Tamiami Trail 10/24/15

SFL BassHunter · October 24, 2015, 03:14:11 PM

Weather: Cloudy
Water: flowing and murky

Went out to the trail today hoping that the fishing would improve but sadly it all seems like a bust. After an hour and a half on the main canal I decided to try one of the retention ponds. The grass was way to high so I was only able to focus my attention towards the levee gates. After 2 casts with my heddon spook I had a bass blow up on it and pull it down. I started to reel it in but since I had a fence in front of me and was so high up even with the rod down the fish was able to perform some somersaults and jumping jacks before I could walk it around to a spot I could actually being him in.

I wasn't quite as pissed about losing this fish as I was last weeks fish because the circumstances just weren't in my favor and I knew it going in.

I then went back out to the main canal after several other casts with no bites. The canal again in a different area didn't produce a bite. I drove to the next levee and tried my luck there. I heard fish busting under the bridge but I was not able to produce a bite.

Afterwards I tried my luck on the ext canal but this time tried an area I never fish. At the very entrance there is a bunch of pads and water from the main canal rushes into this side canal. There is a ton of current and frankly I never thought fishing that would be productive.
I crossed a little bridge to get a shot at the calm water around the pads and the rocky bank. I knew I only had a few good spots to cast with the spook since it's a heavy pad field. I targeted the opposite bank just next to the pad field and had the spook land perfectly. 2 twitches and a bass violently flew out of the water and aimed to kill. That may have been the most violent top water strike I've gotten down on the trail. Was able to get the fish up to be measured.

Hey I'm happy I didn't get skunked and I caught my first fish on a spook. I must say I prefer the spook over the frog. It's easier to work and doesn't seem to hurt my back as much. It walks effortlessly. I do regret not taking my black and clear spook. Not sure if that one would have produced more hits. I am disappointed in the hooks though. This is the saltwater spook because it has hooks made for salt. But that fish bent the hooks pretty good and it wasn't a big ol pig. They are sharp though.

Lipripper · October 24, 2015, 03:30:03 PM

Thanks for the report Rick and glad you got a fish.

I would change them hooks if it's bent that easy.

SFL BassHunter · October 24, 2015, 03:37:53 PM

Quote from: Lipripper on October 24, 2015, 03:30:03 PM
Thanks for the report Rick and glad you got a fish. I would change them hooks if it's bent that easy.

Yeah I am going to replace them on my other spook too.

Lipripper · October 24, 2015, 04:11:40 PM

So you like spooks better than your Frogs. How well do them Spooks work n the weeds.

SFL BassHunter · October 24, 2015, 04:22:52 PM

Quote from: Lipripper on October 24, 2015, 04:11:40 PM
So you like spooks better than your Frogs. How well do them Spooks work n the weeds.

In light pads you can walk the spook carefully through with minimal hangups. But in heavy cover the frog reigns supreme.

Lipripper · October 24, 2015, 04:24:22 PM

Yelp I know you would have a frog in your bag for them thick spots

Capt. BassinLou · October 24, 2015, 07:15:34 PM

Thanks for the report Rick. Sorry the outing didn't produce more fish for you. With the wind we have been having lately, the water is pretty stirred up.

On a side note... Master walking the spook and the frog will be a piece of cake to walk.....

I fished the spook a lot before I starting fishing the frog. Transitioning to the frog was easy for me because of the spook.

SFL BassHunter · October 24, 2015, 07:23:22 PM

Oh I already mastered the spook. I find it much easier than the frog in fact I had the spook down within 5 minutes.

Capt. BassinLou · October 24, 2015, 07:31:20 PM

Quote from: rickdelprado on October 24, 2015, 07:23:22 PM
Oh I already mastered the spook. I find it much easier than the frog in fact I had the spook down within 5 minutes.

Hmmm interesting. Spook will catch you some big fish too.

SFL BassHunter · October 24, 2015, 09:59:55 PM

Quote from: Bassinlou on October 24, 2015, 07:31:20 PM
Hmmm interesting. Spook will catch you some big fish too.

do you find it more difficult to walk than a frog?

Swede · October 24, 2015, 10:26:14 PM

Ben fishing the Spook up here on Seminole most of the summer. Definitely a big fish bait that will trigger those natural instincts to attack. Who hates a good topwater bite??? No one

LgMouthGambler · October 25, 2015, 01:21:50 AM

Good stuff Rick.

SFL BassHunter · October 25, 2015, 05:36:29 AM

Quote from: Swede on October 24, 2015, 10:26:14 PM
Ben fishing the Spook up here on Seminole most of the summer. Definitely a big fish bait that will trigger those natural instincts to attack. Who hates a good topwater bite??? No one

Love a good top water bite!
So swede I am curious about how you feel about the treble hooks on the spooks. Do you replace them or have you had yours hold up? Also have you tried the saltwater ones or just the regular ones. The hooks are different. But I would have thought the saltwater hooks would be sturdier.

Capt. BassinLou · October 25, 2015, 07:43:58 AM

Quote from: rickdelprado on October 24, 2015, 09:59:55 PM
do you find it more difficult to walk than a frog?

I find the spook is easy to walk if set up correctly. Like anything else technique is key. The point I was trying to make was the fact that if the angler is a proficient spook user, transitioning to walking a HB frog will not be to difficult to master. There are just some slight adjustments you have to make.

SFL BassHunter · October 25, 2015, 07:49:23 AM

Quote from: Bassinlou on October 25, 2015, 07:43:58 AM
I find the spook is easy to walk if set up correctly. Like anything else technique is key. The point I was trying to make was the fact that if the angler is a proficient spook user, transitioning to walking a HB frog will not be to difficult to master. There are just some slight adjustments you have to make.

It's strange with the hollow body I have to cast to my right because I have to twitch the rod to the left. If I cast to my left on the bank I have to face the frog and twitch left which means I'm hitting all kinds of grass and trees and stuff. If I twitch to my right my frog fails to walk and the fish laugh at me.
I know I'm weird.

With the spook I didn't have that problem. I was walking it no matter what side I cast to. Twitching right or left up or down it didn't matter.

Capt. BassinLou · October 25, 2015, 07:54:27 AM

Quote from: rickdelprado on October 25, 2015, 07:49:23 AM
It's strange with the hollow body I have to cast to my right because I have to twitch the rod to the left. If I cast to my left on the bank I have to face the frog and twitch left which means I'm hitting all kinds of grass and trees and stuff. If I twitch to my right my frog fails to walk and the fish laugh at me.
I know I'm weird.

With the spook I didn't have that problem. I was walking it no matter what side I cast to. Twitching right or left up or down it didn't matter.

Fascinating....

.. the technique should not change...

Swede · October 25, 2015, 07:33:49 PM

Quote from: rickdelprado on October 25, 2015, 05:36:29 AM
Love a good top water bite!
So swede I am curious about how you feel about the treble hooks on the spooks. Do you replace them or have you had yours hold up? Also have you tried the saltwater ones or just the regular ones. The hooks are different. But I would have thought the saltwater hooks would be sturdier.

I like Mustad Triple Grips so I replace the hooks. Saltwater Spooks - funny you mention that because the saltwater color "Redfish" is one heck of a good color on Seminole.

SFL BassHunter · October 25, 2015, 10:02:21 PM

Quote from: Swede on October 25, 2015, 07:33:49 PM
I like Mustad Triple Grips so I replace the hooks. Saltwater Spooks - funny you mention that because the saltwater color "Redfish" is one heck of a good color on Seminole.

That's an interesting color to throw on a lake. I had bought my 2 spooks for a saltwater fishing trip that never happened and the colors I picked were specifically to target redfish snook and tarpon. Figured I would give them a shot with bass since I like bright color lures lol.
I actually bought some mustard triple grips yesterday to replace the spook hooks. Watched a video of mikeybalzz and he highly recommended replacing crank bait and well treble hook type baits with the triple grips.