davecon

Thanks. Was first time I’ve caught one. Not sure I ever will again as it’s a pretty good haul from my place just south of Tampa all the way up there. Never know though. Starting next week it’s back to the snook.

Spent 3 days at a rental house on the Suwannee River near Branford with extended family members. Had never been there before. The river is very high and flowing pretty strong. Fishing was pretty lousy but did manage to venture in to the Sana Fe river that flows into the Suwannee. Caught the prettiest bass I have ever seen, a little Suwannee bass. Was only 13 inches but the coloration was absolutely beautiful. I’m used to “black” bass in central Florida. This little guy was bronze with some blue on his face, jaws, and gill covers. Lower jaw was shorter than a regular large mouth. Absolutely gorgeous. While trying to take a picture he flopped real hard, slipped out of my grip and dropped into the water. Sorry for no picture. Pretty neat all in all.

I used to use things like aspirin bottles or prescription bottles tied to heavy mono weighted down with heavy sinkers to mark off shore spots. Less obvious. If you used a jug it drew a crowd.

I think in part it depends on where you fish. I’m in Florida and while the electronics help they are not a necessity. For the most part 8 feet is deep for me. We fish primarily vegetation that you can see/feel. Are there some areas where a depth finder would be valuable ? You bet but for most Florida fisherman if the depth finder craps out on you it won’t keep you from going fishing and catching a bunch of fish. I know, I know, there are exceptions but as a general rule you’ll be fine without the electronics. Now if you’re fishing a deep mountain reservoir that’s a different ball game. p.s. - my first “depth finder” was a window sash weight with knots tied every foot on a small rope/cord.

I haven’t fished Kissimmee in many years. Used to fish it often and you should have no problems. Just watch the storms. Fortunately on Kissimmee you can see them coming pretty far off. If it looks bad, fish closer to the ramp and see if it passes.

One thing to add here - cold fronts ! Once you figure out a Florida lake and think all is well, don’t be shocked if after a cold front you go back and zero ! Just part of the price of admission in Florida.

Same as WRB. Old school here, been fishing baitcasters almost as long as he has - 50 plus years. Why do you think God gave you thumbs ? On spinning gear I use my palm to increase drag. On rare occasions I will adjust the drag setting, but not often. Keep in mind I fish for snook a LOT and they are like bass on steroids so the drag can become very important. All in all today’s reel calibration and drags make using a baitcasters pretty easy to learn, unlike decades ago when it was like a child learning to ride a bicycle without the benefit of starting out with training wheels.

I use nothing but braid. Fish primarily for snook, catching some small tarpon (40 to 60 lbs) on occasion After years of using it I am down to 10 lb braid for my 3000 series reels. Seems to cast somewhat better than the 20/30 I used to use. Recently purchased a light action rod with a 1000 series reel and loaded it with 5 lb. braid for casting small Rapalas. Works great and so far no break offs and that is in the mangroves. One tip - ALWAYS CLOSE THE BAIL BY HAND ! Trust me on this one.

30 plus years ago a local speed freak dealer put two 150 Mercs on an 18 foot Hydrasport. It got on plane REAL quick but top end was about the same as with one motor. Due to additional weight and increased drag of the extra lower unit in the water it really didn’t go much, if any, faster. To each his own but I would advise against it.

Forget the bass - snook fishing on the beach !

Thanks for the response guys, really appreciate it. So so far have looked at Ocean Kayak, Pelican, Jackson, Lifetime, and a couple others that I have written down but escape me right now. Just trying to make it special for the boy. I still have the 12 foot johnboat my grandfather gave me for graduation 49 years ago. It leaks like a sieve and is out behind the garage but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Thanks again, Dave

The recent kayak thread makes me hope I can get some advice from you folks. Here’s the situation - plan on getting my grandson a kayak for his high school graduation. I know nothing about kayaks and neither does he. Plus it’s going to be a surprise for him. He enjoys fishing but is nuts about spear fishing in the saltwater where we live in the Tampa Bay Area. He always goes with his slightly younger brother or a friend. Therefore I want to get him a tandem model. Right now they just swim/snorkel out from shore. The yak will expand their horizons dramatically. Visited 5 yak shops this past weekend. Naturally they push the brand they sell and I don’t know enough about them to tell one from the other. Want to get him a good one but don’t plan on going overboard either. All the models we have looked at are SOT. Would really appreciate comments, good or bad, regarding manufacturers and or models as I’m at a loss here. Thanks in advance, Dave

Don’t know about the rest of the country but I am familiar with central Florida. First come to grips with the fact you are not going to catch as many fish. Second - go at night. Third - use a big lure. Personal preference is a black 12 inch worm and a black Musky Jitterbug. Also, you’ll need a large dose of patience. This can all be aided by using 12 inch wild shiners, but that’s another conversation altogether.

Have been using 5/0 J hooks with the little bend in them by Owner with 12 inch BPS worms for years with great success. Recently tried a 6/0 weighted wide gap with screw in. Seems to work just as well. Jury still out as the snook have started biting. Will try again next winter.

Boy I wish they held up to Snook better ! Where I fish the bait fish match almost exactly in size and shape to a particular model/color Rapala. I have tried literally dozens of other lures but nothing comes anywhere near close to the success I have with this particular Rapala. I replace to hooks and split rings all the time but it doesn’t take long and the lure is just destroyed. Usually the metal hook stringer gets ripped thru the balsa. If not that the lip gets crushed or the line simply breaks on dock piling or mangroves. Gets kinda expensive with some days going thru as many as six lures. As far as bass are concerned, they hold up well. Some I’ve had and used for over twenty years.

In north Florida several people have been killed and many seriously injured by sturgeon jumping into the boat. While the fish are not as large as those in the northwest there are certain times of the year , perhaps their spawn, where they jump frequently, enough to have the game commission put out warning to boaters on those rivers.

Never fished it but decades ago it was a saltwater bayou.

As far as I know there are no peacocks in Ft Myers. Need to go south. Suggestion - Snook.

A reservoir I fished many years ago was great for bass but when we wanted a fish fry it was almost as sure as going to the fish market. Get out on a large flat between 4 and 6 feet deep, throw a rattle trap as far as you could. Let it hit the bottom, Rip it up, let it hit bottom again, rip it up, etc. within an hour you could fill a 48 quart cooler with catfish that averaged between 4 and 6 pounds. Was this way for years. Had many a great fish fry based on this.

Hillsborough river near Tampa is infested with them. They are all over the place. You can look down at a concrete boat ramp and usually see dozens of them. Certain sections of the river are worse than others.

Complain all you want. My wife is having some health issues so I don't get out much. Normally go twice a week but have been out ONCE since before Thanksgiving when one of my daughters stayed with my wife for a day to give me a break. On the bright side, she is improving and my boat, tackle, rods and reels, etc. have never been so clean and organized ! Hopefully back in action within a month or so. Hope so as my eye has started to twitch and I think I'm having hallucinations. Not real sure.

A friend of mine raises citrus commercially. Asked him if It would be OK to replant a few trees in the backyard. He told me it would be a waste of time and money right now. Asked him what he does to combat it, he said they spray the he@# out of it but they do it on a large scale and told me it would not be worth it for a homeowner. After decades of having oranges and lemons in the backyard it sure hurts to have to buy them in the store but what ya gonna do ?

There are no verified catches of smallmouth in Florida. The oranges have been decimated by a disease called "greening" and the growers association is spending literally millions of dollars trying to combat it to no avail. Personally lost two orange trees and a lemon tree in my back yard. All the citrus trees in backyards in my neighborhood have been killed by the greening. Would love to replant but won't until some kind of cure for the disease is found. Don't know about snakeheads as they have not yet been reported in the areas I fish (not complaining).

St. Croix. Got 1st one about 10 years ago. Every rod purchased since then has been a St. Croix. There may be comparable/better rods out there but it is an expensive learning curve. With the St. Croix rods I feel I am getting the biggest bang for my buck. Rods last me decades so I don't want to make a mistake and never have with their rods.

Go to "old lady angler" on YouTube. She has a recent video where she was kayaking that lake , at least I think that's the one you are referencing.