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There is a shallow spot in the middle of the canal where it opens up into a wide canal. It used to marked with a navigation marker. Crankbait in this area can be magic. Sharp drop-off from 2 feet to 20 feet.

I think Glenn's video says about everything. Thanks Glenn.

I fished with a guy that loved it when boats would pass close to us while we fished. I would say, why would you like these guys passing within casting distance of our boat. His answer, The waves stir up the bait fish, bugs, and little critters that live in the weeds along the bank. This rings the dinner bell for the bass, things are going to get good now!

I fished with a guy that loved when boats passed close to where we were fishing. He stated the wave stirred up the bait fish and bugs around the weed stems and the fish feast! similar to your story.

No I haven't, but a friend fishes Ave Maria Lakes and has done quite well.

Have you ever had a strange thing happen while bass fishing? One of the strangest happened to me years ago, and I will never forget it. I was bank fishing in Weston Florida in one of the biggest man made lakes in the area. I had caught a bunch of bass in the 1 to 2 lb, size. I caught a nice two pound fish and released it at the edge of the bank and it swam several feet and right into a potato chip bag that was in the water for some time. I don't know if he thought it was a cave to swim into for shelter. The entire fish was in the bag except the tail that was sticking out. The bag with the fish raced away into deep water and disappeared for a while and reappeared in the middle of the lake on the surface. For quite a while I watched the bag motor around the lake changing direction, and diving every once in a while. This went on for at least 30 minutes. The bag finally made it back to the shallows and within reach. I positioned myself to be within rod length. I finally got my rod tip in the bag and my little friend was free at last. I don't know who was happier me or him. It was definitely one of the strangest fishing days I have ever had.

I fished with a guy that used square bill cranks in the stick marsh stump field. He used his about every ten casts. It was quite a lesson for me. He never lost one the whole day and he out fished everyone, it paid for itself many times over!

Like everywhere else some days are better then others. Only fished it years ago, and the wave runners were out in full force. Markham Park is actually in Sunrise, not Plantation.

Great night time lure. Fish slow with stops along the way.

If I am in an area I know holds decent bass, before changing baits, or changing location, I will change the technique I am using. With plastics, I may dead stick a bait, snap it off the bottom and then let it fall, walk it along the bottom, jerk it in a frenzy manner and pause occasionally. If that doesn't work, then I may change baits, and go through several techniques with the new bait. Then and only then, I may leave this comfort zone and go to another spot I have faith in. Don't overlook the fact that Bass often want a presentation in just a certain way, and often no two days the same way!

Alligator Alley MM39 North Side, 7:00 - 10:30, Partly Cloudy, temp 80*, wind SE 15-20, several brief showers, water temp 72*, light stain. Went out this morning with friend Dave. We ran from the ramps, east to the dead end, and then fished back to the west. Their was a lot of action on the depth finder. First cast drew constant action, and every cast after was the same. There were an unbelievable number of Oscars everywhere along the Alley. These are great eating fish and for their size strong fighters. We caught 30 in two hours, and missed 100 more using bass fishing equipment instead of smaller hooks and in-line spinners. It was a lot of fun but not the fish we are targeting. If you want eating fish this exotic fish is an excellant choice. These were also bigger then normal Oscars. With the right equipment you could simply fill a cooler with these exotic fish.

There is an active fishing club in the villages that meets on a regular basis. They also put out information on the web. You may be able to get information from them.

4" senko type bait is a killer in Florida. It will catch bass of all sizes. Most often fish it weightless or a 1/32 weight, so it falls slowly through the entire water column. Watermelon red, junebug for stained water, morning dawn, and Okeechobee are good Florida colors.

Same as every other year. Have fun, and enjoy it with friends.

Go out in the flats, you'll be out there alone. Good luck!

Enjoy the fight and the catch, but kill every one of those things!!!! We have organized tournament in south Florida just to see how many can be killed in one day.

We often see a hundred of them in the wild, on Alligator Alley during the dry season. They are there because the swamp is drying up, and they come in all sizes up to ten feet. Fishing is like herding cattle with the boat pushing at least ten of them ahead of the boat. They usually stay about 20 yards ahead of the boat in the canal.. 95% of the time your not going to have a problem. The last few years a few have become more territorial and have put on some displays. I've had them hit the trolling motor with their nose, and tail slap the side of the boat. But this is rare even in the confines of the canal. Never, ever, feed a gator, they will learn that two legged creatures mean an easy meal. FWO have removed several from ramp areas that were causing problems because tourists were feeding the lizards so they could get a closer picture at the ramps.. We don't need a 800 pound dinosaur that can vault 6 feet out of the water, with no fear of people. Its not their fault, its just people without common sense. Its also a healthy state fine for feeding gators in the wild, for this very reason!

Follow the rules and be extra careful, like a train those things go fast and don't stop very quickly. Things can go bad fast, add limited viability and a low profile boat in tall grass, bad mix!!!!!

Can't be bothered doing that stuff. Takes too much time, and you can't catch anything unless your line is wet. I never have problems with line at the knots. Glue always gets on my fingers!

The spawn can go from November to March depending on weather fronts. Not all bass will spawn at the same time. In Florida, our bass will sometimes spawn more then once a year. Florida bass are a little different then their northern cousins in several ways..

In the past I have had wrist and elbow pain from time to time. I now start out easy for the first five minutes and after all is warmed up increase the tension and casting distance. I also stretch in the morning before going out to fish. I have not had any problems for several years after following these few steps.

We are all here because we love fishing and love talking about it. The site only survives because members share information and tips and we come back day after day. We are proud to have you here, so join your fellow members and add to the discussion.

Its in the contract, the wife gets 5 days a year!

There is no off season down here. Fish 360 days a year if you want in Florida.

Thank God its back up, I was having withdrawals!!!!!