When Will Fl Fishing Pick Up Again?!?

[CountBassula]

It's been so slow down here since late May, I wonder when will it pick up again? This is my first summer in FL fishing for bass and I'm getting super frustrated

 

From your experience, when can I expect things to get better? I was catching pigs till about end of April, then dinks the entire May / June, then it almost dropped off to nothing... but for how long???

[AK-Jax86]

Switch up your lures Martin. You said you've been throwing the jig try worms top water cranks spinners etc. the fish are there you just have to get them to bite.

But who am I to tell you to switch it up when I throw frogs all day every day no matter what time or conditions, so I know how it feels to be stuck on one technique. I also throw speed worms and swim baits.

[SirSnookalot]

With the exception of the odd fish now and then, you're fishing in the wrong place at the wrong time, it's always poor bass fishing this time of year.  Better bass are caught in better water now, not your back yard canal, I don't even think about concentrating my efforts on bass till Oct or November.   It's hot and humid and I'm lethargic, the bass are feeling the same way.  This is the time to be focusing on other species, bigger fish with less effort.

Northern fishermen fish for other species, like walleye or trout, when bass may not be in season or those fish are the hot bites.  All the bait changing in the world is not going to catch you any more or significantly bigger bass now.  It's either being complacent with what you are catching now until bass pick up, or fish for something else.

[BassinLou]

Bass fishing has traditionally been slower during the summer months. So far this summer has not been any different. You have dedicated yourself to the jig and that's great. However, since I have been following your threads, you have landed less than handful. Although you did get some big bites that unfortunately became unbuttoned. When you canal fish, you have to also commit to cover a lot of ground. Canals all look the same, but when you walk them you will also notice that they are all not created the same. The cover changes in certain sections. Some areas has more pads, some has more grass, some has more rocks and humps. All those changes and sections will dictate where bass may be holding. I have preached this all summer to our fishing group, about focusing on culverts. Have you personally tried fishing culverts yet?? The majority of my big fish this summer have come from culverts.The jig is great bait, however, so is the frog and the fluke just to name a few. On the bright side, summer is almost behind us. Hopefully this year, we get a nice cool down.

[Tartan34]

Was out today in Orlando and the bite was on once I figured it out.  Seriously on.  Fished from 7-11, picked up a bunch from 7-8, then slow from 8-930 until I could locate the pattern.  Once I figured out, 930-11 was crazy.  I landed my PB fish on topwater, a nice 10 lber.  

 

Frogs in pads: 2 missed (30 minutes fished) 

Frogs / soft plastics in grass: 1 fish (30 min)

Spinnerbait off grass pockets: Nothing (30 min)

Jigs in grasslines, padlines: Nothing (30 min)

Topwater Popper:  11 fish (2 hours) 

 

Once I found the coldest water (a mere 86 degrees, but 4-5 degrees less than other parts of the lake), the fish were active, even as the sun started to get high and the temperature rose.  These fish were coming up and slamming my popper.  I found a cool water spot and ran that line, the big fish were in it.  A lot of 1-3 lb fish were off it about 20 yards each way.  Outside of this line, once the sun came up....zip.  

 

Others struggled with fish biting, and this reinforced a necessary lesson for me....find the pattern.  It is there.  The fish are there.  Just gotta find it.  

[BassinLou]

Nice tips, where is your pic of the 10lbr??

[AK-Jax86]

Was out today in Orlando and the bite was on once I figured it out. Seriously on. Fished from 7-11, picked up a bunch from 7-8, then slow from 8-930 until I could locate the pattern. Once I figured out, 930-11 was crazy. I landed my PB fish on topwater, a nice 10 lber.

Frogs in pads: 2 missed (30 minutes fished)

Frogs / soft plastics in grass: 1 fish (30 min)

Spinnerbait off grass pockets: Nothing (30 min)

Jigs in grasslines, padlines: Nothing (30 min)

Topwater Popper: 11 fish (2 hours)

Once I found the coldest water (a mere 86 degrees, but 4-5 degrees less than other parts of the lake), the fish were active, even as the sun started to get high and the temperature rose. These fish were coming up and slamming my popper. I found a cool water spot and ran that line, the big fish were in it. A lot of 1-3 lb fish were off it about 20 yards each way. Outside of this line, once the sun came up....zip.

Others struggled with fish biting, and this reinforced a necessary lesson for me....find the pattern. It is there. The fish are there. Just gotta find it.

That's music to my ears I am gonna be in orlando tomorrow over by UCF and the airport you know any spots over that way? PM me

[Tartan34]

Not the best pic, but oh well.  It was only me on the boat and I was pumped up, and didn't get very many good shots.  My pic with the scale didn't turn out.....which bums me out greatly because it'll cost me $150 worth of gift cards.  If you haven't already, I recommend signing up for the trophy catch program that WFN runs for Florida.  Pretty sweet program.

 

Wish I could help on spots near UCF/MCO, but my knowledge is limited to SW Orlando.

 

[AK-Jax86]

That's a real nice bass

[BassinLou]

Great fish. Congratulations on achieving a new PB!! I couldn't see it well, what did it measure?

[1234567]

It'll probably suck until the first cool front comes.

[derekxec]

either fish deep water or shady spots but really i would be hitting other species right now till the weather gets cooler...so many diff fish out there that love the heat why not try something besides bass

[CountBassula]

either fish deep water or shady spots but really i would be hitting other species right now till the weather gets cooler...so many diff fish out there that love the heat why not try something besides bass

 

there isn't much else in the canals that's fun (i'm tired of snakeheads) and I'm not a big fun of ocean fishing... so what's there to catch in coral springs ?

[bri1]

It is obvious that the summer is slower, but there are still bass to be had. You have to be patient and mix it up with what you are presenting.

To answer your initial question mvorbrodt, it should be getting somewhat better by the end of next month then beyond. Good luck, and stick with it.

[SirSnookalot]

 

derekxec, on 24 Aug 2013 - 19:11, said:

 

either fish deep water or shady spots but really i would be hitting other species right now till the weather gets cooler...so many diff fish out there that love the heat why not try something besides bass 

 

there isn't much else in the canals that's fun (i'm tired of snakeheads) and I'm not a big fun of ocean fishing... so what's there to catch in coral springs ?

 

Many people are wanting to come down to Florida, just so many options and it's right here on our doorstep 12 months of the year.  I don't see any point in not taking advantage of that. If bass is what you want, you need to be on the water where they are the most available. 

 

I'm not catching bass now even worthy of a mention, but I am catching fish every day.

[The Guy]

I got 7.5 lber last sunday 4ft of 85 degree water in hydrilla.  Thats was the only hit I had all day, but it was a good one.

[derekxec]

you should try slow moving baits that are erratic like flukes and such maybe will trigger that easy meal for not much effort responce

[MCS]

you should try slow moving baits that are erratic like flukes and such maybe will trigger that easy meal for not much effort responce

I fish zoom flukes n bitters versions and do well. i was curios about gambler flappin shad, u fish that before?

[derekxec]

i actually havent used any gambler soft plastics before...i have some but i havent tried any of them out yet lol

[MCS]

i actually havent used any gambler soft plastics before...i have some but i havent tried any of them out yet lol

I got some ribbon tails, they are good so I want to try more of their stuff. I know lots of folks love the EZ and Otter. A guy here at my office fishes them a lot, he does or did some of their tourneys. If I get my hands on some I will let you know.

[SirSnookalot]

Haven't been giving any reports as I don't want to jinx myself, but it hasn't been bad and you know what I'm catching.  We have been seeing mullet, so you know what's coming.

[derekxec]

:D cant wait for the mullet run and snook season

[CountBassula]

well well well, looks like it MIGHT be picking up some already... i went out yesterday for an hour and a half and nailed 4 and missed few bites too... this is more than any other day in the last few months. let's hope the trend continues!

[BassinLou]

Fishing was ok yesterday. Caught 5, nothing to post pics and jump up and down about. But compared to other days this past week. Better.

[zack d]

August has been all soft plastics for me,wacky rigged shim e sticks, Texas rigged Culprit red shad ribbontails,and at night jds custom baits frog.

My mother n law is staying with my wife and i at the moment,so its safe to say i should be getting in a lot of water time this week.