Zcoker

There’s really not much of a fight with the smaller bass so I get them in as quickly as they come, hopefully to shake them off even, but nothing out of the ordinary like surfing them over the water or torpedoing them into the air or slamming them onto the bank. As far as the big ones go, I don’t baby them. I’m more conscious of their direction along with the line tension and the reel thumb button as well as the net. Get ‘em in quickly, catch, measure, photo, and release. All those factors come together fluidly to the land the fish without incident.

From my experience, bass out in the Everglades can be pretty predictable. I know each trip will have at least one big bite, often trophy size. I know it’s coming so I play into it very statically because I know what they want and I never deviate. I get a bit more fluid as the sun comes up, tossing worms, wake baits, frogs, and so forth. As the sun gets higher I go static again with punching only. It’s a system that has produced bass that I used to dream about, so I stick with it.

This is where my leverage net is on the yak, locked and loaded. Its easy to reach handle is held snuggly by a Rotogrip paddle holder. I can also lock the net directly parallel over the gunnel to keep the fish submerged like a live well.

With a frog I always go straight braid 50lb minimum. I also bend out the hooks or change them out for a larger size. Doing all of those hook mods has little effect on snags, even here in the Everglades. There’s also this debate on when to set the hook, with some delaying or even waiting to feel the weight of the fish. I nail them hard as soon as I see the splash and they’re always coming in. My casting is also strategic, meaning that I position the kayak (usually forward) where I have the best possible leverage advantage and also the best advantage to control the yak. Much of that comes from punching mats where it’s a an absolute must to be in the best position possible, especially in a kayak! It’s often hard to be so meticulously conscious of every single cast but when the mind starts to drift while casting is usually when those monsters hit, catching you totally off guard. Most of my big fish that I’ve lost happened very unexpectedly, like when I was totally not ready. I would say, if anything, to always always be ready even if you’re in the most unexpected places! With other baits I incorporate some sort of shock leader, depending on what I’m using. With bladed jigs I use strait floro on a moderate rod, not too moderate but just enough give to let me still feel the bait and the hits. Topwater gets about 3ft of 30lb mono connected to the braid. All treble hooks are changed out to saltwater BkK hooks. About it except for the net, which is very accessible in front of me, like a loaded gun. I try to keep things pretty simple and strait forward with not too much clutter to worry about. My max rods that I bring is 5, and even that’s a lot! Keeping things simple has helped me out a immensely. When there’s just so much stuff in the yak and so much stuff to think about that’s when things can go bad, like losing a fish of a lifetime.

Out of all the lures to try, that one shines the most imho

It was a long time before I started punching the thick stuff out in the everglades. It really wasn’t because I didn’t know how to get them there but more a learning process on how to do it sitting in a Kayak. I simply refused to stand so I learned how to do it sitting.

When I used to do kayak tournaments, everything that I needed was in my Yak Attack black box and on my kayak seat. My seat has quick access front and rear storage bins attached. If I have to unload for any reason, it’s only those two main items that have to worry about, my seat as one complete unit and my black box as one complete unit, which also holds the rods. Very efficient, which is what it’s all about on a kayak.

That’s about the only thing that scares me at night. I can be miles deep into the glades surrounded by anlligators and when a big fish hits right as I’m about to pull up the lure KABOOM like a bomb just went off! Just the other night

Exactly. All trailers alter the action of the lure.

The choice of trailers seems to help, adjusting bouncy, if that makes sense, streamlining the bait to fall at certain speeds relative to the depth. Also being mindful of where it’s being tossed, where a snag might be eminent, like a thick brush pile or heavy tangle of limbs or vines….or in front of an alligator lol Sometimes I snatch it through the grass, getting the hits when the lure breaks free. Other times I slow roll it like a spinnerbait. I’m also quite confident and meticulous with my casting, aiming just right to avoid those kinda issues. Having a good quality rod and line is also essential to get as much feedback as possible to avoid those underwater obstacles. The rod and line can be looked at like an extension of the senses, which needs to be as clear as possible. Only then can the right moves be made to steer the lure back intact. Works for me. In all honesty, I have yet to loose a bladed jig out in the glades at night doing what I just described. Knock on wood!

I fish the everglades where the average depth is three feet or less. So when I’m fishing a bladed jig I usually let it hit bottom first because, often times, the fall is when they snatch it. I can adjust the bouncy by changing out the trailer, depending on the depth. Other than that, I snatch it through the grass to fire them up. Slow, steady, methodical retrieves at night can get me those mega hits, the kind that pull drag and spin my kayak around. I run a trailer hook and rarely get snagged, even at night, which is when I mostly fish with chatterbaits.

I like the Saint Croix Tournament 7.4 heavy Slop n Frog rod. I also use it for punching 2oz tungsten weights. Can’t begin to tell ya how many giant bass I’ve caught with this rod. I’ve put it through just about everything imaginable out in the everglades. Very satisfied.

Good point. Most stumble when it comes to this point. It’s very true yet sometimes hard to accomplish simply because it’s dark out. There’s no way at night I could fish some of the same areas that I fish during daylight hours. Regardless, most baits are usually the same with the exception of sound modifications. When it comes right down to it, bass at night react more to sound, imho. A simple “tuning” of a jitterbug, for instance, can yield fantastic results. Same with a spinnerbait, changing out the blades, or with a bladed jig, modifying the front lip…getting the sound right is what it’s all about…from my experience.

Nothing wrong with that. Gotta go with what you like or with what works best for you. Sometimes, though, I may not like something but I still learn how to use it to get the job done. Fishing lures, rods, reels and so forth are nothing but tools. How we use those tools is a matter of choice as well as skill. What works for one may not work for the other but, regardless of our selection, it still may be very effective, like the frog is. I nail ‘em as soon as I see the splash, just like I do with most topwater lures. Rarely loose a fish, either, so I’ve never really thought about it. Hot topic, though. Often the fish in my area are so aggressive and bite down so hard, they ain’t lettin nothing go!

I used to have an old Tomahawk canoe that I used to trek around with when I first moved to south Florida. I could take that thing anywhere! Picnics, camping trips, you name it. Really opened my eyes up to the fishing world down here. Very simple and strait forward. Sounds like a no brainer for your needs. I have powered Old Town now much more expensive and a bit harder to launch but it suits me well for my current style of fishing, which is deep in the everglades in the dark. I also have a 10ft Ocean Kayak Frenzy, which is discontinued. That thing is the end-all ocean yak for big surf.

Nothing wrong with that. Gotta go with what you like or with what works best for you. Sometimes, though, I may not like something but I still learn how to use it to get the job done. Fishing lures, rods, reels and so forth are nothing but tools. How we use those tools is a matter of choice as well as skill. What works for one may not work for the other but, regardless of our selection, it still may be very effective, like the frog is.

Frog fishing is pure heaven down here in south Florida. If you ease a frog off the pads and kinda plop it into the water it’s going to get annihilated, usually by a fish 5lbs and up. I like to use a lot of other lures, too, but the frog is a form of fishing that’s almost three-dimensional because you can fish it anywhere, any place, day or night, and in any of the thickest stuff imaginable, all of which require different retrieves. Thought patterns change constantly when fishing a frog. The mind visualizes the scene and attempts to create a very desirable target. A lot of other lures can get pretty darn boring and methodical, casting and casting and casting….but a frog, oh, no, they can keep things very exciting!

The only rod setup that comes to mind is the Shimano Expride 7.2 MH glass. This rod should be the benchmark for all bladed jig rods, imho. It’s that good. At just over 4oz it’s one of the lightest ones around, which was a big reason I got it. Pared up with a Daiwa Tatula with 18lb Sunline Shooter FC Sniper (jdm) it’s very very hard to loose a fish on it. The rod just flat out sticks ‘em!

Those jitterbugs flat out work, no doubt. The old Musky ones were made out of cedar and are hard to come by. LJ Brasher used to soak them in the bathtub to get some more weight out of them, so they’d run deeper. I couldn’t find any old wooden ones so I just made my own out of cedar. The one pictured here has seen the jaws of two alligators, one of which was pulled right up next to the yak. I probably should retire it for being so lucky to get it back!

My specialty, deep in the Everglades in kayak. It’s when the monsters come out to play, literally. Black is black and many suggest this color at night and I have many black baits but I’ve been getting some crazy hits on lighter colors, chartreuse, white, light green, yellow…..Sometimes, even, I really don’t think color matters, but that’s just a personal observation. The hits, actually, seem abundant with lighter colors, and the fish seem to hit a little harder as if they want to totally kill it first. The fish below was caught on a chartreuse/white whopper plopper few nights ago. The black baits do produce but as good as the lighter colors have been, I’ve been using them more and more.

I’ve only lately seen the feature with Amazon. I’ll have to look for it on the other two UPS and Fedex. To be honest, it’s probably been on all of them all along, I just didn’t notice it. Maybe it appears when the truck gets close, like you said. I don’t remember seeing the map at work when I checked Amazon, only when I got home later in the afternoon, which is when I got the package. I’ll keep an eye out moving forward. Thanks for the heads up.

I tell ya, a big 130 Whopper Plopper with upgraded BKK Fang hooks has been my go-to down here in the south Florida everglades. Working a slow roll around points and through cuts or off banks—KABOOM! If I want a literal TON of smaller fish, I’ll use the smaller 110. Next in line is a 12in Ole Monster worm with a de-barbed 7/0 worm hook. I like those worms because not only do they get the bigger fish but I also can reuse them over and over, very durable. I only use worms during the daytime. There’s just so many better lures to use at night, for me, at least. I just don’t have a patience for the worm at night. Next is a punch rig 65lb braid, 2oz tungsten weight with dual bobber-stops onto a 5/0 strait shank hook. The thick stuff is quite thick where I fish! I only use it during the daytime with the exception of nights during the full moon. After that is a bladed jig with a black frog trailer as well as a 3/0 trailer hook. I usually use that mid-mornings or when the wind picks up. Mostly at night. Next up is a big costume made jitterbug, only used at night. Talk about bone jarring hits! Next up is a custom made spinnerbait with a single number 6 Hildebrandt Colorado blade, big black thumper, only used at night. So, much of my summertime bait selection may depend on when I’m fishing, day or night, yet it’s still pretty much the same, very simple and very strait forward, very durable and very strong…..along with a big baits for big fish mentality.

Amazon Prime impressed me the other day. Ordered a Shimano Expride next day delivery. Next day I went on Amazon to check on my order and they had this real time GPS map that showed my house and the delivery truck. Now that was cool! I noticed the delivery truck when it got close stopped and I couldn’t figure out why it stopped like three blocks away on the main road and remained stationary. When I went to look outside I saw the delivery guy walking down my street with a rod tube atop his shoulder. He had pulled over his big rig because there were some low hanging wires that he didn’t want to chance. So he just did the delivery on foot.

Moving around has been my best bet because, frequently, coming back later on to the same spot can produce some nice fish. I launched just the other night and fished right at the launch area, which was unproductive. Came back later on to the same spot and caught a 7 pounder. Yep, moving around has always been my ticket or, as I should say, more a dynamic way of fishing. I just don’t have the patience to sit and sit and sit at the same spot that’s obviously dead as a door nail because, down the way, another spot could be going off and if you’re sitting at the dead spot, you’re missing out on all that action!

The big fish tend to do that, keeps me going after them. Don’t beat yourself out over it too much. I had a DD the other day pull so hard it pulled my kayak in a complete circle before finally pulling off. It’s still a sight for sore eyes to get a good look at them before they say “bye bye”lol