FL_Angler

There were also a few croc sightings around Grant and the Sebastian inlet area this year.

I have both the 765FLIP and 766FLIP. Both are great. 765 I like for flipping with 3/8-3/4 oz weights and the 766 I prefer for punching mats with 1.5 oz. Unfortunately I don’t have any experience with any other flipping rods. I think you’ll be really happy with the Dobyn’s.

You can bank fishing at any boat ramp along the St. John’s river.

I recently purchased the Dobyn’s DC 735CB GLASS solely to fish chatterbaits but it can also be used for crankbaits and spinnersbaits. It has a fast tip but it is a composite rod and tip will load better than a normal MH graphite rod with a fast tip. If I wanted a graphite rod I’d probably look for one with a moderate or mod-fast tip but with a composite rod I think a fast tip is fine for chatterbaits. But I’m still new to this type of fishing and could be wrong. Also like you I’ve been using spinning gear all my life. Finally got my first baitcaster this year and went with the Shimano SLX DC since I read about how the DC braking system is suppose to help with backlashes. The only time I backlashed was with brake setting 1 which is not for beginners anyways. I keep it on setting 2 which is for braid and have never backlashed on it.

Just got the Marshall and really like how light it is and the sensitivity. It was going to be for chatterbaits but I don’t think it will be very good for that since it has a fast tip and I use straight braid so now its going to be my speed worm rod. No experience with the “Full contact finesse” but I think I remember watching some review videos on the Victory series and they mentioned how that rod in particular feels more like a MH. Also have the Full Contact 7’4 HF and I use it for frogs and punching mats with 1 oz tungsten or lighter.

West Lake Toho!

I fished Lake Toho in Kissimmee a week ago and had to move up from 1 oz to 1 1/4 oz to get through mats that had hydrilla, hyacinth and water lettuce. Got through about 90% of the mats with the 1 1/4 oz. 1 1/2oz would have been ideal. 3/4 oz definitely wouldn’t have been enough unless I would have only been pitching to open holes in the mats.

Thanks for clearing that up! I fish from either a kayak or paddleboard and wanted a rod that wasn’t too long for flipping. I saw the 1 1/2 oz rating and thought it would be suitable for punching mats. What does the term full contact mean in regards to bass fishing? What is this rod best suited for?

I have a St. Croix victory rod that is rated for up to a 1 1/2 oz lure. Does this mean I can only use up to a 1 1/2 oz tungsten flipping weight on it or could I do up to a 2 oz? I’m not doing any over head casts. I’m only flipping and punching mats. I looked at many flipping rods online and they are all rated for up to 1 1/2 oz max.

If you’re coming down to Orlando you can also try Wekiva Island on the Wekiva River in Longwood, FL. They have canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals and there is pretty good fishing on the Wekiva River. If you get near Wekiva Springs the water is very clear and you will see some really big bass.

The babies love going for my top water lures and that’s about it. Never had a big gator come up to me and I fish in a kayak. Like someone else said, they usually submerge and swim away when you get close.

I think you end up relying too much on it rather than focusing on how you should be properly working the lure. It doesn’t even work all the time or on big Bass. It’s usually better for the smaller Bass.

I would say go to the boat ramp and ask the people there what lures they are using to catch the bass. Soft plastics work almost everywhere for me but when it comes to hardbaits like rattle traps and plugs there only a few lakes I’ve had luck with them on. For big spillway snook you definitely need big tackle. 4000-6000 size reels with 40-50lbs Braid and as heavy as 80lbs mono leaders. And you drag either a 1.5oz-2oz flair hawk jig or big swimbait like a Hogy on the bottom. Much less bites than bass but when you hook a snook there hold on because they will be big and pull like a freight train. Juno bait and tackle has a great selection of snook lures and the guys there can give you a lot of tips for catching them.

It works so well that it became a crutch for me many years ago. If you are not desperate to catch fish I’d say avoid any attractants and master your skills with artificials without them.

It’s starting to warm up now so I’d definitely try again this weekend. As far as bass fishing in the area I don’t really know since I’m in Central Florida. But if you like big snook fishing I would try the Lake worth Spillway. Bouncing flair hawk jigs on the bottom early morning or late afternoon as it’s getting dark.

Isn’t Lake Ida suppose to be a really good for Peacock Bass?

Thanks I will check them out. I remember years ago launching from a small concrete ramp next to Lake front park. (Not the big Marina)

I wouldn’t paddle there either. Even without the gators the water still smells like a toilet. Red Bud looks very promising. Almost half the lake has lily pads and might be great in the springs for top water frogs.

Thanks for the recommendations I will check those lakes out! Didn’t have much luck a few months ago around secret lake park but I was only bank fishing. I have my paddle board now and going to try Red bug lake. Lots of vegetation in that lake and looks really good for top water.

Thanks for the clarification! I didn’t know so many lakes were part of the chain. I recently discovered using Gambler Big EZ swimbaits for bass around vegetation. Can’t wait to try this out around W Toho and Kissimmee.

Thanks for the advice. I really want to try the Kissimmee chain after everything I have heard about it. Is West Lake Toho considered part of the chain? Really wish I would have made more time for bass fishing these last years instead of only fishing saltwater. Had some good bank fishing spots when I lived in Orlando. But I moved to Winter Springs a few years ago so now trying to scout the near by bodies of water.

Very nice! I used to fish West Lake Toho years ago when I had a Jon boat. Have yet to make it out to stick marsh or the Fellsmere reservoir but I hear it is a real bass fisherman’s paradise.

Can’t go wrong with soft plastics worms or lizards in Watermelon red flake or June Bug. T-rigged and most of the time with a 1/8oz tungsten weight.

Hello everyone, new member here but not new to bass fishing. I have been living in central FL since I was 2 and used to do a lot of bass fishing in my teens and 20s. Later on I really got more into saltwater inshore fishing along Florida’s east coast. My absolute true passion is Snook fishing but recently decided to get back into fishing for Largemouth Bass since the snook bite has slowed down and I got tired of driving to the east coast to fish saltwater every weekend. Looking forward to learning more about bass fishing from you guys.