Mike L

I rarely watch videos but this one is Excellent!! For you younger guys or folks just getting into flipping and pitching I'd like to bring up a couple of points that imho you should pay attention too.... First.. Watch how he works the rod. He uses it as an extension of his arm as he never breaks his wrist. Second... He's following the bait down with his arm, not his wrist. Third...Watch his hand and how he holds the reel. His thumb never leaves the spool but take special note of his thumb. He places the crease on the spool not the thumbs pad. And Forth...He is Pitching not Flipping. Mike

Sure We ought to plan an outing when the weather becomes more stable. I don't have a boat but if you guys do why not?? Mike

Pretty much covers this thread for me! ? Mike

I really didnt see any dead or dying vegetation yesterday. Now that doesn't mean they haven't sprayed in the last few days or plan too, but from Clewiston to Pelican Bay all looked good. I haven't fished out of Scott Driver or J&S on the north end in months so I can't speak about those areas. One thing I did notice tho, was the canal out of Clewiston, 1/2 way down the rim canal and the dynamite holes were covered in a blanket of algae. The lack of mat's where we were just haven't topped out yet. Mike

I'm confident it was just a matter of time before we hooked into a few bigger ones, but like I said it was just brutal especially with no wind. Just watch out for yourself and who you're with out there. Mike

We didn't get started till after 9:00 because of some boat engine problems. It was interesting to see that there were only 4 trailers in the parking lot when we got there and 3 were guides. Anyway, we got to the hay field which looked almost over run by blooming pads.. There were no floating hydrilla mat's which is what I wanted to target because the water level is so high. We started at the pass and anchored in the middle over submerged spotty hydrilla and ell grass. I started alternating between pitching in between a thick read line and swimming a magnum speed over the hydrilla.. My partner started with a weighless stick bait and a swimming a ribbon tail all over on his side. In about 3 hours we had 8 but all were dinks. There was very little wind, air temp was 88 and by noon the water temp was 87 deg so I said we need to get out of here and try the dynamite holes on the way to the Monkey Box. I didn't like the look of the first one so we pulled into another. When we did it was now 91 and the water 90 and no wind. By 3:00 we got another 5 but both of us were worn out so much, we called it and headed back. All in all we got 13 in 6 hrs with the biggest being a 3.1 and never made it to the box. Had a good time anyway, it was just brutal out there. My boater yesterday is 78 yrs old and when he started to sit and look around more than fish I felt it was time. Mike

Ditto Mike

Hello and Welcome Mike

Hello and Welcome Mike

Hello and Welcome Mike

RI Skinny Dipper and Big EZ, both on 5/0 Owner screw lock with centering pin. . Mike

Fenwick Techna AV Phenix M1 and X 11 composite Allstar ASR Mike

You need a hook with a keeper as @Catt posted, or a screw lock type. I use a Trokar TK 130 but there are others. As far a fishing grass, down here I flip into mat's or the heaviest cover I could find. It was 94 deg today when it's that hot they're buried up. Mike

Fenwick's aren't as popular as they once were but my Techna AV is one of the best casting rods ever made by anyone. Mike

Going to the Big O tomorrow. Gonna start at the Hay Field and plan to finish up in the Monkey Box. If we do any good I'll post. Mike

Yeah well, when they pass out or feel like they can't pick up their head, or start to get dizzy and don't know why, there'll be no doubt as to who the clowns are. Mike

Any brand will work but the way they connect if different. Some hooks ride at any angle you connect them too and stay put, while others will float Just depends on what you want for the waters you fish. Mike

Totally agree! Down here it's as important as having a rod in your hand. Mike

Keep in mind it's all about the cover you're gonna fish in the most. 40# is on the low end for frogs and punching and 30# on the high end for most vertical moving baits. Both will work just not ideal. I've caught fish in the heavy stuff useing 16# flouro before and I'm sure other folks have also just not as a steady diet. Anyway, for 1 rod to cover all techniques including top water either one will work, just adjust your landing technique. Mike

Hello and Welcome Mike Hello and Welcome Mike

I like those pointed weights!! Haven't seen them down here Always for Punching and swim baits Mike

Small waters...Shaky head with a trick worm Big waters...UV Speed Craw Mike

Thanks for sharing! Mike

Almost every canal in Cape Coral hold fish. The Cape Coral Bass Club fishes those almost exclusively Mike

They're talking about when you pass both lines through the eye before you make the over hand knot, they should be parallel to each other. And the loop created after you make the over hand should not be twisted before you pass the hook through. Mike