frogflogger

Be aware you can always run aground on the Big O - if unsure go slow - you can get into places on plane you can't get out of -

I fished for almost a year with black or white lures - worked very well - I've found times when color was a deal maker or breaker but usually there are a lot of other things that come before color selection.

I'm interested in what type of lure not what specific brand.

guiding is the best way I know of for a person of limited wealth - it's up to you if you are going to enjoy doing the job

The more you fish those long canals the more you will start picking out subtle things that will help you.

Braid for most but mono has its place in clear open water, particularly with trebles.

You can mess around in the back of a boat with the ned rig and do amazingly well without being in the front of the boat's way.

Why would you quit trying? Nothing better than a challenging piece of water.

Go there every chance I get

The simplest way is to let out more line - for long casts I will sometimes have the lure dangling 1/2 the rod length - which has the effect of a longer rod - and the force you can create will give you more distance - also clean and lightly oil your spool bearings regularly.

Trick worms - the best all around worm I have thrown for years - they are killer for big Florida bass and for finesse fishing spots up here -

I cast and retrieve them the same way I would a silver buddy - amazing vibration - a bit pricey

I have several friends who retired to Mexico and love it and feel safe and comfortable - there are dangerous neighborhoods everywhere.

Falcon and Amisted are border lakes (Falcon the one with the most issues) where smuggling is going on - El Salto is not a border lake and there are several articles and accounts of its safety.

Not particularly dangerous if you don't get involved with drugs down there - do some research.

I feel sorry for those that don't fish.

I had good results with a Furbit in those situations

I don't know where you fish but there are a couple of very good fishermen that use them for horny toads and other buzzy soft plastics in thick cover - they use 30# braid.

clean water, float n fly - silver buddy if not - jerks and cranks also work but there is nothing on the bass fishing earth as much fun as a float n fly in cold water - warm water - now that's something else -

Twice in my time - 50yrs apart - I've seen a bass jump and take a red-winged blackbird out of the air.

Easy - ned rig

Every bit of fresh water you see in Florida - be it a pond or canal, lake - has a chance of harboring a bass of a lifetime. When I was guiding in the everglades I ran across two bank anglers that were fishing along the tamiami trail. They had a 12 lber. on a stringer that they had caught out of a little corner of water by the highway inaccessible by boat.

jerkbaits if clear water - ned rig no matter what the conditions

Lots of info on the big O - all I can add - if you catch a fish - work the area very thoroughly.

Decades ago Jason Lucas was upset about money influencing bass fishing and its coverage - man he would be in a spin these days. I think for the most part guys try to do the right thing but if you watch an angler on tv or on the lake or in your boat you soon learn what kind of a man or woman they are - When I see bass handled roughly - boats driven thoughtlessly - rude behavior - etc. I don't want them in my boat. And as a man once said perhaps they should try another sport.