Florida Bass

[CDMeyer]

I am extremely excited because we are leaving for Florida today, although I have been to Florida before I have never been able to bass fish.  This year will be my first time bass fishing..... I will be fishing in a pond near Panama City.

Since I am from Wisconsin I am not familiar with Florida bass.  So I was wondering if anybody could help me out with what do to catch the gator bass.

The pond I will be fishing is pretty good size has a pier, and plenty of lily pads

Thank you very much for any help I appreciate it.....

[WhiteMike1018]

Sounds like a frogging day to me, start out with a Rage Tail Shad first on top early, if they arent reacting to that try a hollow body frog then go pitching and flipping if that fails, good luck

[F14A-B]

Trig a 8" ribbon tail... Run a small crank along edges of pads... Soft plastic craw/beaver baits or trig worms in the pads.... Long slender top water rapalas...

Lastly... Golden shiners!

Have fun!!

[WRB]

Are you taking any tackle?

T-rigged 10" Paddletail worm day or night and a buzz bait at night should do it.

Tom

[Bass NC]

Top water frog around the lily pads and loud cranks in open water. Good luck and hold on tight!

[py8pointer]

My favorite goto bait. Zoom Horny Toad "JuneBug"

[Mikell]

I dont think you could ever go wrong casting some wacky rigs at the pads then just pullin it off and lettin it sink down from there! frogs of course

[BigBassLoveSenkos]

If you can get down south a little bit more, to the kissimmee chain, i think you'll find it worth the trip.  They pull 8, 10, 11 pounders out of there every single day.  Pads for miles.  Throw a dark 5" senko texas rigged and weightless, on 65# braid.  That's my favorite place on Earth to fish.  Hogs all day. Numbers my friends up north don't believe.

[RoLo]

I am extremely excited because we are leaving for Florida today, although I have been to Florida before I have never been able to bass fish.  This year will be my first time bass fishing..... I will be fishing in a pond near Panama City.

Since I am from Wisconsin I am not familiar with Florida bass.  So I was wondering if anybody could help me out with what do to catch the gator bass.

The pond I will be fishing is pretty good size has a pier, and plenty of lily pads

Thank you very much for any help I appreciate it.....

 

Having lived in both the north and south, I owe you a fair warning.

Unlike the cooperative northern bass you're used to in Wisconsin,

Florida bass are cantankerous snobs 

 

BTW, your timing is perfect for a trip to northern Florida, which will

coincide with the late spawn/early post-spawn period.

At this time too there's normally a good topwater bite.

In the natural lakes in Florida's Panhandle the main pattern

is the 'waterlily pattern' (pad fields). All lures tend to work in spring,

but if you're on a trophy hunt, I'd focus on jigs & craws, mat-punching

and swimbaits like the Gambler Big EZ.

 

Bring it on

[CDMeyer]

Thank you guys for the help, I have brought all those lures and am very excited..... thank you

[Mike L]

Everything that was just suggested...

For me in order...

Frogs in the pads in the am

When the sun gets over the trees throw a sq bill or a soft plastic swim bait along the pad line

9:00, Flip beavers and Jigs

11:00, Spinnerbait and swim baits out a little deeper

2:00, Back to holes in the pad field...It's wacky, shaky, beaver and jig time

4:00, Buzz bait or poppers along the pad, weed line

Be advised, all this is subject to change!!

6:00 Go home and pass out

Mike

[OkeechobeeAngler]

Frogs, Rat L traps and Senkos. Good luck.