Fishing_FF

There has been some great advice already on clothing and animals already, so I won't go back over them again. Check out a pair of gaiters. I have a pair that can seal the gap between pants, shoes, and socks. I tuck in my shirt when hiking too to seal that gap. Then, if a tick gets on my clothes, I can find and get rid of him before he's had a chance to bite. You got to stop periodically because they will keep crawling until they've reached your head or neck. Never made this error, but seen it occur. I am a snake fanatic. As a firefighter/paramedic, I was the one who willing drafted a fire and EMS plan for the local serpentarium. I also have trained with the Miami Dade Fire Rescue Venom 1 unit, so when it comes to snakes, I've got a little experience. As long as you aren't creeping, which others have recommended against for gators, the same applies for snakes. Snakes don't hear, not in the traditional sense. Instead, they feel the vibrations on the ground that is converted into sound. Walk quiet, the snake won't know you are there and are more likely to have a surprise encounter. Should you encounter a snake, backing out the same way you came is best, and never try to corner a snake as they will have no choice but to become defensive at this point. When I am attempting to catch or trap a snake, I purposely cut off its exit because they will flee majority of the time given the chance. The snakes native to your area are the Cottonmouth, the Copperhead, the Timber (Canebrake) Rattlesnake, and the Massasauga Rattlesnake. Identification of a rattlesnake is easy because of the rattle on the tail, but a lot of Copperheads are confused with rat/corn snakes and Cottonmouths with various banded/nonbanded water snakes. I can provide resources for proper identification. However, avoidance is always an better option, just like with alligators. For what it is worth, even though I have the training to handle venomous snakes, since I don't take my snake boots, gloves, and hook with me when I go fishing, I don't handle or move a snake I encounter while hiking or fishing.

St Croix has a spinning rod labeled for cranking in their EyeCon series. It is a 7’ medium power moderate action.

The Ultegra is currently on heavy rod for big spinnerbaits, big swimbaits, and heavy C-rigs in the spillway currents. I’d leave it there if I was going to get the Stradic FK. Otherwise, the Ultegra will move to the MH and the Nasci to the heavy.

Yes, this is part of the dilemma. I have an Ultegra that I could free up by moving reels around, but the Stradic FK I would have to buy. Instead of a $50 jump from the Ultegra to a Stradic FK, it is a reel I have (Ultegra) or a $200 purchase (Stradic FK). That's why I'm trying to figure out is there that much difference from the Ultegra to Stradic FK.

I recently upgraded the MH rod I was using to a St. Croix Avid. I'm debating on whether to move reels around or go get a new reel for the new rod. This is the dilemma: Swap around my reels so a Shimano Ultegra 2500 find a home on the Avid or get a Shimano Stradic FK 2500 for the Avid? I have a Nasci, obviously an Ultegra, and a Stradic Ci4+. I notice the retrieval differences from the Nasci to the Ultegra, but the differences on the retrieval seems less noticeable between the Ultegra to the Stradic Ci4+, more casting difference it seems. The questions becomes, stay with the Ultegra or go get a Stradic FK?

I wondered about this too because on Gary Yamamoto’s website and his catalog, it shows a swivel connected between the leader and mainline. I finally had had a chance to speak to one of the pro staff there a couple months ago and here is the answer I got: They show the swivel being used as often people new to fishing gravitate towards spinning gear and don’t understand how to rig a bait straight on a hook. To minimize issues with a Senko spin and causing line twist, a swivel is recommended. The feeling I got was once you go to a bait caster reel or you’ve mastered rigging the bait so it doesn’t spin, the swivel can be eliminated. You’ll find some favoring swivels for certain presentations like the thread on here from mid-January talking about using swivels with flukes. I’ve never seen a set up for a double fluke rig that didn’t use a pair of swivels.

Sweet.....I’m actually planning on going out fishing Monday morning and afternoon. The only bad thing is I’m landlocked. I thought I had a kayak, but the seller neglected to tell me the “new” kayak was actually 2 years old and scratched up on the bottom from being used as a demo model. I’m not quite sure where I’ll end up fishing. Possibly Underhill, Starke, or hike to one of the Toho spawning canals. If if you need anything while you’re down here, just let me know!

I was able to get out for an hour yesterday, and a saw quite a few in the shallows and swimming near beds. They didn’t care about baits being dragged through the beds. The hook ups I got where on crankbaits and swimbaits, so seems they are still prespawn still.

Welcome fellow Floridian!!!

A shop near me has a bunch of kayaks on sale as they try to get rid of last year’s models to bring in the new 2018s. I’ve narrowed my search down to the Wilderness Systems Tarpon line. After a demo between the Ride 135 and the Tarpon 140, I liked the Tarpon better. I liked the stability of the Ride, but it was slow. I was also not a fan of the higher seat back on the Ride. I’ve heard you can stand in the Tarpon 140, but I forgot to try it. I’m not sure how much standing I’ll be doing, so this may be a mute point. What is more a factor is the paddling distance, 4 miles one way if I go down to the Fellsmere Reservoir and 1-2 miles one way for local lakes in the Orlando area. After we got done with the demo, I started looking closer to at the store’s Tarpon line, specifically the 140 and also the 130X that seems to be more fishing specific. The store didn’t have a demo model of the 130X, but they are checking into whether they can get me out on the water in one. The sales guy understands my reluctance as the 130X’s wider than the Ride 135 and a shorter than the Tarpon 140. The seats are in the Ride 135 and Tarpon 130X are similar heights, both taller than the Tarpon 140. The 130X is $150 more, and per the sales guy, has a more comfortable seat for a long day on the water than sitting on the deck and is supposed to be a drier ride. For or those who have the Tarpon 130X, is the seat better and the ride drier or is he just trying to get a little more expensive sale? How’s the speed of the Tarpon 130X compared to the Tarpon 140 for my longer paddles? Thanks....Thomas

A Type IV PFD is not legal in Florida as your sole PFD. FWC requires any kayak or canoe under 16 feet to have a Class I, II, or III PFD on board for each person. It does not have to be worn unless the person under the age of 6. If your kayak or canoe is 16 feet or longer, you will be required to have a Class I, II, or III PDF on board for each person along with a throwable Type IV PFD. Additionally, you are required to have a sound make device. Most people go with one of those orange whistles but a small airhorn can will work too. If operating at sunset to sunrise, you are required to have a white light and must be displayed when approached by a boat during these hours. This requirement is to help prevent a collision on the water as non-powered (sail boats, kayaks, canoes, paddle boarders all have the right a way on the water and by law, powered craft are to yield way). There are additional rules if you are operating in coastal waters that can be found on FWC's website if you decide to head to the coast. Also, make sure your Florida fishing license corresponds to the water you are in (fresh or salt) and it is not a shore fishing license.

Thanks everyone for replying and voting! I add a tube of MegaStrike original to my TackleWarehouse order. The original by far was the favorite followed by crawfish and then garlic.

Nice! Clear Lake in Orlando is stocked with hybrid sunshines. Shrimp seems to the best bait for them, but I’ve caught a few on crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

I have a 3 year old and 5 year old son. They are the reason I fish. One day out of the blue, they asked if we could go fishing. What they want is really just to turn the handle on the reel, so throwing out a float with bread or a worm on it for bluegill and sunfish isn't really fishing to them. I've found a couple recreational complexes that have a park and lake in them. We go down to the water, bait hooks, and toss them out. Then we walk to the playground to play. I keep an eye on the floats. I dart back when there is a nibble, and once the kids see a bent pole, they come running too. I keep the fish on the line until the boys get there, letting them reel in the fish. My wife goes, too. She doesn't fish, just tags along. Just keeping it fun for them now and that's all that is important.

Closed out 2017 with a total of 3: Florida - annual resident but now covered by the free first responder order by Gov Scott Georgia - non-resident annual because we visit my wife's family there often New York - short term non-resident while visiting my family

The title says it all. Which MegaStrike scent is everyone using? Thanks for voting!

I've looked at the trash fish as they have good action and can be weedless. Haven't pulled the trigger because I don't have the room in my tackle boxes to store them. A friend of mine uses a bunch of the LiveTarget swimbaits like the mullet and pinfish for inshore fishing. He has nothing but good things to say about the tails on them thumping through the water. He's used them for bass, too. He was anticipating the shad and shiner LiveTarget baits coming out as they were out a couple months ago when we talked. He said he has been busy, so hasn't gotten around to getting the new LiveTarget swimbaits yet. The first swimbaits in my collection that worked and I've kept are the Berkley Powerbait Swim Shad. Yeah, I know you said, "shiner." Oddly enough, the shad colors haven't worked for me. The colors that are my keepers are bluegill and chartreuse shiner. Got these in the 2", 3", and 4" size. For bigger swimbaits, I also have the Yamamoto Heart Tail Shad Swimbaits and the Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbaits. Both are near the 5" range. In an attempt to keep it simple, it is a white and black of each. Yeah, kind of boring. I have a can of Spike-It Aerosol spray in Orange and Chartreuse in my bag that I use to provide highlights if needed (a little yellow on the back of a white plastic for chartreuse shiner and a little orange on the belly of a black plastic for a golden shiner). BassPro has knock-offs of the Berkleys and Keitechs. BassPro's version are more durable, but the tougher plastic is stiffer and doesn't copy the action as well. I don't have any hard swimbaits. The treble hooks and Florida weeds aren't a nice combo when I'm bank fishing.

I could not get the FG knot to hold with Seagaur Invixz or Blue Label. I tried both with the 2 different mainlines, PowerPro Original and Slick8. Luke from Salt Strong in the comments on the main page acknowledges there is a problem with the FG knot when using a soft or slick line because the mainline needs to dig (cut into) the leader. Unfortunately when Luke did the knot test, it was under perfect conditions for the FG knot. He was using 10lbs PowerPro Original (not a slick mainline) with 20lbs Ande Monofilament Leader (a thick, stiffer line). I replicated the Salt Strong test with the mainlines and leaders I use (PP and PP S8 with Seaguar and Yo-Zuri). I tied various mainline to leader knots to hooks attached to a scale just like the video. It took a while to complete as I did 5-10 of each depending on how close the results were until I had winners for each combo of mainline to leader.

Welcome and hello fellow Floridian!!!

Yes, I asked about bringing in a kayak to Turkey Lake when I scheduled a boat rental. The deed restriction limits watercraft to the 4 BassPro Trackers only. I would launch from the white section right above the Lakeshore Blvd label. That is the beach area. It gets progressively deeper for a good launch of an unfamiliar and unknown stability kayak. Parking easily accessible right next to the area, the Crabby Bill parking lot. As for fishing, you can try the grassy areas on either side of the beach. The green is readily visible on the satellite imagery as it is really thick and there is even more submerged that can't be seen. If you are up for a paddle, going east to the canal to Lake Runnymede or to the west to canal 31 (if the spillway is open, S59 on SFWMD website) are good spots. If the fish have gone deep due to the water getting cold or hot in the summer, you'll have to find one of the holes. As you can see from the Navionics map, there are pockets of deeper water scattered about.

Just like the saying about any pond or lake in Florida possibly having bass in them, the say holds true to gators. Lake Toho definitely has some big ones. I never saw one at Lake Undersell until yesterday when I found this biggie: That drain is a 3 foot opening (know as I've fished down there before) to give you reference on the size of the gator. I hope to get a kayak eventually. When I do, I'm going to flip out and get back in until I'm comfortable with the process. The spot I've scouted out for this would be the Saint Cloud lakefront of East Lake Toho. There is a beach area east of the marina and Crabby Bills. There is a company that rents kayaks and SUP that uses that area for launching. It is also a frequent swimming area for the locals. The gators seem to avoid this spot, but I would still go with a friend.

Welcome fellow Floridian!!!

Bone. I keep the topwater stuff simple, a light and a dark. The R2S colors that I use are Loon and Bone.

I’m not sure if you were watching the SFWMD website and the FWC data on the local lakes. I was because I was curious what the temperature in the lakes would fall to as we hit 31 degrees in rural Orlando, coldest in 4 years. Nothing that was being monitored, lakes and canals, fell below 50 degrees. 51 was the lowest I saw for water temp. Ive always heard the lakes are 10 degrees warm then colder air. It appears they can be quite a bit warmer, 21 degrees by the data from our last cold snap.

Some answers probably won't be available publicly until after the FWC investigation is complete.