Lake Manatee October 28th, 2014

Lake Manatee
Manatee State Park
2585 acres impound lake
20 hp mtr max. restriction due
to city Bradenton/Palmento water
filtration system

Mike Bemjamin / myself had not been
on this lake in 2 yrs.

Put first pole in water, long-lining
all artifical - usuing Slider, along
with Southern pro stingers & road runner
"blue cheese" jig. at 7:14 am - at 11:10
am - we were culling any fish under 12
in and/or 1lb 4 oz.

7 fish total weight 9 lbs 14.2 oz: 50 fish
limit 58 lbs 11.0 oz total weight. Big fish
weighed in at 1 lb 7.5 oz
Fishing was totally unbelieable. Opportunity of this kind only comes once maybe every 10 yr. Spoke with couple
fisherman putting in same time we were
including 1 guide with clients said fishing
had been tuff past few days...........duh.

These fish were so wide at shoulders
that they couldn't fish in a fish checker
for length....At times we had 3 - 4 rods
going down at once. Water temp. 74.3,
wind out of East at 2mph, Water depth,
8 - 17 ft. working old river channel
Colors used blue/chart - Black/chart
- black/yellow & pumpkin seed/yellow

When fileted all were females and most
had good signs of roe forming and plenty
of fat. (good signes eating well)

Guide trip out of Sarasota- his group
caught 12 fish and called it quits at 11:30am. Guide did not want to look
at our fish nor talk to us with clients
there about what we were using or
where we were at - although he could
see us working same basic water he had.

Mike Benjamin, "Professor" still knows his
fish, colors and rections at Manatee.
He hard person to beat fishing this lake,
always glad to be on his team.

Stellar day! Glad to hear ya got Mike B back on the water.

Thats whats up

Good report guys! Nice to know they are still there.

Great day Harold, them are some nice slabs, thanks for sharing.

I agree it was a geat day in a lot of ways.- Team back together - remewed
friendships & ties.............Mike (professor) working his majic with mirco rods...
"Nothin but fun"

Sounds great & fish look nice:cheers2, that's the kinda day I been lookin for:fish

Good report Harold, I would have been asking all kinds of questions as you were catching more fish than they were. Love the big fish on the micro rods add two of my old 4' ul Fenwicks to my trolling rig last week, got to love the rod bent intwo pulling in a big one.

There's nothing like that rod almost bending in half - feeling that tug, what a tug,
how big is he - she, will my line hold him - her, can i get him close enough to boat to have net
man get-em... hope rod doesn't break - hook pull free - oh my, oh my, oh my.

WHAT A "RUSH"

Trolling jigs I'm guessing? Great report of a banner day.

all blade style jigs 16's & 32nd's.............
Three were experimental colors Mike has been working on...........proved to be
quite good.

Just curious if you could tell me if the blade type jig was a road runner type jig or more like a beetle spin?

I fish Manatee December through March and Mike helped me get started about 4 years ago using 2 pound test line and 1/16 or 1/32 jigs with curly tail or paddle tails, usually in june bug chartreuse.

Also, wondering if the guide was the one that uses the pontoon with the red canvas top, he typically fishes across from Gilley Creek near the fish camp ramp.

Mike definitely knows his crappie fishing--was super helpful when I first started fishing Manatee.

No, this guide was out of Sarasota ....Personally.i believe he did not give his customers a
worthy trip not only with equipment he was using nor number of fish he put them on to catch. For the money charged they deserved much better (My thinking)
Mike is excellant fisherman - Knows his long-ling tactics.
Mike - stay with what he showed you couple years ago.........as pretty much works
the same today.
We fished 4 lb bloracarbon Wednesday - Vanish & Berkley Fibre OPtic mono.

Thanks for the info.

Might try the 4 lb this year when I come down, the 2 lb is pretty hard to find as I stay in Bradenton and most of the fishing supply places carry mainly stuff for saltwater or seems that way to me. I'll stick with Mike's suggestions for sure--have always put some fish in the boat even when conditions are pretty tough. Can't wait to get down and start fishin again--love the horsepower limit on the lake, keeps things pretty calm for fishing.

I am not in favor of horsepower limit on lake.............unable to put tournaments
on it - Would prefer to be able to get a 1 day permit type option. Presently have
to own 2 boats to fish lake. State has no control of hp. Lake owned by Manatee
County and is impoundment source drinking water for Bradenton - Palmento and
surounding water housing developments. Filtration system old - not due to be updated
until 2017.... hence hp control is by design to keep number of boats off lake.

Just came off Lake Parrish - another impound lake controlled by Florida Power & Light,
no fishing had been allowed since 911, 2001. United Way cut a deal with FPL to
have open 1 day tournament for charity, limit 60 boats........High price entry fee,
no pay back other than side pot for 1 big bass, 1 big crappie.
No limit on mtr size or style of boat - seen everything from Mullet traller to
12 jon boat