lake okeechobee

on

Fishing for bass is a contact sport on Lake Okeechobee and sometimes you end up bleeding from injuries – especially when you punching for bass! Well that’s what happened to poor Bass Quest when grabbing a 7+lbs Lake Okeechobee bass that I had punched out of heavy cover and he ended up bleeding all over the place! In summer you can’t beat targeting heavy cover using the pitching technique to present fishing lures to fish setup in water around heavy cover. When it comes to fishing techniques it’s one of my favorite and it’s such an intensely INSANE way to catch fish on any lake.

Sorry Bass Quest for making you bleed!!!

Key fishing lures were a punching rig with a Hawg Tech Tungsten weight and a Gambler 4″ Flippn Tube paired up with a 5/0 Owner Hook.

Make sure to subscribe to Bass Quest https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfKIGI8czqjH74H9LLV8yIQ

SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, and Support #RealFishing!

Want the baits, lures, and gear in the video?

Ark Invoker fishing rod 7’6″ Heavy https://bit.ly/2JMnm7h

Hawg Tech Tungsten punch 1/2oz weight https://bit.ly/2AcAL9h

Owner 5/0 hook https://bit.ly/2LHqva5

Braided fishing line 65# https://bit.ly/2Luxial

Flippn Tube fishing bait https://bit.ly/2uIqJr4

Weight peg for fllipping https://bit.ly/2uIIqa7

My sun gloves https://bit.ly/2lEd8fw

My Costas https://bit.ly/2OcFNVR

Subsribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/mikeybalzzfishing
Inststagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeybalzz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikeybalzzfishing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeybalzz
Website: https://mikeybalzzfishing.com/

LIKE, SHARE, love to fish.
#fishing #bassfishing

Fish, GoPro, Shoot Video, Fish – do what you love.

on

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!

Make Sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and support #RealFishing

https://youtu.be/4VBCrFRKg7U

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

on

Crush some late spawning bass with this pattern fishing Lake Okeechobee or just about anywhere. We run thru a day of fishing for bass on the Big O targeting late spawning fish with a crazy jig and stick bait rig as well as a chatterbait in super shallow water. These are some fishing tips and techniques you can use fishing in spring for bass staging and spawning in and around shallow heavy cover. And we got to do a subscriber meetup with James who is fishing a high school fishing tournament on Lake Okeechobee!

ALWAYS SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, and support #REALFISHING

Want the deets on the stuff in the vids, they’re all here:

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

 

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

 

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

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

Ninja Jig 3/8oz http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Ninja_Flipping_Jig_Heads/descpage-GNFJH.html?from=mkfish

My Costas http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Costa_Del_Mar_Blackfin_Sunglasses/descpage-CDMBF.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

on

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

on

Fishing for bass on one of the best lakes in the country – Lake Okeechobee. Fish are in a transition mode and we started the day punching mats with braided line and flipping setups – mostly a 1.5oz tungsten weight and a Gambler Lures Crawdaddy. The mat bite was not happening the way we hoped so we started targeting submerged hydrilla on the north end of the lake using a technique Donny figured out a couple weeks earlier. Basically we were dragging soft plastics with lighter tungsten weights through grass and the fish would react when we pulled the bait off the hydrilla – somewhat like a subtle reaction strike. Donny stuck with a 1/2oz tungsten weight and a Gambler Fat Ace where as I caught most of my fish on a Wrecking Ball swinging football head and a soft plastic. We caught a ton of fish, many of which I didn’t include in the video but the key was hitting that grass and working the bait through it. Fishing is starting to improve as we get some cooler weather but the water is high following Hurricane Irma so that will be a challenge in locating groups of fish moving in to spawn as it tends to spread them out a bit. All in all a killer day on Lake Okeechobee hanging out with my good friend and local stick Donny Bass!

Weather:mostly sunny, slight breeze out of the east, air in the low 70’s to mid 80’s

LIKE SUBSCRIBE and help promote real fishing vids!

Here’s the gear we used:

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

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

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

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

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

Dobyns Champion Rods http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Dobyns_Champion_XP_Full_Grip_Casting_Rods/descpage-DNF.html?from=mkfish

on

Fishing for bass on Lake Okeechobee in South Florida is ramping up to be awesome! Fish are beginning to come in for the renowned winter spawn the lake is so famous for. Last week I found a bunch of schooling fish – mostly male largemouth bass – on an extensive grass flat that acts as an alley way for fish to move in to the shallower spawning flats. That day we caught fish on crankbaits, swim jigs, and chatterbaits so I was hoping to go out and get some video of some great topwater numbers action. Though not the same crazy action of schooling fish, the bass were still set up on the flat and a little lower in the water column using hydrilla and eel grass as cover. Here’s a break down of the strategies and techniques I use to catch fish on Lake Okeechobee when they’re moving in using large submerged grass beds as a staging point.

Weather: partly to mostly cloudy with heavy winds and rain coming in very early in the afternoon.

LIKE SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORT REAL FISHING!

Want the gear in the vids?

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

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 HDS 12 Carbon:http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lowrance_HDS-12_Carbon_Fishfinder_Chartplotters/descpage-CAR2X.html?from=mkfish

Gambler Burner Worm http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Burner_Worm_5pk/descpage-GBW.html?from=mkfish

1/2oz Jig head http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Swimbait_Heads_4pk/descpage-GSBH.html?from=mkfish

on

Hurricane Irma devastated the state of Florida in September of 2017. I captured our life before, during and after the storm – the damage, not having power, flooding and the decisions we made to make it through. There are also some hurricane preparedness tips that really can be used in any type of disaster or severe weather event.

I hope everyone who experienced the storm is finding some level of normal life by now and able to work through the damage they’ve had. We’re lucky overall – this could have been much much worse!

Even threw in there my first fish catch post-Hurricane Irma – a solid 5+lbs largemouth bass fishing in Central Florida!

https://youtu.be/dnJSe5bnUKs

LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE!!!

If you need to reup on tackle after the storm you know where you’ll find the best deals Tackle Warehouse http://www.tacklewarehouse.com?from=mkfish

on

There are still secrets when it comes to fishing for big bass during the hot summer months. It starts with nuanced bait and lure presentations and adjusting them for how the fish set up in cover and on structure when water temps start to push to the boiling point. In the vid I caught over 26lbs of largemouth bass in Florida using some of these less known techniques and using them in a different way than what your average fisherman would. Baits that really stood out today were big swimbaits, hair jigs, Texas-Rigged soft plastics, a Neko Rig, and a Scrounger Jerky J rig. It was an EPIC day and it all came down to analyzing where the fish were at different points in the day, how they were located on structure like shell bars, as well as how the bass transitioned to suspending over heavy cover like brushpiles and offshore fish attractors.

Weather was standard Florida summer – high humidity, temps in the 90’s, partly to mostly sunny skies, and generally very minimal wind.

Help grow the channel and support REAL fishing vids by SUBSCRIBING, LIKING, and sharing the vid with your angler buddies!

https://youtu.be/hZSL2tdZIRo

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 12 Ti:
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lowrance_Elite_12_Ti_Sonar/descpage-LET2.html?from=mkfish

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

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

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

GZ Swimbait http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Really_Big_GZ_65/descpage-RBIGEZ.html?from=mkfish

Powell Max 3D 775 Casting Rod http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Powell_Max_3D_Crankbait_Casting_Rods/descpage-3DCC.html?from=mkfish

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

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

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

Windshield Camera Mount Clamp http://amzn.to/2s6Dxs6

on

Fishing for bass using the technique of punching thick grass is an epic technique. High intensity one on one fishing combat! Probably one of my favorite fishing patterns, using heavy weights, big flipping stick fishing rods, and heavy braid makes for one of the best bites on Lake Okeechobee any time of the year. Catching well over 20lbs on a day that was truelly a grind!

Weather was partly cloudy, warm with a slight easterly breeze.

Want to learn more about the baits, fishing rods, and equipment in the vid – links are all below.

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

 

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

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

You need this graph – Lowrance 12 Ti:
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lowrance_Elite_12_Ti_Sonar/descpage-LET2.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

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

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

Gambler Burner Craw http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gambler_Burner_Craw/descpage-GBNC.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

Reel Shimano Curado http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Shimano_Curado_200K_Casting_Reels/descpage-CRDK.html?from=mkfish

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

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