My own birthday falls in February, so Iím stuck with permanent double

My own birthday falls in February, so Iím stuck with permanent double-jeopardy. I figure the best thing to do each year is to distract myself from morbid thoughts by arranging something to really look forward to.In recent years my strategy has been to get as far from the winter gloom as possible, and into the sun. So far, the strategy has worked. Iíd recommend it to you.This year I needed something affordable. In reality, there are few really cheap sun-spots within reach that also offer good fishing, so with the dire prospect of another month of seamless cloud-cover and freezing rain, I plumped for Florida – not cheap, but with the high value of European currencies against the Dollar, itís certainly within reason.Be firm with the your wife.For the family man, who at some time in his life is likely to get blackmailed into taking his wife and children to Disney World, the easiest and cheapest way to arrange a Florida fishing trip, is to agree with the lovely lady that for some of the time while she and the little treasures are queuing for Cinderellaís Castle, you are going fishing. Alternatively, you can opt to tag an extra week onto the end of the package holiday. Some travel operators donít like such changes, but others are more co-operative. By doing this, all you have to pay for is a few extra nights accommodation, and your fishing guide. Accommodation is usually part of a Disney package deal, but bear in mind that as you get away from the area of Disney, motel prices drop dramatically. There is usually no need to book weeks in advance if you are visiting outside the Christmas high period. Try the Dayís Inn Motels first. They are excellent, and very reasonably priced. If you stay near the fishing, and elect to drive into Disney, youíll find that the difference in motel charges can go a long way to paying for the car-rental and the fishing. Car HireYou will need a car to get around. Without a car you are limited to taxis in and around the immediate Orlando area. Expensive, limiting, and boring. I rented a car from Alamo, and would recommend them highly. They are ridiculously cheap, efficient, and the cars all seem to be new. To save time in Orlando, Alamo cars can be pre-booked in Europe. Try to take your first drive during daylight hours. Watch for speed limit signs, often quite low even on major roads, and keep to them, no matter how fast the locals are going.The best optionThe saltwater fishing off the Florida coast is amazing: some of the best in the world. For first-time visitors though, who want the closest and easiest fishing, the famous large-mouthed bass offer the best chance, and can be found in most of the lakes and rivers. They provide heart-stopping action, and a chance to recover from the rigours of Disney World. The large-mouthed black bassA member of the sunfish family. Americaís favourite fish. Pugnacious, and highly territorial. The fight is explosive rather than powerful. The world record is just over 10 kgs. but a fish of 5 kgs. is big. They taste delicious. For years they have been over-harvested, but catch and release is now the rule on the best waters.Where to fishThere are thousands of square kilometres of freshwater in Florida. With only a few days to find and catch the fish, it pays to hire a guide. Itís also sensible to fish only the best waters. Iíd recommend for a start, you stick to just two venues – The Phosphate Pits, which are located around Orlando: and the celebrated Stick Marsh, about 2 hours miles south-east of Orlando, near the town of Melbourne. There are certainly any number of other brilliant waters, but given a top rate guide, the two mentioned offer the chance of some really big fish.There are three basic methods:1) Flipping a special soft plastic worm into thick weed and reed beds. 2) Plug (lure) fishing, in and out of the weed-beds. 3) Live-baiting.Flipping.Is just what it says. At short range, you flip your weedlessly-mounted soft plastic worm, or imitation crayfish, right into the tangle of lilies, reeds, and brush. The bass usually hits as the bait is sinking. You hang on to the rod like grim death, give no line at all, and hope your heart is in good nick.Plug fishing.The fish are usually in the weeds, so that is where you cast your plug. Hooks are covered with deflectors to stop them from snagging the weeds. Strikes are vicious, and noisy. Often the fish seem to hit the plug at the moment it hits the water.Live-baiting. The live-baits are very similar to European roach. The Yanks call them Ďshinersí. In open water the baits are often free-lined. In and around the dense weed beds, a polystyrene float keeps the bait from diving to deep into the undergrowth. When the bass are around, the bait often swims away from the weeds. No additional weight is used. Live-baits usually produce the biggest fish. Itís very exciting stuff.Finding a GuideThe guide supplies everything – boat, rods, reels, lures, and most importantly – expertise. The guide will put you right onto the fish. There are hundreds of excellent guides in Florida. The best usually charge a few bucks more, and they are definitely worth it. Expect to pay about $200 per day for two anglers. For that the guide provides everything except lunch and drinks. Itís a bargain. The best guides have bass-boat rigs worth over $30,000 with 200 H.P engines. You can expect to zip along at something between 70 – 90 kph. Tell them you know nothing, and take their advice. The most successful guides are booked well in advance – if possible phone or fax them from your home town. If they are already booked, they will put you on to the next best man. The guide will also issue a Florida freshwater fishing licence – donít even consider fishing without one: the penalty fines are enormous, and the jail time unthinkable.From personal experience, I can thoroughly recommend two brilliant guides.For the Phosphate Pits – Dave Hoy Phone USA. 813.533.3865 Fax. USA. 813.534.1434 (From USA.) Phone Free 1.800.695.4227For the Stick Marsh – Don Marinaccci Phone USA.407.242.8928 (From USA.) Phone Free 1.800.BASS.909TackleThe guides will offer you multiplier or fixed spool outfits. If you are not used to a multiplier, opt for the fixed spool, or youíll discover a new meaning for the words birds-nest. If you want to use your own tackle, itís no problem. For heavy weed fishing you will need a minimum of 6 kg. line. European pike-spinning gear is fine. American rods are usually about 2 metres long. For flipping a worm accurately into the weeds a European-style 3.5 metre carp rod will actually be better than the guideís tackle, and will allow you to drop a bait accurately into places that short rods just canít cope with. A net is not essential – bass are easily gripped by their huge bottom lip and lifted out.Taking your own rodsIf you take your own rods, you will need to protect them in transit. The British-made KIS Rod Tube is the ultimate in rod protection. Alternatively, you can make your own with a length of 100mm plastic drainpipe. Booking your own non-package holiday arrangements.This is much easier than you might think, but make sure that the total price is less than a Disney package if there are special offers around. European travel agents can do most of the work for you. There are several airlines running into Orlando or Miami. If possible use Orlando, which is closer to the best bass fishing. I have flown across the Atlantic on many occasions and can thoroughly recommend Virgin Atlantic. Their economy class is very good value, and they offer an unusually high baggage weight allowance, which is useful if you are taking your own tackle. They also seem to be the only airline who still have pretty stewardesses, (and I know thatís a sexist remark). For what itís worth, youíll also get three or four of the latest movies on your own personal T.V. screen. Flight times are about 9 hours out, and 8 hours back. WildlifeThe range of Floridaís wildlife is staggering. Where-ever you fish, you are likely to have alligators near you. They are not a problem, but you should avoid picking a fight with the big ones – 5 metres long and 3.5 metres around the belly. In waters connected to coastal lagoons gentle manatees laze in the mangroves. In the days of the sailing ships, sailors mistook basking manatees for mermaids. Having seem manatees at close range, I can only assume that those ancient mariners had been at sea for a very long time indeed. There are porcupines, racoons, and possums. Magnificent birds are to be seen everywhere: eagles, herons of many kinds, extraordinary snake-head cormorants, and ospreys. An osprey actually tried to snatch my livebait just after Iíd cast it away from the boat, offering me one of the most spectacular photographs Iíve ever had the chance to take. If you have a camera with a telephoto lens, this is one destination where it will pay you to take it along, and accept the extra weight. InsuranceYou should be certain of having good medical insurance cover. Medical treatment and supplies cost a small fortune in The States. If you are hospitalised, and you have no insurance, you are in serious financial trouble. Your travel agent can arrange for cover that not only covers medical expenses, and re-patriation; but also loss and breakage of your tackle and luggage.PassportsYou will need a full passport, and it must have a minumum of six months remaining before expiry, Florida winter weather.Even in January the weather is usually very warm, but it can drop into the forties or fifties for a few days. Take a sweater or two just in case. You should take rain gear. You probably wonít use it, but it pays to be prepared. February and March are usually a glorious 25į – 30į. From April on it starts to get hot. Be aware of the power of the near-tropical sun. Use sun-block cream. Wear a shirt with a collar, and a hat.Bugs.I found virtually no bugs in January, but when the weather hots up itís sensible to have a bottle of bug repellent in case. Deet based repellents are good, but the best protection is offered by a skin softener called Skin So Soft made by Avon. Youíll smell like a bar of soap, but the bugs wonít come near youFinal notesThere are one or two other pieces of sage advice that I can offer. I have tested these personally, and can vouch for their wisdom.1. If you get stopped for speeding, donít smile at the officer and say, “Well, I got that one wrong, didnít I.” Youíre likely to hear some very naughty new words.2. If you hit a Florida panther (a mountain lion) whilst driving through the Everglades at dusk, donít get out to see if itís dead. You can end up very flat-footed and very short of spit when he picks himself up and looks you straight in the eye from a range of ten feet.Florida Bass fishing is great sport, itís something different, itís certainly more adventurous than lying on the beach, and itís terrific fun.

By John Olliff-Cooper