CoBass

Thanks for the info on the residential ponds Eric. Are they usually pretty well marked as far a being private or not? Just by looking at google earth it seems like there's water just about everywhere down there. It doesn't look like it would be too difficult to find somewhere to catch a few bass even without a boat....Tight lines, CoBass

In order for selective harvest to work, it truly has to be selective. I've seen plenty of people who keep literally every fish they catch whether it's a 3" bluegill or a 5 lb bass they all go on the stringer. Too much removal on either end of the food chain can really harm a body of water especially smaller lakes and ponds. Just my two cents worth.

Very nice. Congrats and thanks for sharing.

CoBass here (Jim). I live in Colorado and primarily fish for bass. Mostly largemouth but we also have smallies here as well as wiper (white/striper hybrid). Lookin fwd to exchanging ideas/info with you folks.

I almost forgot. If any of you guys are ever in the Colorado area make sure to get in touch with me. I primarily target bass but I do know some lakes and streams that hold monster rainbow and brown trout.

Thanks again guys. Awesome info in the pm's. I will definitely be in touch before I come down. SoFlaBassAddict...I know what you mean about the weather. The only other time I was in Fla. it was cold and rainy for several days before I got there. Water levels were way up and the temps had dropped several degrees. The bass were very tight lipped. I would love to get into some peacocks while I'm there. Are the canals the best bet for them? I've heard of a place called airport lakes that's supposed to be pretty good too. Is it accessible from the shore or is a boat necessary to get into the peacocks there?

People can be strange. Why someone would buy lake front property and expect nobody to fish near their property is beyond me. On the other side, fishermen need to be respectful and if you damage someones property you should man up and pay for it. If you can't cast accurately enough to not hit someones boat, don't cast near the boat or be ready to pay for the damage if you hit it.

Don't these people have anything better to do than try to ban something that isn't a problem? I'm sure there's a seal being clubbed somewhere that they could save instead.

Just like anything else, it all depends on the level of service provided. A guide who gives me useful info that I can apply on future unguided trips is going to get a bigger tip than the guide who simply takes me to a spot and tells me what to throw without explaining why. The guide who educates will always get bigger tips and more repeat customers.

Nice smallies. Congrats and thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the info evrgladesbasser, much appreciated. I got your pm and will return it as soon as I get the required 10 posts I need to do so. This trip is gonna be all about bass fishin. Water temps up here are in the 40's so the bite has all but died. My last 2 outings have netted me 1 small bass and a few trout by accident. Another month and they will all be iced over. By Feb I will be in full blown withdrawals and in need of some warmer waters. I will definitely be in touch with you before I come down. Thanks again and tight lines...CoBass

Hey guys, first post here, and looking for some info. I'm a bass fisherman in Colorado and with winter setting in I'm looking to book a trip to the Miami area in the late Jan-early Feb time frame. I don't want to do any guided trips or fish any of the big lakes out there, I'm more interested in fishing the local canals and smaller ponds. My plan is to show up with a few rods and a back pack full of tackle, get a hotel an a car and fish smaller waters for 3-4 days. I've started to come up with a list of questions and hopefully you guys can help me out. 1. Looking on Google Earth I've noticed lots of ponds in places like apartment/condo complexes. Do these ponds typically hold bass and are they fishable or do they tend to be private? 2. I'm looking at late Jan. to early Feb. Is this a good time or should I adjust my timetable? 3. I don't want to stay in an iffy part of town. any suggestions on where to stay preferably closer to the burbs than down town. Are there any parts of town to just plain avoid? 4. Are there any must have baits I should bring for these types of waters? I'd truly appreciate any help you guys could offer and would be more than willing to meet for beers/dinner on me with anyone who can put me on some fish while I'm there..Thanks and tight lines...CoBass