Mike L

As @MN Fisher I tie hooks a day or so before each outing and rig plastics either the night before or when I’m ready to throw it Mike

I can appreciate you wanting to keep your “footprint small but efficient” Certainly a consideration, but you also need to plan ahead to be ready to Improvise and adjust accordingly as the day goes on as you most likely will have to do at some point. As others have said your arsenal is ok but in my opinion you’re limiting your options. If what you listed is all you have, plan on having other baits available to make a quick change minimizing down time and have a plan when and how to switch it up. If you have others available the recommendations you received are spot on. Mike

Ditto Mike

Tom Mann Jr Robert Alfano Don Hatcher Larry Wright Buck Durrance Sandy Melvin Steve Daniel I fished with each as a co angler in tournaments at one time or another on the Lake and recommend them all Do a search on here and you’ll get pages of others Mike High water (by Okeechobee standards) will spread them out which can make it tougher especially if you don’t know the lake. But a guide will know. Mike

All day long When it’s 90 deg and everyone grabs a beer or soda I’ll have a cup. Caffeine never bothered me. I’ll have an expresso, or French press late in the evening and sleep all night. Mike

I know Thats been the thing for years!! There’s cameras all over there and fir good reason. Mike

Zoom Magnum UV Speed Worm Rage Cut R Berkley General Rage Bug RI Skinny Dipper Mike

Don It’s somewhat spotty until you get closer to South Bay and Belle Glade, but I never completely lost a signal. If you decide to fish that stretch just pick your spots carefully Mike

Accidents happen more often than we want to know about especially on The Lake. Most are all speed related running through the back areas of the vast amount of tall reed areas. More than once I’ve been thrown around like a doll into the gunnels or landing in my boaters lap. All it’s takes is common sense and a little looking out for the other guy. Mike

I use 50# original 4 carrier Power Pro Mike

Zoom Magnum UV Speed Worm 3/16 Florida rigged 16# Sniper or 40# braid Devils Horse on top 30# braid Rage Bug on the bottom Either 20# Shooter or 60#-80# braid depending on where All year round Mike

Could not be said any better Mike

I’ve been called a lot of things in my life but never had a formal nickname. However, I’ve always given names to my kids and grandkids. My wife is Irish so I call her..Spud My Daughter was my first born so she is..Baby Girl When my son started walking it was like a sonic boom around the house so I call him..Boomer My first Grandson is..My Pal My second is.. My Partner When my first granddaughter was born her cry sounded like a chirping cricket, so she’s..Cricket My second granddaughter always wanted to wear dresses..Little Miss Yeah I know too much information ? Mike

Doesn’t it really just come down to what you prefer to use? Same type of debate that happens on here all the time about fluorocarbon. Personally, I wouldn’t use monofilament to hang a picture on a wall! I wouldn’t use a leader to fish for a bass if you paid me! If they stopped making fluorocarbon and had to rely on braid for everything I’d probably just take up bowling again! Isn’t it just a matter of how you want to do it? It’s all about what’s more efficient, easier and more effective in your hands. Mike

Don’t use ‘em Don’t want ‘em Don’t need ‘em I have 2 that I keep for the younger grandkids only and for in shore saltwater fishing. Mike

Confucius Say.. You can’t fix stupid but you can always comb your hair!! Mike

Devils Horse and it’s not even close. (Gold with bright orange) Mike

All good examples that we all can take something from. Have a plan Be ready to Improvise when warranted, understand that there will be situations that you’ll have to Overcome that you didn’t expect and most importantly of all, have your mind right to Adapt to changing conditions before and after you get to where you’re going. On Okeechobee I know all the where’s how’s and when’s but sometimes none of that means anything. Mike

Exactly! If everyone really understood that, there’d be a lot less questions asked! Mike

Other when punching or flipping to specific spots, most times I work it back to about 10ft away. However, before I pull it I always will change my cadence a little. I’ll kill it and dead stick for a second or 2, Stop and shake a bit, Or raise it to just below the top and let it free fall which is where I have the most success. If there is a follower that’s when she’ll hit it. Mike

Thank You Mike

Thank You Mike

Catt; What are those? You posted about them before and forgot to ask. Mike

I only target FL Largemouth because I live where they do. Mike

Ditto Suspended bass are usually inactive, neutral bass which can be the toughest to bite anything. Couple that with rising water which spreads them out more, and you have a tough day. There is no hard and fast rule of when to do anything. In cases like you describe it’s better to keep moving but at a slower pace and work an area more thoroughly rotating through your box. But that’s me. Mike