Saturday 3/20/19

First Light-11:00

Mostly cloudy

Light wind

85*

W/T 74*

 

Went out solo and ran to the weir on the north side.  Threw a skip shad into the pads and there was a huge explosion.  I set the hook, and it started swimming out into deeper water.  I then realized it wasn't a bass but an 8 foot gator.  He let me pull him around a little and then realized he was hooked and took off like a bat out of hell.  He pulled the boat about 20 feet and the line broke, thank God.  I would have cut it anyway.  He is now wearing a skip shad like a nose ring.  Started throwing a fluke and caught a few small ones.  Electronics said there were fish deep holding around scattered weed clumps.  I fished slow along the bottom and picked up some bigger fish.   Lots of boat action out there.  I think some of the Okeechobee guys are staying closer to home.

 

I finished with 20 bass, biggest 18" and 17.5", a bunch of dinks, a bunch of Oscars, and a huge mudfish.  Fun morning with lots of action for such a short trip.

 

9 hours ago, geo g said:

Saturday 3/20/19

First Light-11:00

Mostly cloudy

Light wind

85*

W/T 74*

 

Went out solo and ran to the weir on the north side.  Threw a skip shad into the pads and there was a huge explosion.  I set the hook, and it started swimming out into deeper water.  I then realized it wasn't a bass but an 8 foot gator.  He let me pull him around a little and then realized he was hooked and took off like a bat out of hell.  He pulled the boat about 20 feet and the line broke, thank God.  I would have cut it anyway.  He is now wearing a skip shad like a nose ring.  Started throwing a fluke and caught a few small ones.  Electronics said there were fish deep holding around scattered weed clumps.  I fished slow along the bottom and picked up some bigger fish.   Lots of boat action out there.  I think some of the Okeechobee guys are staying closer to home.

 

I finished with 20 bass, biggest 18" and 17.5", a bunch of dinks, a bunch of Oscars, and a huge mudfish.  Fun morning with lots of action for such a short trip.

 

 

Good report. Okeechobee didn't treat many people nicely in the last BFL. Water is getting lower, little front came through. Fished it for a few days had a handful around 4-4.5 but otherwise slow. 

Everyone tells me dangerous running in some areas.

It's funny, last summer was the first time I hooked gators, and three at that! All were small around 3' or so and they got themselves off of the hook.

It does happen from time to time, especially if your throwing back in the pad fields.  It has happened to me a few times, never intentional.