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The only thing that saved the day was the drift bag. Without it I doubt we would have had 15 fish. I hate big wind.

Nice going guys. Lots of nice pics in that group, and a lot of happy fisherman. Still looks like winter to me!

High pressure, bluebird sky's, I would find heavy cover of all types. Then I would down size, and fish very slow. The bass are going to seek shade whether its a dock, pads, lay downs or just a shaded drop off. Slow way down, and fish those areas hard. No eye lids, or expensive sunglasses, so bass will seek shade under those conditions.

Sunday 5/3/15, 6:30 to 11:00, Mostly sunny, wind 25MPH, temp 83*, water light stain, w/t 83*. Went to the Alley with good friend Steve. We went extra early to get on the morning bite. When we ran to our usual starting spot two boats were already parked there. It was a beautiful morning and the bass were cooperating. Everything was wonderful until 9;00 when all hell broke lose. The wind suddenly increase to a steady 25 mph. We were flying down the canal and it was impossible to fish adequately. We put out the drift bag and it slowed the boat to a manageable speed. Since the wind was from the east it blew us right down the canal. Even with the drift bag it was hard to feel the bite. We caught less then half the fish we caught last week in the same location. we finished the day with 33 bass and a big mudfish. Of all the weather conditions to deal with I hate high winds more then any other. The Jig and the senko were the most productive baits Sunday. It was a nice day, but a frustrating day in the boat. I would be much happier fishing from the shore in heavy winds, then from a moving boat. Mother nature can throw some obstacles at you when out on the water. One of our friendly gators again came to within 2 feet of the boat while we were drifting along the canal. The eerie thing is you don't even know their there until you look down, and they are a yard away from where your standing, and this was a 9 footer. Very territorial right now, and absolutely NO FEAR!

Rage Craws are a neat little bait. They also make a nice trailer. Bass hit them hard.

Great job buddy. That fish would make anyone proud!

You did not let us know where you live, so in the south I would use lizards, craws, and a jig.

I'm never there on weekends only during the week. On weekends I'm out in the glades in the boat. I'm sure we will meet up one day soon. By the way, water levels went up almost three feet in the lake tonight with all that rain. Fishing was a little tougher.

I'll give you a sure one! Fishing too fast. When things get really tough, slow down, and when you think its real slow, go slower. Patience is key when the bite is tough.. Loads of bites occur while the bait is sitting still.

It depends upon the wind. Calm or light wind I use a 1/32 bullet weight and 2.0 gama hook. Heavier wind, a 1/8 weight. Put the hook through the egg sack and let it free fall to the bottom. Jerk off the bottom and let it flutter back down to the bottom. Wacky rigged can be magical at times.

Andy, welcome to the site. I graduated Kent, and then moved to South Florida 40 years ago. I have fished West Branch, Cuyahoga River, Mogadore, Milton, Twin Lakes, Portage lakes, Mosquito Lake, and Lake Erie in the Sandusky area and Putin Bay. Lots of good guys here willing to give up some good information.

I am there quite often in the late afternoon.

I have fished Wolf Lake many times and lots of peacock a few years back.

I stayed with the trick worm wacky. I like it better then the senko. There is more movement with the longer, thinner, trick worm. Jerked off the bottom and then float back to the bottom.

I use any old mono in decent condition as a backing. I use a little less then half on reels that I'm going to finish with floro.

Being a south Florida guy, I fish soft plastics 85 to 90% of the time, but that was not always the case. 30 years ago I was throwing Rapala baits, spooks, and shad raps 90% of the time. Down here we fish a lot of very shallow waters full of every type of vegetation imaginable. Although I would have some outstanding days using hard baits, there were days that the only thing I was accomplishing was casting practice. I have since mastered the use of plastics, and have gone to throwing them in the nastiest of junk. Although some days can be tough, I now always seem to catch fish even under the toughest conditions. I am under the philosophy you should throw the baits you are most comfortable with, and do what makes you happy. There is more then one way to skin a cat, so don't worry about others, and what they are using. Its all about having fun, and enjoying the environment you are fishing. I use different plastics for different bodies of water. In very shallow large flats I will use frogs, swim baits, raggin craws, and speed worms. In canals with drop offs, I will use senko's, flukes, trick worms, centipedes and beavers. Plastics are just so versatile. You can throw the same bait on the surface, suspended mid level, or crawled along the bottom. You can throw it weightless and let it free fall through the water column so you can find how deep they are holding. You can rip it along the surface, and then kill it on a lily pad. You can put a small piece of Styrofoam inside a tube and let it float a foot or two above a big Carolina weight. It will sit still and with the slightest shake, dance in place above the weight. When you pull it will drop down and then float back up when you stop. Plastics are so versatile, its just really enjoyable using them!

The majority of the credit must go to Glen and his hard working moderators. It has produced a first class fishing site, that we all enjoy immensely. A big thanks goes out to all the active members, that participate on a daily basis. Without participation we have nothing! Thanks again, for all the thoughts, and wisdom passed on to the masses.

John, always use baitcaster and at least 15 pound test floro. Just too much hydrilla for anything lighter.

Saturday 4/25/15, 7:00 - noon, mostly cloudy, 87*, wind 10-15 ESE, water light stain, W/T 88*, visibility excellent. Steve and I went out early and ran from the ramps east to the dead end. I started with a fluke back in the pads and picked up a 2 pounder at the pad edge. For the next 2 hours the bite was slow. I switched to a black trick worm and started picking up short bass in the pad field. As the worm got torn up I switched to a wacky set up. I landed a nice 3.5 at the base of the 8 foot drop off. Steve picked up a nice 3lb. also at the base deep. I increased the weight and continued with the wacky worm. It was every cast for quite some time. I pulled out a 5+ and a couple of more healthy 3's. The gator were aggressive today, approaching the boat to within three feet and holding their ground. A little unnerving when a ten footer rushes over to the boat, and zeros in right where your standing. We were approached on three different occasions. Then they would follow the boat for twenty yards. I believe it is breading season and they are territorial. We finished the day with over 70 bass caught by noon. A 5+, a 3.5, several more 3's, and a bunch of 2's. It was another fun day on the Alley, lots of action and plenty of gators.

I have heard the bird thing too. I think its much more likely the guy with the bucket. In south Florida all our waterways are connected to a large water pumping system called the South Florida Water Management System. Almost all waters are connected to the system by culvert pipes. We have bass, turtles, snakes, and gators everywhere because of it. I have seen gators in the most congested neighborhood backyards. Keep a close eye on your pets, and young children, if you live on the water.

College is certainly not a requirement to be a professional fisherman. Since the chances of making it to a successful professional career fishing is slim at best, it would be great to get some training, and possibly a degree in something you would enjoy doing, if the fishing career does not pan out. Remember it costs a lot of money to fish, to have a wife, and to raise a family in today's economy. A good career in a field you would enjoy, would allow you to accomplish a lot throughout life. .Read Ike's book, if you want to learn about the journey to a career in Professional Bass Fishing. College, or a good trade, is a sound piece of advice for any young person during these competitive times. Good luck whatever you do!

I fish senko type baits 80% of the time in Florida. I use the 4" size they have a better hook up rate. I use a thin wire gama 3.0 EWG hook. I get more hookups and have not had problems with the hook bending. The watermelon colors especially watermelon red, and Blue/Blacks like Junebug and Okeechobee are excellent too. I catch thousands of bass each year on these little baits. They are great in heavy cover, open water , deep, shallow, in wood and cypress trees, dead sticking, walked along the bottom, wacky rigged and Carolina rigged. A great versatile bait.

Glenn, they are so common out in the glades you usually don't even take notice of them. This guy was different, either territorial with the breading season, or someone has been feeding him.. When you think of how quick they can move in the water, a big gator at the boat make everyone uneasy.

A mudfish is a Bowfin. It is a native fish in Florida. They can get big, and a top of the line predator in their environment. Their mouth is loaded with teeth. They can do very well in poor quality water, and they can destroy baits and gear all the time. The only rods I have broken fighting a fish, have been on mudfish. Once hooked they will put on a good fight, and big head shakes. They are usually regarded as a nuisance fish.

I once foul hooked a bass on a big bill dance deep diver. I put the pressure to a big hook set and the 8 in bass and the lure shot back at me with such force it buried a treble hook deep in my belly with the fish still attached. I got the fish off, but could not get the big treble out. I cut off the lure , fished for three more hours, took care of the boat, and went to the E/R. People laughed as I sat in the ER with this lure hanging from my shirt. The funny thing was a did it again a month later, minus the fish. The lure was hung on some sawgrass. I put pressure on the rod and it shot back and buried again in my belly. Same Doctor cut it out both times. He said he didn't realize fishing was so dangerous. I told him only when your an idiot!