bigbassin'

How do y’all approach fishing Cypress trees? Just about every lake I’ve been on in Florida has at least some Cypress, with many smaller undeveloped lakes being completely lined with Cypress. As far as how I’ve approached them in the past, I typically pitch a jig or worm, fish a square bill, or throw a top water. I put more emphasis on any tree that forms a point or has vegetation/lily pads around it. I can only remember catching a single fish over the years like this.

McIntosh is the only I’ve fished. Skunked once, caught a handful of 6” bass the second time after giving up and trying for bluegill. Both times I fished it was winter time, and at least the second time was a cold rain.

We definitely have a different definition of thick in Florida…not sure I’ve ever punched with less than a 1oz with 1.5oz being standard. Seen guys go as heavy as 2.5.

Topper. There is quite a bit of rust on the bottom. Leaf springs look rough. Bigger concern I didn’t realize until after transferring the title is that it’s only rated for 350 pounds. Boat, motor, trolling motor w/ battery, and fuel is right around 355.

The more I look at this trailer the more I’m thinking I just need to buy a new one…already ran the wiring but getting underneath it the bunks are in rough shape and pretty much anything you can’t see with the boat on it looks like it’s about to give out. If nothing else for peace of mind driving down the road I’ll probably need to scrap this trailer and get a new one. Hate for the boat to bounce off if I hit a pothole.

Ya I imagine there’s a good chance I may be underestimating the time it will take. GPS had it at 18.6 mph, good bit faster than I expected myself. Both good ideas.

Just picked up a 2018 14’ tracker w/ a 15 hp motor. Two questions I have: 1) Where have y’all mounted depth finders at and how? In my head the only way I see the transponder making sense is at the back of the boat, then I have to chose if I want to see the depth finder while I’m running or place it at the front to see while I’m fishing. 2) What do y’all have to charge your trolling motor battery? I live in apartment so whatever it is I’ll need to bring the battery upstairs to plug in inside. Other than that boat is pretty much ready to fish. 15 hp outboard, hit 20 with 2 guys and full fishing gear, started on the first pull. 40 pound thrust trolling motor. Running lights work. Trailer is missing all the wiring and the wiring inside the boat isn’t the prettiest. Probably spend 3-4 hours this week working on that so it will all be ready to go for Saturday.

2 bobber stops, weight heavy enough to break through (1-2 oz typical), punch skirt (optional), flipping hook or EWG based on preference, favorite creature bait. Someone, maybe @A-Jay, has a good picture they post when the topic comes up.

I’ve only fished it 4-5 times, seen some good ones towards the Ocklawaha every time. Could just be a seasonal deal as I’ve only fished it during April-May so it is getting into mating season at that time.

On dry boats I normally just wear cowboy boots (Ariats are far and away my favorite). Wet boats I prefer flip flops, but if it’s cold out a pair of rubber boots marketed as duck boots/hunting boots do well. Lacrosse is the most comfortable brand I’ve tried on.

Flukes and paddletails anywhere the weeds come close to a dropoff would be where I start.

I’ve waded some absolutely sketchy locations gator wise but I have to say I think wading Rodman has me beat by a long shot…not sure I’d do that one. Edit: with that being said I guess most the gators I’ve seen on Rodman have been on the upper side of the lake, not really around the dam area.

Yessir. 1.5’-2’ leader with a quarter ounce weight would be were I would start. I’d have some 1/2 and 3/4 ounce weights handy if fishing the surf. A Cajun thunder popping cork is also a very effective technique. Tie the shrimp (or a gulp) 12-18” below the cork, give it a small pop every 15-20 seconds. Enough to hear the cork rattle but not so hard you are ripping off the shrimp. The sound seems to draw in fish much better than a traditional bobber, not uncommon to have a fish hit the cork.

Copy. If that’s the case, @DitchPanda is spot on with live shrimp on the bottom.

Just my experience but I don’t believe we ever caught a keeper trout/red/flounder from the bank, only ever got trash fish (cats, stingrays, small sharks). If you’re not comfortable being in the water maybe look at a pair of stingray boots and a set of waders, you’re really hurting your odds without a boat if you won’t get in and cover water. I always hear how easy sheepshead are to catch but they sure haven’t been for me. I’ve caught one keeper on a fiddler crab and one on the fly. Probably landed 10-15 over the years under 12” on shrimp.

Jigs, worms, flukes, spooks, and swim baits just like the rest of the year. Only change up I’ll make is to put down a rattletrap (unless it rained hard and is overcast). It just gets too hot here for the fish to chase a fast, aggressive presentation.

Grew up fishing that area. Tons of trout and flounder, caught reds as well. Sharks and stingrays were very common catches as well. White gulp swimming mullet or a copper penny gulp shrimp were the standards for artificial. Water was always muddy, 6” or less visibility so I think the scent played a big role. On the flats, if you could find harder bottom with oysters in 3-5’ of water you’ve found the fish. Trout and reds could also be caught right off the beach. Calm day if the water was green (compared to the normal brown) we’d do the beach over the flats. Saw some monster trout caught this way You could still go with gulp or use live mullet with 1-2 split shots. Unlike other places where most folks are using surf rods to get out past the breakers, most folks just wade out to the first sandbar then work the deep area between the next sandbar. The stingray density there was insane, I’d make sure to shuffle your feet and not pick them up to step forward.

Thinking of picking up a used job boat, first time buying a boat. As far as what to look for, test drive, and the physical boat/trailer I’m pretty comfortable having spent a good bit of times on boats and trailering on a regular basis. My main question is how do y’all handle the money side/actual transfer of the boat? To me, the safest way to make sure all parties are protected would be to sign a simple contract stating I’m receiving boat x for amount y, owner then hands me filled out title, I hand them money (either a check or electronic payment so there is a paper trail) and leave with the boat. I would think between written correspondence, a simple contract signed, trail of money moving from one person to the other, and me holding the title I’d be covered. Anything else y’all would do or would the process I described pretty much cover it?

I haven’t fished Hiawasse but most of those North Georgia mountain lakes fish similar from what I’ve seen. I’d focus on spots, fairly easy to figure out, normally if you find one you’ll get a couple in the same location, and they fight better than an equal size largemouth. You may find largemouth back in coves but I never caught a lmb on the main lake in the mountains. Also, coming from central Florida, fishing for lmbs on a crystal clear, deep, spotted bass lake just isn’t as fun in my opinion. Easiest starting spot is to spend some time on navionics looking for points with either a hump at the end or a dropoff on either side. Hit those points from the bank out to about 35’ off water. The closer to the main channel or a creek arm that the point/hump is, the more attention I’d give that area. When going from point to point, watch your electronics for any humps or rock piles that don’t show on navionics. If you’re setup for it, I’d recommend trolling a crankbait while looking at the electronics. Also keep your eye out for random schools busting bait in open water. For lures, spooks and flukes are the way to go if the spots are fired up but not breaking the surface. For schoolers actively busting bait a rattletrap would be my first choice. If you don’t have any luck on moving baits, a tube, small jigs, and a tequila sunrise trick worm on a jig head are all solid choices.

First day not working since Easter, figured hitting the water would be a great way to spend it. Head to my apartments complex’s storage units and my Native is gone. Sounds like a month back, a guy unplugged the outdoor lighting, hooked up a generator and grinded the chains off of several kayaks. Cops could only prove he took 1 kayak but over 15 are missing. Not thrilled right now.

Bomber Shallow A or H2O wake bait are my go to. I’ve also had luck with a KVD 1.5 with the rod over my head pointed straight up. Probably looks a little funny, but it does work.

1) Around submerged grass beds, I T-rig with a 1/8 or 3/16 ounce weight and swim as slow as you can. 2)Topped out mats and lily pads I’ll fish a weightless t-rig and fish like a buzz toad. You can let the worm fall in holes or slow your retrieve in larger pockets to let the worm swim subsurface. Top lily pad producer for me by a long shot. 3) Clear water I’ll throw it on a jig head. Let the worm sink to the bottom, then pop it 2-3 feet off the bottom. Tail gives it a fairly slow fall back down. Typically doing this in deep grass beds. 4) Carolina Rig around dropoffs and in current around hard cover. 5) T-Rig on bed fish. Junebug, black and blue, watermelon red, and California 420 are the only colors I’ll throw during the daytime. Nighttime junebug is a solid choice.

It might be a full 2 years since the last time I threw a worm that wasn’t a zoom speed worm. Around grass and in shallow water I really don’t even consider another worm.

I went turkeyless myself this year. Came close to calling in a Tom blind calling, but never knew he was there until I stood up to leave. Jumped him at about 80 yards.

On float camping trips, we’ve always just used a stringer. Definitely inconvenient if you are trying to paddle on a lake, but for drifting it works fine. You can always strap a cooler to the back when you’re trying to paddle around. Seems without fail I’ll catch 50 bream to small to make cleaning worth it whenever I take a cooler.