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A funny story I forgot to tell. I was having a new roof put on my house. Snakes are not usual in the acreage where I live. I was sitting in my den watching tv and heard a commotion out side, and watched a roofer jump off my roof in front of my window. I ran out side and the workers were scrambling all over the roof. One guy in the group caught a black racer in the yard and climbed the latter and turned it lose. Being hot the racer was moving all over at record speed. Causing panic among the workers. A black racer will raise up like a cobra when threatened. It almost ended in a fist fight! I still laugh about it today!!!!!!

Here in south Florida I see them all the time. Even in the residential areas I see snakes all the time. I bank fish at least 5 days a week and from the boat one day. Today I bank fished the Everglades and saw two snakes in close proximity. I always wear boots and never walk through grass without looking for them. Its amazing how quick they can disappear even in shallow bank weeds. I have had several cases that almost caused me to drop a log. 1). I was once fishing a bank in a local commercial lake. I stood in the same spot without moving my feet for ten minutes. I was concentrating on my line and all of a sudden looked straight down and a black water snake as thick as my wrist went right between my legs from behind me and into the water. I set a personnel record for my vertical leap. Didn't see anything until half the body had already passed between my feet. 2}. Once while fishing in the middle of the everglades, my partner in the back of the boat started making some high screechy noises. A determined moccasin was quickly heading for the boat trying to join him. I hit the trolling motor and he kept pace determined to join us. A gator was not far behind the snake. 3). 40 years ago a friend and I were hunting for deer in the open dry prairies of the everglades during dry season. As we moved away from our starting area it turned wetter. We got funneled into a narrow trail with water on both sides. It started to get dark and my partner said we have to back track or we could get stuck out here without any lights. We turned around and started jogging back. I followed him and all of a sudden he stopped dead in his tracks and I almost ran into his back. There was a huge moccasin curled up right in the middle of the trail we had just passed through 10 minutes before. Pat stopped within 5 feet of the big snake. The end of the trip got hairy as the sun went down. I usually don't spot any water snakes right away, but there is a tell tale sign. Watch the bank weeds moving in a manner not caused by the wind. If the movement is in a line it's usually not a fish, but a snake. It's a lot easier to spot them this way. Soon you'll see a head pop up, and the flick of a tongue.

Diversity can be a good thing until one of you start hitting gold. Then you both need to fish the way they want it that day, that hour. This is a great searching tool.

I will throw out an idea. Right next to Universal studios in Orlando is Turkey Lake. It is part of the Orlando Parks Department. It is a private lake that BPS supplies with Tracker Boats with T/M's and depth finders. These are the only boats allowed on the lake. Rental is a half day for about $30. When going to a convention, I always rent at least one day and have always caught good numbers up to 6 pounds. It is a fun day from first light to noon, and you can't beat the price. Other members can go to the park while your fishing. They even rent tackle if you need it. I have never seen a better deal anywhere in the country. The lake has plenty of bass. Reservations are a must, and fill up weeks in advance. If you decide to go I have a bunch of info I can give you.

If your in his boat your stuck. As he is up front doing his thing, cast out the back and every once in a while let out some line so when he moves your bait stays in place. I have done this a few times when fishing in someone else's boat. I am like you slow and methodical, unless someone is proving me wrong. Then I can pick it up, usually with a swimbait, jerkbait, or top water.

If it feel wrong don't do it. If you cant touch it, don't buy it!

Usually rent a lake house every year for a week. Last year we rented on Keowee and for me I might as well been fishing the moon. Natahalia is my personal favorite for beauty, and fishing. Have caught small mouth, large mouth both there. A true mountain lake.

The bass will tell you what they want that day, that hour, and that minute. In weeds I throw a Texas rig 90% of the time with some form of plastic. Worms, senkos, creature baits, U-vibes, swimbaits, and Flukes, are all on the menu. I usually use a wacky rig only on deep ledges, and steep drop offs. I will hug the drop off and fish parallel to the deep ledge. I let the bait drop to the bottom on slack line, and then snap it up off the bottom, and then fall again on slack line. Canal ledges are my fav area to throw it. Usually they are straight down and 8 to 14 feet deep. The fish will tell you how long to let it sit between snaps. For me this technique has saved many a painfully slow day!!!!! Instead of senko type baits, I like Zoom Trick Worms. They are longer, when hooked in the middle you get great action from the two sides both on the snap off the bottom, and the fall back to the bottom. They are irresistible at times!

New ramps, new parking area, fishing still a little tough but still able to a few. It won’t be long the bite will explode.

I have had a bass boat for the last 40 years and one of the biggest bass I ever caught was in one of those deep pits next to an expressway interchange, with minimal visible vegetation. They are all connected to the water management system of South Florida by way of culvert pipes. No boat needed, just go exploring!

I fish 5 days a week from the bank and enjoy it as much as when I take the boat out. A good pair of leather boots are good for the snakes. I would go packing in any crime area. I fish a lot of commercial and industrial areas where there are man made lakes they dug out for fill. These all have bass and often good size ones. Most are not posted and I am seldom questioned. The opportunities in my area are vast.

Well we all chimed in, how about a report. Where did you end up going, and how was the fishing?

Might as well be ringing a dinner bell!

I fish almost everyday, all year round, either from the boat or the bank. I am somewhat of a slow fisherman with plastics or jigs usually. The first cast I throw out and race that bait in, because when I catch on that first cast its sometimes a curse for the rest of the trip, at least in my MIND. I think I might be superstitious!!!!!!?

Had a friend with a home on the lake. He did well on a canal that led to the Kissimmee River, with a HB Frog.

As a life long Florida fisherman with shallow weed filled waters, to go to a mountain lake with little vegetation, draw downs, and just structure changes to key into, it’s like fishing on the moon. I have rented mountain homes on lakes with depths of 150 feet and a skunk is not usual for me in these clear small mouth lakes. I have such admiration for the pros that have to adjust to these conditions regularly. Also never leave home without toilet paper!

I real stupid move for me was, while on vacation I took the kill switch out and hid it in the house. If someone broke in the garage they couldn’t start the motor. Upon returning, I planned a trip to Okeechobee with a friend. A 1.5 hour trip one way. Got there the motor would not start, NO Kill Switch. One p***ed off fisherman. real dumb!

Thanks to anyone that had anything to do with this tribute. It was special and so was the man. I feel so sad for his family and the kids that were left without his guidance through life. He was a classic, and will always be remembered as a great fisherman, and a good person. RIP young man!

It just doesn’t bother me to tell. When I write a fishing report I always give approximate location, conditions, what baits, and how I used them. There are so many fish out there, plenty for everyone. We join these sites to share information, we even have guys producing vids to teach others. Even with all the sharing, some just won’t get it!

A great tool for scouting new bodies of water. Lots of detail when you zero in. Laydowns, depth changes, grasses, pads, launch areas, docks, culvert pipes, bridges, feeder streams, release areas, and rip rap! Amazing stuff!

Slow down, down size, and pauses. I get the bait to walk the bottom, then pause. Usually always get bites, of various size. Almost forgot, lucky underwear, no bananas, no hook ups on first cast, promise a kiss for any willing to play, hats on backwards until I break the ice. Just all the normal stuff!

Usually the topography above the water line continues into the lake below the water line. When fishing a new lake I always scan the banks to check this out. In your scenario I will fish a wacky worm parallel to the bank and slowly move out to deeper water until I find fish. Let it fall deep, and then snap it off the bottom and fall and settle again. Or fish a crank bait parallel to the bank.

Dwight is 100% right on your chances. The O is so vast and so shallow that a big wind will change everything quickly. Fish will move out of an area quickly and the wind will stir up the quality over night. Finding fish, is finding clear water. Spraying has been none stop lately on the south end. Headwaters is a designer fishery, designed to produce trophy fish. There are shelter areas, deep holes, selected grasses and weeds. It was stocked by the state with restrictions, and no spraying. Big fish have been caught since its opening. The down side is the crowds, especially until the snowbirds leave for their home waters. Big fish live in both waters, it's just harder at the O unless you fish it all the time, and understand what weather does to it, and how the bass move! Not easy for a novice, or a lot of pros.

Once had an Anhinga hit my fluke underwater. I felt a hit and was about to set the hook when the bird came up with the fluke in its mouth, but not the hook. Lucky for me because these birds will try to stab at you with that sharp beak. Got half the fluke back, the other half went to the BIRD!?

Caught a big Peacock on a Black Danc'n Eel! ?