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Dark water, dark color Low light, dark color Thick weeds, light weight Flipping or pitching, heavy weight Thick weeds, heavy wire hook Thick weeds, heavy line Watermelon good for clear water, sunny conditions.

I often fish from the bank, and one lake has a Flangan's restaurant across the lake with outdoor seating. I walked up to my spot, made about four casts, and pulled in a 6 lb bass. There was big time applause, and howling, from the outdoor seating area, with plenty of drunks. I felt like I just won a big tournament! Take that Ike! Lol

Just keep the scale, camera, tape measure, and pliers organized and ready to go so the process is a quick as possible. If you can get it done within two minute the bass should be fine, as long as there is no serious injuries.

We call this HAPPY WATER and it can be just a shimmer on the surface. You know there is fish activity in the area and usually hungry bass 5 or 6 feet under the commotion. Sometimes birds may tune in to the activity from above. I always look for happy water within casting distance. I don't chase it with either the T/M or big motor, they exit the area quickly when you do. When your within casting distance success is possible with a weightless fluke or rattle trap depending on weeds.

Its just a part of fishing, everyone has tough days from time to time. You just need to figure it out for that day, that hour, that minute. No two days are the same, part of the fun is figuring it out. Sometimes your the window, sometimes your the bug!

No I don't care about people taking bass legally. I personally never take bass since we have a mercury problem, and I am not fond of the taste of bass, and would rather eat a lot of fish before having a bass. The only thing that bothers me is when someone kills a trophy bass. Culling smaller bass can be a good thing for a body of water.

I agree with Weedwacker, I hope your using a thin wire hook, they get stuck much easier.

Mike, Lox holds a lot of big fish, but right now it's difficult out there. Finding bigger fish is hit and miss at best, and the flats are becoming chocked with vegetation in many areas. Water temps on the flats can heat up quickly, to over 90*. They are actually pumping nasty looking water from the Sawgrass area, from the south. Why they would be pumping water north, makes no sense at all! The water levels are at least 6 feet different between these areas. They are wasting thousands of dollars of diesel fuel to pump backwards. I would wait to the cooler month to make a long journey to fish these waters, for me it's a short trip. It's a great fishery, but like so many other places, tough in the hot summer months.

Lox Road Ramps 6:30-11:00 mostly cloudy wind SW 5-10 water temp 86* slight stain weeds thick current east Picked up buddy Rick and we went to Lox Road ramps. Ran west to the second cut and began fishing the flat. Started with top water swim bait with little results. Switched to a plastic zara Spook with a hit and miss then nothing. Then switched to a U-zibe burned, and then fished slow, another nothing. After 20 minute, switched to a fluke and got bit pretty quick. For the next hour the fluke produced. All bites happened while the bait was sitting. I jerked a few times and then let it sit. If you were moving the bait you didn't get hit today. Patience was the key today. This pattern worked on all of the fish today. Moving bait Zero. After an hour of action things went cold. I switch a number of baits and colors and then finally got hit on a w/r stick-o. Caught a few more on this and then the bite was done. It was a fun day, but you had to fish slow to get bit. We got out of there before the storms rolled in. We caught a total of 15 fish, not much size but still worth the trip.

That.s the first time I have heard Ducket rods described as tough. I have seen to many break under normal use over the years. I hate the micro guides. I would stay miles away from these rods, and go with something more durable.

I don't fish for money, I don't fish to eat, I fish because I enjoy it, and I don't enjoy fighting big wind in an 18 foot bass boat, while standing on the deck. I will look for sheltered waters, I will fish with the wind from my back and drag a sea anchor to slow the drift, while throwing a spinnerbait, crankbait, or swimbait. I will never fight the wind by standing on the trolling motor all day, I hate it! I don't care what other do, I do what I enjoy or I don't do it! Its all about having fun and fighting wind is not fun.

I see you like Junebug. I too like it in heavily stained water, low light conditions, and rainy days. I have started to use Blackberry too, with similar results. Watermelon red in clear water, sunny days, and with bright sun overhead.

Lol!!!!!!

Be a line watcher, the line wil jerk or move long before you could ever feel it through the rod and reel. Train yourself to study the line at the furthest spot you can see. My eyes are focus as soon as the bait hits the water. This is extremely important for plastics fished slow.

1). In south Florida, no two days are the same. 2). Figure out what they want that day, that hour. 3). Stay off the trolling motor as much as possible, be in stealth mode with the wind doing your movement as much as possible. 4).Look for birds on the water, and look for happy water. (signs of fish casing bait) 5). Two or more types of vegitation is better then one big mass of the same. 6). An isolated clump of weeds in an open flat can be a honey hole. 7). In summer look for current, bass will position according to this flow. 8). Catch one, go back to the same area. Bass will bunch up according to size. 9). When things get tough slow down. 10). If you miss a bass go back with something else. 11). Have a game plan, but don't be afraid to change it with observations while out there. I could keep adding but that is things I do daily when on the water.

I agree with bocabasser. This happens every year when waters get high. I like fishing the bridge pilings when there is current passing through. Fish slow and use dark colors in low light conditions. Most bass are in the flats where all the food is, with lots of shade all day. The canals will hold some bass but look for areas where current will position these fish. Cuts to the flats will hold some bass. Fish the drop off, at the edge of the canal,with plastics where flowing water, coming out of the flat provide a food source, bass will position in ambush mode. It does get tough this time of year, but use current to your best advantage. Good luck my friend, always look for flowing waters this time of year. Beside providing a food source, O2 levels will be better with flowing water.

Yes many would have a problem believing that, but us that fish the glades often know its a fact. Concentrated bass can make fishing crazy at times, with big numbers, and big bass mixed in with the masses. Thumbs torn up, and bass on almost every cast can last for hours, its not all year long but almost every March April and May.

In south Florida we have no off season. Many fish almost every day, and catch thousands of fish every year. During the dry season when water levels drop, and fish concentrate 100 bass in a half day is a real possibility, and often happens. Its why I moved here 45 years ago.

Too much trouble, I catch fish without having to mess with these rigs. Keep it simple!

Sorry for your loss. Fishing partners are like bothers after you have spent years together sharing the sport you both love. I lost a fishing brother of twenty years to a sudden widow maker stroke. It has never been the same since and I still have him as the picture on my phone every time it turns on. I lost a brother that day, I feel your pain. May he Rest In Peace, and May God comfort his loved ones during this difficult time.

I don’t mind replacing as long as they are catching fish. Cheap and easy to replace. You can burn them, fish them slow, dead stick, pitch, fish in heavy weeds, or open water. Fish deep, or shallow shore line. All without changing a bait.

A lot of baits are designed to catch fisherman, not so much fish. It’s hard to beat plastics day in and day out.

It all about food!

I do everything I can not to hurt a bass and release it in great shape. Every once in a while it happens. They will go back in the food chain where turtles and craws will feast. If this guys was culling fish and throwing out dead ones, that terrible. Watch confronting a nut case, too many with guns and knives in the woods.

I don’t, I go somewhere else!