flyboy

Last week I saw Gerald Swindle pitch while giving a presentation. I had a seat on the center aisle and he pitched repetitively down that aisle which was about three feet wide. The length of his pitches was about 25-30' and effortless. He kept the lure about one inch off the floor during the pitch, softly set it on the floor at the end of the cast and only reeled in enough line so that the amount of line before each cast was about three feet longer than the rod. He was just doing it to fool around when he was not the speaker but it was a work of art. I've been practicing it since then and it is not nearly as easy as he made it look.

I'm going to drive over to Kissimmee in the morn and give the north end of Toho a try. Anybody fished there in the last few days? Any suggestions? I'll post a detailed report tomorrow night. Anybody have any areas they want checked for a weekend tournament?

I went to a class in Nashville last weekend on skipping. The techniques the pros talked about encompassed most of the points mentioned in the other posts. In a round table discussion when questioned about skipping docks, all of the pros said they prefer a spinning outfit with braided line. Kinda surprised me.

This is not about Camp Mack, but on a parallel note I found a great place in the town of Okeechobee, the Travelodge. I was looking for a place there to park the boat close to the room or cabin and stumpled on this place. It is an all kitchenette motel with about 12-15 boat parking places that are long enough to leave your pickup hooked up to the boat and electrical for each space. The managers live on site and it is well lighted. The owner of the local tackle shop told me they have never had a problem, so I stayed there. They have free coffee and pastries each morning and the staff is great, though the rooms are not the cleanest. Better than most fish camps and a very boat friendly motel. Bob

This topic focuses on an area where I am trying to improve. The mechanics of flipping are quite simple and as another poster said the key is practice. The difficult area is which mats and cover to flip. I see guys haphazardly pounding a bank or grass area at a good clip on the trolling motor with no apparent bites. On the flip side you will see guys on TV, like Horton, who have isolated cover that warrants the time to flip it properly. I think on a lake with the topography like northern impoundments isolating productive cover is a little more strait forward, but on our Florida dishpan lakes with hundreds of yards of mats that to the untrained eye appear exactly the same, where are the fish and most importantly why? Any of you guys have any theories?

http://www.floridafederationnation.com/upcoming-events.ph Lee Here's the link. It sounds like a worthwhile event. It is at the new facility in Tavares, which is under maintenance right now but it should be ready by April. I am really excited about doing this. Bob

This post hit home for me. I have been dealing with these feelings for some time and recently I heard about a tournament for paralyzed veterans that will be held on the Harris Chain in early April. There is a plea for volunteers with boats to donate there time for the tournament. I have decided to participate. The volunteers will not fish at all unless your angler qualifies for a special tournament on the second day. The event hasn't happened yet but is already adding a new dimension to being on the water.

I'm going to fish Toho tomorrow (Monday) and was wondering if anybody fished it this weekend. What kind of structure do the fish seem to be relating to after the freeze? Thanks in advance for any input

I'm going out today near Orlando and will post what works. I am expecting a big day. A cold front is coming tonight with a big low out in the gulf and the minor and major both in the morning. I feel like a kid going fishing the first time.

I live in SW Broward near Pines and I 75. The lake behind my house is loaded with Peacocks and I have not seen any distressed fish; the Iguanas in the area look like logs though. I may go out tomorrow and see if I can hookup. Usually a cast or two with one of those Rattletraps with the through hook and blade does the trick.

There's a guy that fishes the Pompano Rodeo each year in a Kayak. I am not sure if he has ever been in the money but I talked with him once and he said he has caught several sails. The Silver Lakes area of SW Broward looks like a wonderful place to fish with a Kayak. Drive down I75 to Sheridan and go west to 172nd Ave. Most of the N-S streets in that area have parks where you can launch.I know there are tons of bass and peacocks in those I catch them from the bank behind my house and my lake is connected by canals to the Silver Lakes area. I haven't fished those lakes but they look great. I'm old and fat or I would be Kayak fishing myself.

While in the Orlando area, take time to visit Bitter's Bait and Tackle in Longwood. It is like the Valhalla of bass tackle shops and when they get to know you (takes a couple of minutes) it is like you are family.

Thanks Road Warrior I sent a PM to George; I hope he is interested. From what I hear he is the right man.

Anybody out there know of a guide in the Central Florida area that has a reputation as a flipper? I want to refine my techniques and thought the best way would be to hire someone to teach me. Thanks

Lee I'm liking the idea of the fluke on the spoon and will be trying it soon. A lot of guys say that when you get short strikes to change colors and that a trailer or stinger may not be the answer; I don't know how accurate that is but I have seen that theory many times. Unfortunately they never say which way to go with the colors. I guess this will open up a whole new discussion.

Hey FishingDaddy I like your idea of the fluke on a spoon. I've never been fond of trailers on spoons, only skirts. How are you rigging the fluke? I can think of many ways to rig it, maybe removing the weed guard and rig the fluke like normal. I may try to figure out a way to get an EWG hook on the spoon. Thanks for the idea!

So, it is going to be cool for at least a week, maybe longer; what are you guys planning to try on our Florida dish pan lakes that average 4-6 ft? I'm planning to slow way down of course, flip, try top water and my ole standby a Johnson spoon. I was just wondering what techniques others have in mind. I'm fortunate to have some deep ledges and creeks in my home lake, but I want to get some ideas for the flats and grassy areas. Thanks in advance

I started fishing flukes a few months ago. So far I have been amazed how well they work, though I have yet to catch a big fish on one. I fish tanic water in Florida lakes and have found green pumpkin with red flakes one of the better colors. I love the way you can fish them in extremely heavy cover and get strikes too; flukes are almost like top water lures in heavy cover. So far it seems that all you have to do is figure out if the fish want it slow or kinda fast like a jerk bait, in fact I think in the beginning I fished them way too fast and seemed to get plenty of strikes. I have a friend who is a much better fisherman than I, and he has not had success with flukes. He says he can't buy a fish on one which baffles me because this guy is really good.

I will be spending a week this month at Richardson's Fish Camp on the north end of Toho. This will be my first time fishing Toho. Anybody have any suggestions on areas and probable patterns? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

George is correct about the reservoir's location. It was formed by a dam on Taylor Creek that flows into the area from near Orlando and on into the St. Johns through a spillway. It is really an unusual piece of water for Florida in that it has a lot of standing timber, lots of 20' plus water, and plenty of expansive flats and vegetation. It is eaten up with small fish right now. I have only caught a couple of big fish and was hoping to find someone who might have fished it and knew some consistent patterns. I have found that most anything you want to throw works with the better fish coming on medium running crank baits. Membership is expensive, two grand a year, with a long waiting list and a very limited number of members. The lake is crowded when you see one or two other boats there on the same day. It is kind of a dream lake for Florida, but may be past it's prime. I am familiar with the Taylor Creek community just south of the town of Okeechobee, but I don't think there is any connection with the Taylor creek that forms this reservoir

Hello Everyone I recently purchased a fishing lease on Taylor Creek Reservoir and I am having wonderful experiences there. Any of you fishing the reservoir or fished it in the past. Any advice on patterns, colors or areas to concentrate on? Thanks in advance

Hi csizzle February on Okeechobee can not be beat. You can find great guides at Roland Martins' in Clewiston; Slim's Fish Camp in Belle Glade and many places in the town of Okeechobee on the north end of the lake. If there is a north wind during your visit, go to Okeechobee. There is a guide their by the name of Mike Shellen. He is a great guide, but he is difficult to get along with. I fished with him by myself once and again with my wife. I could not wait for the second trip to be over. You should be able to find many terrific guides with a few phone calls. Most of the fishing will be Shiner (live bait) fishing, but you will have a great chance at a trophy bass. Water levels on Okeechobee have been low until the past few months, but we got some great rain in the summer and levels should be ideal in February. Bonefish and redfish will be iffy in February. If you want some great sailfish, wahoo, kingfish and bottom fishing action in the same day, try Captains Denis Forgione or Bouncer Smith in Fort Lauderdale. Both will give you your money's worth on a small boat with the best light tackle fishing imaginable. When you get here, if it has been warm for a couple of weeks, the Peacock Bass fishing in the canals of Dade County will be good. There are numerous good guides in the Miami/Dade county area that will give you plenty of action. You will also catch plenty of nice large-mouth bass as a by product. Enjoy your trip

Thanks to everyone for your input. I will check out all of your references and have more questions; I'm sure. Thanks again Bob P.S. Anyone on any BIG fish in Central Florida?

Hello Everybody My wife and I want to go to different places in our home state of Florida. We live on the Harris Chain, but want to try other lakes. Is there anybody out there that would recommend any fish camps with good cabins for the wife, good fishing and a decent boat ramp? Thanks