Some simple strategies for pre fishing Lake Okeechobee when targeting bass for a tournament. I’ll be fishing the RMMC tournament on Lake Okeechobee in a couple weeks so here are a couple ways I get started pre fishing when I can’t be on the water looking for bass. 2 awesome resources are Google Maps and Water Level graphs. They can tell you a whole bunch about the lake before you even start fishing it. Especially for guys like us that work during the week, getting a jump start on pre fishing and tournament prep is huge and all it takes is an internet connection and a computer!

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Some of my favorite GEAR from Tackle Warehouse? Check it out:

Reel Shimano Curado http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Shimano_Reels_Casting/catpage-RLCSHIMANO.html?from=mkfish

Strike King 6xd http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_Pro_Model_6XD_Crankbaits/descpage-SK6XD.html?from=mkfish

Strike King 10xd http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_10XD_Crankbait/descpage-SK10XD.html?from=mkfish

Gambler O Beast http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_O_Beast/descpage-GOB.html?from=mkfish

Mustad Triple Grips (Change your hooks!!!!!) http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Mustad_KVD_1x_Strong_2x_Short_Triple_Grip_Treble_Hook/descpage-MKVDEST.html?from=mkfish

Camera – GoPro Hero 5 Black http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/GoPro_HERO5_Black_Camera/descpage-GPB5.html?from=mkfish

Sunline FC Sniper http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Sunline_Super_FC_Sniper_Fluorocarbon/descpage-SLFCS.html?from=mkfish

You need this graph – Lowrance HDS 12 Carbon:http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lowrance_HDS-12_Carbon_Fishfinder_Chartplotters/descpage-CAR2X.html?from=mkfish

Reins Tungsten http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Reins_TG_Tungsten_Slip_Sinker_Heavy_Weight/descpage-RTGSS.html?from=mkfish

JTK Hair Jig http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Hair_Jig/descpage-GHJG.html?from=mkfish

Gambler BB Cricket http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_BB_Cricket_3_12pk/descpage-GBC.html?from=mkfish

Gambler Why Not http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Why_Not_7pk/descpage-GWN.html?from=mkfish

Pegs for your weight (these are the best) http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/6th_Sense_Peg_X_Stoppers_9pk/descpage-6SPEG.html?from=mkfish

Shimano Zodias 7’2″ MH for Neko Rig http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Shimano_Zodias_Casting_Rods/descpage-ZDC.html?from=mkfish

Powell Cranking Rod 7’11” http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Powell_Endurance_Crankbait_Casting_Rods/descpage-CRED.html?
from=mkfish

Owner Hyper Welded Snap 33lbs http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Hyper_Welded_Quick_Snaps_6pk/descpage-OHQS.html?from=mkfish

HogFarmer Tremoring Hog Ties http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/HogFarmer_Baits_Tremoring_Hog_Ties/descpage-HFSH.html?from=mkfish

Gambler Swimbait Head 3/4oz and 1oz http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Swimbait_Heads_4pk/descpage-GSBH.html?from=mkfish

Powell Max 3d Casting Rods http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Powell_Max_3D_Casting_Rods/descpage-3DC.html?from=mkfish

Gambler Crawdaddy http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Crawdaddy_4_10pk/descpage-GBCD.html?from=mkfish

Dobyns Champion Extreme MH 795 http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Dobyns_Champion_Extreme_HP_Full_Handle_Casting_Rods/descpage-DCX.html?from=mkfish

Hack Attack Flipping Hook http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_Hack_Attack_Heavy_Cover_Flipping_Hooks_4pk/descpage-SKHAFH.html?from=mkfish

Power Pro Slick 65lbs Braid http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Power_Pro_Super_8_Slick_Braided_Line_Timber_Brown/descpage-PSBT.html?from=mkfish

6th Sense Peg X Stoppers http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/6th_Sense_Peg_X_Stoppers_9pk/descpage-6SPEG.html?from=mkfish

Gambler Culling Scale http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Digital_Culling_Scale/descpage-GDCS.html?from=mkfish

Gambler Megadaddy http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_MegaDaddy_5pk/descpage-GMEGDAD.html?from=mkfish

Power Pro Braid http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Power_Pro_Super_8_Slick_Braided_Line_Timber_Brown/descpage-PSBT.html?from=mkfish

Damiki Neko Rig Weight http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Damiki_Neko_Sinker/descpage-DNS.html?from=mkfish

All the camera stuff, the drone, floral hats everything you need to shoot vids! https://www.amazon.com/shop/mikeybalzzfishing?ref=ac_inf_hm_vp

Gambler Fat Ace Stick Bait http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Fat_Ace_5pk/descpage-GFA.html?from=mkfish

My Costas http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Costa_Del_Mar_Blackfin_Sunglasses/descpage-CDMBF.html?from=mkfish

Picasso HD Flashback Umbrella Rig http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Picasso_HD_Flashback_Umbrella_Rig/descpage-PSWHDFB.html?from=mkfish

9″ Bull Shad Swimbait http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Triton_Mike_Bucca_Bull_Shad_Slow_Sinking_Swimbait/descpage-TMBBS.html?from=mkfish

Dobyns Swimbait Rod 795 http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Dobyns_Fury_Casting_Rods/descpage-DFC.html?from=mkfish

YOLOTEKPowerstick 53″http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/YOLOtek_POWERStick_53/descpage-YOLOTEK.html?from=mkfish

The new Bass Boat is getting some final touches and I made the best decision yet mounting Transducer Shield brackets for my trolling motor and transom Lowrance transducers. There’s also a bonus install of the Grass Deflector and Grass Shredder. We walk through how to install the Transducer Shield accessories I purchased for the new bass boat. Just trying to make this thing as perfect as I can possibly afford and these graph brackets are the best mounts available for my transducer mounts.

Punching Lake Okeechobee for bass is always epic and one of the most techniques when fishing for trophy largemouth bass. With Florida spring coming it’s time to brush up on our punching skills and lay out some of the inside details from fishing rods and reels, baits, terminal tackle, and fishing tips for where – when – and how to target bass in heavy vegetation.

On Lake Okeechobee the best time of year to use this fishing technique is from October to April – basically what most people call winter is an elongated spring pre-spawn period for fish. This means waves of bass staging and spawning throughout these months and punching is a great way to target them. in the vid we highlight how to fish for bass in emergent vegetation like cattails, bully whips, and lily pads, as well as mats like hydrilla, penny wort, and hyacinth. If you want to learn how to punch for bass it’s all right here.

SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS – support REAL FISHING!

What’s the gear in the video? You can find it all below

Reel Shimano Curado http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Shimano_Reels_Casting/catpage-RLCSHIMANO.html?from=mkfish

Camera – GoPro Hero 5 Black http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/GoPro_HERO5_Black_Camera/descpage-GPB5.html?from=mkfish

Reins Tungsten http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Reins_TG_Tungsten_Slip_Sinker_Heavy_Weight/descpage-RTGSS.html?from=mkfish

Dobyns Champion Extreme MH 795 http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Dobyns_Champion_Extreme_HP_Full_Handle_Casting_Rods/descpage-DCX.html?from=mkfish

Power Pro Slick 65lbs Braid http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Power_Pro_Super_8_Slick_Braided_Line_Timber_Brown/descpage-PSBT.html?from=mkfish

Gambler Megadaddy http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_MegaDaddy_5pk/descpage-GMEGDAD.html?from=mkfish

Gambler Crawdaddy http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Crawdaddy_4_10pk/descpage-GBCD.html?from=mkfish

Hack Attack Flipping Hook http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_Hack_Attack_Heavy_Cover_Flipping_Hooks_4pk/descpage-SKHAFH.html?from=mkfish

Gambler BB Cricket http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_BB_Cricket_3_12pk/descpage-GBC.html?from=mkfish

Gambler Burner Craw http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Burner_Craw/descpage-GBNC.html?from=mkfish

Gambler Why Not
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Why_Not_7pk/descpage-GWN.html?from=mkfish

6th Sense Bobber Stoppers http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/6th_Sense_Peg_X_Stoppers_9pk/descpage-6SPEG.html?from=mkfish

Double Weedguard Jig http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Double_Weedguard_Jig/descpage-GDWJ.html?from=mkfish

This is the best way to get great audio from your action camera and the best shot when fishing in POV or first person perspective situations like fishing. This rig is comfortable, adaptable, portable and light weight allowing you to shoot for extended periods of time without changing batteries.

I film video for when fishing for bass every time I’m on the water and it took some time to figure out a camera rig that offered the shot and audio I was looking for. This is what I came up with, hope its something that can work for you when fishing from the bank, from the boat, or even when shooting general videos highlighting your fishing exploits.

Setup is super easy and links to everything in the video are down below. Not going to lie, was holding this video back for awhile as I think it’ll really change the way people shoot video when out fishing but as usual I’m always down with sharing what I learn to help other anglers get better video catching bass!!!

Music Cred – Mase, Ah Aaaaaaahhhhh: https://soundcloud.com/maaaaase

Camera – GoPro Hero 4 http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/GoPro_HERO4_Silver_Camera/descpage-GPS4.html?from=mkfish
GoPro Shoulder Mount http://amzn.to/2lkPI0t

Lapel mic http://amzn.to/2q6VUZB
Re Fuel Gopro Battery – 6hrs of Action http://amzn.to/2q4mYdC

SD Card for all day http://amzn.to/2q4mFPS

Capture it all. This is not a cooking video. Fidget for the best video. Breaking content. Punching for fish the best way with tungsten and all you need to fish.

Fishing for bass with hair jigs is awesome. This is not me generalizing, this is not a conventional video. This is my experience on the water using hair jigs to target offshore bass on Florida lakes.

I’ve caught a lot of fish over 7lbs using hair jigs. I only need 2 sizes, 5/8 and 3/4. I’m usually targeting largemouth bass in 13-30ft of water and those weights, even with wind and current, tend to cover all the fishing bases. Color wise, it’s simple – white. I prefer Gambler’s JTK Hair Jig which comes in a Shad color that basically incorporates white with a touch of olive green which is perfect for mimicking shad and other bait fish. If there’s one huge key to the fishing technique that I’ve found in the past 2 years it’s that a hair jig is the perfect hard bait fishing tackle for targeting suspended fish. Fish anywhere from 2 feet to 12 feet off the bottom. It takes some practice to dial in the retrieve and keep the bait in the strike zone but when things come together you’ll know you’ve figured it out!

All the stuff in the video is available through the links below. Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to keep the vids rolling!

JTK Hair Jig http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Hair_Jig/descpage-GHJG.html?from=mkfish

Camera – GoPro Hero 4 http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/GoPro_HERO4_Silver_Camera/descpage-GPS4.html?from=mkfish

Sunline FC Sniper http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Sunline_Super_FC_Sniper_Fluorocarbon/descpage-SLFCS.html?from=mkfish

GoPro Shoulder Mount http://amzn.to/2lkPI0t

Floral Hat http://amzn.to/2oASb5H

You need this graph – Lowrance 12 Ti:
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lowrance_Elite_12_Ti_Sonar/descpage-LET2.html?from=mkfish

Reel Shimano Curado http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Shimano_Curado_200_I_Casting_Reel/descpage-SCI.html?from=mkfish

Powell Max 3d 7′ Cranking Rod
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Powell_Max_3D_Crankbait_Casting_Rods/descpage-3DCC.html?from=mkfish