N Florida Mike

That’s exactly how I feel @Catt Thanks!

Nice one!

Yeah, That’s what I’ll probably end up doing. I dont know if it’s more the make or the spec but somethings got to change. The lightning rod has no flex whatsoever. I also have a medium with a mod. tip , and it is the other extreme. TOO much flex. By the way, the ugly stik was a 6’’6, and the lightning rod is 7’0.

I fish these baits primarily. What rod specs to you use for these? ( Mh -fast tip, medium fast, etc…) I have used medium with fast or mod. fast tip with best results, but that rod is now broken. That was a Ugly stik , and I caught a Ton of fish , big and small on it. I probably had a 90%hook up and catch rate with it. Lately, I’ve been using a MH lightning rod. It hooks the smaller fish ok , but it never seems to hook the bigger fish. I have a 0% hookup - catch rate with it on fish over 4 pounds. No more than 60% on smaller fish. I Lost a 5+ yesterday following a good hookset , and it isnt the only one lately. I fish flukes and senkos weightless. worms - I usually use a small weight. Im not so interested in brands as I am specs. Whatever I buy has to be on the lower spectrum of cost.

Fished hard today to get 10. Most were on zoom super flukes.

I would never look down on someone using a WR. I had a friend come over once and he did very well using nothing but the wr with a senko. I primarily used a fluke, and as I recall I caught 10 to his 9. in a few hours. That being said , I have never done well with one, but my interest in it has risen again now. Im going here in a little while snd will try it again today…

You complain about your mustache… Meanwhile… Ive got wavy hair ( One hair waving goodbye to the other one ) There is hope though… If I can make it 4 more years I won’t have to buy a fishing license!

It’s a miracle I lived through my teens and early 20s. Got drunk every weekend for 5 years, starting when I was 17 . Wouldnt drink when I worked though, which was good because farm machinery and alcohol dont mix. I would do reckless outdoor things, which caused me to nearly drown 3 times. I remember falling out of trees, getting hit in the head during rock fights, having bb gun wars, playing very rough tackle football with no pads, you name it… We even had a game as teens where we would wrestle underwater. I got pinned in the mud face down once and nearly drowned before my friend let me up.I Would drive drunk and have no idea how I got home, wake up next day bruised and battered from the fights and falls of the night before. I nearly passed out one night while swimming underwater drunk. I drag raced, and would go carousing around on dirt roads and somehow never hit anything. Never got arrested doing all that but I should have sometimes. I had the best parents on earth , and their love , discipline , and spiritual guidance eventually helped me to a spiritual rebirth at age 22 .Haven’t been drunk or in a fight since, but have had my share of trouble. I figure life is hard enough without you doing stupid things to make it harder…

I’d fish Rodman 2 days and skip the Ocklawaha. It’s a beautiful river but I always found bass fishing hard in there. ( Unless you use shiners ?) Just my 2 cents.

I filled one out at bass pro once for a boat and they begin calling trying to sell me a vacation package !

Id probably come to @TnRiver46 “s neck of the woods and see what E Tennessee has to offer ( esp. catching smallmouth) Alternative would be my favorite lakes in the N Florida area: George’s Lake, Santa Fe lake, Rodman , and Sampson/ Rowell Lakes. Kingsley if I had access. These lakes are fairly close to each other so could do 2 a day if I wanted… Another alternate is camping in Ocala forest and fishing some of the ponds/lakes in there. Of course, trot lines would be run every night for catfish! Spring for the time in Florida. Fall in Tn.

That was my dad. His idea of catch and release was catching fish and releasing them into the ice box, lol. That’s why it took me years before I ever threw anything back. But I put them all to good use…

There just isnt as many spots here as NC. I dont get many here like I used to… I dont think Ive had smoked bluefish but I have had smoked mullet, which is good. My son caught a big bonnet head shark once, and soaked the filets in milk for 3 days , then smoked them. It was OUTSTANDING. By far the best shark I’ve had.

Yeah, their fins are formidable., but it’s worth it. I have a dedicated filet knife just for them. I have a different way of filetng them too.

Got out for a little while last night. Dead calm and cloudy conditions.Had 3 nice blow ups on the bitter’s buzz’n Gator in watermelon red, including one on the first cast. This bait is essentially a swimming frog.Because I didn’t have much time, I started near my house and went up the west shoreline. I dont fish that area much, because it is very weedy and shallow . I caught 1 decent fish and a dink on the ‘ gator , and a one pounder on the rage tail cut-r. Nothing to write home about, but I really enjoyed being on the water , and fishing out of my bass hunter. The chair in it is so comfortable compared to my Jboat , that just has a bench seat…

@TnRiver46 If you think those are good , try sheephead someday. It is the “filet mignon” of inshore fish…Where you are maybe at least you could get some at a fish market…To me only red snapper is in the same class as sheephead!

It may not be the skin with bass , but all I know is filets taste good and bone-in bass, not so much. I love reds any way Ive eaten them. ( Mostly fried )

Fried bass filets are good. Smaller fish are best. I dont care for bass on the bone. My theory is that the skin decreases the taste .

Got a pack of Rage tail cut-rs and a pack of baby brush hogs the other day. Already caught fish on both…

I dont clock in. I do sales, so I go when have appointments, which is off and on all day.

Our biggest problem here is fire ants!!! Top Choice is a great product for them. We only treat once a year , and it completely wipes em out. We also have a growing problem here with tawny crazy ants. They have multiple queens, colonies that work together. Continued baiting at least cuts down the population…

I am sorry for your loss @Catt.

Maybe because they dont seem to be on the shelf much. Im going to look for some next time. I forgot one: A black and white polka dotted creme worm we used in the 70s.

Got this one before work today with a Bitters buzz n gator in watermelon red.

I’d have to say bubblegum ( pink) . Caught a 7 3/4 pounder on a fluke with this color. Orange senkos worked well too. I have also done well with blue worms, when Ive used them, which isnt much…