February 2015 Florida Bragging Rights

[Capt. BassinLou]

Thanks Lou! You were right about my hooksets. I was setting them way to early. My reaction time was based on saltwater fishing, with snapper when you feel the bite you set the hook. They don't swallow the bait and hold it in the mouths like that unless they are big snapper. Mostly they take chunks out of the bait so you have to set the hook immediately.

I was able to calm down when I felt the initial bite, reel down, feel the weight and then set the hook. It worked!

Next Saturday will be my last chance to cull bigger fish, so I will have to make the most of it. I'll be spooling my 40 lb braid on the B/C before then. Maybe go to the park and get some practice on it Tuesday and Thursday.

Sounds like a good game plan. Best of luck.

[bfn18]

Only one of the day.
16"

[Capt. BassinLou]

BFN I documented your catch.

[LgMouthGambler]

Garbage day. Lou and his Mexican voodoo.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Garbage day. Lou and his Mexican voodoo.

If it makes u feel better, i did not get a sniff at the canal today.

[SFL BassHunter]

Garbage day. Lou and his Mexican voodoo.

You should fear the Santeria it can wreck your life.

But you should give them Senkos a try. They work wonders when nothing else seems to be working. There were 2 guys fishing the trail yesterday with live shiners and told me they had not gotten a bite. I then pulled out the 50 pack of stick-o's and started catching fish. Shaky head jig with a needle worm, or a senko has also been another go to for me lately.
Who needs live shiners when you have stick baits.
I only suggest that because I know how much some of you guys hate the evil senko ! lol 

[Capt. BassinLou]

Here are the numbers for the week. If anyone posts pics after this I will make the necessary modifications.

1. Bassinlou: 5 fish: 91"

2. LMG: 5 fish: 88.5"
3. CountBassula: 5 fish: 81.75"
4. PZ: 5 fish: 78.75"
5. SWEDE: 4 fish: 72"

6. RickD.: 5 fish: 69"
7. WEST: 5 fish: 68.25"
8. BOATS: 4 fish: 57.8"
9. MCS: 3 fish: 34.75"
10. BFN: 2 fish: 28"
11. DARK: 1 fish: 22"
12. TWIG: 1 fish: 13"

Everyone mark your calendars. This month is over next Saturday Feb 28 at 11:59 pm Best of luck to everyone. It's still anyone's contest. 

[BOATS]

Might get one more chance.

[West6550]

Hitting Kissimmee in the AM on my buddies big boat. Seen a ton of big bass boats leaving that area today. Must of been a local tournament.

Looking forward to fishing and not working.. it has been an insane few days to say the least.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Hitting Kissimmee in the AM on my buddies big boat. Seen a ton of big bass boats leaving that area today. Must of been a local tournament.

Looking forward to fishing and not working.. it has been an insane few days to say the least.

Enjoy your outing. What is the weather outlook for you this week West?

[West6550]

High of 80 low of 60. 8 mph winds only a 10 percent chance of rain.

[Capt. BassinLou]

High of 80 low of 60. 8 mph winds only a 10 percent chance of rain.

Sounds nice, good luck tomorrow

[Deadeye]

Well finally got two for the board, Should of had my five. First one came early on Topwater, then I switch to flipping a Creature Bait. I am somewhat new to Flipping and since I use and like Gammy's for my wormhooks I i have been using the Gammy Heavy Cover hook for flipping.

I have read that several people do not like these for flipping and I now agree. First the bait keeper is just a wrapped wire that doesn't do that good of a job. Second I had "missed" several fish over the last year or so, that I thought was just my fault for bad hookset or something.

Today I "missed or lost three fish. 1st one was at the boat and the hook had barely passed through the Havoc bait, which is only what 1/4" thick? 2nd one I let take it longer and crossed his eyes, should of been an easy catch. Nope, nothing didn't even come all the way through.

I checked the hook for sharpness and while it wasn't bad I re-did it until it would dig and scratch my thumbnail. Next fish hit like a ton of bricks, I mean hard. I set the hook hard enough to make the gears clack together in the reel, which I've only heard a couple of times and it was always on big/heavy fish. Nothing. Came back empty.

I put the hook all the way through the bait and barely skin hooked it, not what you want for cover fishing, and got the next one. But even it wasn't hooked all the well. That was it I took that hook off and I'm done with them. Put on a Eagle Claw Lazor Sharp Flipping Hook and right away I noticed how much better the Bait Keeper was designed. Didn't get another bite, but did get hooked into some reeds and pads. With the Gammy's I usually end up getting pulled over to whatever and work to get undone. Not with the Lazors. Gave it a jerk and that hook sliced right through those pads like nothing.

Figured I'd pass that along for anyone considering using the Gammy Flip Hooks, save your money.

Anyway here are my two for the month so far:  14 + 15.5 = 29.5



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[Capt. BassinLou]

Good to see you back on the water Fred.

[Deadeye]

Good to see you back on the water Fred.

Thanks, it was great to be back!

[West6550]

Nice read Fred.  I like the Owner twistlock flippin hooks the most.  Work great on baits that are a little soft.



I was actually thinking about getting some jig hooks that are that angle and buying the springs.  Might be cheaper.

Trokars are nice too but $$$

[LgMouthGambler]

Fred, I find that when using some hooks, like Gammys or even Trokars, sometimes you need to take a pair of pliers and bend the hook out just a bit to increase the hookups. Especially when I am using a flipping hook I will bend just a few degrees out. Food for thought.

[MCS]

Fred, I find that when using some hooks, like Gammys or even Trokars, sometimes you need to take a pair of pliers and bend the hook out just a bit to increase the hookups. Especially when I am using a flipping hook I will bend just a few degrees out. Food for thought.

You mean to the left/right a hair so it is not straight with the bait?/// I like the VMC, they do this. But havnt used their flipping hooks.

I agree West, Owner makes some good hooks, they are my top choice but I don't always want to spend the $$$ so VMC or Academy are 2 and 3. 

[LgMouthGambler]

You mean to the left/right a hair so it is not straight with the bait?/// I like the VMC, they do this. But havnt used their flipping hooks.

I agree West, Owner makes some good hooks, they are my top choice but I don't always want to spend the $$$ so VMC or Academy are 2 and 3. 

No. Inline with the hook, just bend it up/out a few degrees.

[CountBassula]

Yea voodoo crap! Fishing sucked yesterday. Gambler I say we hit lake CS on Saturday :-)

[LgMouthGambler]

Yea voodoo crap! Fishing sucked yesterday. Gambler I say we hit lake CS on Saturday :-)

Maybe, but not looking good for this weekend.

[CountBassula]

Maybe, but not looking good for this weekend.

How about we skip work tomorrow morning, call in sick ahmmm

[LgMouthGambler]

How about we skip work tomorrow morning, call in sick ahmmm

I wish.

[MCS]

Lol. Martin does get to work until 11 his butt should win the thing every month

[CountBassula]

Lol. Martin does get to work until 11 his butt should win the thing every month

well if i get the gig i'm after i'll be doing real 9-6 5 days a week. lame! sooo lame! but $$$ not so lame