Specializing
in Largemouth Bass, Lake George
has extensive vegetation that provides excellent habitat. Wade fishing in eelgrass with plastic worms fished on
the surface, and other top water artificial lures, is
productive. Fishing with live shiners is an excellent method
for catching trophy bass during the spring spawning season.
Hot spots on the lake include Juniper, Salt and Silver Glen
spring runs on the western shoreline. In winter and early
spring, look for bass to congregate at the jetties on the
south end of the lake. Casting deep-diving crankbaits near
old dock structures along the northeast shore and off
Drayton Island can also be productive.
Lake Toho
Known for
producing large amounts of Trophy size bass. Most anglers
targeting trophy bass use live golden shiners during early
spring. Shiners are fished inshore near native vegetation
or topped-out hydrilla. Plastic baits (worms, crawfish and
lizards) flipped along grass edges, hydrilla, and bulrush
will also catch quality-sized bass. Spinnerbaits, soft
jerkbaits and chugging baits can also be very productive at
times. Both Texas-rigged and Carolina-rigged plastic worms,
and rattling crankbaits, top the list of favorite lures
during warmer months of the year.
North Steer Beach, Brown’s Point and Goblet’s Cove are
popular fishing spots on the lake. Fishing in Shingle
Creek and St. Cloud Canal can be outstanding when flow is
present through these tributaries.
Lake Kissimmee
Specializing
in Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Black Crappie and Shellcracker.
Expansive stands of native aquatic grasses at Philadelphia
Point, North Cove and Brahma Island provide anglers with
cover to flip plastic baits or slow-troll golden shiners for
spawning bass during the winter and spring. Rattling
crankbaits, soft jerkbaits and Texas- or Carolina-rigged
plastic worms fished in open-water or along edges of
vegetation are productive during summer and fall. Fly
fishermen have good success wade fishing along the miles of
shoreline on Lake Kissimmee.
Lake Tarpon
Specializing
in Largemouth Bass, Lake Tarpon is
regarded as one of the foremost sport fishing lakes in
Florida. Anglers are most successful flipping or pitching
plastic worms along canal and bulrush edges. Offshore bass
fishing is productive for anglers who fish around ledges,
humps, coontail, and eelgrass beds. Popular lures offshore
include shad-imitating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and
topwater baits. Fishing with wild shiners and live shad is
also effective.
Lake Walk In Water
National
reputation as an outstanding spot to catch largemouth bass.
The lake also produces many trophy bass exceeding 10 pounds
each year. A 15- to 24-inch slot limit regulation and a
three-bass daily bag limit are in place to help maintain
quality bass fishing.
Anglers may keep three bass per
day, either under or over the protected slot range, of which
only one bass greater than or equal to 24 inches is
allowed. Typically, the best technique to catch trophy bass
is to drift live wild shiners over hydrilla weed beds in the
northern half of the lake. Soft jerkbaits, lipless rattling
crankbaits, and plastic worms also produce bass in areas of
offshore hydrilla.
Deer Point Lake
Although Largemouth
Bass
fishing typically slows down during the winter months in
Deer Point Lake, it picks up again in mid-February and
March, and becomes red hot in April and May. Anglers
unfamiliar with Deer Point Lake should try fishing for
largemouth bass in the old creek channels of Bear, Cedar,
and Econfina creeks with plastic worms, diving crankbaits or
rattletraps. Bayou George and the flats area at the
confluence of Bayou George and Deer Point Lake are also
popular largemouth spots. Also, try targeting docks and
boathouses along the creek channels and at the mouth of
Bayou George. Anglers should exercise extreme caution during
boat operation due to the tremendous amount of flooded
cypress stumps and snags found in the lake. Connects to
Gulf of Mexico.
Lake Okeechobee
Specializing
in Largemouth Bass, Bream, Black Crappie, Speckled Perch and
Okeechobee Catfish. The largest lake in Florida and 2nd
largest freshwater lake located completely within the US.
Average lake depth of 9 ft. Lake Okeechobee covers land in
Glades, Okeechobee, Martin, Palm Beach, and Hendry counties.
Florida
Bass Fishing Tips
-
Throw topwaters only
when the water is at least 60 degrees and the sun is not
visible or bass are schooling.
-
Wait 2 seconds before
setting the hook with a topwater.
-
Fish shallow early and
late and on cloudy days - fish deeper on bluebird days.
-
Fish tight to cover on
sunny days - cover more water on cloudy days.
-
Throw single hook lures
around heavy wood cover - throw treble hook lures whenever
you can get away with it.
-
Use a medium to light
rod when fishing with treble hooks - use a stiffer rod for
single hooks (worms, jigs, spinnerbaits).
-
Use dark colors at
night.
-
Use brighter colors in
murky water and on dark, cloudy days.
-
Use colors that don't
stand out in clear water and sunny skies.
-
Use bigger and noisier
baits in murky water.
-
Work a bait faster in
clear water.
-
Use unweighted baits
only in calm, shallow water.
-
Use heavier baits in the
wind, deep water, or strong current.
-
Big baits catch big
fish, small baits catch more fish.
-
Match the size of the
bait that the fish are feeding on.
-
Use 20# or heavier line
for fishing jigs and worms where big fish are present -
use lighter lines for all other purposes.
-
Work a crankbait in
about 1/2 the depth the bait is designed to run.
-
The lighter the bait,
the more line you should leave out when casting.
-
The percent of how full
you fill your baitcasting reel is about equivalent to the
percentage of your maximum casting distance. For instance,
if you fill your spool 100%, your maximum casting distance
is 100%. If you fill it 80%, you can only expect to throw
it 80% of its' potential. Likewise, if you fill it 50%
full, you can likely throw it to the end, which is about
half the distance you could get if it was full.
-
Bass prefer long and
skinny over short and fat - they prefer snakes over
turtles.
-
Rising water is better
than dropping water.
-
West wind is better than
an east wind.
-
Cold fronts will shut
the bite down when the water is cold.
Florida Spring Bass Fishing
Florida Bass spawn in 65-70 degree water.
The
males typically begin going to the beds in shallow water
from 65 to 68 degrees, and the females start showing up when
the water temperature is about 69 or 70 degrees.
Before the bass spawn, both males and females move to
shallow waters. They hold offshore in deeper water, usually
on structure or cover, waiting for warmer weather.
Shallow water warms up quicker than deep water. Shallow
water with lots of dead trees and logs warms up faster than
shallow water with no wood cover. When warm rain falls, the
areas where the warm water runs into the lake are where the
bass will hold.
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