GRiver

Hi everyone Fishing Florida when the water temp starts to drop, you learn to watch for alligators basking in the sun. I was fishing Monday, trolling along the bank on the St. John’s, got skunked, but anyway. There is slots cut back in the woods that they floated logs out years ago, heard them called, cuts, float path, log slips.. all kinds of things. Cruising along the bank tossing a Texas rigged worm, came to one of the slots and was going to nose in and fish it. Just I started in, on the back side of a palmetto, a 6ft-8ft gator came off the bank and into the water. Scared the #$&** out of me, I’m guessing on the size was, too busy crapping my pants too get a good estimate. It landed close enough that I got wet and it rocked the boat. I caught it’s first movement out of the corner of my eye, as he raised its head, then that big leap they do, right at me. I probably had that frightened distorted look on my face frozen like I just saw Medusa. He probably had the same look…. At least I’d like to think I scared him just as much, and we be laughing together. I thought he was going to land in the boat or at least on the gunnel. I know he wasn’t attacking me, but he probably wouldn’t have passed on the chance of a meal ether. Its my fault….. l knew better than get that close to the corner, that was dumb, dumb, dumb. I’m always checking the bank and scanning ahead this time of year, especially right after a cold spell and water temps dropping. I had already seen close to a dozen that morning basking. I give them a wide berth, if they don’t slide off before I get close. Never had that happen before, I got day dreaming and not paying attention to my surroundings. Just thought I’d share that story, it’s funny now, but I think I can tell my doctor I don’t need a stress test.

I upgraded most of my reals to abec7, didn’t go ceramic, didn’t like the noise. I’ve found that the upgrade gave me more consistency in my casting and was easier to cast. Didn’t cast that much further just easier to cast the same distance. Plus it just feels different….. quieter, smoother, and more solid, can’t explain it….just different.

Hi from the Sunshine State of Fl…..where ya from?

I fished St John’s after it flooded and Zilch!, nada, nothing, the Big Skunk…… I think they are still feeding, just not my bait, I can hear what I think are fish, splashing back in the flooded woods. Don’t even think you could get a kayak back in there, not that I would. After flooding here in Fl, it brings all the critters out that have been displaced from there homes, snakes and gators.

I carry a leatherman skeletool, every day, all the time. It’s a small multi-tool …..it’s got me home.

I’m in the same boat with Ol’Crickety, only caught two, LM in Fl and, SM when I lived in NC. Going to try and get back to NC/ TN area this summer and visit some friends and fish for smallies again.

Hope that’s not a sign of what’s to come this year.

Since my Dad died….. not too much. I have a few friends I see from time to time. And fishing is what we have in common, and that’s all we talk about.

I’ve got world wide sportsman….(Bass Pro) is most of my shirts.

Merry Christmas

I agree with t-billy, the weather has always run in cycles. I remember as kid, we had big snows in wv, then they only got lite dusting of snow. My cousin tells me now they have gotten snow like we did as kids.

While here in Florida we don’t have the extreme cold and snow everyone else is having. We are cold for here 29*, light wind. Weather here has been crazy this year, hurricanes flooded St John’s river. It’s still high, water is still on the yard, for months now.. California drought to flooding rains, Lakes drying up, crazy weather around the Great Lakes area. It has been crazy weather this year for sure.

Merry Christmas to you too,

Gotta watch “ Fatman”… it’s a different kind of Christmas movie.

Spankey My Mom uses one all the time, has a few different recipes, but use the regular loaf the most. I have one like jigfishn10, I use it to mix other stuff too, but my moms is just dump everything in it, then walk away.

Merry Christmas!!! And good will to everyone….. even if ya don’t want it. I hope everyone stays safe and in good health. so Merry Christmas Everyone.

New 2BC4Bass I live north of Deland, north end of Lake George. You all did better than me……total skunk. I tried fishing the flooded areas, could buy a bite, I was most.y pitching and flipping in flooded tree areas, nothing.

It would be easier to remember my moronic moments than my genius moments, I’ve had more moronic moments.

Thank you …..I understand the rigged flat part of it now.

Depends for me…… just a few hours, 3-4 rigs. All day 6-7 , never know what I’m going to get into.

Hi from the Sunshine State of Fl

Yes I have, went to do one of my loop around cast… for more momentum you know. Anyway , lure snag front bow light, just as I swung for world record long distance cast. Reel birds nest, you know the sound BRRRRHIPTTTTT!!! reel stops mid swing, comes out my hands and I do the juggling act for a bit with the rod and reel. I lose all contact and the rig, it drops, hits the gunnel and bounces, lands on the deck and in the boat. Wheww! Thought I was going swimming.

Anybody got some pics of rigging them flat? I’m not familiar with that.

Hi from the Sunshine State of Fl, great pics.

Merry Christmas to everyone and thanks to everyone here. I really mean that… I feel I’m a better at fishing because of the advice I’ve received from people here on this site. A bonus too is, had a few laughs. Thanks Everyone