March 2015 Florida Bragging Rights

[SFL BassHunter]

Very true, but even then you should have seen how he was fishing it. Lol...

Yes the advice has helped me greatly and I am now catching bigger fish and with more regularity. But the bite has changed, before my hits would come just after my stick bait hit the water, probably because of the bigger splash and faster movement due tonthe bigger sinker on my texas rig. The strikes were generally harder because they were purely reaction strikes. I do miss those but i was fishing much faster because if i didnt get the initial strike i would usually twitch it a few times and if nothing then reel in and cast again. Now i fish slower. Also i think the bigger fish are attributed to switching fishing areas and seeing what is in the water. Vegetation, rocks that kind of stuff. Which you also taught me. Last but not least my hooksets were a mess and you helped fix that.
So yes i have to attribute much of my success lately to your coaching.

[Dark3]

just after my stick bait hit the water

[Capt. BassinLou]

Beautiful morning!!

[SFL BassHunter]

Beautiful morning!!

Good luck out there Lou, hope you catch a bunch of 15 inch fish. Like 100 of them.   Hope your son catches a big fat pig!

[Pferox]

Sure is pretty Lou, have a great time out there.

Don't forget to keep those hooks very sharp, Rick, that helps with hookset a lot.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Haven't caught a fish yet but my backseaters are having a good time. 

[Pferox]

Looks like they might hit 100 inches before Y'all do.   

[Took]

Haven't caught a fish yet but my backseaters are having a good time. 

So awesome!  That smile says it all!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Fishing is slow but the fish are nice.
Here is a plump 19"

[FD]

Good morning gang. FD and Rick, I documented each of your catch. FD, you regained the 5th spot and Rick you extended your 1st place lead by a bit. Good work you two.

FD, I have another question for you. You said that yesterday was a practice day for a tournament next week. You had some big ones but you resisted bringing them in. Why is that? Do you feel catching the fish yesterday will effect its chances of getting caught next week? What are the chances that fish will be in that area next week? I am just very curious. I hear tourney guys do this often, i just don't understand why. Thanks for your input.

The short answer is Yes. A big bite is usually the one you don't feel or you just feel one small tick on the line.  I just pull tension on the line and watch for the swirl. Sometimes you can get them to come all the way to the boat.   I feel like if you catch a big fish it affects their behavior for a week or so.  Is it true? Could not tell you but when there are high stakes on the line, why take a chance.

Most fish are resident fish.  Studies have shown that they are spawned, and if the conditions are right,  live and die in the same small patch of lake.  They will even migrate back to the same area when transplanted (tournaments).  The FWC has tagged and tracked fish several times to prove this.  The size of the patch depends on available cover and access to deep water (6+ feet in Fl). 

[SFL BassHunter]

The short answer is Yes. A big bite is usually the one you don't feel or you just feel one small tick on the line.  I just pull tension on the line and watch for the swirl. Sometimes you can get them to come all the way to the boat.   I feel like if you catch a big fish it affects their behavior for a week or so.  Is it true? Could not tell you but when there are high stakes on the line, why take a chance.

Most fish are resident fish.  Studies have shown that they are spawned, and if the conditions are right,  live and die in the same small patch of lake.  They will even migrate back to the same area when transplanted (tournaments).  The FWC has tagged and tracked fish several times to prove this.  The size of the patch depends on available cover and access to deep water (6+ feet in Fl).

I wonder why they don't consider a new spot that might be better if they are transplanted. Or if they lived in this small patch all their lives how do they know how to get back? Lol i guess its the same for cats and dogs that find their way home.
I also watched a video on BR, some fish management specialist talk about how bass only have the brain capacity to remember 15 minutes max and after 15 minutes if that fish is hungry you could potentially get it to bite again. If that is true then the behavioural change must be instinct instead of memory. Maybe you could get them to bite again but their instinct may hold them back making you have to work a lot harder to get the same fish to bite.

Berry interesting stuff!

[Took]

The short answer is Yes. A big bite is usually the one you don't feel or you just feel one small tick on the line.  I just pull tension on the line and watch for the swirl. Sometimes you can get them to come all the way to the boat.   I feel like if you catch a big fish it affects their behavior for a week or so.  Is it true? Could not tell you but when there are high stakes on the line, why take a chance.

Most fish are resident fish.  Studies have shown that they are spawned, and if the conditions are right,  live and die in the same small patch of lake.  They will even migrate back to the same area when transplanted (tournaments).  The FWC has tagged and tracked fish several times to prove this.  The size of the patch depends on available cover and access to deep water (6+ feet in Fl).

This is so interesting!  I am actually in contact with the research committee for the FWC in regards to tagging in my local lake. I have caught some large bass and wanted to learn more about their process. There really is a great deal of work that goes into learning areas, and more importantly patterns for individual fish.  Great stuff!

[Capt. BassinLou]

We will be wrapping up soon. We caught 23 fish, and 98% were caught on frogs. Go figure. I did manage to cull 2 fish and replace them with a 16.5 and 19" which i think puts me at 92.5." I will post pics later.

[Pferox]

Tenoroc used to be in my territory, man did they do a lot of fish research there.  Each lake was part of some sort of long term project.

Sounds like a pretty good day there Lou, almost hit that 100 inch mark, and the month is still young. 

[Capt. BassinLou]

Here are my 2 culls. 16.5 and a 19



22+19+18+17+16.5=92.5 "

[CountBassula]

Hi guys!

I'm still alive just busy as hell! New job is kicking my ass but in a good way MAYBE I'll have some time to fish soon

BE GOOD!

[CountBassula]

Oh yea. And Gambler still sucks! :-P

[SFL BassHunter]

Nice fishies Lou!

[Pferox]

Nice fish Lou, hi and bye Count.

[Took]

Man Lou you are making this difficult!  Great fish

[Capt. BassinLou]

Thanks guys. The fishing was a little on the slow side, but we managed a few quality fish.

[FD]

Nice fish Lou.

With my Toho practice over, my daughter, Taylor, and I are going to hit a honey hole in the morning.  I have been saving this spot for months so enjoy your lead for tonight...

[Capt. BassinLou]

The short answer is Yes. A big bite is usually the one you don't feel or you just feel one small tick on the line.  I just pull tension on the line and watch for the swirl. Sometimes you can get them to come all the way to the boat.   I feel like if you catch a big fish it affects their behavior for a week or so.  Is it true? Could not tell you but when there are high stakes on the line, why take a chance.

Most fish are resident fish.  Studies have shown that they are spawned, and if the conditions are right,  live and die in the same small patch of lake.  They will even migrate back to the same area when transplanted (tournaments).  The FWC has tagged and tracked fish several times to prove this.  The size of the patch depends on available cover and access to deep water (6+ feet in Fl).

Thanks for answering the question FD. Very interesting stuff. I never new that. Good luck in your Tourney next week.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Hi guys!

I'm still alive just busy as hell! New job is kicking my ass but in a good way MAYBE I'll have some time to fish soon

BE GOOD!

Well.... well.... looked who remembered that we existed.....  Glad the new job is working for you Count.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Nice fish Lou.

With my Toho practice over, my daughter, Taylor, and I are going to hit a honey hole in the morning.  I have been saving this spot for months so enjoy your lead for tonight...

I will enjoy the lead as long as I possibly can.  Looking forward to your monster fish pics.