RoLo

Gosh, that's like comparing a pigeon to a groundhog I fish lures like the sweet beaver, on or close to bottom with a subtle delivery (actually I prefer the Ugly Otter). The rage claw has remarkably active claws which is great for cranking-&-gliding in midwater (actually I prefer the Rage Lobster). But as always in fishing...it's different strokes for different folks. Roger

You go K_mac My weight scale has torn the heart from my chest on many occasions, so now I use "accurate" guesstimates. Hefty Chunk: 6-lbs <> Big Fat Hog: 9lbs <> Incredible Mindblowing Pig: 12lbs Now how hard is that? (Jesting of course) ;D Roger

As most know, predatory fish feed on baitfish, and baitfish feed on zooplankton. As a result, prey fish will follow windblown plankton literally across the lake, where they tend to pile-up along downwind banks that often triggers a game fish blitz. If the wind direction is parallel to the weed-line, you're in luck, because the wind will keep your boat in pay dirt. On most days however, it'll be necessary to use the electric motor to keep the boat over the breakline as it drifts with the wind. There'll be plenty of blustery days when the wind drift is too swift for proper coverage. If I'm familiar with a known hotspot I won't hesitate to anchor (I'm used to it, bottom-fishing in the ocean never gave me a choice). I've used windsocks and sea anchors but find them more bother than they're worth. In Florida's natural lakes, you'll be spending your day cleaning vegees from the drogue chute. There is another choice: The baitfish are there for the plankton, and are not particularly enthralled by wave action. Even streamlined fish such as trout, only spend limited time directly in strong current then seek current breaks where they burn less calories. It is possible for both baitfish and angler to have it both ways, by seeking embayments along the windward shore. Behind the entrance corner of every bay and cove you're bound to find a back-eddy. Here you'll find the same accumulations of windblown bloom swirling slowly in the back-eddy of neutral current. All backwater plankton doesn't guarantee a bite, but neither does every windblown bank. In retrospect, we've found many places behind the entrance points to bays and coves that harbored plankton, baitfish and game fish, but without strong wave-action and whitewater. Roger

Very nice work When I was your age, anything over a foot-long was a good bass Roger

Gman, it sounds like you're getting a solid handle on things. Before I was married, I took my girlfriend fresh & saltwater fishing, duck hunting, upland hunting and deer hunting with bow & arrow. When we stopped for breakfast, Lois was the only girl in the lunch-wagon wearing a camouflage outfit. Though I fully expected other deer hunters to poke fun at me, I repeatedly heard what a lucky guy I was, that most hunters wished for the same, but their wives disliked hunting. Today Lois wants to go fishing on every day we're off, and she always has new ideas about tackle buying. Fortunately, when there are two fishing spouses there is never any guilt feelings about spending, but on the downside, I need to buy equipment for TWO. Bottom Line: your girlfriend or wife will make the best fishing companion in the world, bar none. But you'll have to get used to being out-fished a lot...but isn't that the best part? Roger

I'm with Salmi, Grape Hammock is a quiet, full-service fish camp, and the ramp canal leads directly to the original Kissimmee river channel. If you elect Toho instead, I'd avoid the Southport ramp to preserve your sanity. The airboat tours have driven the bulk of anglers away (two trailers in the yard last weekend). Their constant noisy drone destroys the natural rapport of an othewise gorgeous lake. The airboats plow through the nests of wading birds & cause cattle to stampede but couldn't care less. A better choice might be Richardson's Fish Camp on the northeast shore of Lake Toho, which has cabins, tent & RV campsites, bait, tackle & guide service. Roger

You're thinking is right On-The-Money Once you've boated a gaggle of hefty bass, you'll already be thinking about the next bass, while still photographing the last bass, because the window of opportunity is very narrow. (my two best largemouth bass were taken within minutes of one another) Furthermore, the stress of girth measurement and weight scaling is only added to the photo opp. As I stated above, a well-proportioned 24" bass will weigh shockingly close to 8 pounds, give or take one pound for paunch or svelte. The mean girth of a 24" x 8-lb bass is 16.5". Since the girth of your bass was two inches heftier than the mean, you're perfectly justified in thinking of that fish as a 9-lb bass, which not coincidentally represents a stubborn weight plateau. Roger

my mistake, it does state "lineguide" :-[ Roger

I don't understand how Titanium, which is used in guide "frames" can be compared to Ceramic, which is used in guide "inserts". Titanium guide frames are 50% lighter than stainless steel frames and just as corrosion-proof, but the line never contacts the guide frames. I also don't understand what titanium would have to do with braided line. Kevlar was the culprit that grooved guide-rings, though polyethylene got much of the blame. Roger

You might want to break the ice by targeting sunfish using redworms under a float. Pre-fish the lake to find the best bedding flats and when the fishing peaks, extend your invitation to her. Be sure to keep her end of the boat in prime fishing water at all times, and while she's panfishing, feel free to fish for bass. When your girlfriend sees her first largemouth bass, she's bound to ask, How can I catch one of those?now you're on your way My wife will tell you that I taught her everything she knows about fishing, but she'll politely leave out one important part. During the past couple of years, Lois has been outfishing me on a regular basis, so let this be a warning to men with a fragile ego ;D Roger

Unless you're in a tournament or dealing with a Personal Best, exact weight is not important. To reduce traumatic stress, there's a growing number of recreational anglers where I live who might take a quick length measurement but that's it. They don't bother the bass with girth measurements and weight scalings. Length is more telling of age, while Girth is a reflection of forage base and stomach contents. On average, a 24" bass is an 8 lb fish, give or take a pound based on physique (Paunchy <-> Svelte). In the same vein, the proverbial 9-pound bass has a mean length of 25 inches. Morbidly obese fish need not apply ;D Roger

Lewis Smith Lake set the world-record in 1978 with an 8 lb, 15 oz Spot (still holds the Alabama state record). This native world-record was broken by Perris Lake, CA whose population of transplanted spots has since collapsed! Spotted bass are now virtually non-existent from the lake that supplanted the natural record :'( The pending record was taken from Pine Flat Lake, CA in 1996 (9 lb, 9 oz). My fingers are crossed...it would be terrific to see the spotted bass record return to its roots. Roger

I hear ya The natural world-record spotted bass belonged to Lewis Smith Reservoir, Alabama for many years. Subsequently, Micropterus punctulatus was transplanted into California, which ultimately supplanted the natural world record. It would be great to see the world-record Spot return to its native range, be it Georgia or Alabama. Roger

I might add, that's the same unit that registered 59 degrees several weeks ago. I only remember because I fell into Lake Kissimmee that day Roger

When I read world-record Spot in Georgia, I fully expected to see Lake Lanier. Burton is a beautiful lake, and I sure hope it takes the record back into the native range of Spots. Roger

As I'm sure you know, bass may rise to the surface during any season, even during a warm spell in winter. There are two seasonal periods however, when bass are most inclined to rise to a surface lure: Post-Spawn: Rising water temps between 70 and 80 degs Post-Summer: Falling water temps between 80 and 70 degs Roger

Those are both water temps. There was quite a rapid climb, but I'm sure your unit and mine are both correct (Lowrance X135) Roger

We were out Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and pretty much as you described there was a marked improvement in surface activity (except most of our tilapia were winter-killed). Although we boated a gang of bass, I wasn't at all pleased. I lived in Florida for nearly 12 years, and these were the smallest Florida bass I've ever seen, every one looked like a buck bass from Jersey > ;D Roger

Haven't been there in years, since the buoy markers were "TM" (today they gage "AR" mileage). Back in the day, the "Withlacoohee Backwaters" was THEE place to fish (great historic value). The Backwaters have since undergone negative change, and Lake Rosseau may be the better bet today. In any event, most of the best holding sites were places where hydrilla &/or timber merged with the Withlacoochee River channel. Roger

Lake Pierce (Friday, Apr 2) 78 deg Rosalie Lake (Sunday Apr 4) 81 deg Roger

There are no magical hull dimensions, because "hull configuration" is at least equally critical. My only question to you would be: why a "jonboat", and why not a 'modified deep-V' or 'semi-V'? Roger

I've found an "unweighted" fluke to be far more productive than a weighted fluke. After much futzing around, I've settled on the fall rate of a Gamakatsu 3/0 Superline EWG. Technically speaking, a rigged fluke is "unweighted" but not weightless, because a 3/0 Superline hook weighs 17 grains. A standard-wire 3/0 Gamakatsu weighs only 11 grains, which might garner a few more bites, but at the expense of limited coverage. A tournament angler who's looking for optimal coverage might go with a 4/0 Superline hook, which weighs 21 grains. With respect to color, for years I've intentionally switched away from the productive color and was never able to end a fluke-bite based solely on color. Now I normally opt for "Bubblegum" because it's very easy to see which translates to a more effective delivery. Roger

I'm a former PowerPro user who now uses 30-lb BERKLEY Fireline Tracer Braid (awesome stuff!). All lures, hooks & jigheads are tied direct to the braid without any leader. It seems that Tracer Braid helps bass to home-in on the lure 8-) ;D ;D Roger

A fellow in my community loves to throw 12" worms but only throws the 5" fluke. What am I missing? ;D Roger

There you go The zoom fluke has been an exceptional bass catcher for more years than I care to remember, and in Florida the fluke catches bass 12 months a year. Here's what puzzles me though, the 5 zoom fluke has been Done-To-Death, yet I see no one touting the 7 Magnum Fluke Roger