job the FWC is doing with it, they have very strict seasons, restrictions,a dn permitting processes. they also restrict the number of permits per state, region, and waters, per year, and there are size limits, helping to ensure the population is not hurt in the process. I have personally witnessed this process by fishing very popular gator hunting grounds (the headwaters of the st. johns river, lakes washington, hell-n-blazes,and sawgrass) Every bend fo that river down there has 4-5 gators sitting on it, I have come to canals with gators so thick you could walk across the canal on them. I can assure you in those populations are NOT hurt by legal hunting. now, fi the lake/pond you enjoy fishing's population has dropped,there may be other factors involved, adn it may need an FWC biologist's assessment about the necessity of hunting on that waterway. George, while the record gator in fl. may be 14+, I very seriously believe there are much bigger lizards out there, I know for a fact that I have seen some on the stick marsh, garcia, as well as in a small pond that were over the 14' mark, and I do believe were over 15', I can remember one swimming by the boat on Garcia that was about 20' form us, it appeared to stretch from bow to stern, and that was a 16' glastream, I believe within the next few years of hunting seasons, that 14+ will be broken. All of this being said, I do not hunt gators, I don't have the equipment or the means, let alone the money to get the permits or hire a guide, I do however have friends who enjoy hunting them, and I absolutely love gator meat, it's not true that it tastes like chicken, its much better remember what they say, even a puddle in florida is liable to have a gator swimming in it.

that is terrible avid, I know how the airboaters are out there,there have been several times where we were almost ran over on garcia by the tour airboats whipping around corners and such...actually had the tour guide apologize to us one day, which I think showed a lot of class, but you're right, with the tall reeds, narrow cuts and high levees, it can be tough sometimes to see them coming, and if you're in one running full bore, you'll never hear them.... I'm curious more about blue cyrpess though, my buddy fished it a few months back and said it was absolutely dead.

you shoulda killed it and ate it, soft shells are delicious... then again, I think there are new regulations on them, wouldn't want to do anything illegal

rig it backwards, with the hook point running into the nose, it almost jerks like a wacky rig, but after the jerk it'll dive backwards, great for swimming under matted weeds.

Not to get political or anything, but why exactly does he deserve a medal? He killed an unarmed man. Sure, the other man was robbing him and the man had the right to defend himself, but he still killed someone. No, he killed an armed man. Homeowner had no way of knowing the gun was fake and I believe the law recognizes that. That's why they put the orange markings on toy guns, to distinguish them from real guns. When the criminal altered the gun, he changed the status from fake to real. EXACTLY... as far as the law is concerned he was armed, just like if you are found concealing a toy weapon by a law enforcement officer, it still seems real in the situation

everyone saying the wing ding looks weird, but how weird did a spinner bait or a buzzbait originally look to you, orhow bout a brush hog/sweetbeaver, they don't necessarily look like anything very realiztic, but they sure do catch fish... sometimes the new stuff catches because the fish aren't conditioned into staying away form them,and this is an innovative approach and spin on the stick bait craze...I'm very interested in it, and willbe tryign them out eventually.

Save money somewhere else, hooks are the most important component of your fishing tackle. "Expensive" hooks are NOT, especially when compared to all your other fishing gear. 8-) words to live by

there are certainly days, you'd be real surprised... then again, I think George has them all under a spell or something by now, they are like his pets, when they hear his motor fire, they come running.

hey thanks for the reply, I did some reading up and found out a lot of info about that, any ideas on what to fish with, jigs, spinner baits,senkos, worms, topwater etc etc, I'd really love to catch a smallie if possible!

I have that exact reel and love it, its as nice as my stradics, but it may not last quite as long. I had a 4000 sedona that I abused heavily for two years before it gave way, and by abused I mean left it in the bed of my truck for weeks, dropped in sand, etc etc... I used to be real rough on my gear, but I've learned otherwise.

is this more of a swim bait, or a fluke type bait? I almost always rig my flukes so they'll jump to the surface when I twitch them, then letting them fall

its a fairly large bait tho, at 5 5/8", it may not be as successful as you'd thing, altho it may get the interest of some real hawgs too!

hmm, no takers... how bout just general tackle suggestions for ohio lakes and rivers this time of year, anyone?

culprit 7.5" red shad or junebug, charlies 10" black grape

you're a lucky, lucky man!

reds, if you can figure it out, I think you'll be a hero to all of us. Guys, just imagine every time your wife blows $$$ on avon, or princess house, or whatever, you turn around and do the same thing on a zoom/***/ heddon party! they might think twice about spending on the useless stuff they seem to buy.

I've always thought of those as kinda a girly thing, its an interesting idea, but what baits would you sell? and would you be able ot offer them at a reasonable price to where people would buy them instead of at the sotre, or online? I mean, if its conceivably done, thne cool, good idea, and you're getting in on the ground floor, I just wonder how you'd make a market for it, being that there are plenty of places to get baits already.... not like avon, princess house,or pampered chef where you basically have to get them form a sales rep...

FINALLY!!! someone else who fishes topwater like I do. I use a "modified" 6'2" shimano convergence mh/f however, being that its modified, its become more of a heavy/ extra fast. by modified,I mean the first four inches were broken off by the tailgate of the truck, however it performs worlds better now, because the slightest twitch gets an awesome walk the dog motion. I know a lot of people worry about give in the rod with treble hooks, but I've never had a problem with this. I've got an old green curado Bantam, with 30lb power pro on this setup, and it is a dream come true for all the topwater fishing I do.

hey there northern guys, I'll be on a road trip to ohio for a family reunion in lebanon ohio in a few weeks, is anyone on here from lebanon? does anyone have info on armco park lake, is it fishable, will I be able to fish there? and if so, what are the baits/ techniques you would recommend. Also I'll be in Oak harbor (near toledo) for a day as well visiting an uncle, and we'll probably be fishing the river that runs through there, so again, any info/techniques would be much appreciated. I'd really like to catch a smallie while I'm up there,since it's a fish I'm not able to get around here, and i hear so much about them, but then again, if its largemouth around there, I'm ok with that. any info is very much appreciated!

got bored with doing the usual fish , was watching something on tv about aligators and thought i'd give this a try. doing the paint was the tough part. googled baby gators and this pattern seemed to be the most common. you pretty much nailed it! seriously, make some more and send them down to your new florida pro staff!!! LOL