Fishing_FF

You mileage is going to vary depending on which main line and leaders you used. This is comes from testing various knots on different main lines and leaders with the following results of the strongest knots on the line noted: The strongest main line (10lbs PowerPro Slick 8) to leader (Yo-Zuri leader beat Seaguar and Ande fluoro in the 15lbs class) tied with a double double uni knot (check Salt Strong to find the modification to the knot). The strongest main line (30lbs PowerPro) to leader (15lbs Yo-Zuri and 30lbs Stren Orange Catfish mono) was the 6 turn surgeon knot. The best loop loop knot with the Yo-Zuri is a Rapala knot, but I go with the Kreh because the tag points down (more weedless) and the difference was less than 1/2lbs between the Rapala and Kreh. The best snug knot with the Yo-Zuri is the Orvis. I tried several different ties of the Palomar, but they all had low failure points. When I went up to 20lbs regardless of the brand, mono or fluoro, the Palomar was the top performer. For my heavier carolina and catfish rigs with 20lbs or better mono, the Palomar knot is the was the best performer for snug knot connections. The best snug braid connection knot was the modified uni knot (see Salt Strong again to see the difference). This was for both the PowerPro Slick 8 and regular. My friends have done their own test with their own main lines and leaders. The results as to which knot is the strongest does depend on brand and line test. If you want to use the recommended knots from Salt Strong without conducting your own test, they use 10lbs PowerPro (regular) and 20lbs Ande. Good luck!

When I got into fishing again, I was looking for a website to help familiarize myself with the various fishing knots. There is a website called Salt Strong that has videos of the various knots. They also have run some knot tests, comparing the strength of various knots. The FG knot was a top performer. However, if it isn't tied right, the leader will slip out under the load of a fighting fish. I decided to run similar test with the the lines and leaders I use. I found that PowerPro Slick 8 doesn't dig into the leader enough to prevent it from slipping. With Seaguar Blue label, I had a 100% failure. The failure was a little less with Yo-Zuri leader, but it was still near the 75% range. I even had a guy at work that uses the FG knot on his salt water lines try it just to make sure it wasn't my knot. His failure was 100% with the Seaguar and near 100% with the Yo-Zuri, a bit higher than mine. It is now recommended on the Salt Strong website that the slick braids and FG knots don't mix. This caused me to further test my line to leader knots and terminal tackle knots (snug and loop) to see what had the highest breaking strength since the FG knot failed so miserably. My results were shocking, but also informative. I haven't had a break off with a fish. I have gotten pretty good a freeing snagged lures, but if it is stuck to the point I have to break off, the breaks are occurring at the terminal connection knot, not the line-to-leader knot. You might want to check out their site and replicate their testing with your lines and a couple different potential leader materials.

The calendar says winter and since it only got to 77 degrees here today, I would say winter is in full swing at this location in Florida. ?

This is my first year fishing a Florida winter. I have been doing a lot of reading on bass lures for specific seasons. I moved my topwater lures into a storage box and got out the hard jerk baits. After the first front moved through, I had a opportunity to fish. In an Al Linder book, it was talked about Florida strain of bass getting tight lipped after a cold front moves through. I asked a friend who fishes tournaments locally about how he gets bites after a front. He told me wait a couple days and go check out a small creek off Lake Toho. He said the bass would be moving into that creek to spawn soon. I gave him a blank stare. Spawn -> winter, no that is a spring activity was what was running through my mind after all the reading. I told him that he had been in the sun too long, we were moving into winter, not spring. He reassured me and said go check the site. 4 days later, I stopped at the creek. Not only were there bass in the creek where I hadn't seen any during the summer, but there were also the start of shallow beds. After a good day of fishing, I ate not a slice of crow pie, but humbly ate the whole thing. Alligators in pools, pythons and cobras in the swamp, hanging chads on voter's cards, and bass spawning in winter, Florida is definitely unique.

It would be nice. Are they called snowfish, or do they count in the broad category of snowbirds that includes birds and people? LOL

Not seeing a group for this topic, but if the mods think it is better in another section, feel free to move it. By profession, I'm a firefighter. My lieutenant is getting ready to retire in the beginning of December after completing his 25 years of service. He is a fisherman, mostly inshore for redfish, snook, and tarpon by either a kayak or paddle board. We have acquired his bunker gear from the last time our gear was replaced. We would like to make him a soft side tackle bag out of the old gear. The only issue is while I have someone with a heavy duty sewing machine, she can't find a pattern to create the bag. Does anyone know of a soft side tackle bag pattern or someplace where I can get one? Thanks!

Were you able to rescue the worms?

Bill Fredrick Park that is on the west side of Turkey Lake offers both primitive and partial or full hook up camping. You can also rent a boat for somewhere in the range of $35. It is a strict catch and release lake for bass that is stocked yearly. Both the docks and camp sites are staging grounds for storm debris at the moment, but they plan on having everything cleared and open the first week or so of November. There are other places too like Kissimmee State Park, Ocala National Forest, and Alexander Springs State Park. All have camping and sizable bodies of water for fishing. Check out https://www.floridastateparks.org for locations that offer camping and fishing. Just like Bill Fredrick, a lot of parks are still in clean up mode. There are updates on storm clean on the website, and if you call the park, the rangers can provide a more definitive timeline.

I haven’t been fishing there yet, but have been out there to the various ranges they have. One day while waiting to check in, I was reading the WMA rules and regs. From what I remember, each lake has its own rules and regulations. You will have to check in and get a permit. While doing so, hit up the park rangers. They work there day in, year round. Some even fish where they work. The park rangers are a wealth of information. I did this at another WMA and also a state park in Georgia. Both places, I caught fish. I’d like to say it was my awesome technique and presentation (total sarcasm), but I know it was the rangers helping me find spots with fish. Hopefully someone will chime in with current conditions as I know locally conditions are a lot different after Irma. Good luck!!!

This is the same rod is use for Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, hard jerk baits, poppers, and prop baits. I know now some have a problem with straightening hooks on crankbaits with a fast action, like a friend of mine using an H2O Ethos, but this hasn’t been an issue with this rod for me.

Welcome back! I can't help on the lunker hunt as most of what I'm catching is in the smaller range, less than 5lbs. I do know of a great lake for speck. It is Lake Marian in Kenansville. I work down that way. I was recently talking with a guy that has a small bait business that locals use. He said for the last couple months the bite has been on big time, and the best bait is crickets. He sells minnows and shiners, but says the crickets bring in far more fish than the other live baits. Funny thing is the crickets are cheaper too. FWC is in charge of Florida's fish records. You can find information on their website on how to contact and claim large fish that challenge state records. Here is a link to the program: http://myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/fishing-tips/record/ I can't find it now, but I remember reading someplace on the FWC website they request the fish remain intact, placed on ice but not frozen. They also have to certify it was a legal catch by hook and line and the lake it was taken from. Good luck!!!

I use yellow braid for plastics for better visibility of the line, watch the rod and line as well as feeling for the strike. I use to use green, but in the bright Florida sun, yellow provides a little better visibility. I use FC leaders with all my plastics, so color isn't an issue for this set up. For spinnerbaits, cranks baits, frogs, poppers, prop baits, and hard jerk baits, I tied braid directly to the lure. These are thrown on different rods than my plastics, so they are all loaded with green braid. This was advice provided to me by a FLW tournament guy that I work with as they are more moving baits than sit and soak like plastics where fish have time to see and look at the line. He also said that when the green coloring fades out, get a green sharpie and re-color the braid. I asked about black because it is easier to find. He remarked he'll do that in a pinch, but wash out the black with some hot water to fade it to more of a green or brown color. He said both are more natural like a stick or piece of grass. YMMV.....

No worries.....when I go pick up my Nasci (5.0:1 ratio mounted on a Mojo Bass for lures that need slower retrieve), I’ll be taking the Avid X with me. I took it into BassPro to the reels on it, but this shop has some demo models that are spooled. They said I could even bring a couple lures and throw them outback for the shop. They also have a rod balance that I can try. It is a rubber cap that flat lead weights and/or quarters can be put into to try shifting the weight back.

Here an update to which reel got put on the Avid X. I had to to my Nasci to the local rod and reel shop (Kel’s) for repair as I noticed the gear wasn’t smooth. Turns out, mine was included in the bad batch Shimano had manufacturing issues with the gears. It’s cover under warranty so no issues. While there, I asked about the rod balancing and the reels. Both of the reel repairers recommended the Ci4+ as it was a more solid and smooth reel. One even commented, “Both are nice, but the Ci is a $200 reel where as the eBay price for the FJ is more appropriate for its value.” They weren’t as concerned about the balance, saying it was more matter of personal preference. They of course offered to open the bottom of my rods to add weight if I wanted, but said it wasn’t necessary. I appreciated the honest versus most places just selling something.

I stumbled unto the Yo-Zuri cranks after having issues with a pair of Mann’s -1s (later found out it was poor hook quality which has been corrected with changing out to Owners trebles). I've got the shallow divers, medium divers, and square bills. I’ve never measured the running depth on the medium divers, but I have no problem crashing them into the bottom of the shallow lakes and ponds that I bank fish. Navionics has Lake Santiago listed as 6ft with two areas at 8ft, and this is one of the lakes I have had success catching bass in by crashing the medium divers into the bottom. I’m running them in 30lbs braid, no leaders, and still getting good depth from them. As result of the success I’ve had with the 3DB series, I now have Yo-Zuri 3DB series for cranks, lipless, poppers, props, and jerks. They get beat up as I’ve had lots of fish hit them from 2” juvenile sunfish to channel cats and even gar.

Yes, September really seemed to be the worst month of the summer fishing cycle. Long hot days after days really seemed to out a hurt in my fishing as well. A friend who is a FLW tournament fisher seconded my thoughts, saying he hates fishing in September and it is by far his worst month of the year. Hurricane Irma didn't help either, wrecking their homes and turning the fish off. Glad to see thing are getting better and the fish are biting again in the ponds.

Sweet, congrats! I'm out on of town, but looking forward to getting some pond fishing done when I get back. Cooler weather with clouds is an good recipe for success.

Welcome fellow Floridian!!!

When I started fishing, I struggled with the definition of what was clear versus murky. Here in Central Florida, unless you are the the natural spring base, the water is stained to varying degrees. Wekiva, Alexander, Blue Springs, are all clear at the source, but travel down the river and they all get darker. The other day, I was reading Al Linder's The Secret Teachings of In-Fisherman Angling Wisdom & Knowledge. In the Total Angling - Putting Ot Together chapter, Mr. Linder has a section on water clarity. His definitions are based "...on how deep a white lure is visible: 0-2' dark, 2-6 stained', and 6' or greater is clear." I was looking to learn more about the F+L+P formula when I found this nugget. Simple and straightforward, no motor or secchi disk needed.

I asked a Florida FLW tournament guy this question, as Hurricane Irma was the first storm to come through here since I started fishing again. He said that the fish know something is coming by pressure changes, and will feed heavily starting a day to couple days before the storm. After the storm passes, he said it will be about a week before the fishing are ready to feed again. I got got out to one of my favorite spots 8 days after Irma went through. I got a bite, but wasn't able to hook up. Spent 2 hours working the lake. I tried topwater, Senkos (T-rigged and wacky), jigs, and crankbaits. What I noticed was the lake went from being clear to muddy/murky. Several tree fell into the water. The lake was also higher by about 2 feet and the water temp dropped a good 10 degrees. The hurricane wrecked their home, so I kind of get them being skittish and not wanting to eat.

Next Friday is my big payday from the fire department, so I made a trip down to BPS to check out the FK and Ci4+ on the Avid X. I was shocked as neither balance the rod out. They didn't have a FK 4000 but the Ci4+ 4000 wasn't close. I spoke with a rep at St. Croix, who said that unfortunately there isn't a $200 or higher Shimano that will balance out the rod. I asked about adding weight in the butt cap or applying lead tape at the base around the blank. She said both would void the warranty on the rod. Her recommendations were to go with an Ultegra or which to a Penn or Quantum as all 3 can be found in heavy enough models to balance the rod.

Yes, I thought craws or crays would be more on the brown and red side. I was surprised to find my first one going down the Suwannee river. It was blue, a very bright blue at that. I paid more attention on subsequent trips, finding they ranged in colors depending on time of year, water temp, and molt stage. Seen them in blues, browns, reds, olives, and even oranges. See what you've got around you and go from there.

Yes, I spoke to the fishing department manager at my local BPS today. He said he has both the FK and Ci4+ in stock, and actually prefers anyone seriously considering a Ci4+ to bring in their rod before purchasing. He said that while the Ci4+ is truly awesome, it is so lightweight that it is hard to find a rod light enough for it. There is another store I know would allow me to put both reels on my Avid X, but it is over an hour drive vs a 20 minute on to BPS. Yes, I'm looking at the 2500-3000 size. All my other reels, oddly enough all are Shimanos, are either 2500 or 3000. My one outlier is a Sahara FB4000. It was my first purchase years ago before I knew better. I honestly have to load half the spool with 30-40lbs mono backing so it doesn't use up an entire spool of PP Slick 8. Even then, it gets close to taking the entire 150 yards.

Thanks everyone for the input! Its all tied up, 5-5 for Ci4+ vs FK. Both seem like solid reels. The Avid X is definitely my nicest rod. Prior I've always just matched gear ratio to rod power/actions for whatever it was going to be dedicated to (plastics, crank baits, topwater, finesse, etc). I never checked before to see what feels best, but after the feedback provided, I'll take the rod in to see which reel feels best on the rod. Thanks again everyone!

Thanks. My damages weren't enough to meet the insurance deductible (2% value of the house), so I consider myself lucky. My family is safe, and the house did its job keeping them safe. That's all that is important. Plus, there are many far worse off than me.