Mike L

So glad you’re feeling better! I hope that stuff continues to work for you and you’re healthy again. Mike

All avid anglers down here live for early November to late April. Thats when the big sticks come out more often and get the most use. Everything you’ve done all summer leads up to it. More money is spent now on upgrading, cleaning, repairing and topping off inventories than any other time of the year. Some lakes are different in location and certain bait choice's to establish patterns, but it’s also more predictable if you pay attention. Down here almost anywhere you go you have more opportunities to upgrade your PB with any cast. If you commit to learn the waters you’re on, the impact of certain weather condition's, dialing in your bait choices and most importantly fine tune different presentation's based on all the variables, “winter” fishing in central to south Florida can be your most productive time of the year. Mike

@Zcoker Totally agree! Going back to Placid later this week. I have no illusions of repeating my last trip there last week, but unlocking that lake even more is getting the juices flowing. Mike

Yep, he did a great job. But it’s still Fields team, one good showing isn’t enough considering they didn’t let him go deep at all. Bringing in the 3rd guy to throw a 50 yd Hail Mary says a lot! What they did do is let him play in himself with no expectations. He makes for a great “feel good” story But the best of it is they won and that “Team from Wisconsin” lost… Good enough for me Mike

As I said earlier, I cast and reel right but when pitching it’s easier and much quicker to make all subsequent pitches left after the initial one. Just bringing it up and out again saves time and gets back in water ready to pull the trigger. Mike

Like you I’ve just always just done it the same way. Right handed, cast right, switch, reel right. It just feels more natural, could never get the same feel casting right, reeling left. When I used to use spinning gear It’s the opposite, cast right and reel left and THAT felt more natural fir some reason. Taught all the kids the same way. Once you get proficient at it you really don’t even think about it. Most times during a normal cast, you’re ready to go before the lure even hits the water. Total personal preference Mike

I don’t have any specific types of baits that I use based on any seasons. The only differences, if you can call it that, is when the weather turns cooler I will slow down and maybe down size what I normally throw throughout the year. Around this time the smaller girls will start bedding soon and progress from there, which makes it easier as they are more predictable in both locations and feeding habits. A perfect example is I may down size and tweak various presentations or trick out my year long go to favorite, Magnum Speed Worm Mike

Very well written! Mike

Well all of the above pretty much covers it. Cant add much only to say that Lake Placid as @Zcoker mentioned is on fire right now. I was there last weekend and this past Tuesday and it was nuts. (all artificial’s) The smallest ones were 3# and 5 over 7# all in a 5 hr span Mike

If you use a piece of nylon instead of cloth you won’t waste any. Mike

The use of backing isn’t used just to keep slick braid from slipping. I suggest you use it anyway as you don’t need a full spool of anything for a dedicated flipping outfit. I have 2 flipping/pitching combos, one with 65# and the other with 80# and probably haven’t seen more than 25yds of mainline in 5 yrs. @MN Fisher gave you the best suggestions if you must Mike

All possible response’s…… OP, consider these…. *Just not feeding *They weren’t where you were *You did something to spook them *You got a light hit and didn’t react fast enough *You got hits and didn’t know it etc etc Mike

The easiest thing to do is put quaters or whatever into the but cap of your rod if you have one. If not you can wrap tape around the end or buy a Cush-it butt end cap and slide it on. You can always add more weight inside of it if needed. Mike

Balance of the whole setup is key. The overall feel in your hand of a balanced combo will feel lighter to you than the actual weight of it. Every time I bought a new rod I would try different reels of the capacity and drag rating I need to find that sweet spot. The only exception would be a flippin combo where I want it more “tip heavy” than the rest. Mike

Loomis 843C / Shimano Chronarch 100 SF Mike

Plain old Jeans Mike

Brake Cleaner Mike

For years fishing tournaments in what you describe I felt so out of my element that it played with my head. FFS in the hands of a boater who relies on it exclusively negates your skills to the point that any decision you make is hit and miss. The only thing you can do is to keep rotating through everything you got and hope to find a few loners moving in and out through the 3 other open areas you have. There always are if he’s targeting brush piles. The best advise I can give in that situation is to keep changing your casting angles. All’s not lost, you just got to accept the grind and think good thoughts. Mike

At 73 I’m still not at that point. Been multiple big girl hunting so long the 1 catch after hours on the water just makes me mad enough to push it to the limit sometimes. I’m sure I’ll get there eventually, just not sure if I want to. Mike

“Old and Tired” Yep that kinda says it all nowadays for me also. National and Regional tournament trails have been my passion, however the mind is willing but the flesh is weak. I just can’t do it as much anymore as the 2-3 day competitions just knock me down. The solace of fishing alone whenever I want isn’t something that I’ve ever had a chance to do. Not owning a boat and living near the water is one of my many regrets that I’ve come to accept, especially now. Mike

Drew, To answer your question directly, I’m sorry No, there isn’t anyway to “avoid” it. But I’ll tell you this, after competing in 9 BFL’s and the 3 Regional’s I qualified for (Including about the same number of B.A.S.S. Nations Florida State qualifiers, I’ve only been back boated once. The only thing I did was mention it very lightly and just say…”Once we get around this point, ya think maybe we can start parallel instead of head on?? I remember he got very embarrassed and apologized for a 1/2 hr. I really think he was just dialed in and forget I was there. But even if you are, just keep in mind you have 3 areas to fish while he’s dialed into one. Sure your odds can be drastically reduced, but ya never know. Just concentrate and rotate through your whole bag. My biggest complaint is being on a punching pattern and the boater had his trolling motor on high which doesn’t give a co angler a chance. Ya gotta be ready to Improvise, Overcome and Adapt. Mike

@Darnold335 Thanks I get what you’re saying, but consider this. Id like to think that most folks who fish as guest in someone’s boat will have at a minimum a certain level of respect for their partner and his property. If not it will make for a looong day. But of course there are exceptions. From experience I’ve found that in a Nationally organized trail tournament, the vast majority of co anglers know what’s at stake and act accordingly. But unfortunately of course there are exceptions Mike

@gimruis Yep, and even thinking about it now, it still scares the heck out of me!! 😄 @Drew03cmc I fished in 9 over the years as a co angler in the Gator Div. Don't know exactly what you’re looking for but I’ll try. If you have any specific questions just post and I’ll try to help as much as I can. If you can get a boater to register with, you both will be guaranteed an entry. If not, you’ll be put on a waiting list so enter as soon as you can. You will be notified of your boater by text at the pre tournament meeting the night before. It’s up to the both of you to contact each other that night to designate a place to meet up. The questions I always ask my boater’s are…. * Where and what time to meet? (Don’t be late) * Ask if it’s ok to bring the amount of combos I plan to bring? (I always bring 6 and have never been told it’s too many) * Does he want me to net every fish, or only when he asks? * Does he want me to launch the boat? ( If you don’t feel comfortable doing it tell him upfront) * I always ask to buy ice if it’s gonna be a hot day, coffee in the morning and/or lunch for him (of course it’s not required it’s just something I always do) * Absolutely be prepared to chip in for fuel. ( Don’t be “that guy”) Some co anglers decide how much to give based on how much running they do which is fine but I don’t, I give a minimum of 50.00, but that’s just me. * Try to bring the smallest bag you can that will fit everything you want to bring. * When running with the big motor keep your bag between your legs making sure you don’t impede him in anyway. * If you need a rear seat ask if he has one. * If you smoke always ask permission and be certain where your ashes fall * If you use stain on your plastic’s put it on over the gunnel * NEVER throw your trash on the carpet, put it in your pockets or bag and Be Sure to take it with you. * Don’t cast past his wind screen * Be ready to move when he is As far as your tackle question.. That really depends on the lake. Down here we have shallow, tannic water so I usually rig…. 1 top water 1 frog 2 bottom contact 1 swimming plastic 1 swimming hard bait depending on conditions *** That’s just what I pre rig. The frog and swimming hard bait combo are the only 2 that I may change what I rigged. Those decisions are made on the fly depending on what, where and how they want something that I didn’t anticipate. If you need something I missed just ask. Mike

Same as @A-Jay Mike

Devils Horse (Green/orange) Spook (Bone) Pop R (Bone) Magnum Speed Worm (June Bug) Horny Toad (White) Mike