March 2015 Florida Bragging Rights

[Deadeye]

Dang Lou you are really slipping.

FWIW:

In October Evo Chris posted two 24" he caught at the Classic.

And I won Big Fish that month with the 25" I posted.

And now we get to all pile on Lou........

Love you Lou!!

[LgMouthGambler]

Thank you bit had been slow here with dropping water, but I have been "lucky" from time to time.

We got crazy high water down here right now with the rain.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Dang Lou you are really slipping.

FWIW:

In October Evo Chris posted two 24" he caught at the Classic.

And I won Big Fish that month with the 25" I posted.

And now we get to all pile on Lou........

Love you Lou!!

Damn... i really dropped the ball on this one. Lol!! Sorry. Tried to do something fun and quick and missed some important numbers.

[Deadeye]

Have a great event Fred. Let's see if you can duplicate last yrs April numbers.

Oh I'll be back after Bike Week before the month ends. Bike Week runs March 6-15. Then LOOK OUT!

Oh to add to the details from today, All these fish came from what I believe is a Shell Bar or something of the sort that has a hard bottom that is only about 3-4 ft wide and runs about 75 yards or so. There are pads growing on it and while they look like all the other pads in the area they are the only ones growing on a hard bottom, the rest are on slit.

I'd like to say I am a genius for finding it, but the truth is I found it last year when I saw some floating pads that were out away from all the other Stem Pads and I fished it because it looked different. I have caught many fish off of the spot since I found it including a nice 6 lber. Those areas that have a hard bottom make all the difference if you can find them.

[Deadeye]

Damn... i really dropped the ball on this one. Lol!! Sorry. Tried to do something fun and quick and missed some important numbers.

Just take 25 inches off of your AOY total and we will all call it even........

By the way, thanks for posting all that info. It was pretty cool to look back over the year and see what we all did together.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Just take 25 inches off of your AOY total and we will all call it even........

By the way, thanks for posting all that info. It was pretty cool to look back over the year and see what we all did together.

Lol... i feel bad, but i am not stupid.... lol. I worked my butt off for that ranking. Notice how i only show up one time in all those stats. You on the other hand show up often. So i have to fish my butt off again to keep you at bay.... lol...

I have a feeling that next year's BR AOY is going to get really challenging.

[CountBassula]

Ok, gang I apologize for not posting the numbers on time. Bad timing and exhaustion. I am all good now. I am going to wrap up February standings and the BRAOY in these 2 posts.

February 2015 Standings

1. Bassinlou: 91"

2. LMG: 88.5"
3. Deadeye: 85"
4. Countbassula: 81.75"
5. PZ: 78.75"

6. Rick D. 73.5"
7. WEST: 72"
7. SWEDE: 72"
9. BOATS: 69"
10. TWIG: 38"
11. MCS: 34.75"
12. BFN: 28"
13 Dark 22" And Big Fish Winner of the month. 

yea, this definitely calls for a Hitler video

[CountBassula]

and Jesus, it's March 3rd and this thread is already 7 pages long!

good think I accepted a new job offer, starting in 2 weeks, and I have plenty of time to catch up on this thread at work tomorrow

[Capt. BassinLou]

yea, this definitely calls for a Hitler video

Oh boy... look who finally made it to the party. Lol!! About a day late.

[CountBassula]

Oh boy... look who finally made it to the party. Lol!! About a day late.

yea, but I did say i'm on so... just in case you missed it... I'm in... and I know what Gambler's new secret weapon is, or will be soon... can you say creepy crawler...

[Capt. BassinLou]

yea, but I did say i'm on so... just in case you missed it... I'm in... and I know what Gambler's new secret weapon is, or will be soon... can you say creepy crawler...

I saw when you said you were in.

[ccr425]

This is for you, MCS! 

Went out for a couple of hours this afternoon. Air temp was 81* with partly cloudy skies. I was fishing in and around moderate to heavy pads. Started out with a t rigged craw with 1/8 tungsten weight and ended up throwing Hornytoads for the last hour. The fish seemed to actually want to eat the bait today with some really aggressive strikes on top. They've just kinda been nipping at the toads all winter which makes it tough to hook anything. Ended up leaving early because of the sun being at the worst possible spot imaginable.

13" caught on a t-rigged Bama Craw/Strike King Rage Tail Craw with 1/8oz tungsten weight.






13.5" caught on a Black Zoom Hornytoad






14" caught on a Black Zoom Hornytoad




These 3 fish put me at 40.5" for the month.

[Deadeye]

CCR,

You fish those Horny Toads a lot and do very well on them. I on the other hand have not had good luck with them. I've had lots of hits but don't think I have ever caught a fish on one.

So, how do you rig them and fish them?

[ccr425]

CCR,

You fish those Horny Toads a lot and do very well on them. I on the other hand have not had good luck with them. I've had lots of hits but don't think I have ever caught a fish on one.

So, how do you rig them and fish them?

I have good days and bad days with them. I rig them upside down compared to most people. The tip of the hook ends up in the slit in the belly of the toad. I make it protrude about 1/8" out of the plastic, but it's still hidden in the slit so it's weedless. Also, putting a slight bow/arch in the toad usually helps make it run true and kick nicely. The problem I run into is consistency. I've had whole bags of them that don't kick well, they kind of surf on the surface with no leg action. Also, the hook makes a big difference for me. I've been using Owner Beast 4/0 hooks for the last three years. They work well. Here's a pic or two.

[West6550]

Try the Stanley Ribbit Frogs.. they kick like crazy.

[Deadeye]

Thanks CCR. Yep I was rigging them the other way and using a regular Extra Wide Gap hook. I actually haven't used them in probably over a year because I never had any good hook-ups with them.

West I have thought of trying the Ribbits.

[ccr425]

Try the Stanley Ribbit Frogs.. they kick like crazy.

I've tried all of them. Up here the action of the Hornytoad is unrivaled. And they basically glide through the air for more distance. Rage Toads were the worst for casting. They are heavy and tumble when casted. Couldn't get much distance at all. The last toad I tried was from Gary Yamamoto. They are heavy and don't cast really well, but they have a more suttle action. The legs have more of a worm tail action. They worked ok.

[Deadeye]

I assume you reel them fast enough to keep them on the top. Or do you swim them under the surface?

[ccr425]

Thanks CCR. Yep I was rigging them the other way and using a regular Extra Wide Gap hook. I actually haven't used them in probably over a year because I never had any good hook-ups with them.

West I have thought of trying the Ribbits.

Im gonna try the 6/0 Beast hooks soon. They may help with shorter strikes.

[ccr425]

I assume you reel them fast enough to keep them on the top. Or do you swim them under the surface?

I keep mine on top. Although, I've had plenty of strikes when I wasn't paying attention and the toad was subsurface.

[Deadeye]

Thanks for sharing that info. This is what makes this a great place, guys willing to teach and share what works for them.

[LgMouthGambler]

I've tried all of them. Up here the action of the Hornytoad is unrivaled. And they basically glide through the air for more distance. Rage Toads were the worst for casting. They are heavy and tumble when casted. Couldn't get much distance at all. The last toad I tried was from Gary Yamamoto. They are heavy and don't cast really well, but they have a more suttle action. The legs have more of a worm tail action. They worked ok.

Have you tried the BPS Horny Toads? They make one hell of a noise. I just T-Rig them with a 5/0 EWG.

[ccr425]

Have you tried the BPS Horny Toads? They make one hell of a noise. I just T-Rig them with a 5/0 EWG.

Not personally. I fished with a friend tha was using them and he ended up going back to the HT. On windy days they probably work good by having more action. I have another friend that is a believer now. I caught twenty-something fish to his 3-5 fish two trips in a row. He had 4 different types of toads. Zoom just got it right for my area.

[MCS]

Have you tried the BPS Horny Toads? They make one hell of a noise. I just T-Rig them with a 5/0 EWG.

You know some of the BPS plastics look very similar to V&M, the toads, and the beaver bait. I got the catalog the other day.

[MCS]

I have good days and bad days with them. I rig them upside down compared to most people. The tip of the hook ends up in the slit in the belly of the toad. I make it protrude about 1/8" out of the plastic, but it's still hidden in the slit so it's weedless. Also, putting a slight bow/arch in the toad usually helps make it run true and kick nicely. The problem I run into is consistency. I've had whole bags of them that don't kick well, they kind of surf on the surface with no leg action. Also, the hook makes a big difference for me. I've been using Owner Beast 4/0 hooks for the last three years. They work well. Here's a pic or two.

Interesting way to rig them...I always used just a 4/0 EWG. those, flukes and trick worms were all I threw my first summer here. Black and yellow swirl.....I picked up some of the Bitters Buzzin Gators in black and junebug pearl swirl....You are absolutely right the horny toads cast the best out of all the frogs. The bitters do ok but they are heavier.