BassinLou

Andrew sorry for the mis-read. Either way a pic would be awesome to see.

Mike, way to go after them. Where there are 15 inchers there are 20 inchers. Keep at it. I know I do with the numbers AK and Bass Czar are putting up.

Nice fish Andrew. If you had a the b/c you would have been able to get better hookset on the big one. (kidding.... not really). Keep practicing with the b/c it will change the way you fish for the better. Trust me. Also, you jumped ahead pretty good. I think you are the man to beat. WTG.

Thank you all for the B-day wishes. Yes, AK I saw what you did there.

OkeechobeeAngler, I was parked well away from the side of the road and the pond is several yards away as well. Again, the only way to find out why is to talk to a Trooper. Real Bummer.

Bass Czar, AK mentioned you caught an 11 lbr last night. Any pics of that one?

Thanks Mike. Best of luck.

Okeechobee Angler, I really do not know the reason why you can't fish there. There were no signs posted any where. He just drove up to the shoulder and with his thumb told me to get out. When I pleaded and asked him why he just said sorry, you can't fish any of these ponds by the Turnpike. Figures... you find a spot with big fish and you are not allowed to fish it. Oh well. I still landed a beauty.

I caught them a little off shore. The spot I was at, had good diverse vegetation with pads and patches of grass. Those ponds run deep. What was scary was that the grass surrounding the pond was high, dense, and flooded. Mosquitoes were huge. Thanks to your story about the water moccasin I was paranoid, every where I stepped.

Nice and cute pic.

RVADOG, I hear ya. But with me, if I know I am restricted to fish somewhere, I in good conscious can not go back. My brother said the trooper was actually nice just to give me a warning. As far as the spot?? Let's just say it was close to your Miramar location. How close you say?? You have to find out my friend. Those ponds if you risk going, are different from one another. Some have more vegetation than others (hint...hint).

I am coming to get you Andrew!!! LOL. If the trooper would not have kicked me out I honestly believed I was going to catch my PB. The bass I was catching were progressively getting bigger and the strikes more ferocious. I was using a Live Target frog. I love them. I picked up that the bass wanted and aggressive approach today. I would pop the frog hard 2-3 times and let it rest then BOOM!!! AWESOME!!!! Can you still tell I am still stoked from this trip??

My Birthday is tomorrow but I got this beautiful gift one day early. She went for 6lbs and I caught her on a Hollow body frog, which made the experience even more awesome. When she hit it looked like a hand grenade went off. Sad thing however, shortly after that pic was taken, a State Trooper kicked me out of that area. I believe that fish was meant for me.

Just came in and caught several beauties. I took page from RVADOG book and decided to fish Turnpike ponds today. I fished 3 of them close to me. 1st pond caught a dink. 2nd pond caught 0. Then the 3rd pond was a GOLD MINE. First catch, caught on the first cast went for 4lbs. Second fish went for 3lb and change. Then the third fish Big Momma went for 6lbs. Best part, all of them came on hollow body frog. The explosions were AWESOME!!! Now the bad news.... Soon after I caught and released the 6lbr. Florida Highway Patrol kicked me out and told me no fishing was allowed in the Turnpike ponds. I pleaded with them to let me stay, but to no avail. With this trip, and the one to the park my total is 98 inches. Woohoo!! I am pumped, and its my B-Day tomorrow. Their lengths are 17inches, 19 inches, 19 inches, 21 inches and 22 inches. I still have some time left for a strong contention in July.

FYI.... I just came back from the best bank fishing trip ever off one of the Turnpikes retention ponds. My biggest went for 6lbs. Bad news... I was kicked out by FHP. Apparently, no fishing is allowed along the turnpike ponds. I was stoked one second and deflated the next. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Pics and story continued in the Bragging rights thread.

WHAT??? You are killing me over here. That's awesome. With fish running that big why would you want to come down here??

11 pounds!!!! Did he take pics?? How did you sleep thru that?? You can tell you have been fishing too much when you said that everything has been only 19". I wish I had those LOL. We may have to change up the rules a bit and take weight into account. But then you come across scale issues. Not all of us have scales and/or they are all different scales some running heavy and some low.

If those are the only two applications you are using that current set up for, I would personally use fluorocarbon. Braid I would use for other applications. If that is your only b/c rod and reel then with your current line you have spooled on, start experimenting with fluoro or mono leaders.

The lews reel will be excellent as a frogging reel. I have one, and its a great reel. The more I use it, the more I like it. As far as rod, there are numerous options. My personal, frogging rod is a 7'4 St. Croix rage. I really enjoy sticking pigs with that rod. Before, I used MH Carbonlite. Nice rod also, extremely light and surprisingly strong. Get ready for many rod suggestions from other members.

Andrew did you catch any pigs last night with Bass Czar at midnight??

Rvadog, how did catch that armored catfish? Did you accidently snag him with the crankbait.?? They are vegetarians. Either way, good catches. You have been itching to catch fish for while now.

Nice, especially with a buzzbait. I just came back in, after being out for week. Bass were no where in site. I also missed to nice peacocks. Weather starting to look pretty ugly so called it early.

Very thoughtful friend.

Explore away. There are numerous spots down here in South Fl.

Hey, I know where that is. Countyline area. Those turnpike retention ponds hold fish. One of buddies biggest bass, he actually mounted it, came from those type of ponds. You fish them like any other South Fl. lake, canal, or pond. Remember its summer time so you have to incorporate those type of patterns. There are actually several of those ponds in the immediate area off the turnpike. Good Luck. You have definitely stayed consistent to land a bass. It will pay off soon enough.