Zcoker

In general, the only time the Garmin comes on is when I shove off, just to get a temp reading. Other than that, it never comes on again except for deep exploration. In that case, the unit then becomes an indispensable safety feature because of its ability to trace out my exact route. I've used that feature more than once to get me back to ground zero!

Indeed he may. Even still, it's a very detailed project that the OP might find interesting. Seems like a stand up guy, more than willing to help others.

There's a guy on the tube, Bamabass, who built a very impressive pond that he stocked with bass. You might already know about him but, if not, definitely worth checking into. He chronicles the entire project from start to finish. Seems like he had a lot of similar obstacles and overcame each one. From what I'm seeing, the bass are currently thriving. He's actually fishing for them now, catching them and tagging them. I'm sure he'll be more than willing to share information to anyone interested.

Yep, I've had them swing me completely around, often loosing my bearings. Nothing stable about these fish. From start to finish, it's one wild ride. They don't play. They're all natural, you see, not stocked and pampered. They're completely wild and face some of the toughest conditions imaginable. In that regard, they're mean, nasty, super strong, and down right crazy! Pure survival mode. It's very hard to explain a hit at night on topwater from a big mean nasty everglades bass...like a bomb going off!

From holes in the sky to beautiful daytime tornados to cloud-like hand grabs at rainbows....the everglades has a LOT to offer, including BIG bass!

Your opening line about hardly fishing for black bass says a lot. You gotta put in the time. Try moving around. You already said that you’re about ready to head over to the Panhandle. Gotta hunt the fish down and play them out. Takes time to do that, sometimes all day or all night or even many miles. Bite windows can be very spread out and happen very quickly when it’s colder out. They turn on for a few minutes and then disappear—poof! So being in the right place at the right time and ready to cast or punch is half the battle. Fish the warming trends. Slow is a good method but not necessarily a rule. I pretty much fish the same way I always do and still catch decent fish. Just need to figure out where the fish are at and what the fish want and then put in the time to catch them. That’s the secret that you’re looking for. They’re still gonna eat regardless of anything.

There's been some pretty big blockages lately in the main canal, so be mindful of that, or at the very least prepared to deal with them. Can use an anchor to clear the stuff out or a push poll or just motor in to break clear. The bigger mud bogs may be a bit more of a challenge.

This is very true. I work in healthcare, work with nurses and doctors everyday. They simply don't have the time. They're floored. On top of that, they have a family to deal with. Patient load is overwhelming in most facilities. These nurses need to be totally focused on the details in order to keep things clinically sound. Some find the time to go to a gym but, for the most, it's a 24/7 way of life.

Bass fishing is more a leisure sport for me. I get most of my heavy muscle workout on the ocean, on the beach catching and tagging sharks for NOAA. A full day or night of doing that is more than enough to keep me fit and in shape! There's no way I could do it out of shape, that's for sure. I also kayak the baits out 600 yards or more, all at night with big ground swells, jumping them in the dark, tearing those arms up! Then there's being strapped onto a 10ft unlimited shark rod with a big Penn Senator...some of these fish can pull over 1000 yards before they let out a hiccup. All in all, it's a brutal sport and even with a strong team of very fit guys, the fish can still put everyone into complete and utter exhaustion!

I use a Shimano Stella 4k most of the time but got one of those Daiwa 4k MQ reels and it’s just as tight and smooth as the Stella. Very happy with its performance. It’s around $200. Might wanna check them out.

No kidding, I usually catch 6-7 pounders and up on them. Is why I posted about them. They catch the hawgs but catch them over and over, same worm! Just the other day I caught three hawgs on the same worm! Yep, I'm sold lol

I'm sold solid on the Zoom 12" Ol Monsters, the newer fatter version. I fish them year round down here in the Florida everglades. I use them with a 6/0-7/0 VMC offset hook which I de-barb. Reason I like them so much is they catch BIG trophy fish! Not only that but they can be used over and over. They cast a country mile unweighted. I've caught as many as 10 nice fish before replacement--consistently. Must be a special plastic or something but they've sure proved their durability to me. They flat out hold together, even ripped up a bit. Other worms like Senko can go through a whole pack in a matter of minutes! They do work and catch fish but it's sure nice to use a worm and catch the fish economically!

It was a one-two-three punch for me with the bigger fish, starting off 2024 pretty good!

I was in my kayak, fishing in the glades. I saw a flash in the water while coming around a bend between two sawgrass islands. The wind was kicking so I had to make a long turn and approach from the other side. My first cast got tight to a massive fish (9lbs) that immediately dove under my kayak and then popped out on the other side, vertically wedged head-first between the side of my kayak and one of the sawgrass clumps—the wind had wedged the “UNHOOKED” fish just long enough for me to reach over and grab its massive mouth! I quickly pulled her up and into my lap, dropping back into my seat with a sigh of relief and with such a big thankful grin to the big blue sky above I just sat there soaking it all in. I just couldn’t believe what had just happened, which says a lot about bass fishing, mostly to be ready for ANYTHING!

No kidding. Scary stuff, that acute awareness of hopelessness, or at least the possibility of disaster. I'm pretty fit and it still took everything I had to gain mere inches. I can only imagine someone not physically capable. Best to be prepared in everyway possible, no matter the age or even if fit and in shape.

I had this happen to me once. I was out near Egmont Key just off Fort Desoto in the Clearwater, Florida area. When I went out all was good, wind was calm, everything looked good to go. BUT, when I turned around to go back I could hardly move! The wind suddenly picked up plus the current in that pass suddenly became wicked. The harder I paddled, I maybe gained an inch! Inch by inch I made it back. About exhausted me to death. Goes to show how conditions can change on a dime. Thank goodness I was wearing a life jacket. Could've easily went very bad.

It was topwater for me, buzzbaits, whopper plopper, spooks, stuff like that. Hard to imagine not using those kinda baits out in the glades but I hardly tossed them last year. The bite just wasn't there like it used to be. Funny how that works.

You said it yourself, "if the situation was reversed I would want him to be straight up with me." In general, folks feel about the same for most things. If he gets ticked off, so be it. I'm sure he'd get over it quickly. He'd most likely appreciate your honesty.

From my experience, you need to feel comfortable fishing with others and when things get rocky, it may be time to talk it out or just pick up and move on. In your case, it's more a family situation. You've seemed to have pondered about things thoroughly and maybe you're right about a few things. If you're that curious, just come right out and tell him how you truly feel. Say exactly to him what you're saying right here in your post. Ask him about it flat out. What's the worse that could happen? Him getting ticked or not going out with you to fish again? Not really a problem since that's what he's apparently already doing. So give it a shot if it's bothering you that much, which appears to be the case. Getting things out in the open and off your chest and clearing the air is a good thing for all parties involved, if the relationship is to continue. Be yourself and be comfortable fishing with whomever, is my advice. If that can't happen, find someone else or just fish solo. Hope it all pans out!

I have four annual licenses here in Florida: Freshwater $17 Saltwater $17 Snook $10 Shark $0

Be who you are, not who you’re expected to be. My wife started out with snook fishing, learning how to drop and position the hoop net off the jetty to land snook. Then she jumped into shark fishing, helping me land and tag sharks off our local beaches. Even down to the Keys, sleeping on the bridges and fishing for sharks. Or the Skyway Bridge on the west coast, hammering the bay. Or Boca Grande pass, grinding it out for big tarpon….I have her hand wherever we go. I have her blessing when I load up my yak to fish the everglades at night for bass. She makes sure I have enough drinks, clothing, and supplies. I have her concern, I have her reluctance, her fear, her hesitation, and, most of all, I have her complete understanding. She understands the drill. She understands how it’s going to be. She knows who I am and I know who she is. We’re in it together, happily!

I used to live in North Adams, Mass. Great places all over to fish up there!

Happens all the time. Recently happen here in Florida, a 47 y/o fitness and wellness instructor went out with a kayak club, of all things, and ended up DOA, no life jacket.

Obviously, if you get hit by a boat or something, then you can't very well use much of anything mentioned here. The only thing that you can do is to always wear a life jacket!

Now if you take into account living less than an a few minutes away from the ocean, then that's even more water to cover. I fish both. Both keep me very, very busy!