Mike L

Ain’t it the truth!! Mike

I learned a long time ago some things are better left unsaid. Mike

@Catt Looking at the girth compared to just before where the tail starts… 7 on the low side 8.5 on high end Or Not ? Mike

Yes, they just scooped him up in the bucket Mike

According to what I’m seeing now the eye should past just north of you which means you CAN be in the path of the eye wall. If you are please grab what you got and hold on. Close all the doors to every room in your house and stay away from any sliding glass doors and windows. You can check out everything when it passes you This too shall pass Mike Another thing I learned.. if you can safely and you have a south facing garage and it looks like you’re gonna get the full force winds, bring your cars up about and inch from the garage door. They will help deflect the wind enough to help your door from not blowing in. Trust me on this Mike

You guys be safe up that way. Cat 4 Is nothing to be messed with. Take it from a guy who rode out 2 Cat 5’s We’re just getting the tail end of a few bands that’s training in off the Gulf. My daughter who lives on the Peace River, said the water is 5ft over her dock and her boat is floating on the lift Mike

I heard that story also. If I remember right they identified him from the markings on his tanks Mike

We’re on the SW coast about 3 miles from Charlotte Harbor and all we’ve gotten are 2 rain bands that went through a few hours ago. It looks like the folks North of Tampa will be getting the brunt of it tonight and tomorrow. You all stay safe. Mike

Always Even if it isn’t necessary It takes a second to do and with a technique specific combo it takes even less to reset with no guesswork Mike

Changing times is the problem.. Now fathers don’t think twice about being in the delivery room! When both of my kids were born I was in the waiting room and even that was too close! ? Mike

Yep The more you do, you’d think the more you’d learn. But you learn that whatever you do there is much more to learn. Mike

Ahhhh, That’s Great News!! Please pass along our very best to her. Mike

The opportunity to punch is what I look to do first and foremost. Trokar hooks exclusively (usually a 4/0 or 5/0 TK 130) 65# or 80# braid Always use a Snell knot Usually june bug, or red shad 3/4 to 2oz weight Single bobber stop for 3/4 to 1oz weight, double to 2oz Punch skirt about 50% of the time. Always a plastic with the most tail action and the least amount of appendages Mike

When the vast majority of your water is 5ft or less, depth really doesn’t play into it as much as the rest of you guys. Action, size and angle are the first things I change considering 70%-80% of my presentations are either pitching or flipping, especially this time of the year. The Rate of retrieval is part of almost every cast for every bait anyway Mike

I’ll clean them if they only have light surface rust if I forget to wipe them down. Been using toothpaste for 20+ yrs and works up to a certain point. Any worse for trebles then I’ll just replace them Mike

Ditto Mike

Water color is my main deciding factor but it’s not the first consideration, except only when punching For me it’s Junebug, purple and black. Mixing a little red anywhere in there can make a big difference at certain times. Mike

Considering the .com, I’m thinking ‘90-‘95 Mike

There are a few open sandy spots on the North and East side of The Lake where you can reach the water including a few on the Kissimmee River which feeds into it, but my advice is don’t do it!! Drive 45min and go to the coast as @Captain Phil suggested. There isn’t a fresh water “beach” in the entire state that I would want my family swimming in. There are probably a few in a state park or a campground somewhere that someone may tell you about, but I’m including those also. The Lake and the options @Zcoker and @Don51 gave you are the best options for fishing up that way. Mike

You and your family have my condolences. I know what you’re asking and how it feels but there are no answers to your question and no timetable for you to receive one. I wish there was. All you can do is run your business the best you can using everything he taught you. Some may shake thier heads or roll their eyes but..Talk to him, and listen. The hurt never leaves, it just gets somewhat more manageable. Mike

That’ll do it! Mike

Ditto!! I’ve used almost every bait in the Rage line and none disappointed Mike

I tried to put something together for the Florida guys 2 years ago. About the time I started to finalize things Mrs Mike got Covid and then everything stopped. I’d be in for getting together sometime also, it really doesn’t matter where. Mike

I went to the first one we had. If I remember right it was in 2014 on Wilson Lake. There were a lot of current members who attended then @Glenn @roadwarrior @papajoe222 @BassnChris And many others And some I lost contact with… Flukemaster Brian Needham Long Mike Big O And others. That was when the Rage Bug was a prototype and Big O passed out packages of them to everyone to get some feedback before they were released to the general public. Mike

IF I ever feel the need to throw a stick bait, I’d much rather use a Lil General, but there are almost always better options Mike