MM41 & MM35 Florida Everglades 8/18/18

[Capt. BassinLou]

Conditions:
Hot and humid
Winds: E. ESE. 5-15mph
Water Temps: 86-87.5 degrees
Water Clarity: 3-4ft
Water level: low for this time of year.
Fished from: 6:30am-3:30pm
Bass boated: 25

Rick and I met up and fished the Alley today earlier than usual. Arrived at the ramp before sunrise and tried to take advantage of the early bite. We both started with frogs and got blow ups right away. The excitement was short lived however. The fishing was tough. We had to work for everything we got. 





Although we manged to catch 6 fish by 10am, I was not satisfied with the quality and quantity of fish so  I called an audible. After Rick and I discussed where to go, we ultimately decided to go to MM35.
We arrived close to 11am, and made a run down the South Canal. Water quality was a little bit better over here, but unfortunately the fishing was still challenging. The bass were cover specific again today, and you had to play the numbers. Meaning, we had to cover a lot of water, but the bites could be found.



Around noon, a thunder storm was threatening and so we docked the boat and had lunch. Around 1pm we headed up to the North Canal, and the fish were more active in this area. Unfortunately another T-storm was threatening and we ran back to the ramp. Fortunately the storm moved on and we headed back South again. The afternoon bite kicked in and the bites were becoming very consistent.

We didn't run far from the ramp and since we were the only ones on the canal, the fish were blowing up around the ramp area. I caught a feisty bass right behind the dock!!  Rick had an unfortunate incident happen to him around the same time but he will have to tell you guys that story. My ribs are still trying to recuperate from laughing so much...  We continued to fish the ramp area until 3:30pm and I had to get going. Before we left, I checked the fish counter and we managed to boat 25 bass.





Day in Perspective: Rick, thanks for laughs, we had to work today but we caught em. Again the fish were holding tight to cover and their strike range short. Frogs worked again on this outing, in comparison to other baits Rick was throwing. All in all, we had good outing, and considering we are in still in August, we manged to catch a good amount of fish.

Thanks for reading. 

[Lipripper]

Thanks for the great report Lou and sounds like it was a tuff bite day for sure and glad y'all was able to stick it out in that heat and humidity. I can't wait to hear what Rick did that made you bust a gut    Nice looking fish pictures.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Thanks for the great report Lou and sounds like it was a tuff bite day for sure and glad y'all was able to stick it out in that heat and humidity. I can't wait to hear what Rick did that made you bust a gut    Nice looking fish pictures.

Thanks Lip. Today was bearable due to the storms and cloud cover. The breeze was constant so that helped. But the humidity would creep up on you. 

[FLO GROWN]

Thanks for the report Lou,glad to see you guys we're safe from the storms and got some fish in these hot and brutal summer time conditions.

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[SFL BassHunter]

Thanks for the invite Lou! Always fun!

As Lou mentioned we started at MM41 and it was tough. We were getting bites on the frog, but very sporadic.
As usual when the frog bite is tough, I look for alternative methods of catching bass. It didn't take long for me to determine the bite was tough regardless of the technique used. So I went back and stuck with the frog. If I am going to have a tough day, I might as well do it with an exciting fishing technique. Plus I wanted to really try out my 2 new reels. Both performed beautifully BTW.






At MM35 I eventually found my groove late in the day. But I did have a major snaffu as Lou eluded to. I had a few strikes on the frog using my Helios 7' H F rod. This last one blew up on the frog and I set the hook, business as usual. Except it wasn't. Suddenly "BANG" the rod snaps in 3 and I am left there holding 1/3 of the rod while looking at it in shock, not even worried about the fish on the other end. In fact the fish on the other end wasn't even pulling. I thought it had got off. Lou snaps me back to reality and yells out "Rick the fish!" so I start reeling after I untangle my line from the middle piece of the rod that snapped then start reeling in.
I thought, there is no fish, I don't feel anything on the other end. Turns out the fish was there, something like 15", nothing huge, nothing that you'd expect to break a rod. The fish comes to the boat turned over belly up and I think, well damn I set the hook so hard, I destroyed the rod and killed the fish. Turns out the fish was fine, I measured it, and released it and watched it swim away. I think the fish was just in shock like I was.
Though my rod snapped I took it surprisingly well, and Lou and I laughed about it because my reaction was funny indeed.


Luckily I was able to continue frogging since I had taken my Tatula 7'4 Frog Rod with me. I managed to catch a few more on this rod.


Sometimes small fish will eat a frog too!

[FLO GROWN]

Thanks for the invite Lou! Always fun!

As Lou mentioned we started at MM41 and it was tough. We were getting bites on the frog, but very sporadic.
As usual when the frog bite is tough, I look for alternative methods of catching bass. It didn't take long for me to determine the bite was tough regardless of the technique used. So I went back and stuck with the frog. If I am going to have a tough day, I might as well do it with an exciting fishing technique. Plus I wanted to really try out my 2 new reels. Both performed beautifully BTW.

At MM35 I eventually found my groove late in the day. But I did have a major snaffu as Lou eluded to. I had a few strikes on the frog using my Helios 7' H F rod. This last one blew up on the frog and I set the hook, business as usual. Except it wasn't. Suddenly "BANG" the rod snaps in 3 and I am left there holding 1/3 of the rod while looking at it in shock, not even worried about the fish on the other end. In fact the fish on the other end wasn't even pulling. I thought it had got off. Lou snaps me back to reality and yells out "Rick the fish!" so I start reeling after I untangle my line from the middle piece of the rod that snapped then start reeling in.
I thought, there is no fish, I don't feel anything on the other end. Turns out the fish was there, something like 15", nothing huge, nothing that you'd expect to break a rod. The fish comes to the boat turned over belly up and I think, well damn I set the hook so hard, I destroyed the rod and killed the fish. Turns out the fish was fine, I measured it, and released it and watched it swim away. I think the fish was just in shock like I was.
Though my rod snapped I took it surprisingly well, and Lou and I laughed about it because my reaction was funny indeed.
Luckily I was able to continue frogging since I had taken my Tatula 7'4 Frog Rod with me. I managed to catch a few more on this rod.

Sorry to hear about your rod snapping,what rod was it?

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[SFL BassHunter]

Sorry to hear about your rod snapping,what rod was it?

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Thanks Flo Grown. It does suck, and I actually have to contact their warranty department now and see what they can do for me.
I also still have to contact the warranty department of my 13 Fishing 6'5" frog rod. That one I broke accidentally some time ago.

The Okuma Helios 7'0 Heavy Fast is the one that broke today on hookset. What a disaster.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Thanks for the report Lou,glad to see you guys we're safe from the storms and got some fish in these hot and brutal summer time conditions.

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Thanks Flo Grown, fortunately the storms never got on on top of us.

[FLO GROWN]

Thanks Flo Grown, fortunately the storms never got on on top of us.

I had a long honey do list and re organized all my tackle , probably go.out Monday not sure where yet though might try the holey lands

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[Capt. BassinLou]

I had a long honey do list and re organized all my tackle , probably go.out Monday not sure where yet though might try the holey lands

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Good luck Monday!

[rchiuz]

Thanks for he report, glad you guys found some fish in this humid weather.

Those hooksets Rick, you may have to lighten up on the barbells for awhile

Well, like with any lost lure or broken equipment, it just means you need to do some shopping again


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[Lipripper]

Rick thanks for your part of the report and glad you caught some fish and sorry about your rod but dang that was a funny ending. 

[SFL BassHunter]

Thanks for he report, glad you guys found some fish in this humid weather.

Those hooksets Rick, you may have to lighten up on the barbells for awhile

Well, like with any lost lure or broken equipment, it just means you need to do some shopping again


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Can you imagine if I actually worked out?

[FlatsNBay]

Nice job fellas. Sorry about the broken rod Rick. Who let the monkey out??

[big g]

Can you imagine if I actually worked out?

It was probably already weaken from setting on all those trees!   

[LgMouthGambler]

Good job guys. Seems the Hulk hooksets finally caught up to you Rick. I can only imagine being there, that must have been one hell of a sight. Lol

<")))>{

[BarryFL]

Now we know how the 65lbs braid snapped. Ease back a little, big boy.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Now we know how the 65lbs braid snapped. Ease back a little, big boy.

I thought my hooksets  were tough, I saw my life flash before my eyes a couple of times and others I almost had to throw myself on to the deck when Rick layed in to them.   

[BarryFL]

I'll give him a hook sharpener at the classic. LOL!

[Deadeye]

Nice outing, once again! You guys have those Bass figured out down your way.

Sorry about the rod Rick. It seems that the more you pay for a sensitive rod, the more often they break. Doesn't matter the brand, just something I've noticed over the years.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Thanks Fred. Fishing has been tough, but this has been one of the better summers for bass fishing in the glades in quite some time.

[FLO GROWN]

Reminds me of the time I went to go setup on a fish in one of those bass hunters reeled my slack down set the hook as hard as I could ,the seat and I ended up in water with a whole bunch of gators around,that was back in the late 80's off of tamami trail  when the water was Crystal clear you could watch the bass eat your bait.


This is the canal we use to destroy them in,haven't been back in a long time,fun times cases of beer and tons of bass

[Lipripper]

Reminds me of the time I went to go setup on a fish in one of those bass hunters reeled my slack down set the hook as hard as I could ,the seat and I ended up in water with a whole bunch of gators around,that was back in the late 80's off of tamami trail  when the water was Crystal clear you could watch the bass eat your bait.


This is the canal we use to destroy them in,haven't been back in a long time,fun times cases of beer and tons of bass

Glad them didn't get you. I bet it didn't take you long to get back in the boat that day.

[FLO GROWN]

Glad them didn't get you. I bet it didn't take you long to get back in the boat that day.

Lol no my buddy grabbed me by the arm and swung me in the boat,had a Ford ranger pickup truck put that bass hunter in bed and went and looked for the hardest places to get into and had a blast, one rod and 100 bag of Charlie worms black grape green glitter all u needed.

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[SFL BassHunter]

Nice outing, once again! You guys have those Bass figured out down your way.

Sorry about the rod Rick. It seems that the more you pay for a sensitive rod, the more often they break. Doesn't matter the brand, just something I've noticed over the years.

Thats true Fred. I never really buy my frog rods due to sensitivity, but instead weight. I guess lighter weight rods seem to break easier too.

I'll give him a hook sharpener at the classic. LOL!

LOL I have one of those actually.