N Florida Mike

It seems like this is around the 10th time Ive answered this question, but I'll bite again. I dont keep bass over 17'. I will occasionally keep some in the 12-16 inch slot to thin the herd in the home lake. I like filleted bass, as does my family. We get a lot of saltwater fish too, between my son and me, and I'd rather eat sheepheads, flounder, redfish, etc. , more than bass. But if we need some quick filets for the table it usually doesnt take long in my lake.

Lost 1 rod ever , when fishing out of my bass hunter. It was a nice quantam casting outfit. Got back to the dock before I realized it was gone. At least I know what lake it's in .

I have mixed feelings about it. In Florida, it was a very free state years ago, in that you could pretty much fish ( or even hunt ) many places as long as it wasnt posted. That all changed in the 80s with all the new comers and greedy people doing lawsuits over almost anything. I have dealt with it for years with pond fishing. I have learned how to read ponds and rarely get approached and asked to leave. Part of me is determined to fish old spots I used to fish when it was open, but I have had to let go some of these or have conflict. If asked to leave I do, for there are many other ponds. I have never been approached once by law enforcement while doing this. As far as you tubers, a lot of them thrive on click-bait and supposed or contrived conflicts. I dont subscribe or watch them after I percieve thats what they are doing.

Nice fish and cool story.

Pretty much. You know they're there, because you've caught em there, but they wont bite. But ... that being said you can usually catch a few even then.?

I feel like I AM blessed to live in Florida. Gators are common. I grew up fishing around them , Ive never had one get aggressive toward me. If they see you coming, they jump in the water and swim off. I give the bigger ones some space though.?

For me its mid-summer and mid- winter. They bite fine for me when their beddin' . The cold fronts in between do slow em down though when spawning, which can be late dec. if unseasonably warm to Late march if it was a colder winter. In other words, the spawn doesnt affect the fishing for me at all, it usually makes it better for me. Its the cold ( what counts for cold here ) and the extreme heat that slow em down.

I dont troll much for any fish but I have for spotted seatrout in the intercoastal and its fun , esp. when you catch em. I love freshwater too, mainly for bream and catfish. But bass are my favorite.

Yeah, but I dont get it from freshwater fisherman. Around here, you get that kind of attitude from the saltwater anglers. My son is even like that. They dont understand why you would rather bass fish with all the saltwater fishing opportunities here. I love saltwater fishing too, but If I had to choose one it would be bass fishing.

Ha ha - you will !!

Fish soft plastics as weightless as possible. One of the biggest mistakes I see newcomers make is too much weight. You want soft plastics to sink as naturally as possible .Flukes, Senkos, ribbon tailed worms should produce. Google map small ponds around you that are fishable , and key on drains / outlets if any, also shade. .They are easier to find fish in than larger water bodies. Fish through any grass as fish will hold there often. If you see people feeding bread to ducks go right after they leave and fish it. The bread also attracts baitfish, which attracts bass. Good luck. Ps. A good motto in Florida is, if you are not catching fish, slow down your presentation. I catch at least 75% of my fish just dead sticking these baits. I agree. June bugs always in my boat, and watermelon red with chartruese tail.

This was yesterday in my neck of the woods.

What's up Doc ? Welcome to the forums !

Made some new aquaintances today while bank fishing. Go Gators !!

I have a frog rod, 2 spinnerbait rods, A rod for big senkos , flukes , and big worms.. A rod I use for trick worms , small senkos, and small worms. Another one for creature baits. And one I use for topwater.Got a few more spares.?

Found these fish flopping around in the lake. Was able to separate them and they swam off.

9 pounds 6 oz

I have never played hockey , or been to a game, but Id rather watch it on tv than soccer or golf . ☺ Got hit in the face a time or two with a baseball, so I can relate. Glad you didnt lose the chiklets.

Check out the " Pond Boss " forum. They have a lot of good info. I keep some in the 11-16 inch range in my small lake. 2 years ago I kept 150 that size, last year around 50. It's too soon to be sure, and I dont keep records, but I would swear that my avg. size fish is already bigger.

In Florida ?? Man, anywhere I bank fish from may to october frogs are everywhere, They jump into the water ahead of me. It is early to see them right now in N Fl. tho. I caught a 4.15 on a frog a couple weeks ago.I personally dont fish them much in the winter. The biggest bass Ive caught on a frog is 7.3 , caught at daybreak in july.

Ive had a few in my lifetime... The one I am thinking of today went like this. I had lost access to my home lake ( the one I live on now ) A friend had been doing some work for someone that lived on it, and got me access. It was spring, and I was super excited, having fished there for years before. But I made a crucial mistake in preparation, that I will explain later. So we get out, caught a few, and I made a perfect long cast at an angle under a dock. The worm got tapped. I set the hook , and the fish was huge. Did get her turned and out in the open. Fought her perfectly, got her up near the boat, and.... y'all know how they make that last effort at the boat to get away ? She made a rather feeble little run and head shake and... the line broke. ? I yelled NOOOOOOO !!!!! There were 2 guys out on that property watching, which made it worse. The fish was was easily 10+. I immediately remembered the lazy decision I had made before the trip to NOT respool my reel with new line !! I dropped my rod and went home.

I had one break me off the other day too. Have no clue how it happenned. I have gone home from losing a fish 3 times ever. I might have done it the other day if I had seen it and it was real big.

^^ Not my thing but 5 for the talent behind it. .

The deep hole in my home lake always holds quality fish in the middle of the day in the summer, and usually holds a few fish any time. A big worm usually does the trick if I make myself go endure the heat. I found it by swimming and a home made depth finder ,which was a long cane pole that me and a friend put electric tape around it every foot so we could dip it in, hit bottom and get a measurement ! The slightly shallower hole up nearer my house I found when wade fishing and just stepped off into it. It produced the lake record of 13 1/2 pounds, and I caught my biggest fish of last year ( 8.1 ) out of it.

Got out for a little while before dark so I stayed close to home ( The North end of my lake ) Caught 8 fish , all on Zoom super flukes , in watermelon slice. Had several violent blowups as it hit the water, or as I pulled the fluke through grass or brush. The biggest was 3.6. ( First pic.)