1/1/16 MM 35 Alligator Alley

Capt. BassinLou · January 01, 2016, 06:17:51 PM

This will report will be very...very... short...

Rick and I fished Alligator Alley today from 730-3:15pm Game plan was to head West and fish MM40 and MM39 first before we stopped over to MM35. Well... right off the bat, we noticed that the area has been sprayed. I did read reports that locations further West were sprayed but apparently very long sections of the alley was sprayed. When we arrived to MM39, the whole South side heading West was blocked by hyacinth's as far as the eyes could see. There were 0 signs of life after fishing the area for a bit so we headed to MM35.

This area was not sprayed and the water was clear. Wind was non-existent and that felt nice for a change. We started fishing and again noticed 0 signs of life. None the less we kept on and caught a few dinks 2.5 hours into the trip. Later on both Rick and I lost nice fish on frogs, and that pretty sums up the outing. We fished for hours with a few misses here and there, but that was it. To say we were really disappointed is an understatement. But such is fishing. It is what it is. At the end of the day the fish counter read 3.

FLStorm · January 01, 2016, 07:06:51 PM

It's brutal out there right now. I'm thinking that an airboat is the way to fish the glades right now. At least you had good weather and good view.

LgMouthGambler · January 01, 2016, 08:28:51 PM

Thats rough. At least you didnt get skunked.

Capt. BassinLou · January 01, 2016, 08:45:43 PM

Quote from: LgMouthGambler on January 01, 2016, 08:28:51 PM
Thats rough. At least you didnt get skunked.

I guess...

LgMouthGambler · January 01, 2016, 08:47:08 PM

Told you to go to Lox. Lol

big g · January 01, 2016, 11:38:35 PM

Lou, told you to head for another spot. Fresh spraying just kills the fishing. The fish avoid the irritation. It might be screwed up for quite some time. That floating crap had been getting out of control along the south side canal for months. Head for the Holey land, or try Ida. Good luck buddy

SFL BassHunter · January 02, 2016, 05:31:20 AM

Lou pretty much summed it all up. Sorry I didn't jump on here yesterday to add my part, but I got home, ate and went to sleep with having just 3 hours of good sleep before the outing. My back was killing me half way through the outing too, and progressively got worse to the point where my sides were in pain and towards the end even my stomach was cramping up.

Sadly we had some chances to catch a few more fish but we missed those chances. I for one missed a very nice fish that may or may not have broken my PB. Wouldn't be sure without putting it in the boat but it sure was impressive. I managed to have it follow, and this big wake came up behind my frog, I was expecting a hit at that point but the fish dove and a moment later after continuing to work it the fish came up from the side and grabbed the frog. It's back showed and I panicked, set the hook and felt the weight of the fish but I yanked it out his mouth. Unlike previous hooksets this one was strong and everything was right except the timing. Not having fished the frog for a while had me jumpy and hooksetting prematurely. My frog skills have improved, I was walking the Booyah Pad Crusher very well and even got Lou's approval.
I missed several other decent blow ups as well.This is my problem with fishing the frog. Too many missed opportunities. But it was the only thing that seemed to work except for the 1 fish I caught. That was caught on a uvibe.

Capt. BassinLou · January 02, 2016, 07:27:36 AM

Quote from: big g on January 01, 2016, 11:38:35 PM
Lou, told you to head for another spot. Fresh spraying just kills the fishing. The fish avoid the irritation. It might be screwed up for quite some time. That floating crap had been getting out of control along the south side canal for months. Head for the Holey land, or try Ida. Good luck buddy

Yes you did George. I was not aware how extensive the spraying was. I thought it was localized further West, only until we turned the corner from MM35's South ramp to run West did we realize the full extent of the spraying.

Fickman · January 02, 2016, 01:15:09 PM

Does anyone know a good reason why it seems the spraying takes place at the absolute worst time every year? Way down here in S. Florida we all hear about bedding bass sometimes as early as November, and especially in December and January. Yet the powers that be not only poison the water at these times, they also have to roar around in the shallows tearing up the beds. Here I am poling my boat along so as not to disturb the area and the air boats blow it up! Is there a reason why they can't do their thing during the other 9 or so months of the year?

SFL BassHunter · January 02, 2016, 01:48:57 PM

The spraying was pretty bad. I mean the spatterdock was all shriveled up and the hyacinth was brown and dying. I get that they don't want our water ways to be clogged by the hyacinth and all but it just seems like the wrong way to go about getting rid of it. Clearly it wasn't working since the canal was blocked off at one point by the hyacinth anyways.

Swede · January 04, 2016, 02:18:14 PM

Lou/Rick -

You two are going to have to figure out who is doing the spraying, arrange a cash transfer for advance information on spray locations, and fish spray locations a day or two before spraying takes place. Oh and good luck with that

SFL BassHunter · January 04, 2016, 02:28:34 PM

Quote from: Swede on January 04, 2016, 02:18:14 PM
Lou/Rick -

You two are going to have to figure out who is doing the spraying, arrange a cash transfer for advance information on spray locations, and fish spray locations a day or two before spraying takes place. Oh and good luck with that

Tell me about it lol.

Capt. BassinLou · January 04, 2016, 02:29:41 PM

Quote from: Swede on January 04, 2016, 02:18:14 PM
Lou/Rick -

You two are going to have to figure out who is doing the spraying, arrange a cash transfer for advance information on spray locations, and fish spray locations a day or two before spraying takes place. Oh and good luck with that

Lol!!

Deadeye · January 04, 2016, 07:04:13 PM

Every once in awhile the FWC holds a Public Comment meeting where you can ask about things like the Spraying. Most folks I've heard of going get shot down quickly when they attend and ask about it.

It would seem that they are more interested in keeping the water "looking pretty" for the Pleasure Boaters than what is good for the fish.

SFL BassHunter · January 04, 2016, 08:04:59 PM

Quote from: Deadeye on January 04, 2016, 07:04:13 PM
Every once in awhile the FWC holds a Public Comment meeting where you can ask about things like the Spraying. Most folks I've heard of going get shot down quickly when they attend and ask about it.

It would seem that they are more interested in keeping the water "looking pretty" for the Pleasure Boaters than what is good for the fish.

Pleasure Boaters? In a canal? Ain't no one going out there to sun bathe!
I've never heard anyone down here say "well I'm headed to the Everglades on the boat so I can take in the beauty of it all and get some sun!"
Stupid FWC lol.

Capt. BassinLou · January 05, 2016, 06:16:10 AM

I am sure the FWC has their "reasons" why they sprayed in our neck of the woods, but I can say with close 100% certainty its not for pleasure boaters. This area is mainly used for activities like fishing and air boating.

jesterns2 · January 05, 2016, 06:53:23 AM

Quote from: Bassinlou on January 05, 2016, 06:16:10 AM
I am sure the FWC has their "reasons" why they sprayed in our neck of the woods, but I can say with close 100% certainty its not for pleasure boaters. This area is mainly used for activities like fishing and air boating.

Maybe they do it to push the lmb to certain areas keeping them from areas they don't want them in?

Capt. BassinLou · January 05, 2016, 06:55:52 AM

Quote from: jesterns2 on January 05, 2016, 06:53:23 AM
Maybe they do it to push the lmb to certain areas keeping them from areas they don't want them in?

Now there's the right answer. Lol they spray all of Alligator Alley just to ensure I don't catch anything.Lol!!

jesterns2 · January 05, 2016, 07:00:08 AM

Quote from: Bassinlou on January 05, 2016, 06:55:52 AM
Now there's the right answer. Lol they spray all of Alligator Alley just to ensure I don't catch anything.Lol!!

Lol! I'm sure with the first Walmart flw tournament coming it's all about the pro anglers and concentrating the lmb's into the main lake, basically making it easier for them to bring in bigger weights which in a sense would kinda be like cheating. I say you all get out there and fish them soo heavily that they get shy of the bite lol!

SFL BassHunter · January 05, 2016, 07:13:24 AM

Quote from: jesterns2 on January 05, 2016, 07:00:08 AM
Lol! I'm sure with the first Walmart flw tournament coming it's all about the pro anglers and concentrating the lmb's into the main lake, basically making it easier for them to bring in bigger weights which in a sense would kinda be like cheating. I say you all get out there and fish them soo heavily that they get shy of the bite lol!

I like your thinking lol!

jesterns2 · January 05, 2016, 07:14:00 AM

Quote from: rickdelprado on January 05, 2016, 07:13:24 AM
I like your thinking lol!

Lol!

Pferox · January 05, 2016, 08:16:19 AM

The Federal government subsidizes weed spraying, and in some rare instances, does the work. They usually contract out to the states or counties interested in complying. Their goal is to keep waterways navigable, something the pleasure boaters are more interested in. The majority of the funding is channeled to the South because most invasive plants are uncontrolled as compared to the North because of major cold kills up there.

Florida, like some other states also do weed control to insure proper drainage. From what I understand weeds growing thickly in a canal caused major flooding during a big rain event sometime in the past and now it is a regular maintenence thing. It is pretty important in Florida since most of it is low enough to be flooded all the time if it wasn't for the drainage system.

I don't know about other counties, but it was so lucrative that Polk had a whole department whose job it was to keep non highway drainage cleared and dredged. AND another department just for spraying aquatic weeds.

jesterns2 · January 05, 2016, 08:28:34 AM

Quote from: Pferox on January 05, 2016, 08:16:19 AM
The Federal government subsidizes weed spraying, and in some rare instances, does the work. They usually contract out to the states or counties interested in complying. Their goal is to keep waterways navigable, something the pleasure boaters are more interested in. The majority of the funding is channeled to the South because most invasive plants are uncontrolled as compared to the North because of major cold kills up there.

Florida, like some other states also do weed control to insure proper drainage. From what I understand weeds growing thickly in a canal caused major flooding during a big rain event sometime in the past and now it is a regular maintenence thing. It is pretty important in Florida since most of it is low enough to be flooded all the time if it wasn't for the drainage system.

I don't know about other counties, but it was so lucrative that Polk had a whole department whose job it was to keep non highway drainage cleared and dredged. AND another department just for spraying aquatic weeds.

makes sense!

big g · January 05, 2016, 12:20:15 PM

Over the years I have seen them spray the canals in the Everglades and Loxahatchee many times. It always screws up the fishing for quite some time. The biggest reason is water flow, and the ridding the canals from a chocking build up of vegetation. I have seen the ramps at Loxahatchee blocked for months years ago. Also the ramps at mm35 were blocked for several times and no one could launch. It is a juggling act between losing the ability to navigate and ruining the fishing. Just find areas that haven't been sprayed, the bass population should be up there.

topwaterfanatic · January 07, 2016, 03:07:25 PM

Thanks for the report Lou! The canals are sprayed to kill the vegetation because they don't want the water to flood when there is high water levels and to make the waterways easier to navigate.