01-16-2010, 10:00 AM
Cracked the dawn today and got in the water by 7am.<br />A guy from Chicago was the only other boat on the lake with me. His name is Lou and he followed me (with permission) around to some of my regular spots. <br />I started out just admiring the sunrise and trying out a new bait-casting rig my friend gave me. A Shaw Grigsby reel on a very light med hvy GLoomis 7 foot rod with a hot tip. It ran like a clock and after removing some excess overfill line, I was getting the hang of it.<br /><br />The fish were shy, but I was VanDam ripping a trap through the heavy weed tops and started with a very heavy 17 incher that loved a 1/2 oz chrome black back. I took a pic of him and the other boat with Lou in it and that would be the only fish pic today.<br />Caught only 6 total today, but that weather really messed the bite up. The water temp is only 50 degrees here and the fish are fanning in the bedding areas right now, so you know it will get crazy here in a few weeks.<br />I&#39;ll leave with a couple pics and try to be patient for better days are ahead.<br /><br />This is your Florida reporter signing off for now<br /><br />Stay warm<br /> emoCool