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I fish almost everyday and 5 days a week from the bank. I fish a Super Fluke almost everyday at some time. I always use #3, or #4 EWG hooks, Texas Rigged with thin wire hooks. They work great and seldom miss a hook set. I also use as little weight as necessary for the conditions. Usually weightless or a 1/32 weight. This gives max movement for the bait with just a twitch of the rod tip. If you detect a bite, take up the slack and wait until you feel a little weight then sweep it hard. The thin wire hook make the sticking so much easier, just use good quality hooks. From detection to hook set, only takes a second or two. Don't wait too long or you will get gut hooked fish. I have never had a big bass straighten the thin wire hooks, but I have had snakeheads, and mudfish, they can destroy them. More time on the water will solve the problem.

The snake heads are the worst. Power strikes, lightning fast and rows of teeth. We kill everyone we catch. They become turtle food. They do put up a good fight after being caught. The FWC recommends killing them.

In south Florida we have lots of fish with real teeth. Small bass will sometimes not get the whole bait in their mouth and may tear off the back end. Bigger bass suck the whole thing into their mouth in a fraction of a second. Oscars, gar, snakeheads, mudfish, Mayans, snapping turtles, soft shells will tear up a plastic bait in a heart beat. It often happens in the jungle!

Sunday 5/22/22 6:30 AM to 11:30 AM Temp 92* Cloud cover Wind 15 to 25 Water Still Low Went out yesterday with a good friend. We noticed immediately there was little signs of life. No gators swimming, and little surface movement. For months there was lots of activity, with 20 gators in sight, and surface bites early, and late in the day. We started throwing a zara spook, and a HB Frog. My partner threw the frog deep in the junk and there was an explosion of water and the frog was gone for good. Apparently a big gator took his bait hidden in a big pad field. My spook had a big boil and a miss, but for 20 minutes no other action. I switched to a fluke and got a willing player almost immediately. The fluke got a few more small ones but all were deep in 28 feet of water. I switched to a wacky rigged trick worm on a jig head, and that had good results. This is a deep canal and almost all bass were caught deep over 20 feet. I had to let it settle, and slow pull with just the boat moving. They didn't want anything fast, we tried Spinnerbaits, hair jigs, and square bills, and not a sniff. The wind picked up to stupid levels so we called it quits before noon. We finished with 28 bass caught, no Kodak moments with the biggest in the two pound range. No peacocks, no Oscars, and no exotics. That is a sudden change from just weeks ago. A hundred Oscars were a real possibility just recently. The question is where did they go? Overall a fun day, good conversation, and not too hot with cloud cover and the wind. Things are changing out there, but someone always manages to figure it out.

Does it really matter, are we in a English lit class? This isn’t worth wasting our time on! If you can’t figure it out, then there is a problem!

Always good to fish with as many different people as you can. I bought a bass boat in 1982 and because I like fishing with others, I have invited hundreds of different people to fish with me over the years. I have learned as much from them on what to do, and never do, as they have ever learned from me. Join a bass club, and use it as a learning tool. Nothing better then 4 hours in a boat just watching and listening, while you fish. Take in as much as you can.

It all depends where your fishing. Here in south Florida you will often see fish break the surface and many think the bass are going crazy. This often are fish that gulp air at the surface, such as gar, mud fish, catfish, armored catfish. If O2 levels are low you can see thousands of these junk fish, gulping air to survive. Not a good sign for catching bass. The bass have either moved off to better waters, or in a real funky mode not willing to eat anything!

Yes you can bank fish anywhere on the park side of the lake: they have several fishing piers that extend out into the lake. Caught a big one on the south west side from the bank.

Where is his $90,000 bass boat????

A sad day for all of us that love this sport. No one has done more to promote, expand, and change the philosophy to catch and release, then Scott has. He will be missed!

When catching bass in rocky limestone areas it is a must to check your line way up from the hook. If I feel any nicks, or rough spots, cut it all out. Very common in my man made lakes that surround the neighborhood where I live. Fish love limestone walls and hug them for cooler summer waters, and the same for warmer winter waters. At the base of these rock walls there is water from the aquifer seeping in at a constant 72* all year long, even in the hottest day, or the coolest winter day. Florida bass seek these out, they are very sensitive to extreme changes. Keep fishing rock drop-offs!

I have suggested this many times over the years. Turkey Lake in Orlando, right next to Universal Studios. It is run by Orlando park Department, boat rentals supplied by BPS. $30 for half a day boat rental, and the only boats on the lake are the ones they supply. The lake is full of bass of all size. I have rented at least 8 times whenever I had a conference in Orlando. You must call and reserve a boat at least a month in advance. This is the best deal in the entire country. Then the family can go visit the theme parks. I have caught bass up to 8 lbs, and I know bigger ones are in there. You have a boat to yourself with T/M, and depth finder,, and they even supply tackle if you need it! P.M me if you decide to use the park, I'll give you a bunch of additional info.

If fish are actively feeding You can actually catch a few on almost anything. Took my two young grandkids fishing and they actually caught a rock bass on a small circle hook, and a small piece of strawberry. It was their idea and the five year old thought she was ready to join the pro circuit! They also caught some on coco puffs, and canned corn, after chumming the waters a little. Somedays are just crazy. As for losing fish, make sure your line is good, then use thin wire quality hooks. They will catch big bass without problem unless your throwing in thick gnarly cover.

I too have had guys run the canals in the everglades and stop twenty yards in front of where I had been fishing and fish the same direction I was fishing. I just filmed them and put it on a fishing web site so everyone could see these two jerks, and their boat. The Karma was fishing behind these two, and catching bass in waters they had just worked. I had to go Ike a little upon catching, just to rub it in. Neither of these yahoos caught any bass, and I cleaned up dragging the bottom slow. It was the best revenge, and I enjoyed every minute of it laughing the whole time. The pro handled the situation as good as he could, considering how much money was on the line. I think I would have just put the T/M on high and went around them. It would have kept my mind in the game without distractions. Seems like a great guy!

I have buried trebles in me more times then I can count. The ones in the hand have been easy to get out except the one with a big mud fish still attached. Just push all the way through and cut the barb. The ones in the belly were doctor assisted. Big deep crank baits that got stuck in vegetation and used brute force to get it out. The problem was twice they shot back at me, like a cannon shot, and lodged in my belly. Once was dumb, twice was real dumb. Same doctor both times. I tried the string thing but that was an ultimate failure. Nothing like going to the ER with a big Bill Dance deep diver hanging from just above your testicles!!!!!! Lots of laughs by some sick people waiting!

This is one reason when bank fishing I never take more than one rod with me. I have broken more than just one by forgetting it was laying on the ground. BPS have replaced one of mine 2 years after purchase. I don’t know if they would do that now.

Throughout the day bass have feeding and non feeding times. Even in cold water they will feed if the bait presents itself in their personal space. I will change up my approach with even the same bait until I find something they want at that time. I will go from ripping baits, to a slow bottom pull, and everything in between. More often they are hunkered down close to the bottom where they feel safe. You just need some patience to get bit!

My home waters are the glades. Live 15 minutes away from Alligator Alley, in Davie. Never get tired to fishing the river of grass. Like you said it’s always changing, and so many different spots.

I fish almost everyday and have about 10 spots I rotate through. This keeps me from getting board!, and gives the fish a rest.

Water is still low and numbers of peas and black bass are good. You could catch 200 Oscar’s if you wanted too. Crazy throwing small beetle spins for Oscar’s.

Happy Easter to all our fishing brothers. May God bless you throughout the year in all phases of life.

For 30 years I fished with the same partner and life long friend. My good buddy suddenly passed away. For the next ten years I fished with other fisherman from sites like this one. I don’t like to fish alone, but when I do I always wear an inflatable vest, CC for all the big gators and pythons, and always have flight plan with the wife, and life 360 ap. Wife knows where I am every minute.

Especially if it’s overcast the bite will continue long after the sun comes up. If the sun pops out the bass will often get closer to cover or move deeper to the first drop off. Throw to ledges and drop offs and slow way down with plastics. I like a trick worm on the bottom. Snap it up and let it just sit on slack line. This has saved many a tough day for me. Often let it sit 30 seconds or more. Then a sharp snap up and repeat. Look for shady pockets if it’s warm, and the sunny side on cool days when water is below 65*. Good luck!

Peacock bite is excellant right now with Zara spook, and prop baits. Explosive action on top water. The outside edge of weed lines.