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@Further North sending you a pm. Thanks.

Do you have a tie recipe to share?

My PB of 11.3 came on a chrome/blue trap on super bowl Sunday years ago. I’ll usually throw a trap before a regular crank bait unless it’s around wood. Ripping a trap over and around grass here in Florida is a tried and true tactic for many. Only downside to them is fish will have a tendency to throw a trap when jumping a lot of times.

@Swamp Girl go for my cataract measuring tomorrow morning. First eye surgery planned for end of September. Thinking of you girl

Ribeye for me, no contest. And another Florida boy here.

Katie, I’m going for my cataracts consultation tomorrow so I’m right there with you girl. Will keep you in my prayers as well.

Sad news indeed.😢 Rest in peace Catt.

Green pumpkin just doesn’t work for me. My go to colors in order are black/blue, bluegill and white ( during the Shad spawn).

You’ve earned it Shaw. I was fortunate to draw Shaw as my boater in my first Redman Tournament on lake Toho in 1986. This was the year after he won the All American tournament on Toho for $100k which was one of the largest purses at the time. It was in March and a major cold front had blown through central Florida. Temperatures in the 30’s. Shaw had located a pocket in a big pad field down in lake Kissimmee and that’s where we ran. We knew the bite would be tough so we spent our time there flipping the pads inside that pocket. I was lucky enough to catch 4 that weighed a little over 11 pounds. I was fishing behind Shaw and I think that the fish weren’t reacting to his bait but would to mine. On our way back he said I had a legitimate shot at winning it and proceeded to hit a number of spots he knew in Toho to try and get me that last fish. I didn’t get the last one but did finish 11 place out of 285 anglers with his help. I would see Shaw at different venues in the years after that tournament and he would always remember me and we’d talk about that day. Truely a class act and I wish him well in his retirement.

I’m in Florida so it’s 15# minimum and 20# is normal. 40-50# for frogs and flipping for me unless it’s the nasty, thick stuff then I’ll break out the 65#.

My “new” truck🙂

I’m with @TnRiver46 on this, hasn’t really changed how I fish much. I’m in Florida and our lakes are VERY different than the rest of the nation. Our normal depth finder is a 7’ rod. If it touches bottom, it’s deep. Most of our fishing is 6’ or less, in most cases. Now I fish the St. John’s river a lot and it has depths to 25’ is some areas and I will use livescope at times in it but most of the time it’s not even turned on.

We have a 2008 Lexus, which of course is made by Toyota. It’s got 137,000 miles on it. We have had to replace the front axle bearings and struts. Also had to replace the oil line hose on the pump that blew out while the wife was driving it. Fortunately it blew on our street otherwise it would have fried the motor. The navigation system screen is going black now and no factory replacement available anymore so going to have to go aftermarket. Plus it only gets about 16 MPG.

Meh. This is a normal summer for us down here in Florida. This was last week.

Spot lock is a lifesaver for me fishing the St. John’s river. With its current, if you don’t have it, you’re spending a lot of your time trying to stay on a spot. I also fish some saltwater ( I have a flats boat) and with tides and current, it’s a must have.

Too many to list. Staying with a particular lure too long and trying to force feed bass a lure “I think” will work is a big one. They will tell you what they want, not the other way around. A big one I’ve learned recently is to make multiple casts to a target. Used to make one or two and move on.

I’m with @Mike L on this one. I’m right handed and left handle reels just don’t work for me. Plus my right wrist isn’t as strong as my left due to carpal tunnel and other factors so trying to set the hook with the rod in my right hand didn’t work. I pitch left handed and cast quite a bit lefty as well. The more you do it, the better you become at it.

Being here in Florida, mosquitoes are our state bird. We grow them big and numerous. Thermocell is your best friend. But the worst mosquitoes I’ve ever encountered were in western Montana. Only happened once. On a mountain hike is when we encountered them. They were relentless and this was mid day. We were all covered up good but my pants creeped up and they bit me above my socks. I had about 13 welts. Had to ice my leg down back at the house to reduce the swelling. But here’s the weirdest part, about a year later, those same welts flared up again and itched like crazy. Now no-see-ums, that’s a different animal down here in Florida. Those little devils will wear you out ar dawn and dusk.

Only retired one. It was a Bagley topwater, small tail spin that I caught my first over ten (10-14). It’s the only bass I have mounted and the lure is in its mouth. And they haven’t made it in years.

I am the old guy but they don’t listen to me, they think I’m too old🤷🏻‍♂️

All over FL, and TN, AL & NC.

Thanks Katie, great story.

Negative. I have the aft of mine tilted down not up. If it’s level, it’ll lose signal at on plane which is about 15 mph for me. With the aft tilted down, I get readings on sonar, down and side scan at 25 mph plus. Could be because I have a flats boat that rides pretty flat in the water when on plant.

I’ve found that if you tilt the transom transducer down slightly it will help it pick up at speed.