Consider This Situation... 2024
Weld's Largemouth reply :
Hello,
I've come up with a cool scenario and I'd like to see how you all would adapt and decide.
The Location
Somewhere in the South Florida Everglades, a shallow swamp littered with mangrove trees and brush piles.
The Time
Mid-July, sun is high in the sky
The body of water
Overall very shallow swamp with some few deeper holes. The water tends to be very warm during the heat of the day and the mangrove trees provide sparse shade. The only real escape from the heat is under a mangrove in deeper holes. The bottom is very muddy with some sawgrass scattered in shallower sections. The swamp experiences essentially zero fishing pressure.
The animals
-Largemouth Bass
-Bluegill
-Mayan Cichlid
-Various species of Tilapia
-Various species of Killifish
-Florida Gar
-Spotted Gar
-Northern Snakehead
-Bowfin
-Shiners
-Various small baitfish
-Various species of frogs
-Various species of lizards and newts
-Turtles
-Various types of birds
-Small alligators
The challenge
You are lost in the Everglades with your fishing rod and ONE LURE, you must fish to eat. You must pick ONE lure that you can use to catch various species to survive. The species distribution is fairly equal, you will need an all-around lure that can catch and withstand the fish in the swamp. State your lure, reasoning and how you will tackle the swamp and survive.
Tips-
-Remember the toothy critters
-Max depth is 4ft, while most of the swamp is 1-2ft deep.
-Be strategic
RULES-
-You do not have a net
-Lures only
-If you choose a soft plastic you can also pick ONE hook to use with it and you have FIVE of these plastics to use.
-You can catch live bait on lures and use them to your advantage (you CANNOT have a lure and a bait hook together, you have to choose ONE).
-All lures come in stock condition (no swapping out hooks)
-Lures with plastics as trailers come with TWO plastic trailers
-You have a small jon boat with a paddle
-You conveniently have a large cooler, anything you catch will be preserved in it.
Here is a map of I made of "The Swamp"
This should be interesting!
GOOD LUCK! CHOOSE WISELY AND BE CREATIVE!
Bassguytom reply :
I think I would be okay with a bare hook in a survival situation. I could find something to bait it with all those critters around to catch some fish. I looked for snakes in caves in another part of the world for a couple of years so a little swamp I'd be fine. Is it really that cold in NY already?
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 12/3/2014 at 8:51 AM, Bassguytom said:I think I would be okay with a bare hook in a survival situation. I could find something to bait it with all those critters around to catch some fish. I looked for snakes in caves in another part of the world for a couple of years so a little swamp I'd be fine. Is it really that cold in NY already?
Yup, the winter is hanging over my head
BasshunterJGH reply :
I'd probably take a 7 ft heavy rod with 80 lb fx2 braid and a frog. You could probably catch a ton of fish and not lose the lure.
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 12/3/2014 at 8:57 AM, BasshunterJGH said:I'd probably take a 7 ft heavy rod with 80 lb fx2 braid and a frog. You could probably catch a ton of fish and not lose the lure.
You ever fish with snakeheads and gar in the water before? especially with braid, it'll rip right away
BasshunterJGH reply :
No, don't have snakeheads where I fish guess I didn't think about that lol. What kind of line would u use?On 12/3/2014 at 8:58 AM, Weld said:You ever fish with snakeheads and gar in the water before? especially with braid, it'll rip right away
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 12/3/2014 at 9:04 AM, BasshunterJGH said:No, don't have snakeheads where I fish guess I didn't think about that lol. What kind of line would u use?
Depending on the lure my line would vary, but with a topwater frog I would use heavy braid with a thick fluorocarbon leader, and i wouldn't even want to use a frog, it would probably lose its skirt/legs pretty quickly and get punctured by teeth and sink. I might use Zman frog plastics on a single hook, as they are much more durable but maybe they would still be ripped up. Possibly a buzzbait with a good weed guard would work. Or even just a popper would work depending on how much surface muck there is.
Catch and Grease reply :
Squarebill crankbait because squarebill crankbaits.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Gonna use my cold steel srk carbon v and wrestle a gator to death, I guess...
BasshunterJGH reply :
I guess a weedless hardbait (if there is such a thing) would be ideal. Squarebill or lipless crankbait would be a good choice.
Tony L. reply :
On 12/3/2014 at 8:51 AM, Bassguytom said:I think I would be okay with a bare hook in a survival situation. I could find something to bait it with all those critters around to catch some fish. I looked for snakes in caves in another part of the world for a couple of years so a little swamp I'd be fine. Is it really that cold in NY already?
I agree with this one. If I am fishing to survive, I would be wanting just a bare hook of medium size. Probably something slightly too large for a bluegill and too small for a bass under ideal conditions, but would still be able to hook both species. I'd start by finding a bug or a worm and haul in a bunch of panfish, maybe use one of them as bait for something bigger.
Playing the odds and the numbers game, there is a lot more biomass towards the bottom of the food chain and therefore more nourishment. You stand a better chance surviving on a large number of small to medium sized fish as opposed to a few large ones.
Senko lover reply :
You put a lot of thought into this!
A 1/2 spinnerbait in chartreuse/white. Jig would be second choice.
Although, if you're going the survival route, I'd get a frog. A snakehead would crush it. I could get a really nice meal from the snakehead, and then use it's organs to catch bluegill. (btw, you can catch gills on guts, I've done it). Once you have a small bluegill, you can hook it through the head and catch a bass. Once you have a bass, you turn to gators........
HoosierHawgs reply :
Pike/Musky Gear w/a wire leader and a big Pike Spinnerbait. Throw it everywhere.
HoosierHawgs reply :
Ie.. The Booyah Pikee Spinnerbait
BasshunterJGH reply :
Good idea. I've caught bluegill on cow spleen. I'm sure snakehead guts would work.On 12/3/2014 at 10:20 PM, Senko lover said:You put a lot of thought into this!
A 1/2 spinnerbait in chartreuse/white. Jig would be second choice.
Although, if you're going the survival route, I'd get a frog. A snakehead would crush it. I could get a really nice meal from the snakehead, and then use it's organs to catch bluegill. (btw, you can catch gills on guts, I've done it). Once you have a small bluegill, you can hook it through the head and catch a bass. Once you have a bass, you turn to gators........
Senko lover reply :
Oh. But wait a minute.....you wouldn't have a hook for the guts. Okay, here's my answer:
a Yum Money Frog (toughest soft plastic frog on the market) with a 2/0 EWG hook. You could catch bluegill with guts on the tip of it, although it would have to be a big bluegill to use the whole hook. I have done it, though.
BasshunterJGH reply :
Sounds like a good solution. I forgot about the hook part too!On 12/4/2014 at 12:40 AM, Senko lover said:Oh. But wait a minute.....you wouldn't have a hook for the guts. Okay, here's my answer:
a Yum Money Frog (toughest soft plastic frog on the market) with a 2/0 EWG hook. You could catch bluegill with guts on the tip of it, although it would have to be a big bluegill to use the whole hook. I have done it, though.
fisherrw reply :
id probably use a hook cuze you could find bait probably and probably like 100 pound braid and a xxxh rod lol!!
sprint61 reply :
On 12/3/2014 at 10:59 AM, Catch and Grease said:Squarebill crankbait because squarebill crankbaits.
My choice also Norman fatboy in black back chartuse to be exact.
BasshunterJGH reply :
I have that same crankbait. Never did catch anything on it.On 12/4/2014 at 2:55 AM, sprint61 said:My choice also Norman fatboy in black back chartuse to be exact.
BasshunterJGH reply :
As far as squarebills are concerned, I'd go with a spro little John. They're the most durable on the market IMO.
BassinLou reply :
Cool scenario Welds!! I' ll play. For me I would choose my frogging outfit. I would throw a hollow body frog. Why? very versatile for the stage you presented. That time of year, in the glades the fishing can be challenging if you don't know what to look for. I would hit the vegetation areas of the deeper pools. 4 ft in the glades isn't much, but like you illustrated their can be vast areas that can be that shallow. For example the flats at LOX. Anyways.... coming back to my point, i would work the vegetation in the deeper pools, and look for areas that might have some current to it. That time of year,the glades is beginning its high water stage. That means afternoon storms. So water is going to be flowing somewhere. Find vegetation with flowing water and you will have some good success. Especially frogging. 
BassinLou reply :
Oh..... BTW.... I have caught the majority of the species listed with a frog. In the glades, at least the South Fl area, your primary fish species in those pools would be: Gar, Mudfish (bowfin) Oscar, Mayan cichlid, Blue Gill, Warmouth perch, spotted sunfish, catfish, and of course LMB. 6 of the species I listed will hit the frog.
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 12/4/2014 at 4:43 AM, BassinLou said:Oh..... BTW.... I have caught the majority of the species listed with a frog. In the glades, at least the South Fl area, your primary fish species in those pools would be: Gar, Mudfish (bowfin) Oscar, Mayan cichlid, Blue Gill, Warmouth perch, spotted sunfish, catfish, and of course LMB. 6 of the species I listed will hit the frog.
but will the gar and snakeheads rip the frog?
BassinLou reply :
On 12/4/2014 at 4:45 AM, Weld said:but will the gar and snakeheads rip the frog?
There is a strong possibility. However you fish out there long enough, you can ID the fish before the strike. Gar is easy to ID. Mudfish sometimes. There has been no documented cases of snakeheads out in the glades yet, but if they catch your frog, you probably can kiss it goodbye.
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 12/4/2014 at 4:47 AM, BassinLou said:There is a strong possibility. However you fish out there long enough, you can ID the fish before the strike. Gar is easy to ID. Mudfish sometimes. There has been no documented cases of snakeheads out in the glades yet, but if they catch your frog, you probably can kiss it goodbye.
Yea, since there are snakeheads in this "Swamp" frogs aren't a great choice. When you lose the plastic, all you have is a pair of hooks left!
btw congrats on 3,500 posts just now
BassinLou reply :
On 12/4/2014 at 4:51 AM, Weld said:Yea, since there are snakeheads in this "Swamp" frogs aren't a great choice. When you lose the plastic, all you have is a pair of hooks left!
btw congrats on 3,500 posts just now
Thanks, i didn't notice the post count. The scenario you are describing is not far fetched. But once you threw the snakehead in the mix, it became a game changer. In my baits defense, there would not be many baits that can withstand too much snakehead punishment.. lol
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 12/4/2014 at 4:59 AM, BassinLou said:Thanks, i didn't notice the post count. The scenario you are describing is not far fetched. But once you threw the snakehead in the mix, it became a game changer. In my baits defense, there would not be many baits that can withstand too much snakehead punishment.. lol
I've seen what damage they can do. I haven't ever caught one myself, however. The ponds i fish don't have them and i have trouble finding them in nearby small canals
BassinLou reply :
On 12/4/2014 at 5:06 AM, Weld said:I've seen what damage they can do. I haven't ever caught one myself, however. The ponds i fish don't have them and i have trouble finding them in nearby small canals
Yeah snakeheads can be found in areas of Broward County. The snakehead that I know of, has not been reported in Dade County or in the Everglades. Since you mentioned in your scenario Everglades, that counts the Snakehead out, but the bowfin its cousin is very prevalent and native fish for the area.
Matthew2000 reply :
Rage craw you can do anything with it
primetime reply :
a pack of assorted hooks, and I would find worms and insects to catch baitfish and then live line em....game over...
fisherrw reply :
I agree with BassHunterJGH little Johns are EXTREAMLY durable in fact it seams like all spros are durable... Just my opinion:)
Texas Pride reply :
i would use a crank bait
FunkJishing reply :
I'd fish a rapala floater jerkbait because the max depth is 4 feet so I'd be able to fish it fairly thoroughly. I'd take the front hook off and just fish it with the back hook so when i caught enough fish and the hook in the back got dull/damaged i could put the one from the front on the back and get more fish out of it. then when i felt the hooks were both dull I'd sharpen them on a stone. I'd have enough fish to last until I got rescued. lol
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 12/6/2014 at 5:31 AM, FunkJishing said:I'd fish a rapala floater jerkbait because the max depth is 4 feet so I'd be able to fish it fairly thoroughly. I'd take the front hook off and just fish it with the back hook so when i caught enough fish and the hook in the back got dull/damaged i could put the one from the front on the back and get more fish out of it. then when i felt the hooks were both dull I'd sharpen them on a stone. I'd have enough fish to last until I got rescued. lol
Genius idea!!!
FunkJishing reply :
On 12/6/2014 at 6:01 AM, Weld said:Genius idea!!!
thanks 
haha
Master Bait'r reply :
On 12/4/2014 at 4:45 AM, Weld said:but will the gar and snakeheads rip the frog?
I didn't hear any restrictions on mend-it!
wisconsin heat reply :
Probably a Rapala Original Floater in a smaller size like an F7 or F5 even. Bass love it, Im sure the toothy fish would jump on it as well. And the bluegill never seem to get bored slapping the bait. That would be my choice.
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