Mike L

Stick, Rodman, Toho, Istopoka, the Glades and of course the Big O.... If you're willing to fish in 90+ deg weather while running from pm thunderstorms, but knowing in the back of your mind that any pitch or flip can be your dream fish, then this is where you want to be. Time of the year be da**ed You may have to work a little harder but a wise man once said.... "The hard is what makes it great"!! Mike

Used to do that but got away from it The shape of the plastic comes more into play to do it correctly to maximize sets. Mike

B. Unless I'm punching useing a Trokar hook. Mike

Ditto Mike

No braid or Flouro....I'd use YZ Hybrid. I'll use mono only to hang pictures on a wall. Mike

Hello and Welcome! Mike

Hello and Welcome! Mike

Sure Shell Creek holds bass as well. There is a local club that fishes that every month and they do well. You said you wanted a No Port ramp thats why i didn't mentioned it.

Turn east off RT 41 on to North Port blvd. Turn right into parking lot just across the bridge. Ramp will be on your right at the end. That canal is called Coco Plum waterway (9 mile canal) If you follow Hillsboro Blvd south which parallels the canal, there are places all along it to fish from the bank if you want, Mostly at all intersections. IMHO, That canal has always produced the most and largest bass in the area. There may be other public ramps around there but I never had a reason to look. In about another month there will be beds about 1/2 mile south around a big boulder in the middle of the canal for about a mile. There also will be beds south of San Mateo Blvd and near the end. Good Luck Mike

Hello and Welcome! Mike

Ok

Try Grassy or Crooked. I hear both are fishing really good and will only get better. Mike

It doesn't happen often but you'd be surprised. It's happened to me once before and both times in a cumulative point format in multi day tournaments. Both boaters either zeroed the first day or was way down in points and had no confidence in making a comeback. Oh... they feel bad, at least thats what he said, but just didn't get it that any cast can be the one. Lucky for me the first time it happened I was among the leaders and my total was enough to finish, unlike this one. He had a 10 hr drive home (I did also) and didn't want to spend the extra money even tho I gave him more than 1/2 his fuel cost and bought lunch and snacks. Mike

Exactlly Right! It's happened to me more than once and saved the day. Mike

Thanks Tom, If I ever find myself in the same conditions I'll certainly take your advise. What got me is that both were waiting for the fish to come to them and then reacting. When that didn't happen niether adjusted to the conditions or trusted thier electronics. When we pulled up to an area they tried to force a bite with no information to make an informed decision on how to fish it. Both days I was just along for the ride. Both boaters were locked in to what they wanted to do and that was it for me. I'm not the kind of co angler who would complain to them or even offer advise if none were asked for, especially in a tounament with that much money and an opportunity to advance on a National stage. Some would say I should have because of that, but I compete in so many State and Regional circuits that I'd rather try to make the best of it, even when the cards are stacked. Mike

To me, as long as you use a high speed, well built reel that can be locked down you can use it to punch. Line capacity and casting ability doesn't matter as you're only gonna be pitching or flipping when punching. I only use Trokar TK 130 hooks, either 4/0 or 5/0 depending on what I'm useing. Since rod sensitivity is purely suggestive, use the highest quality, most sensitive, balanced rod you can buy. I don't use any Tatula product so can't help you there...But a lot of folks here swear by them. Mike

Heck Man... I'm retired! If I wanted to work that hard I'd make sure I got paid. Good For You Mike

Hey Fellas First, above all I want to thank you all for the advise and suggestions that you gave me. It was a tough 2 days on Lanier. A cold front came down and changed everything.. When I left home it was 88 deg, at take off on Thursday morning it was 46! I thought my cheeks were gonna crack off!! My boater who has been on the lake since Tuesday said he's had a lot of luck chasing schooling spots all over the lake and that was his plan. We started where he left off anticipating fast action but nothing...We went to 2 other spots he had and nothing there either. We didn't put a line in the water until after 8:00!! Finally we pulled up to a secondary point on the Chattahoochee River in 46 fow about 20ft from shore! Anyway he started with a jerk bait and I with a DD craw colored crank that I bought the night before. There were balls of bait all other his screen but no bites, so we started roaming around again and still nothing. I suggested we flip some docks in a marina but he said don't worry we'll find em. When we finally saw some acton, they were gone by the time we got to them. He took his drop shot and I did the same and stayed with it most of the day. Man O Man what a slow, boring presentation; ) Talk about being out of my element! I would have given my Kingdom for a pad field, reed line, a blade of grass, something!! I did ok with it I guess.. I tried to remember everything you guys told me but it's just not my thing. Anyway, we started catching fish but most were under the 14" slot. It was a tough, tough day. I'm told a good number of co anglers and boaters zeroed and a few co anglers didn't bother to show up for day 2. Day 2 started with a fog delay but when we started my boater had the same plan, to chase schools but that didn't work out either. We had the same results, by the time we found some busting fish they were gone. My boater got so aggravated he cut the day short, gave up and we came in early. All in all I was hoping for better results but Thankful I got this far and gratefull to you all for trying to help me understand a presentation that I was totally lost about. Thanks Again Mike

Thanks Guys! I picked up a spool of 10lb Sniper already. It may be a little too heavy after reading this but too late now. I picked up a pack of 1 and 1/0 mosquito hooks to use. I have 3/8, 1/2 and 1/4 oz drop shot weights. I have barrell swivels already but won't use them unless we're on fish most of the day as suggested. So I guess I'm covered. Thank You all for the suggestions and advise. Hopefully it won't be the difference between being successful or not but if it is, at least I know more now than what I did. Mike

I did, Sorry You're right. Sometimes we get locked in on certain things that sometimes it's the wrong thing. At least I do. Mike

Believe me I understand your point. I'm as prepared as I can be to fish my strengths which is what I'm sure I'll be doing anyway regardless of what my draw decides to do. It's what I've always done. But just in case that is what the fish will be keying on at any point, I also want to have as much knowledge as I can if I have to switch gears in a hurry. It may or may not be a factor I just thought I should have at least a working knowledge of what to do. Mike It's not. I know I'm out of my element, that's why I'm asking for advise to have working knowledge of it that's all. Anyway, I hope you're wrong. Mike

Fellers I have a 2 day tournament (hopefully 3 day's) on Lake Lanier in Ga this weekend. I've been doing some research and found that a drop shot can be a very effective presentation this time of year on that lake. The problem is I've never thrown one! Being a co angler and not knowing anything about the lake, or what my boater is gonna want to do I have to be ready for anything. I know I'm gonna be out of my element fishing in 30+ fow so I've been reading everything I can and watching some videos but I still have a few questions about rigging. Apparently when casting a drop shot rig, line twist is a major concern as opposed to fishing verticle off the side of the boat. There seems to be 3 trains of thought...one is to use a barrel swivel about a foot above the hook and another where some recommend putting it just above the weight, while a few others say it doesnt matter! So, my questions...What do you guys recommend? Also, some recommend 20 lb braid with a 10 lb flouro leader while others swear by anywhere from 6 to 12 lb straight flouro. Any Thoughts on that?? Thanks Mike

Nope, it's not just you ( other than useing a leader ) Mike

When I want numbers and few bigger fish thrown in, I just throw plastic. The right plastic will work in any water anywhere. Mike

Hello and Welcome! Mike