Zcoker

Yes, made of cedar. It's an 'Everglades' model though lol. The regular Jitterbugs wouldn't hold up to the fish (or gators) that I encounter out there at night!

Mines over 5 inches, so I guess it fits into one the biggest made category. Super strong with BKK saltwater hooks, 200lb split rings, 175lb front swivel, all stainless hardware... it's seen the jaws of two big alligators, and I got it back both times, yep, yanking it out of their month! haha I fish it same way I fish for sharks, "go big or go home" Holding up nicely.

I primarily fish the Florida everglades at night solo out of a kayak, all night, all the time and basically fish it like I do during the daytime. Most of my focus is topwater because I get the big explosions that way….big explosions equal big fish! I make my own wooden jittrtbugs and use massive saltwater hooks on everything. All of my subsurface lures like chatterbaits and spinnerbaits use big trailer hooks. Yet as pointy as I fish, I hardly ever get a snag or break-off. Frankly, I can’t even remember the last snag or break- off that I’ve ever had out there. Only snags I get are giant bass lol Call it it a sixth sense or a second sense or whatever, it’s a feeling I can’t really describe that you learn to adapt to…..you know where to cast, how to cast, how far, shadows, moonlight, wind, sounds, all those factors are blended together to become the “light of the night.” Custom made wooden jitterbug with saltwater BKK hooks Launching into the abyss These gals feed at night and when they hit a topwater bait, it’s like a nuclear bomb going off! Out in the everglades, I have less issues with gators at night than I do during the daytime. In fact, I look for them because not only are they easier to see but, most importantly, to find the gators is to find the fish!

I’ve seen it. Punching the thick stuff and then coming across a pile of fish, one right after another. Sometimes they’re there but not hitting quite yet, so coming around later on may surprise you! I’ve punched seemingly dead areas only to find them full of action later on. Chris Lane did this once on Lake Eufaula with his famous drainage ditch run, sat there punching the grass one fish right after another, he didn’t move.

Lord knows, I’ve had my share of battles out there, and it’s something that I wouldn’t recommend to anyone. Even with as many all nighters that I’ve pulled, I still sometimes find myself reluctant, or at least questioning what the heck am I doing!

I haven’t ran into any of those yet although I do keep my eyes in check, especially when around over hanging cover. The thought of one droppin into my yak does cross my mind, especially at night!

Everglades, about 7800 square miles. I rate it 5 plus stars all day or all night long. I can catch hundreds bass if I want to, not uncommon to catch 7-8 pounders back to back, really an unlimited Mecca that is truly untouched and totally unbelievable. A living adventure that is truly unique and astonishing, full of life like never before seen. Nothing compares, really. I’ve fished all over and them big everglades bass are truly fierce and will give off a fight like no other. The sharks of freshwater, I call ‘em. I’m surprised they don’t have teeth! First cast 8 pounder as an example

I wouldn’t spend a whole lot of time trying to figure out what makes someone good at something. Main thing is you gotta really like what you’re doing; gotta enjoy it for all of its challenges, rewards, and even letdowns. Every facet has to move you forward in an exciting way because if you don’t have that drive, then you’re not gonna be good at anything. Just fish, be yourself, and enjoy it!

Ain’t so bad asking yourself those questions. Helps you change your tune. Helps you become proficient. Even if I had a good day, I still reflect to see if there was something that I could’ve done differently. Nothing wrong with your thoughts. In the grand scheme of things, one could’ve done anything differently add infinitum. Living the moments no matter the outcome is fundamentally living your life the best you can.

Hey, maybe it’s not even worth it in your neck of the woods. Some places are just plain dead unproductive boring and will never produce that dream fish. So unless you go to great lengths to seek out more productive spots, then your time may be better spent on other hobbies. Only saying.

There’s crossovers every 1/4 mile or so along the levy. Stop and fish those. Buddy of mine got a 10 pounder out there by Rotenberger. Best to have a 4x4 or at least a locker. Can get dicey in certain areas. Those levy roads go on for miles out there, so be aware of that. And don’t depend on a strong cell signal for navigation, just a good memory!

That’s about right for Florida, bite dies at about 10am when the sun fills out. I usually fish the dark early hours into sunrise and then split. Where I fish (the everglades) the water begins to boil by the noon hour. So they gonna take cover in cool shade, which is my preferred method to catch them, punching them out of the thick stuff. Topwater does resume mid afternoon when the winds kick up. But, by then, the big storms are already rumbling. Don’t wanna be caught in one of them!

Used to live there in Boca at Sandalfoot Cove. Go west to 441, cross over to Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge, bank fishing galore, or kayak, or boat fishing, whatever suits your fancy. As far as your general question goes, called pond hopping, works well, no real issues, rarely a problem. And even at that, they just tell ya no fishing.

Might just need a bit of practice. There’s an abundant species down here in south Florida called Jack Crevalle that will knock your socks off. Easily caught off any beach. Wicked fight. Once ya catch a couple of them, should be good to go!

I usually start out with a banana on the ride out. Always always enough coffee for the entire day…or night. A P&J sandwich for a short snack break. About it for me.

I’m guessing the knot. If cinched down unevenly or incorrectly the knot can break easily. It’s not just the lighter floro line, either. I’ve had 100lb floro break from an improperly tied knot. Gotta pamper those floro knots!

I’ve learned the hard way on that one. Just gotta realize that the fight doesn’t end until the fish is released back into the water. Whether netting, boat flipping, or lipping, even taking a photo or weighing, always presume that the fish still holds all the cards. Stay strong and focused, never loosing sight. Always keep that guard up, never thinking that “you’ve won” else you’ll get a rude kick in the gut that can stay with ya sometimes forever!

Some good logic there! I have the same mindset and the fish i would’ve missed (if I had been wide open) just boggles my mind. It’s not all about the destination and the speed it takes to get there. Some fine scenery along the way to slow down and look at…or catch!

Fish stories are what dreams are made of. I’ve done that before on my kayak but the fish was hanging on the scale…..9, 10, 11….flap flap gone! Scale was still climbing! Absolute giant. The scale also went overboard while trying to grab the fish with my free hand. Double dipping lol She hit a slow moving 6th Sense Trace.

I can tell you from hardcore experience that it is. Nothing quite compares and it’s near impossible to put into words the rush when dealing with these gals!

I’m all about the everglades…period. I can go out there and it’s like being on another planet, which is different every outing. Always nice to go home near the ocean, too. Nothing like a spectacular beach sunrise to get the blood flowing…or should I say the fish lol For me, it’s one or the other that keeps things in check.

Way south is pretty darn hot. Was mid 90’s just a few days ago. Next thing you know a front comes down, pushing us into the low 70s. Then a few days later, it’s back up into the mid 80s. Those kinda temp fluctuations don’t mess with the bite that much, which keeps things going pretty strongly in my neck of the woods. So, yeah, could depend on how far south you go. Even still, southern bass can blank out with a bit of cooler weather which can make ya work much much harder to wake their tails up!

It’s also about mindset. Gotta think big bass in order to catch big bass. It wasn’t until I excepted that mindset that I finally started catching the big girls, catching them consistently. It’s kind of like the Super Bowl when a team makes up its mind to win. They’re gonna do just that—WIN!

I don’t fish much in the daytime because it’s simply much harder to trick or fool those big wise older fish. They know what’s up and can see much better than us what’s coming at them. They’re there, for sure, always have been. That’s how they got so big in the first place, by knowing very well what’s up in their environment. I wouldn’t say that they die off or disappear, they simply aren’t gonna let ya catch them.

I don’t get into any metrics or stuff like that, cut offs and so forth. The only thing I focus on is catching big bass because that’s all that I am after and that’s usually what I get, one way or the other. I know they’re there and I just make up my mind before I head out that I’m gonna get them! Easy as that. It wasn’t until I started thinking big bass that I started catching big bass. I figured that out a long time ago. For me, though, big bass would probably be in the neighborhood 7-8 pounds out in the glades. They don’t get too much bigger out there in the wild. So I settle for what’s consistently there and hunt them down and catch ‘em when I can.