geo g

I'm sure lakes go through cycles depending on weather, food supplies, and other variables. Its probably a normal cycle with weather the main condition. We have had warmer then normal weather conditions in the south east, and higher then normal water levels. Conditions beyond our control, so just make the best of it, and enjoy being out with mother nature. I don't sweat what I can't control!

Low light conditions. The first hour of light, and the last hour of light. Bite is usually the best of the day. The wind is usually lightest of the day. The average fisherman usually isn't there yet. Nothing but good things happen when you get there early, or decide to stay late in the day.

Loxahatchee Preserve, Saturday 2/25/17, First light - 1:00, water clear, sky's sunny, wind light, no current. Went today with Rick, and we had a fun time fishing the flats. Rick started with a twin tail small bait and started picking up bass right away. I started with a senko bait and they just were not having it. I switched to a bait with a little more action and the U-vibe did the trick Soon we were both throwing U-vibes. Action was pretty constant on the flat, but when we moved to the north canal for a while, things just came to a stop. We went back to the flat spoil wall, and the bite was on again. Most bites were close to cover. We finished with 27 caught, the biggest was over 2 pounds. It was a fun day with good company, and good action in places.

Like what was said in a previous post, let the wind be your friend. I start by checking the weather report and pick a place according to wind direction when it is above 20 mph. i want the wind from my back. This keeps me in stealth mode and off the trolling motor. This is especially important in clear water. This stealth will increase bites. Then I pick out a drift bag to slow my forward drift. A drift bag or sea anchor is key to not being over powered by a strong wind. This has saved many a day in high wind situations. I will also add weight to my plastics to keep the line from bowing out in a strong wind. This keeps me in touch with what is going on at the terminal end in high winds. This makes for a easy, productive day of fishing, and for me that is what its all about. Fighting stiff winds is never what I'm after, Id rather stay home!

I have fished a number of spots in the everglades over the last month and have seen no signs of bedding in the usual spots. The exotic population is so thick out there that the bass population must be harassed by these aggressive imports. They are going to bed somewhere, but along the glades canals you can not throw a bait without getting hit by an Oscar, or some other import. They are relentless right now, and will hit a bait five or six times on every cast. It is unbelievable in some areas. With a small crankbait, or a small spinner with small trebles, you could catch hundreds of these imports. Bedding bass would be in constant defense mode from these aggressive fish. Beds are usually in hard bottom areas with rock, sand, or shell bottom. The canals usually have hard rock shelf flats along the sides which are traditionally good bedding areas. Not this year!

Leader is not needed, and I doubt that hook will rust out. If it is a good size fish it will continue to eat as long as the throat is not blocked off. There is a good shot at catching that bass in the future if you know where it lives. Then you can remove both hooks. I have caught fish with hooks from rattle traps, zaro spooks, and big swimbaits and they still wanted to eat.

If the water level keeps falling watch the area around Clewiston and running out toward the main lake. Rock walls on both sides so stay between the markers when running. If you find yourself in skinny water and having problems getting on plane, don't start off in a straight line because the lower unit will dig in. Take off in a wide circle and this will lift the lower unit to the side instead of digging in. This works great on the shallow glades flats. Also if you have a back seater have him sit up front on the deck until you get up on plane. Went to Rolands Tiki Bar tonight and they were talking about dropping water levels.

Thanks Rick for posting those pics.

I was going to Lox this morning and someone said there was a tournament this weekend. Was there a tournament?

Holey Land, Sunday 2/12/17, first light to noon, temps 70"s, light wind NE, water temp 69*, water clear, slight current east. Went today with Dave (Canesfan). We ran the east canal almost to the bridge and fished back to the west. We picked up small bass almost immediately. The bite was close to cover. About 7:00 I hooked a 22 inch 6 pound bass that ran around the boat and took sudden dive deep on the way in. At first I thought it was a mudfish because I felt head shakes while making a long run. I was thrilled when I saw the big mouth. We continued to catch small bass as we moved further west. At 10:00 we ran to the big lakes but the bite was slower on the north wall. As we turned south the bite picked up again on the west wall. We finished the day with over 20 bass caught, several 2 pounders, a bunch 12 to 14 inch, and the big 22 inch. All were caught on zoom U-Tails, senkos, and speed worms. It was a fun day with perfect weather conditions, bass cooperating, and good conversation with a friend. It doesn't get much better then that!

You can fantasize all you want, when the water temperature is in the 60's in South Florida the peacock bite is not hot!!!!!!! This water temp is a solid fact, not a made up fantasies!!!!!

Now that's really interesting, because with the cool weather the past few months, this is the worst time of the year for peacock fishing in south Florida, and I have fished for them from West Palm, to south Miami, for twenty years. That statement of yours is really interesting. Peacock are a tropical fish, hot water fish, and are effected greatly by cool weather and water temps below 75*. For the last month the water temps have been in the mid 60's. How they could be hot right now is beyond belief!!! The best time for Peacock is during August when it 98*, water temps in the 90's, not a cloud in the sky, and 12:00 in the afternoon.

There is only one captain of the boat, so the back seater must learn to adjust accordingly! I always do try to give the back seater a good shot at clean water, and will let him know if I felt a bump so he can follow up.

I agree with ghoti. There are a lot of variables that go into producing a long cast. Weight of the lure is a big one. Tweeking the setting on the reel another. Wind direction and strength is another. Line being used is another If everything is set up correctly then a country mile is a real possibility!!!!! It is nice when all the factors come together.

I do it because I like it! NOTHING BETTER THEN A DAY ON THE LAKE WITH A GOOD FRIEND, AND MOTHER NATURE. Any problems in life simply disappear while your out there.

I have never heard of a problem out there. Yes the check station is for hunting season and they check hunters that go out further west. Lots of deer and pigs bagged out there. You can also camp out there and many do. FWL is often in the area, and I have been checked several times. It is a relatively safe area, but you never know where the DB will decide to do their thing. Its a lot safer then those ramps off 27. Especially the ones close to 595. All the canals produce at various times. The east ramp runs back to 27, and is good when there is a gentle current flowing from the control stations on the levee. The west canal runs all the way to the Miami River. Current can be overpowering here, so looks for a slight current flow. When its running like a mountain river, go somewhere else. The north canal also known as the zig-zag canal, runs north and then west. It will get skinny the further you run up that canal. It can be good when the others are flowing hard. The big lakes can be good along the shore. It drops off quickly to 30 -60 feet just yards from the shore. Good when the cold fronts hit hard. The deep water prevents sudden water changes. You have probably 20 miles of canals running from the ramp area in three different directions. Don't overlook where the canal meets the lake. Sometimes the current comes from different directions, schooling fish love these areas. If you go out during duck season, you will think it is the 4th of July. It can be outstanding or a real challenge. You need to spend some time exploring.

The fish are still at Lox and there are a lot of big ones. The problem is can you get to them. Lox is a big massive area, surrounded by a rim canal. You probably can effectively fish less then 15% of it. They are very happy to bury themselves in miles of thick vegetation feasting on loads of everything that lives in the sawgrass. The all important thing is water levels. For the past 4 years water levels have stayed high, from unusually wet winters with no dry season, and dumping water out of Okeechobee to keep the pressure off the old levee. No need to leave the safety of the sawgrass and move to open areas flats, and the depths of the canals. Glades fishing, which includes Loxahatchee, has not been under normal cycles, so yes there have been changes in the glades in recent years.

Went to Lox today. Water levels have been constant since the new year. Water is clear with no signs of bedding yet, at least along the south spoil bank. Grass is not too bad right now, and T/M just ate it up. We fished form first light to noon. We caught 23 bass with the biggest in the 3.5 range. Morning wind was a PITA, and then it calmed around 10 and the bite improved.

Over the years I have caught many on trebles and single hooks that were not in the mouth or throat. I have caught them from the head, to mid body and in the tail. If you fish long enough, many strange things will happen!!!!

No flag needed. Water level was good last month. They should be bedding now or soon. That is from the south end, Lox road. No flag needed. Water level was good last month. They should be bedding now or soon.

I too have taken the wrong track from the monkey box and realized it before I got too far away. Easy thing to do without a tracking system, and concentrating on the fishing too much. Monkey box and moonshine bay can be a real maze, unless your out there all the time. Lox flats are a lot easier to fish, and a lot less variables then the lake, but still holds big fish.

I would go to Lox and here is why. I have fished all three areas you named. I love the Harney Pond area of the lake, but it is a hit and miss if they are bedding up there. There are so many choices at the lake, without up to date info the task is daunting. If you choose the lake, don't overlook the Harney Pond canal for bedding fish, it is a sand bottom. The Stick Marsh is a dangerous place to run a boat, if you don't know where your going. Lots of stumps, especially on the north west side, and the south west side. What looks like open water, can be a dangerous stump field, just under the surface, a long way from the shore. Lots of lower units lost in there. I have been there 5 times and always go with a friend that knows the place. Loxahatchee on the other hand, they should be bedding right now or positioning themselves to bed. It is the closest spot to your house, and the best chance for success. Fish the south side and the flat side of the east/west spoil bank. They like to bed there. If you go to Lox don't park near any trees, vultures will tear up your vehicle.

I am the son of a 92 year old proud WW II Sea Bee VET, who served in the Pacific on Guadalcanal, Lathe, Perl Harbor.. Went in at 16 the day after Pearl Harbor, with his moms help on birth certificate. He wears his vet pin proudly everyday!!!!!!!

I will be fishing Lox soon, they should be bedding. or positioning themselves to bed. I find it a little easier to fish then the O. I always fish the south end from the Lox Road ramps. Wind is my key factor of whether I go or stay home. Above 12, forget it for Lox. Maybe I'll see you out there. Good luck!

One of the things about the lake is it never stays the same. Weather conditions and fronts will move fish miles from where they were last week. Guys that fish it a couple times a week can stay up with the latest movements. The weekend angler it is a hit and miss situation at best. Just because you caught them once, means nothing for the next time. It takes years and countless hours of exploring to be able to study the conditions, water levels, scheduled pumping, current, and make a wise decision. Heavy Wind alone can change the depth in a given area as much as two feet. Areas you fished yesterday could leave you grounded from a strong wind. Areas that were gin clear, can be chocolate in days. That's why it is a struggle for many of the best tour pros when they get to the lake. What you really need is time on the lake, and as much documented info on catches under different conditions, and times of the year. I do know one thing, if you find clean water your odds go way up on finding fish. I learned that 35 years ago from an old timer that I spent a year fishing the lake together. There are traditional spawning areas with sand bottom that produce year after year during the spawn. Other then that it is a crap shoot, unless you know people that frequent the place and up on the latest info.