Miami Canal Lures

[JoePhish]

I might try a Fat Ika or a hollow body frog if those weeds are a problem.

Soft plastic frogs and rage-rigged Space Monkeys and Smoking Roosters might also be options.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

KISS theory is the way to fish the canals in southern Florida. Specific baits really don't matter. Take your pick out of a couple general categories. Keep It Simple Stupid.

Texas rigged worms.

Weightless stickbaits or flukes.

Lipless cranks.

Topwater lures. Frogs is its very weedy on top. Spooks if you're in more open water.

Flip into heavy grass.

This time of the year is hard to fish some of the canals. The brutal heat will either make the fish find the deepest water they can, or the thickest grass available. Sometimes both. Look for moving water. If you aren't getting bit, keep moving to another area. Lots of times right now, if you catch one, there will probably be another couple in the same general area.

[Kristo.Agui001]

Awesome guys thanks a million i'll keep my progress posted.....i couldn't tell you guys how much i appreciate everyones help and knowledge!

[piscicidal]

Kristo,

A shakey head jig with a small finesse worm usually works for me in the Miami Canal this time of year. You will want to work it PAINFULLY slow. Not sure what kind of line you area using, you will want to use a light (6 or 8lb) flouro line, if possible

[Kristo.Agui001]

KISS theory is the way to fish the canals in southern Florida. Specific baits really don't matter. Take your pick out of a couple general categories. Keep It Simple Stupid.

Texas rigged worms.

Weightless stickbaits or flukes.

Lipless cranks.

Topwater lures. Frogs is its very weedy on top. Spooks if you're in more open water.

Flip into heavy grass.

This time of the year is hard to fish some of the canals. The brutal heat will either make the fish find the deepest water they can, or the thickest grass available. Sometimes both. Look for moving water. If you aren't getting bit, keep moving to another area. Lots of times right now, if you catch one, there will probably be another couple in the same general area.

what does KISS in KISS theory stand for?

Kristo,

A shakey head jig with a small finesse worm usually works for me in the Miami Canal this time of year. You will want to work it PAINFULLY slow. Not sure what kind of line you area using, you will want to use a light (6 or 8lb) flouro line, if possible

Im using 10Lb mono

[Kristo.Agui001]

I've tried absolutely every suggestion, 4+ hours of fishing every day for almost 3 weeks and I've caught one fish lol.....

Im giving up for now on actually being out on the water I'm just gonna do my home work and learn as much about these fish and the region I'm fishing in and wait for summer to end because nothing is working..

wish me luck guys

[I.rar]

dont give up!

are you out at different times of the day? that can make a huge difference on where the fish are.

as mentioned , do some exploring on google maps and see if you can find some other water in the area besides the canals. i dont know if its just me or not , but i think those canal fish are more finicky than lake fish.

[Kristo.Agui001]

I left the house today at 6:30am, I don't mean I'm giving up on fishing I just mean since this is such a bad time of year to fish especially for a new comer, I'm gunna spend more time studying the sport and then put my knowledge to practice when it's not so hot out....at least when the weather is a little bit less intense and I don't catch anything I won't be dehydrated after only an hour lol.....I wanna have the knowledge in my head before I put it to practice out on the water

[Jay Ell Gee]

One thing I may recommend is to start reading the articles on the bass resource main site.

Start with summer fishing. Then move to articles that discuss HOW to fish the lures that you are using. You can do a lot with what you have, and as you learn more you will gain that versatility.

For example, a senko can be fished weightless on a 3/0-5/0 hook, allowing it to simply fall vertically while wiggling on the way down. This is easiest with spinning gear with an open bail, but you can feed line out of a baitcaster as well.

You can then fish it as a jerk bait if need be.

If that doesn't work, get some wacky rig hooks with a metal weed guard and throw that senko again. Find holes in vegetation. Run it slowly along weed lines or pads that provide shade for the bass.

If that doesn't work, don't cut the hook off yet. Wacky rig a soft plastic through the body and let that flutter near the bottom. That has been killer for me at certain times... Especially with a lake fork magic shad.

One last recommendation is to be there right before daylight. That and sunrise is when summer fishing is best. Throw that frog a mile and cover every square inch of water you can reach multiple times.

I'm heading out and bank fishing in the morning with my girlfriend and her brother. If I find any good patterns I'll let you know, lol.

Most importantly, don't give up! If all else fails, find RUNNING (moving) water and bank fish that way. Moving water will keep fish more active. That may help as well. Good luck!

[Jay Ell Gee]

And if even that fails, buy a beginner fly rod setup or get yourself some panfish tackle and chase monster bream! They can be plenty of fun on the days the bass don't bite. I'm not shy about busting out the long rod on slow days.

[Kristo.Agui001]

I do go out in the morning the sun didnt come up today till seven I was at tropical park throwing by the grass for almost 3 hours and nothing I threw senkos, poppers, horny toads and zoom trick worms and nothing at the crack of dawn... I just want to gain as much knowledge as I can about the fish and the seasons and look for as many spots as I can. I still plan on fishing but maybe only early Saturdays for now till the weather gets a bit better...thanks a lot everyone's help is great on here and I really appreciate it

[BassinLou]

Kristo, next time your at tropical park throw one your finesse soft plastics on C-rig and work the bottom. That lake as lot of limestone rocks, work your lure slowly over that deep structure. Let me know what happens.

[Kristo.Agui001]

Thanks Lou, is there peacock in there or large mouth? I went to the lake by the baseball fields I didn't go to that big lake where the paddle boats are by the way

[Kristo.Agui001]

Great now I really can't fish, someone stole my tackle box with all my lures and hooks and weights and everything -__- at least I still have my rods now I gotta save up again to buy everything again

[BassinLou]

Oh man!! That sucks. How did that happen? Your right, save up again and start collecting.

[Kristo.Agui001]

Broke into my car and all they found to take was the tackle box lol....if you could Lou, answer my question about the tropical park lake in the post above the last I made thanks man!!

[BassinLou]

I am pretty sure there are peacocks in those lakes, I do not know if they are easily caught however. LMB will be in both for sure. Sorry about the car break in.

[Kristo.Agui001]

It's cool man, things happen and money is meant to be spent, I just went to bass pro bought a better tackle box, some horny toads, pearl white, a hollow body pad crasher frog, some super fluke watermelon chartreuse, swimming super flukes watermelon red, zoom black and blue claw craws, a lipless crank bait in gold, some hooks, swivels, and weights to try a c-rig and different other things we will see

[Kristo.Agui001]

THATS IT!!!!!! IM DONE, I NEED SOMEONE TO TAKE ME FISHING this is killing my spirit here guys idk what to do anymore!!!!!!!!!!! :cry3: :cry3: :cry3:

[Jay Ell Gee]

Head down to Louisiana! We will get you on some fish!

Don't give up man! Summer is notoriously rough to find fish in small waters. If you can find some good moving water, it'll certainly help you find some more active fish.

[prjavelin]

welcome to the club! Ive been getting skunked a LOT. Since I started fishing in march ive caught 4 bass,3 or 4 tilapia and one cat. Only 1 bass in the summer. Dont feel like quitting, this will be experience for next years summer. I try to enjoy and be at peace in the lake even if im not catching anything. I also practice my casting skills when im there. practice my accuracy, my left hand casting and my flipping and pitching. Use the time to get better.

ohhh man thats my nightmare right there. Someone stealing my stuff after Im hundreds maybe close to a thousand in the hole. buddy i suggest you dont go into a shopping spree. buy a couple lures, learn to use them and then buy more. Thats the step I would have taken if I were to do it all over again.

[Kristo.Agui001]

Lol that's what I need man, some nice back country, with some woods, ATV's, fishing gear and a nice quite lake...I tell you man down here in florida it's just nasty heat, nasty people and nasty water noise and cars and noise all day long

[BassinLou]

Kristo I am sorry you feel that way about South FL. Sounds like your transitioning here from somewhere that was not remotely like where you are now. Is the heat bad? It can be at times. Is the fishing tough this time of year? It can be at times. However based on the little time you have been here, although you have been out numerous times you still are a "rookie" pls do not take the comment as an insult, I am just merely letting you know that once you find that honey hole I think you will be singing a different tune. Patience... bass fishing will take a lifetime to master. Listen to the more seasoned bass fisherman here and they are still growing and learning new ways to fine tune their skills. The more I bass fish the more I find out what I need to work on. Pretty soon when winter comes again and the folks up north unfortunately have to give up bass fishing for a while you will be posting like crazy on how you love fishing here. Learn from this process and experience.

[Kristo.Agui001]

Oh no Lou ive lived here my whole life, i just started FISHING here lol...and I don't take it as an insult I know I'm a rookie my catch rate can vouch for that haha you make a good point that I need patience, which I would normally have but I think the heat kind of makes patience run low...any how I dont take what you say as an insult man you keep me motivated and I thank you

[piscicidal]

Kristo,

Why don't you PM me your address. I'll send you some lures which I KNOW catch bass in the Miami Canal. I've got more baits than I know what to do with, and it looks like you could use some. I have no time to fish anyway...my boat hasn't been in the water in over six weeks...

The fish are there but they are veerrrrryy lethargic with this 90+ degree water. If you can sneak out after the afternoon rain or very early morning you might have a little better luck. If you are going out in the mid-day heat, you are probably going to need to slow it down. One of the items I am going to send you is a shakey head setup....I'll set the first one up for you....you will want to use it exactly like I have it setup and bring it back very slow on the retrieve. Most of the fish I catch on this hit it after a 4-5 second pause. If you don't get hit on this setup, move, cause the fish ain't there! I will send you a scrounger setup also...I've been having good luck lately, getting some reaction bites with it. A small spook works good in the Miami Canal, especially in the low light periods. Senkos will work there also...try some weightless T-rigged or wacky rigged.

Sorry about you getting your stuff jacked....it's happened to me many times.