January we had Bassmaster Elite Angler & host of television show “One More Cast” Shaw Grigsby. When Shaw’s schedule permits, he’ll stop by for our monthly membership meeting.

February “Big Show” as he’s affectionately known on the trail, Terry Scroggins gave us techniques he uses to catch bass while on the trail.

 

March (above) Bassmaster Elite angler Edwin Evers wins the Bassmaster Classic. Local crappie guide John Payton tells FFC members how to catch “specks” while in Florida. Click here for Captain John’s web site —>Capt John Payton ….

The Villages Bass Tournament had 60 participants with winner Erie Forehand taking home the top honors with a resounding weight of 1 lb 4 oz.

 

 

Former FFC President Jerry Echols put on his anual fish fry….as always it’s a fantastic time with members enjoying some great filleted crappies put on by a master Robert Edmonson and his wife.

April was nomination time for officers…. And you don’t have to have a boat to catch fish. Check out Dan showing off his bass caught at Herlong Park off Lake Griffin….

 

Here’s Ed Leonard holding a couple of Lake Deaton bass.

 

 

 

 

Friend Rick Cope fishing the St. John’s at Astor with a nice 8 lb 2 oz….and yes he was registered for Trophy Catch prizes.

 

 

May were elections & the new President of the FFC is Randy Disanto. If you have ANY questions about pond fishing in The Villages, this is the person to see. He has fished most all.

 

 

Remember the pond that had all the controversy with the waterfall that’s along 441/27….Remember when it was almost dry????ALMOST….Here’s Frank Martines with a 7 lb 8 oz he’d caught on a 10″ Culprit Red Shad worm.

 

 

June long time FFC member Wayne Barksdale & his visiting sons always seem to manage to catch, as Wayne says, a “Moby”. Wayne’s largest was shown in Bassmaster Magazine 6 years ago that weighed north of 14 lbs. Here’s an 8.7  and a 6.8 that were just teasers he showed off that he’d caught on a worm with a dead slow presentation….Camp Villages occurred this month as an annual event for the FFC members to show children what fishing is all about.

 

July the FFC donated $300 to Operation Homebound. This is similar to meals on wheels for those who aren’t able to cook for themselves….many clubs & churches donate to this great cause….And the new bass 5 limit went into effect – keep 4 under 16″ & 1 over 16″….

Fellow tournament angler Don Millich catches his largest bass of his life at Lake Henderson near Inverness. Don’s fish on tournament scales weighed 10.22 lbs….

(L) Treasurer/Web Master Jerry Lester with his nicest, so far, of 2016 a 6 lb 10 oz chunk.

 

Here’s FFC member Gary Towers (R) holding a Lake Griffin bass he often catches on a lipless crankbait.  .

August things went downhill fast this month as it got somewhat squirrely. We showed exotic fish with VP Rob Husson’s 2.4 lb fly rod caught tilapia out of Summerhill Pond….

Then there was FFC member (L) Don Millich showing off a 34″ red fish he’d caught out in the salt on bass tackle ….and then there’s this.

Hmmm…. Not quite sure what’s going on here but they may be discussing politics? Okay moving right along….Lake Griffin Herlong Park lost a very recognizable item, the locomotive that Griffin anglers always referred to as a place to launch….known as the “Train Ramp”. I had 1 official tell me it was scrapped. In place of the locomotive are picnic tables making it convenient for park goers….AND tournament anglers.

Florida Gov Scott declared 51 counties a state of emergency with approaching Tropical Storm Hermine. Storm coming? They oughta eat!!! Here’s yours truly with a 6.4 from Griffin. I got 1/4″ of rain at my house but just west & north were inundated.

September we welcome everyone back to the new regimes 1st FFC meeting once again featuring crappie guide Captain John Payton. Steve Felix, trip chairman, scheduled a trip for 13 anglers to fish Lake Panasoffkee & catching 12 bass. Here’s FFC member (R) Bill Gorman showing bass caught from a pontoon boat.

(L) FFC member Charlene Blackburn, while in Okalahoma, shows that she’s capable of catching bass away from The Villages.

 

 

FFC member (R) Don Millich produces a 5 lb bass caught on a junebug trickworm while fishing Lake Griffin.

 

(L) Gary Towers catches his first Trophy Catch qualifier bass that weighed 8 lbs 10 oz on a blue & chrome Spro Aruka Shad.

 

 

October started out not so good….Dumb & Dumber – For what this cost me (Dumber) I could have bought a nice rod & reel. The next time I’ll filet the little ba$tard.  And yes these are 2 different anglers. I just happened to be present at both. Our October FFC meeting had FWC Officers Art Morrow & Casey Philips update us on the new laws and answer questions.

Trip Chairman Steve Felix scheduled a trip to Lake Eustis where 20 anglers fished & then went to Hurricanes Restaurant for lunch. Catching was slim but everyone enjoyed themselves anyway. That’s fishing.

 

 

Resident Merilee Elias caught a nice crappie (aka speck) at the Summerhill Pond on a fly rod.

 

 

(L) FFC member Ken Fox, while still up north, sent a pic of a Lake Erie 5.14 smallmouth. Gorgeous fish at any size.

 

 

November was a waiting period for the fall bite to occur. Some are still waiting. But VP Rob Husson showed he can still catch them. This is 1 of many pics received from Rob. He’s got the nack. His bro-in-law Prez Randy Disanto also is catching his fair share although somewhat smaller still quite respectable.

Then there was FFC member Marni Strautman who put it all over the guys with guide Captain Grady Maynard and catching her largest ever bass that weighed 8.78 lbs while fishing the Harris Chain.

 

 

President Randy catches his largest ever….a chair.

 

December six year old Waylon Padgett, who I’ve nicknamed “The Natural”, shows that X Box isn’t in his vocabulary when his Step-Dad-Dan shows that the kid still has it. I mean come on….how many youngsters this age are avid fisherman? And yes it was released.

Here’s a “School of Villagers” with Bassmaster Elite Angler Shaw Grigsby at Brooker Bait & Tackle annual sale. Not only did they have specials on fishing tackle, they also provided us with a free BBQ lunch. If you missed it plan on attending next year.

 

 

There it is….very edited but you get the idea of what we do in and around the area….and beyond. If you know anyone that fishes or used to, by all means let them know we exist for their enjoyment. Some of us are die hards and others not so much. There’s panfisherman among us but we still get little to know <–(yeah it’s spelled right) reports. You know who you are and I guess if you want to keep your honey holes a secret, that’s fine. But it’d be nice to let the rest of us know that the fish are biting.  See ya next year.

Steve Henderson