SPEEDBEAD.

Is this the new way to get around asking about this thing? LOL

Last I heard.

Exactly! Hit me up sometime if you guys make it up this way. I can show you some other areas if you like. I can take another guy on my boat if it's just one of you.

Spook, Pm sent. I'll post them for you.

Ah, that would be why I didnt know it was closed. I'm fishing other areas and lakes during that time. Really only fish in there during winter (warmwater discharge) and summer (great wading with low water). That's the imaginary "threatened" area they talk about.

Black sharpie some strands if necessary. Tedious, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Perfectly content that my local lakes are not anywhere on that list.

Not that I am aware of. They have times and areas that are closed to tournaments, but that's about it. Catch and release is good year round AFAIK.

Si senor!

First saw a Double Fluke rig a quite a few years ago on Guntersville. They are right, it's entertaining as hell to fish and watch.

I know Florida lakes don't typically get very deep, but I'll ask anyway. What is the bottom structure of your lake like? Max depths?

I'm really glad it's not like Canada or some of the states where the season is actually CLOSED to fishing for bass. That would be no bueno. Someone may get hurt.

Click on the link and give them a call. This time of year they should have someone working in the fishing department. I know my store opens at 9am. Store selection will vary widely from the website.

From your avatar, you look like a tournament guy. In PA (and most places), you gotta work for big fish. I used to fish tournaments but got tired of it, not really my thing (although I'll still fish if a buddy asks me). Anywho for reference, since I started focusing my efforts on 1 fish instead of 5, I have caught 8 over 6lb and two over 7lb in the last couple years. They are here, but you have to fish for them. I've also seen one, a couple years back, that I know was pushing DD territory. Biggest bass I have ever seen swimming, in person. To the OP, perhaps if you have been releasing 2lbers for that long you might have some bass that are stunted around that particular weight. If you want heavyweight bass, you gotta thin the herd some IMO. Eat some, find someone to give them too or start supplemental feeding on the pond. There is only a limited amount of food in your water. Take some bass out, remove some food competition and you will likely see some larger fish. 8 acres is a pretty good sized pond for you to experiment with. Good luck!

Half hour to the Fredricksburg Gander Mountain. http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/storelocator.cgi?r=storeDetails&storeID=340

If you don't have any opposition to live bait, catch a small bluegill from the pond. Run a hook through the tail and pitch it out past where you last saw her heading. Hold onto rod. Take picture. Release.

I meant the rivers where they say spawning doesnt happen or is suffering. I beg to differ....

I'll show you places where they spawn

LOL, I was thinking of posting that as I just read it the other day. Good stuff. May I also add that "making repeated casts" IMO is not the same as casting beyond the bed from multiple angles and dragging it throug the area. The laws are so ambiguous here that they would not likely hold up too well if challenged.

I'm there with you, just stating my argument if I were to ever get called on it. I've let a bait sit in a bed for quite some time on a single cast. Honestly, the guys around here are pretty cool especially if they know you are releasing the fish. Oddly enough, my biggest bass have been caught in July and August. The one in my avatar is a fish from the end of July. I would LOVE to see her sitting on a bed at the beginning of May. No telling how big she might be.

Not for me, but I like the smell of pipe tobacco. I think LowBudgetHooker has some pipe experience.

Bed fishing is not illegal. Bed fishing while making repeated casts is illegal. Doesnt mean I can't pitch to it and let it soak.

Website or in store? That's odd for them to carry stuff like that.

Hard to tell honestly. Could be before or after. That female isnt locked on the bed, so you could be on either side of the process.

She won't be there as long as the male will. Might be already gone from the bed, but she won't be far away. Check out the first dropoff away from the bed.