atcoha

Had my TW cart waiting...about a cnote worth of stuff I have been wanting to get/try. Ned rig stuff, some tubes and stuff, more hooks and weights. After a couple days, several of the items "out of stock". Knew I should have hit the checkout button on Monday. Saved myself some $. ... for now. I have enough stuff that I have not used yet anyway...My wife thinks I buy soft plastic baits by the pound...man, I gotta get reorganized. Just when I think I have it done right, I come up with an excuse to change stuff...happens every time I sit around the house too long.

You must be EGG-cited!

if you catch cichlids...you know what to do with them Throw the bass back!

It's a possibility. Or they will just be skinny. "Only the strong survive" in nature. Could be a "cycle", but that is pure speculation.

Ran into similar situations like that. I lived in one of those gargantuan subdivisions in Miami many years ago. Me and my cousin used to catch little bluegill on bread, then put them on a bigger hook, swim out and drop them. Would catch decent bass regularly. Now, a lot of these subdivision lakes are landlocked, some not(fed by the canal systems). Around the mid to late 80's, many of these invasive species were thrown into these lakes...and canals. Ciclids and pacu and whatever else people bought from the pet store and did not want anymore... The bluegills were still around, but by the early 90's, the lake where I lived was devoid of bass. At least, I had not talked to anyone that had caught any bass for a very long time. I sure had not caught any in years. Left that place over 20 years ago. I know when I was there, the HOA did not have a "stocking" program" for the lake. I would fish the canals on either side of the neighborhood and catch bass, peacocks, just about anytime/anyday I wanted. In conclusion, the effect invasive species has on ponds,lakes, whether landlocked or not, is pretty clear.

Heres' mine: <={ not much biting.

I stayed last year there. That area is fed by springs. Although you will run into some brackish water up river. You will find everything from snook, mangrove snapper, bass, mullet, manatees. Great area for fishing, terrible area for bugs, skeeters and noseeums will eat you alive. There might be some very slight salinity, depending on tide...but not enough to worry about, hose it down, you will be fine. Have fun!

Hit up the creek today around 10:30 this morning, already 90+ hot Been skunked the past half dozen times down there. I guess with this heat the bass have moved up to the main river? A lot of fry all over around the banks...even the bowfin have gone awol.

I bought a coleman "sport" 60-65qt, after contemplating a new cooler and reading/watching cooler reviews. That coleman had ice in it after 4 days in my hot Florida driveway. This was just last week. 90+ every day. Boom. Things are only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Yeti has to pay for all that marketing and commercials, don't they?

I sometimes fish there.

Went up to the lake early this morning, got there around 5:45. Bass were poppin' shad everywhere, noticed the shad schools were not as big, getting smaller. We threw everything, you name it. Finally just started throwing flick shake/senko's near the floating dock, caught a few dinks. A few other boats this morning, did not see anyone catching anything either. Water was as clear as I have seen it, I had a feeling all week today would be a great day to catch some big ones. But, no. Left early, made it home, got a bunch of yardwork to do. Kinda deflated my bubble, have been looking to upgrade to a bigger jon boat. This 14' boat does just fine, would like some more room, and better seats.

I think most of us guys have been in that "slump" you describe at least one time in our lives...at least us "older than 40" guys. Do yourself a favor, get started on your life plans NOW. Do not wait, get in the habit of NOT procrastinating. Keep moving forward, keep your dreams reality. Like the others said...buck up. I say that as motivation, not negative. Sounds like you have a pretty good Dad. Don't be scared to talk to him, and most important...LISTEN. Good luck.

Forgot to share this with you guys. Went out with some friends when snapper season opened. Limited out, my boy caught his first king. A couple more kings and a single itty bitty chicken dolphin.

I use 1-2oz spoons in the fall for the big bull reds. Or a huge curly tail. Sling that thing out as far as you can, you can swim it, fast twitch/retrieve, or stroke it, but keep it off the bottom, unless you brought a party pack. The key is to keep it moving.

Get yourself some 1/4 to 3/4 oz. jigheads, get some matrix shad, gulp or doa type baits, and start working them. The pinfish will nibble the gulp off, so I try and use them sparingly, they are not cheap. I have had good days with the doa shrimp also, try different colors. rootbeer/penny or some type of charteuse works well. Started using matrix shad in "tiger" and "kamikaze" colors this year and the results have been real good. And don't forget the mirrolure 17mr series, they are fish magnets.

I would like to know also. I have bought a couple over the years. Cheaper shakespeare models. Total waste of $ unless you are fishing for baby bream. I have read some good reviews on the st.croix travel rods. But not any first hand accounts on this forum.

"premature hookulation" I gotta write that one down, and use it at least once. lol comedy gold

lol I know the feeling. My boy plays year 'round. We are gone more weekends at tournaments than we are home. Now my youngest girl is on a travel team... That's the reason I don't have a "real" boat. I would never have time to use it. I get the fishing in when I can.

Headed up to Dreamstrike with my youngest girl. Bass were chasing shad continuously, everywhere. Started out with spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. Got hooked up within 5 minutes. stayed with those baits almost all day. I did throw white swim jig for AWHILE, no takers.. Ended with 6 in a few hours. Hit the boat ramp, bank cruisers were everywhere, wanted my daughter to catch one more before we left, tied on a wacky rig senko, on the third toss, she caught a 4#. Woohoo, she could not hold it up so I had to help her. A good day.

We catch them on reefs, live bait never fails. Drop a bottom rig with cut bait, catch you a few grunts or ruby red lips, put them on heavy bottom tackle and hold on! aj's are a beast to get in, a 20# aj is literally like trying to tow a bus, uphill, backwards, lol. The bigger ones will wear you out, but they sure are fun to catch...for awhile.

Nice. Keys canals hold just about everything, you never know what you are going to pull up! Did you get a chance to chase any tarpon?

Never lost a rod, but when I used to play golf, I "lost" several clubs to the surrounding trees and occasional pond...on purpose. I quit golf.

Hit up a creek in bama today on way home from work. Water clarity was mid/good, despite the recent rains. Everything is "growed" up all around, could hear the gators humming not too far away, no otters today. Threw a t-rigged rodent for about 30 minutes, not even a nibble. Saw several big swirls, probably bowfin. Thought I could get lucky, but no dice today.

seasickness....don't fight it, let it rip. You will feel better after. Might take awhile to acclimate to the "motion", once you do, eat some crackers, drink a bunch of water, the sun and that salt air will dehydrate you very quickly, and you won't see that coming. It's no biggie, go and have fun, think about the fishing, not the pukin'!

dunno about google phone. I use IDrive with all my phones/computers, so all the pictures on all the phones in my house get backed up automatically...then they can delete them to have more storage...my wife is the worst offender. She fills her phone up with pictures every few months. No worries with IDrive.