frogflogger

it's a good rod

MY old mentor said "I feel sorry for folks who don't fish"

I read an article several years ago about a fellow who regularly caught bass in the teens in Fl. - he said coontail was always present when he caught a teener.

New years day - silver buddy

football jig is not for grass - in your situation a swim jig might be a good choice

When dogwoods bloom - the bass are on the banks

go to an 1 oz. if need be

Braid influences the way some baits perform - it doesn't sink as quick as fluoro and that can be a plus or a minus depending on the situation.

When the white oak leaves are the size of squirrels ears.

points of course - drains or nooks - if you have decent clarity this is a classic jerk bait scenario - 45 degree banks with mixed aggregate/clay - crank a wart - I would start with the jerk bait or crank depending on clarity - clearer for jerk - patience will be the key and faith in the lure and location you choose. As the day warms the fish will be more active and you should find some action on secondary points and the upper reaches. If you have a partner one could jerk and one crank so you could cover water - if you locate fish dragging a jig could help you. Keeping your concentration on a day with few bites is always the challenge isn't it - hope you whack a bunch of them. If you can find points with one steep side they can be good starting spots - fish can be shallower than you expect this time of year. All of this is merely an opinion of course.

it's a better knot for fluoro than the palomar just do what the guys are saying - moisten and tighten SLOWLY

I prefer it for float n fly - I use 10# - it does fray but with a 10' leader that's no problem - I do a bimini then an alberto to the leader - it outcasts my other rig with braid and has far fewer wind knots. Not an all purpose line but it casts like a dream and is very sensitive.

Within a 30 day period, late jan. early feb., this year I caught bass on 1/32 and 1/16th oz. jigs in cold clear water then caught bass on 1oz. jigs on Okeechobee - jigs are the do all in fishing no matter what species or what water.

I still find the zoom brush hog, super hog and yums vibra king tube to work as well as any for flipping.

Thanks to all for the feed back.

I've always believed sampo were the best but then I'm old and not up on the latest and I seldom use them except in lure making.

I know golf course ponds have some very good fishing but I would be very leary of eating anything from them.

thanks Hootie for Jason Lucas - he was the pioneer of modern bass fishing before the tech/tournament revolution - I can't believe Jason Lucas and Bill Murphy aren't in the hall of fame

I bought Browning reels on sale at bps years ago figuring on getting a season out of them guiding - 10 or 15 yrs later the darn things are still going - very smooth - I use the 5:1's for crankbaits - grinding away year after year - clean and oil them yearly - great bargains.

Spinner baits are my usual ticket in wind but there are times a grub or a wacky rigged senko on a float can be deadly - the waves give it action and it is really fun to watch for the bobber in the whitecaps. Some very nice bass have been caught doing this.

Almost 50yrs. ago I floated and fished the Mulberry river in Arkansas it was an excellent smallmouth stream - I've heard nothing about it since.

I recently bought a lefty reel just for flipping and pitching heavy stuff - it wasn't that difficult to make the adjustment - not sure I would want to use it in other applications.

Does anyone have experience with this bait? Small tail with very subtle action - I haven't read anyone's experience with it.

I would guess it is pretty clear water - if it is I would be heaving a frog in the grass and a spook over the deep open water - of course those may not be the highest percentage baits but if they work they will catch the big ones.

I retired from guiding there and send my clients to Capt. Thaddeus Regan - a really nice guy, a good guide and very helpful with the current techniques - GladesBassin is the name of his site - That said I'm sure Shane is a good guide - I use to see him in big cypress on occasion