Captain Phil

The only 100 bass days I have seen in 60 years of bass fishing were in the Florida Everglades during low water.

In the summer I fish a small lake that only allows electric powered boats. They are quiet and trouble free. Electric power may replace gasoline engines some time in the future. Like all major technological change, there are issues that need to be worked out. At this time, range is a big problem. Do you want to be 50 miles down a lake looking for a charger? I am not against progress. Who doesn't want clean energy? The question is how much are you willing to pay? If they can build an electric outboard that can compete head to head with my mercury 4 stroke, bring it on. I doubt we will see it any time soon.

Due to back problems, I have been flipping and pitching sitting down for years.

I have done my share of shark fishing in the Gulf. Most of the sharks you will catch in the Gulf are nurse sharks, blacktips and bull sharks. Nurse sharks are the easiest to catch. They grow to good size and will hit most large cut baits. They are docile as sharks go, but are fun nevertheless. Black tips are fun in all sizes. The smaller ones will often school. I have caught black tip sharks up to 100 pounds and they are hard fighters. Bull sharks grow to ten feet and are very strong. They prefer live bait. You will need heaver tackle to fish for them. In tarpon season, you will occasionally see a large hammerhead following the tarpon. Crystal River is an hour north of Tampa. That's where you will will find the best fishing charters.

I love toad fishing. My favorite bait is the Gambler Cane Toad. Fished like a buzz bait, it produces big fish for me. Unfortunately, these baits have a dark side. I fish them in heavy cover and pads. Bass often miss the bait which makes my fish in the boat ratio only about 50%. I have tried all kinds of toad hooks and nothing works all the time. Toads work year round in Florida as long as the water is clear enough.

Carpenter Bees are a PIA. One took a liking to our back deck. Every time we would plug the hole it would drill a new one beside it. ?

One of the most important things to consider in retirement is health insurance. Every retired person on this forum knows this. The type of insurance you have is just as important. Our insurance allows us to go to any doctor in the US without pre-approval. If we feel we need to see a specialist, we don't hesitate. What you don't want is some middleman doctor telling you what you need based on his/her profit incentive. Many HMOs and Advantage plans make money by denying treatment. You may be treated for a lung infection when you actually have cancer. By the time they authorize an XRay, it's too late. If this sounds like a pitch for expensive insurance, it's not. I have seen this in my own family and it is a significant problem. Health Insurance is one of those things where you get what you pay for.

Welcome! I live in Eustis a few blocks from the City of Eustis boat ramp. I am a former guide and tournament fishermen. I have been fishing the Harris Chain for 50 years. I grew up in South Florida fishing for bass, tarpon, sailfish, dolphin, bone fish and anything else that swims. If you have any questions or would like to get together, message me.

Of all the bass poppers I have ever used, this is the best one I have found. It's a kind of finesse popper. Works better with short subtle pops.

I have never been a fan of large popping lures for bass. Back in the day, Hula Poppers were a thing. They never worked that good for me. Small poppers always seemed better. When fly fishing for bass, a small popper is a deadly bait. The Pop-R had it's day in the sun. A Storm Chug Bug is about as close to a salt water popper as you can find. Poppers call bass to them with their sound. This works very well with many salt water species like Sea Trout. I'm sure you can catch bass with a popper and I have. Personally, I have better luck with more natural top water lures like Rapalas and prop baits.

All my earliest rods had cork grips. I believe a Lewes Speed Stick was my first composite handled rod. I actually liked composite grips better than cork. Later I purchased a few foam grip rods which I liked as well. Everything changed when fishing rod construction moved from fiberglass to graphite. We really didn't know sensitivity was an issue until these rods became available. Today's carbon grips are amazing. I have two Shimano Zodias rods. They are so sensitive. it's like having eyes on my bait. I am sure the blank runs the full length of the rod into the handle. I can feel the lightest of bites. It took some getting used to, but once you do you won't want to go back.

I am acutely aware of your situation. My mother struggled with depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder for years. Back then, we didn't know this was an illness. They gave her amphetamines, which made her much worse. She was eventually committed to a mental hospital where they gave her shock treatments. This calmed her down, but it also took away much of her intellect. After she recovered, I helped her regain her civil rights so she could own a home. Despite her difficulties, my mother was a great Mom who raised me and my three younger sisters. She was a very religious person all her life. If she didn't have her faith to lean on, I don't believe she would have made it through. It sounds like you are making progress. You are not alone in this.

Amen brother! When I wake up I have great ideas of what I will do that day. Will I go fishing? Fix or paint something around the house? Take my wife somewhere new for lunch or visit a friend? After coffee I hang around, spend some time on the computer, clean myself up and walk down to get the mail at the end of my driveway. By the time I decide to act on my plans, it's lunch time. After lunch, it's time for a nap. By that time, it's mid afternoon and too late to do anything. I sit down with my wife at 5 PM and listen to her talk. She makes supper, we watch old football games on the NFL channel and then it's time to go to bed at 9 PM. Isn't retirement great? ?

A good fishermen is prepared for all circumstances. I always carry at least one spinning rod loaded with 8 pound mono as my finesse backup outfit. I start out with my strongest presentation and move lighter as the bite dictates. That said, finesse techniques are used in situations where you know fishing will be tough. Extra clear water, cold front conditions and fishing pressure are among these. Often just downsizing the bait is enough. Sometimes it's a weightless soft plastic or both. I don't fish shaky heads or jigs here in Florida. My most productive finesse fishing is done with 4" finesse worms and lizards. There was a time when I caught fish on tiny crankbaits and 1/8 oz spinnerbaits like the SOB. These days, I'm looking for a few big fish instead of a limit.

Back in the earliest days of bass fishing, casting reels had no drag system. Reel handles turned all the time, even on the cast. This required heavy lures which is why all old bass lures were large chunks of metal or wood. Experienced anglers became adept at anticipating what the fish was going to do when hooked. Free spool reels and drag systems came out in the 50s. One of the first manufacturers to offer these reels was Pflueger. Back when I started fishing, the Pflueger Supreme was the ultimate bass casting reel. Once a big bass breaks you off, you start thinking about how to prevent this. Drags are not always trustworthy. Washers wear, dirt gums up the works and drags can stick. When I bass fish, I never use the drag. I lock it down and use my thumb. I know what a big bass is going to do before it does it and I am ready to react. With experience, you will know the drill. When a big fish surges, I push the free spool button and give line while holding spool pressure with my thumb. I have not been broken off by a big fish in decades. This will not work when fishing in salt water. A large tarpon, snook, striper or red fish will burn your thumb on the run. This has never happened to me when bass fishing. Maybe some day it will? Maybe I'll catch a world record too? Not likely. ?

I love the smell of Sunoco 260 in the morning. Smells like victory!! ?

I think power poles are overrated on a bass boat. They are expensive and make it difficult for a fisherman in the back seat to fish around. I have fished out of many boats with power poles. All they seem to be used for is holding a boat when docking. At $2,000 each, I would rather use a dock rope. Here in Florida, you would think power poles would provide an advantage due to our shallow water. When bass fishing artificial lures, I have never seen the need to hold in one spot for any length of time. In water deeper than 6 feet, you are better off with spot lock. Power poles are extremely useful in shallow salt water back country and flats fishing where these fish are easily spooked by trolling motors and anchoring. That is why guides use manual push poles. Back in my guiding days, I carried two wooden poles in my boat. These were used to stake out when shiner fishing. You need two or the wind will swing the boat and tangle your lines.

A quality rotating spool casting reel will not be harmed by turning the handle as a fish pulls drag. In the early years of bass fishing we never used a drag, we back reeled. Reel drags have improved over the years making back reeling obsolete. Some old timers like me still do. You do not want to turn the handle on a spinning reel while the drag is being pulled as this will twist your line.

Yes. ^^^ If you cast and retrieve it, it's horizontal. If you drop it, it's vertical. When flipping and pitching, it's the drop that triggers the strike.

Before I bought my two Zodias rods I looked at a Poison Adrena. Both are nice rods. The quality and sensitivity are outstanding. I chose the Zodias because I couldn't see the price difference between the two. The ZDC610MHA is perfect for Senkos. Mine has a Shimano Chronarch MGL 150 HG on it and it's a great combo.

Call Captain Tim. https://www.familyadventurecharters.com/

Back surgery is absolutely a last resort. It took me ten years to make my decision. Five years after exhausting all other options. I took so many drugs, I gave myself a stomach ulcer. My surgeon did not pressure me into having an operation. He left it up to me. I knew my choice was a wheel chair or surgery. No one wants to have back surgery and for good reason. Before I chose surgery, one TV doctor had me send them my MRI. On the phone without seeing me in person, he quoted me $10,000 to fix my problem. That's when I discovered his procedure wasn't covered by medicare. This set off a bunch of alarms and I kept searching. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the tunnel that houses your spinal chord. For some people this is inherited. For others like me, it's caused by a buildup of arthritis. In either case, no laser can fix this. Another Internet doctor told me he had developed a tiny wedge that could be inserted in a day to hold my vertebrae apart. After years of research, meetings and doctor recommendations, I shortened the list down to two orthopedic hospitals in the entire Southeast. The surgeon I chose had done thousands of these operations before he did mine. Back trouble is a huge cash cow. Want to make a lot of money quick? Sell quick-fix back pain solutions. TV ads, billboards and print ads for quick and easy back fixes are everywhere. Back surgery should be your last resort. It's not easy or pain free. Issues like mine can't be fixed in an afternoon. There are risks. Major back surgery is an art, not a science.

I suffered with back and leg pain issues for years. Finally went to a surgeon who sent me to have an MRI. If you haven't done so, I suggest you do. Back issues can have many diverse causes. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to back issues. I discovered there are actually some common drugs that can cause back pain. In my case, it was age related spinal stenosis. I tried epidermal injections with no relief. Phyical therapy did not help either. Finally, it got so bad I couldn't stand or walk for more than ten minutes. Two years ago I had surgery to release the pressure on my nerves and fuse four lower vertebrae in my back. It's been a long road to recovery but I can now stand and walk upright without pain. Here's my advice. Find the best surgeon you can. Do not choose one from a magazine or TV ad. Do not choose one because they claim to fix your back with a laser or a 1/2" cut. What you need is someone who will be straight with you, not just take your money. If your insurance won't cover the cost of their treatment, there's probably a reason. It will most likely take some time to get an appointment. Be patient, there is no substitute for experience when it comes to back surgeons.

Top water works year round in Florida. Success depends more on water clarity than temperature. The clearer the water, the better it works. The majority of our bass are caught around shallow cover. Casting accuracy is important as fish often won't move far to the bait. Someone fishing 6 feet from a fish will not get as many bites as someone fishing less than a foot. Really good top water anglers are not afraid to cast into openings back in the cover. One of the best anglers I ever knew was known for his top water expertise. He was written up in national magazines. Writers would go with him to verify his catches and they were always amazed. I didn't need to go as standing next to him at a tournament weigh in when he had two eight pound bass in his bag was proof enough for me. RIP Charlie...