davecon

It’s not so much the number of people on the water that’s the problem. I can handle that. What amazes me is that so many, not all mind you, are simply rude. Don’t know if it’s that they are so excited to be where the fishing is good, if that’s the way they behave at home, or if their momma’s just didn’t love them enough to teach them good manners, or what. Cutting you of launching/loading at the ramp, blocking the ramp, pulling right up next to you on the water when there is not another boat for a mile or so, cutting in front of you while you are going down the bank, etc. etc.. The list goes on. I agree that an armed society is a polite society but, even though I am licensed and carry the majority of the time, I don’t tempt fate so I leave my weapons at home while fishing in the winter. It’s really that bad at times.

Try being a native Floridian fishing in the winter when the snowbirds arrive ! I could go on for a looooonnnnng time about the issues but unless you are from here, or someplace similar, you wouldn’t believe me anyway.

Nothing new here. Guys have been chumming for snook on the flats of west central Florida for years. Captain Ray Van Horn, aka The Gypsy Angler, used to chum for bass in Lake Tarpon using live shad. It’s a lot of work but it gets results. Not for me but whatever floats your boat !

My understanding is the same as yours, line capacity the only difference. In addition to bass I fish for snook and encounter the occasional tarpon so I went with the 3000. GREAT reel ! Liked it so much I bought a 1000 series for throwing really small lures which I do from time to time. Keep hoping one one of my other spinning reels will die so I can justify to myself buying another Stradic.

Not trying to sway you, but you might want to check out a Gheenoe. I know they look “tippy” but can assure you they are not. About ten years ago I picked up a used one as a “second” boat. Wound up with a 15’6” Classic (I know that’s bigger than what you stated but they also have smaller models), 25 hp electric start, stick steering, power tilt and trim, 55 lb foot control tm, depth finder, bilge pump, lights, the works. Runs 31/32 mph in inches of water, sips gas, and is so stable you can stand on the gunnel and pee over the side without tipping. You can make them as spartan or as fancy as you want. Check out “customgheenoe.com”. There are plenty of them in south Florida and you can probably get a test ride from somebody down that way. Once I got my Gheenoe up and running (bought it used and had to do some work on it) I realized I had not taken the full sized bass boat (18’, 150, decked out and ran 82 mph gps) out but twice in 18 months. Sold the big boat and have never looked back. Now fish small, shallow, out of the way places and I’m catching more and bigger fish than ever with no crowds to contend with. You owe it to yourself to at least check out their website. Spend an hour or so seeing the possibilities and decide for yourself. P.S. - I’m 67 also with a lengthy list of health issues and have no problems getting the boat launched/loaded by myself.

I wish it was only going to be 90 here ! Coupled with 95 % humidity it’s just wonderful. Fish early, late, deep, or at night and pray for cooler weather, which may not happen here until late November.

The problem is that Okeechobee is we’re all the pollution/herbicides/pesticides/mildly treated sewage flows to, from Orlando all the way down to the Big O. It’s an accumulative thing and keep in mind all this crap flows downhill. Ad runoff from the exploding development, Big Sugar, and the FWC spraying and therefore killing any natural filtration and you’ve got a terrible mess on your hands. Politicians do nothing but talk and nobody with any authority is willing to step up and do anything. I fear nothing but band aid fixes will happen and eventually the entire ecosystem will collapse. I hope I’m wrong and truly hope somebody corrects me but I don’t see any resolution in the foreseeable future. My recommendation - come enjoy it while you can as it probably won’t be anywhere near what we know it as for our kids and grandkids.

I haven’t fished the Kissimmee Chain in years but have heard nothing about an algae problem there. The red tide is only along the coast. Biggest problem are the spray boats that are trying, and to some extent succeeding, in killing every piece of vegetation, good or bad, in the entire state. FWC will probably not respond to your request for any info as they just don’t give a d**n. If they really cared they would do something but, since actions speak louder than words, it is obvious to anyone with even a passing interest that it really doesn’t matter to them. As far as your vacation - you should be OK.

I would say ML is about as low as you would normally go, however, we are talking bass here so never say never. I’m in central Florida and one year, 5 or 6 years ago, I was catching bass like crazy one winter on 12 inch worms. Suddenly they quit hitting them. Out of desperation I one day picked up my ultra light, tied on a 4 inch worm and within 20 minutes caught 3 bass between 5 and 6 pounds a piece. For the rest of that winter/spring I started out with a 12 inch worm as usual. If that didn’t work would go to the 4 inch worms. Worked like a charm. Ironically that “pattern” never worked before and has never worked since. Oh yes, I can catch small bass with a 4 inch worm but rarely a big one. My point is, use the heavier stuff but don’t be afraid to try that UL. Besides, it’s an awful lot of fun and isn’t that why you’re out there to begin with ?

Come on down to Florida in August and wear black. When you get out of the ER after being treated for heat stroke you can tell us all about it !

I think they are leary more so than smart. Let’s face it, the ones that aren’t leary get caught by either a fisherman or another predator. I know a guy that caught a redfish on a shoestring. Yes a shoestring that had a hook in it. If bass wouldn’t eat almost anything there wouldn’t be so many different lures. Those that reach a large size, the leary ones, they are a little more selective in what they eat, at least that’s the way I see it.

Read, saw a lot of videos, and talked with the late Doug Hanson aka the Bass Professor. He told me that he primarily stuck with the proven, tried and true lures. Admittedly, he marketed a bunch of “new” lures but the several times I spoke with him he told me repeatedly that there was no “secret weapon”, it was a matter of fishing the right places at the right time with a few select proven lures. I know now this is contrary to the “bait monkey” philosophy but several years ago I switched from a large boat down to a much smaller boat necessitating “culling” some tackle. Having bass fished for over 50 years I had quit the collection of lures. Once I “pared” down my tackle selection I was forced to fish more thoroughly with what I had left. I catch more more and larger fish now just concentrating on the basics. If a bass would hit a lure 50, 60, 75 years ago a bass will still hit it today. Search all you want for the “magic lure” but I really don’t think it exists.

Great start !

Good ! Sorry, can’t help you with Stick Marsh, never been there but take plenty of fluids - it’s gonna be brutal during August.

If I was gonna be in Stuart I would go snook fishing. Period !!!

For me it was 8 weeks after a mitral valve repair. When my pacemaker was put in, which really got me back to almost normal, it was 90 days. A long 90 days. Reason was lifting the arm could have caused the wires to shift. The doctor is also a fisherman and understood the recuperative powers of fishing but said it was not worth the risk. It was a long 90 days.

I’m in Florida and while the water may not be what you consider muddy a lot of places the water is stained with tannic acid. Can be anywhere from strong tea to weak coffee, sometimes downright black. The water doesn’t necessarily have particles floating around in it although it might, it’s just really dark. A gold Rapala with a black back seems to work best for me. I won’t bore you with my theories on why, just letting you know what works for me.

Personally I’m too fat, too old, and too lazy for kayaks but I do enjoy watching a you-tube channel of some old gal in Orlando. She fishes from a kayak and catches a few. She is no pro, just someone that enjoys fishing. You might watch her for some netting technique tips. Google Oldladyangler. Quite entertaining when there is no base ball on tv.

I use a St. Croix 6”8’ light Premier spinning rod, 1000 Shimano CI14 reel and 5 lb. Power Pro. Had to order both the rod and the line as neither is normally stocked locally. I’m casting some really small lures that imitate glass minnows for snook. Works real well but I don’t think the lures are as small as 1/32 oz. This set up is a lot of fun. Catching good sized fish with this light of an outfit will test your skills.

Sounds like you are using too light of rod/reel and line. Personally I don’t enjoy flipping but there was a local trail tournament on Kissimmee yesterday and you can rest assured that most of the fish weighed in were caught flipping. 5 fish limit, one day tournament. 10th place was 26.43. Took 32.12 to win. Most all flipping. These guys use some stout tackle. You may may want to re-visit your tackle selection if you want success in heavy cover.

A lake I fished years ago primarily for bass had a healthy catfish population. When we wanted to have a fish fry we would cast rattle traps out on 6 ft flats, let them sink to the bottom and rip them up. Could usually fill a 48 qt cooler within an hour. One day while casting beetle spins on ultra light with 4 lb line for bluegills I caught a 9, 11, and 14 lb. cat. My fishing buddy caught a 32 lbr on a # 7 shad rap. So yes, catfish are agressive predators.

I’m in West Central Florida also but too fat and too fat and too old for a kayak. Use a Gheenoe instead. Welcome !

Rapala Flat Rap. I think Rapala must be discontinuing them. Only place I can get them is Rapala online. They work well on bass but they are Snook Candy and snook are rough on plugs. I break down down and order a dozen or so at a time but their color selection is dwindling which makes me think they are on the verge of discontinuing them. can’t find anything that comes close for catching snook.

I was in the lower Santa Fe less than 2 or 3 miles from the Suwannee. It was really dark. Almost black with only inches of visability. Probably due to the recent rains and high water. The fellow that manages the house we stayed in said the Suwannee had risen over 4 feet in just a few days prior to our arrival. Would love to go back in the fall or late winter/early spring.

Caught the little rascal on a Zoom Fluke Stik Jr., black with blue glitter worked weedless. He fought pretty hard for his size but the current in the Santa Fe was nothing compared to the Suwannee. Don’t know what the water color usually is in the Santa Fe having never been there before but it was almost black and it was high.