salmicropterus

Depending on when the rainy season starts, that is the time when the water levels in the glades is the lowest. The fish all recede into the canals and are sitting ducks. You should be able to catch both large numbers as well as well some good sizes. I'd recommend a guide for the peacock and I will PM you the name of one who specializes in that species and take you to some pretty underfished areas. As far as baits, (probably not an issue that time of year, but....) senkos either wacky or t-rigged, shakyheads and 7-10 inch worms, with weight and hollow body frogs are all good choices. Not a need for a lot of elaborate tackle. Now, if we get a tropical storm and the water levels are way up, then it's tough.

Assuming up to 12 years of age 1. Don't make it too long of time 2. Let them bring in any size and specie of fish 3. Keep the rules to a minimun ie live bait ok etc. 4. No money-if prizes keep it fishing oriented 5. If bank-based, let them bring up each fish after caught so it can be counted (weighed?) and then released. If in boats, take a picture and release. 6. Have liability insurance, particularly if in boats I think the goal should be focused on fun and creating more interest in fishing and not having them think you are trying to find the next KVD. One of my clubs runs youth T's for a Park's and Recreation Dept of a city and the above keeps them having fun and us invited

Two answers: Aaron Martens: If I can see you or hear you it is too close. KVD: Close enough that you can see how much I am catching and it wears on you mentally.

That's just it... you can see the obstructions. Think about it for a second. Radar has been used by the military since WW2, airports use it to navigate planes, Police use it bust speeders and its even used for measuring droplets of rain. I am sure everyone has heard of doppler radar. As stated above you can't cure stupid but if radar was so dangerous why do so many different industries rely on it. Not to mention most of which would suffer huge casualties in the event of failure. I should have clarified my example of an obstruction: how about a deadhead floating log or down here a gator which have knocked off many a lower unit. I love technology and I use it but when it's foggy but I'm going with common sense, backing it down to 40 mph or some other speed where I'm not exceeding my visibility because unlike most scenarios where radar is used such as aviation, I can't count on the other guy to be using the same degree of technology and for the most part I'm just hoping he/she has enough sense to at least have their running lights on

Yes, but two points: boats don't have brakes and you can't always be sure that your swerve isn't going to interfere with someone else's path or some other obstruction you can't see. Not to pick on tournament people cause I fish a lot of them myself, but there is a lot of adreneline flowing at times which gets in the way of judgment. I see ( and have probably made) some of the dumbest errors at takeoffs in limited visibility conditions. I'm not sure radar is going to solve that

Down here in South and Central Florida it is essential to do that, particularly when conditions are tough like in winter after a front and in the heat of summer. I much more enjoy open water chuck and wind but it necessary in tournament fishing. 65# braid, 1 to 1 and 1/2 oz tungsten and something slender like a Gambler BB Cricket. A the end of the day the boats a mess, you're a mess and maybe you had 10 bites all day but if you can get in 5, you might just catch up a 20# bag. I have to constantly self-talk myself into doing it.

HA! I fished with Bobby day 2 of the FLW Tour up at Clewiston and asked him that very question. He still has a fondness for Kissimmee but also named Orange and Toho too

A Devil's Horse in the Tamiami; A Spook on the Alley and a Senko at Lox. I hated losing that Devil's Horse, it was a fish-catching machine.

Ha-saw the boat do it to someone just down the line from us. What are they looking for, tuna? I hate to say it and I know I'm gonna get some pushback on this but the vast majority of bone-headedness out there (and at the ramp) comes from center-console people. They start their boat prep in the ramp lane and finish their post-prep in the same place-simply amazing. I can only imagine the impact of one of those boats on the park rental boats which are usually holding 3-4+ people. One of the big boats was running back north on the L-67 in the left edge of the canal with no traffic around-I'm just saying

We struggled yesterday-had only about 7#s. I had a pretty good club T the day before -10-11# (winner had 18 but I was third) but nada in those same places and other places yesterday. I think there has been a lot pressure out there and it is showing. That's my excuse LOL

Well, not this co-angler :-/ Anyway, it was great to fish behind the pros and see them do their thing. Glenn Browne, my pro on Thursday easily had 15# in the first 20 minutes and just progressively upgraded to 23-7 over the day. Bobby Lane struggled and wasn't "on them" like Glenn (who finished 11th) but still milk-runned a decent bag by my standards. The tournament showed the Lake at it's best. Some of the areas we were in had more beds on the floor than "not beds" It was amazing to see. Congrats to Aymon Wilcox, a Holiday Park and Alley canal guy for finishing first as a co- and to Brandon McMillan for winning. We all know Brandon to be among the best in the Lake tourney's but to win at that level of competition is really an accomplishment

Once the tournament season starts he doesn't guide much although off season he will. That show was great. It's funny how 441,000 acres of "everything looks the same" and a spot that Scott fished in that show can look so identifiable on a show or a photo

For reliable results, you need to go all the way to Dade. South of the Alley in Broward a maybe here and there (Griffin Canal?) North of the Alley, not likely

X2 If you want to add a peacock trip to your visit down in Miami, I would suggest Alan Zaremba. PM me for a phone number. Roland's is as good as there is in Clewiston plus the guide service is right there. Steve Daniel is a great guide and will teach you as well as put you on fish. I was his practice partner these past 3 days for the FLW event and I learn something new and useful everyday.

Good for you-it should be a great learning experience. Seeing how hard these guys work and how good they are is quite an eye-opener

I am up here for practice for the FLW Tour (as a co-). Everything is perfect for a great tournament. My pro practice partner and I are catching them pretty good but with maybe 15-18# a day, we know we have to do better to compete. It is shaping up to be a slugfest and even as a co- I figuring you might need 20s to make the cut

I don't think it's a matter of season. The extreme cold of last year (this year hasn't helped)put a real hit on the peacocks particularly north of Alley. There used to be a thriving population up at Ida and Osborne and that's pretty much history excerpt for a few survivors here and there. Even south of the Alley, it was a big hit and the catch rates in Dade are down too although on a good day you might catch 10+.

We did and no problem. Glad you guys could get your boat up on the trailer with the trim problem you had and it was good to connect a "name" with a face. @Glades- agree on the mess in the AM. It would be nice if people had enough sense to have their running lights on out in the basin when is is dark-it was a mess and if someone is goofy enough not to have that that they should be DQ-ed. We had 10.33# which was decent but we could just never cull up beyond a certain point. Can't say that we missed any big fish or anything else like that. We used "big fish" baits and tactics but kept catching 14-15s.

We'll be out there too. TR-21 with an Opti 225, green, silver and bone-say hi. Good luck to all! I'm with the post that said finding 13-15#-we can't find the 4s and 5s that will be needed for sure

I think the 11-12 and 13s of last year are this years 12-15 inchers. There's is a ton of them

I'm going to try and get out Sunday. I know from your picture, I've seen you around. I'll be running a green, silver, ivory TR-21. Hope to see you out there

Yes, as to the 3/06 tournament. My question though is does that make it a "no-entry fee" deal like the other Gambler only T's?

Wow, that is almost exactly what we did last Saturday. What is up with the Fingers? I can honestly say that is the first time I've ever been up there w/o a bite. We are fishing the qualifiers for the KOTG. I haven't been out to the flats off the L-67? Are they accessible? Otherwise it's going to be a canal deal and I struggle there to catch enough weight. I'm planning to go out again Sunday.

We had a pretty decent day out of Holiday last Saturday-maybe 40+ but nothing over three. Many were small 13-14" keepers (last year's 11-1/2s) Mostly all caught on t-rigged or wacky-rigged Aces. A few were caught on jerkbaits-nothing on top though. Water at Holiday is definitely down over the past month although they were back pumping at the ramp. has anyone ventured into the flats recently or put another way, is there enough water to do so?

30.6 in Cooper City this AM