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I am blessed, my family finds it convenient to supply me with these gift cards and I use them all year. Thanks, so keep them coming!

Produces current which stirs up bait fish activity. Bait fish are moving the bass are hunting!

I have tied up under those bridge pilings along the alley when a storm suddenly shows up. One time there were 6 of us tied up to each other and the pilings.

I've have a friend that changed career plans at 45, and become a guide. He started his own business, took all the coast guard courses, past the tests, got the insurance, and spent day after day testing his ever-changing spots. To make money you need customers about 5 days a week. Starting out he had about 5 paid trips a month, not a money maker. The investment in equipment, fuel, drinks, and keeping bait alive is hard to handle. Most trips are live bait trips, and they want that fish of a lifetime, and looking to you to figure it out. Advertising is expensive, so he started making vids to promote the business. Thats a new set of expenses to deal with. There is a lot more negatives, than positives especially in the beginning. I feel he is questioning his decision to take this new career on.

Had a good friend fall in the water in the Loxahatchee Preserve in South Florida, and being over 300 pounds and over 70 years old he could not get back in his big ranger boat. Lucky for him another guy came along and helped him get back in the boat, no inflation device, and totally exhausted. Another lucky thing that day is, this place has some of the biggest gators in the state of Florida. Always carry a pee gar in the boat. Have used a mason jar for over twenty years, works well and easy to wash out.

Florida summer its early or late and forget everything in between. Have been fishing every afternoon and have gone by 15 bass in April to 3 or 4 now in the same time period. I only spend an hour from 6 to 7 PM, but the bite is consistently tough everyday now.

Kent, thank you for all you have done to make this site the very best! Enjoy your retirement and stop back and say hello to your fellow brothers and sisters. You are loved by many here, and your input is always cherished! God bless you and your loved ones.

Fish early or fish late and forget the middle of the day. The bite has been extremely tough with bass either buried in thick cover or deep at the bottom of ledges. A little top water really early along the edges of the thick cover. My least favorite time to fish are during the next few months. Drink often and don’t wait until you’re thirsty, if you do it’s already too late. I keep cold water on the deck and drink every fifteen minutes even if I’m not thirsty! The older you get the more important this becomes. I always bring three times more water then I will need just encase there is a mechanical problem. If I don’t use it I just refreeze the bottles. Also dose a towel with cold water and keep around my neck. South Florida the feel like temps are over 100 everyday for months. I always remember two biologist in an airboat that broke down in the Everglades. The man had to walk out of the swamp, and the woman stayed with the boat. By the time the man made it out, and got help the woman had died from heat stroke. This was 35 years ago and cell phones were not around. Extra water is always a must!

I agree it has a lot more than just catching. For my whole adult life it has as much about friendships, sharing, and having fun as it is about bass. It has never officially been about competition, although a little competition always manages the climb in the boat. The most important thing is enjoying nature, and have fun. Thanks for sharing that story about your dad. He shared a love that remains within for a lifetime.

Like you I only stay out there a max of 4 hrs at 70+ years old. But 30 years age I have had 200 catch days during low water levels. That’s for a full day. Concentrated fish will hit out there almost every cast. Water levels change the whole landscape of the glades.

Everglades better than most all year. During low water levels simply the best in the country for numbers with ridiculous catches of Black bass, Peacock Bass, Oscars, and Mayans! Hundreds can be caught in a full day.

I am far from an expert but have 50+ years of experience. I would simply say : 1. Spend time on the water. 2. Fish with as many different people as you can. Watch what they do right, and what they do wrong. You will learn something every trip. Good luck and have fun. If your not having fun it will not last!

To me it’s a competition not against other fisherman but against the fish! Sometimes the fish win, often I trick them! It’s pure fun, you can do it with others or by yourself. If you weren’t bit by this bug, it will not continue, just move on to something else!

At 76 I got heavily involved with bass fishing especially in thos early years. I followed most of the early ones, and knew almost everyone on the tour. That ship has long sailed, and now don’t keep up on it! It was an exciting time to be a bass fisherman. Being A pro ment something then, and it took a lifetime of experience and respect to develop.

The best is before a rain event. If it’s a light rain it might be good during and after a light rain. If it’s a heavy rain it’s time to go home and have a cold one for a few days. if there is lightning I’m out of there as soon as possible! Not worth the risk!

Great vid, always enjoy your work! In ourFlorida heat I love the light weight Frog Toggs for rain wear. They make different weights of rain gear. The light weight stuff is perfect for Florida. The material is breathable too. I also buy the jacket and pants bigger than I need because it is easy to get on quickly over shoes and jackets in winter. It may look a little baggy but the bass don’t care a bit!

In south Florida our Florida Strain Black Bass are effected by all the things some have mentioned before. Water temp, along with bright sun can make 🐠 ing difficult. But our secrete weapon for a fun day are the Peacock Bass. They love the sunny edges, hot water in the high 80’s low 90’s, and aggressively chasing a bunch of different baits. Fast movement just puts them in a frenzy, especially in summer. Chasing top water, or a square bill, a torpedo or devil horse, or a flashy stickbait, will drive them nuts. These are the pit bulls of freshwater fishing. Mean, strong, long runs, and great leaps. If you haven’t tied it, it’s worth a trip down here. Almost all water south of Palm beach have them in good numbers. These fish have saved many a summer trip when black bass were in a funk!

Went out to Alligator Ally in the Everglades last week. The east side of the glades are dangerously low with all ramps in horrible shape. A friend tried to unload and his trailer dropped off the end of the concrete ramp. Lots of exposed rocks even in the canal. I moved locations further west of the Miami River and this area is at normal full pool. No ramp problems here. There must be a 4 foot difference in the levels from east(low) to west side (normal). Be careful out there if you go, take time to study the ramp conditions.

Hook 360 makes some great stuff at a good price. Cool light weigh material for Florida fishing and good sun protection.

Not one single bit! I use my sonar to find structure, water temp, bait fish level, thermocline, and then I turn it off and go into stealth mode with no pinging. I use my eyes and ears and study my surrounding without staring at a screen all day. I may turn it back on when changing locations. But once fishing I do it old school.

I use a 2500 for frog fishing with 65 pound braid.

Kill switch and life jacket while running is key. So sad for the family and loved ones.

I too am a bottom fisherman once the sun gets high. Our bottoms are full of ruff sandstone and bottom weeds. If I’m using heavy weights like a 1/2 or 3/4 oz I’m always getting hung in the rough jagged rock. To stop this from happening I go weightless or 1/32 weight and just go super slow. Quick little jerks and then long pauses keeps the bait on the bottom without hang ups! Bass are down there hiding between those jagged boulders.

I seldom fish the same spot two trips in a row. I have about ten spots within 20 minutes from my house. I like to keep tabs on all my spots. I also like to try a variety of plastics even if one has been hot. I like to change colors, and sizes and see what they catch. Senkos and Flukes are my favs but trick worms, and hollow body frogs always make an appearance!

If you own a boat long enough we all have been stuck on the side of the road. Sorry to hear but not surprising!