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A #9 or #11 rapala stick bait in gold and black, work it fast, jerk and stop action. Like Lou said, no need to get up early, they hit best on bright sunny hot days, at high noon. If it has any size, you will know right away that you have hooked something special.

I have a great free site for Florida lakes. Can't help you in your neck of the woods.

Welcome to bass fishing. At some point we all have a day like that. S*** Happens!

In you area I would try behind the falls shopping center. There is a canal with a dirt ramp. I have caught nice peacock there up to six pounds.

Fish whenever you get a chance. Down size and throw a 4" senko type bait, or zoom fluke. If it gets tough slow way down. The bigger fish caught recently, have shown NO signs of bedding on the Alley, at least the ones I've caught. Watermelon red, Okeechobee, and black are good colors in this area. Good luck! I have not been to the Alley in a month.

I would slow down and see if they are lower in the water column. Using a fluke or senko find the closest drop off and see if they are under the smaller bass. When having problems slow down, and then slow down more.

Dolphin Hunter, I agree with you, although I like the Gambler E-Z Swimmer a little better. It is a little smaller, but has the same action. I also love the old Gambler Cane Toads, compact body, with great leg action and sound. Gambler puts out some good stuff! Good luck.

Everything is better! In South Florida the relentless heat drops, the humidity drops, rains less, the water temps drop, the water levels drop, fish become concentrated is smaller areas, fish spawn, 200 fish days are a real possibility. I live for winter / spring!

Good question, Zoom plastics and BPS plastics are good quality and inexpensive. Zoom flukes, trick worms and centepedes will all catch fish in good numbers. BPS stickbaits are as good as senkos, more durable, and lots cheaper. I stopped wasting money on those expensive ones. 4 inch Stickbaits in watermelon red or Okeechobee color. You will catch loads of fish.

Thanks Glenn, a picture is worth a thousand words!

That canal in Davie along Griffen Road has had large freshwater snook for years further east, at the intersection of Orange Drive and SR441. There is a pump station at this location. When there is some current flowing, you can get snook action time after time. These are land locked freshwater snook.

One thing to keep in mind when looking for fishing spots in a lake. Winter to early spring concentrate on the northwest corner of a lake. Warmest water will be in this area becuase it is somewhat sheltered from the winter weather blowing down from the northwest.

I have caught fish with hooks in them for quite some time. Quality hooks will not rust out like cheap old hooks. If you can remove the hook without further injury this is the way to go. With gut hooked fish, I can remove the hook 99% of the time without further injury. Bigger fish are easier to deal with then runts. Cut the line about six inches from the hook eye. Go through the gill plate and the first set of gills with your finger and grab the cut line following the bend of the hook. Pull the line gentally through the gill plate, to turn the hook. Once the hook is turned with the bend facing up, with long nose pylers lift the hook straight up. The hook easily comes out 99% of the time without further damage and you have removed what will sometimes cause a slow death. If you dont do it, give it a try next time. Your fish will thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Winter fishing I would go to lake istapoga just north of lake placid. Big bass fishing without the pressure of Okeechobee. Good lodging in the area.

The east /west canal is safe. The canal that runs north on the east side of the preserve is blocked about a mile north of the ramps. You can't run that canal any more. You have miles of fishable water to the west. Good luck

You do not need a flag in the flats north of the Lox road ramps. I've been fishing the area for 20 years.

The sweet beaver is also my choice. Ill throw it with a #2 gama ewg hook and 1/32 weight. I know allot of guys flip with this bait but they are also good casting in the heavy slop and worked over the top. Its a sweet little bait.

For Florida the u of Florida has contour maps free for 100 Florida lakes. I have seem more detailed maps but you can't beat the price. Go to u of floria and put in lake maps.

You don't need a flag unless you go in south of the ramps on the sawgrass side. North of the ramps is all good. Big bass in the flats if you power through the weeds. I love the place when the weeds thin out. Remember there is a 35 mph speed limit through the whole place including canal. They have had a speed gun out there at times.

I had a best friend that was from North Conway and an avid bass fisherman. He loved New Hampshire fishing and moved from south Florida back up north when he retired. I fished several lakes in NH and Maine with him, we had a ball. Tom past away this past spring, while out to lunch with his fishing buddies.

Sounds like heaven, don't tell too many!

I have use them years ago. Now use a frog instead. They do work, a constant speed just under the surface. Kind of waking the bait. Good in shallow weedy areas.

Right now in south Florida the bite is good and will become insane as the water drops. Bass, peacock, oscars, and all other exotics. 100 to 200 fish days will be common place. Great fishing in the tropics.

I fish almost everyday. I never think about working a technique. I think about relaxing and having fun. Fishing for me is a form of therapy. I don't do what I don't enjoy, I stick with what I love. It's all about fun.

MichaeL W on fishing Seiko type baits. I fish them all the time and do very well, I will try to give you a few tips. Down size to 4" size. Watermelon shades. Go weightless if the wind allows. Don't over work the bait. Most important, slow down! Let it fall through the water column. 2 or 3 quick jerks and let it sit for 30 seconds. You will catch big fish. Pro bass sells a great 4" Seiko type bait.