Need Help At The Lox

[Ufgator]

Hey new member here and new to fishing from a bass boat too. I just picked up my Nitro Z9 today and had a couple hours to go fish. I live in parkland so I am right by the 4 ramps at the end of loxahachee, I think you guys call it the Lox. The problem is I have no idea how to fish that are or where to really go. I'm obviously not asking for anyone's spots just some general advice. I went east from the ramp and then made a left and just fished that area right there and a little west of that are too. It was all only 2-3 feet with grass coming right up to the surface. Only caught 3 tiny bass on worms. I'm not sure if everything out there is just like that at this time of year or not. I'm going to be out there tomorrow and Sunday so if anyone sees me, say hi. It's a red black and white Z9.

Thanks

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Use google maps. You'll get a rough idea of where you can easily get to. It won't take you long to figure out where you can go. If you have a GPS, you won't have to worry about getting lost. Just use the track that you've already got on the machine to follow your way back.

Run west from the ramps. If you go all the way down, you'll run into another large canal running north/south that you can spend a long time flipping the edges of the grass. At times, you'll find some big fish doing that, but it's hit or miss and can be very slow. Personally, I like leaving the ramps and heading to the west. Cutting out after you exit the canal and chuck swimbaits over the grass flats. Topwater baits at sunrise, then switch to moving baits as the sun gets higher in the sky. Try to find clear moving water. If you can find that, odds are there will be fish in the area. I haven't been out there for a couple of weeks, but the water levels were going down some. Not sure how low it is now, but probably still have room to run around.

I might be out there Sunday. Trying to decide if I want to go there, or make the drive up to Okeechobee.

[Gotfishyfingers?]

Haven't fished out there is a while but try throwing a swimbait or frog or flipping a jig on the canals.There are big fish out there, so don't get discouraged. FYI, There is a speed limit out there and they radar/ give out tickets..

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Haven't fished out there is a while but try throwing a swimbait or frog or flipping a jig on the canals.There are big fish out there, so don't get discouraged. FYI, There is a speed limit out there and they radar/ give out tickets..

35 mph posted limit as you leave the ramps.

[Ufgator]

Thanks, I saw the speed limit but I am surprised that they actually radar people. I was too scared to go fast anyways since it was very shallow where I was. These canals that you are talking about are where? Do you go west from the ramp?

[topwaterrob]

35 mph posted limit as you leave the ramps.

I can honestly say I never noticed the speed limit signs...  Holy crap

[GLADES]

It has been over a year since I have been out there because I have moved so things might have changed some. I used to live in Coral Springs so i have been out there a lot over the past 45 years.

Many ways to fish Lox. I am sure other guys will give you different advice. I will try to keep it simple to get you started. definately check out google to understand the canal system and the trail leading into the flats.

 

Go west from the ramps. After a couple of miles the canal will open up into a larger flats area.

Stay on plane and vear north across that open area. The bottom is silt and muck. I have never hit a rock so no worries.

That area can be 2' - 5 ft deep depending on the time of year.

Dodge the thicker hydrilla grassy areas and head towards the sawgrass. As you get closer, it gets a little bit deeper and the water should become less weedy.

Come off plane and look for a trail that heads back into the sawgrass or you can fish along the edges of the outer grass. If there is a current going in or out of the trails, spend some time fishing the areas where there is moving water at the mouths of these trails. I have had some sucess in those conditions at times, but it isn't normal, usually the water is barely moving or still. Head back into the flats, the trail will interesect other trails and canals. Lots of juicy spots back there.

Another way to fish the area is to set down in an open spot in the hydrilla. Drift with the wind or trolling motor across the flats and top water, walk the dog, swim baits or drop some worms or creatures into the holes in the weeds. I preferred the top water cause depending on the wind, you can cover more area.

Once you find bass, stay in the area and approach again and again.

 

The canal that runs west to that flats area I just described continues further west.

When you approach the bend and open flats just keep going west but keep to the left of the flats. The canal will start again. Get back into the canal.

Keep going until you reach the end. You will see a spillway at the end. At the spilway, the canal turns north. Fish the sawgrass edges with frogs, large worms, and big Ez's. You can drop creatures and craws behind or into holes into the weeds. Use heavy braid cause you will be hauling out bass and slop.

Lox can be really great or really frustrating. There is a learning curve out there.

George Welcome of stick marsh fame regaled a story about a 17# hog coming out of Lox during the early 70's.

There are a lot of 5-10# out there for sure.

 

FYI, do not try to circle the whole refuge. There may be temporary canal barriers and you probably do not have enough gas to go all the way around. I know 3 guys that ran out of gas trying. Let someone know where you are going when you are out there. Cell phone signal is pretty good out there.

Good luck and I hope something I mentioned helps.

[geo g]

Glades, thanks for all that info.  Good stuff there.  I fish the place a dozen times a year.  Loads of big fish in there that never see a boat or hook.  It can be frustrating and also very rewarding.  One clump of weeds produced two 8 pound fish on back to back casts.  That was some day.  Thanks for your report.

[Ufgator]

Thank you so much. I have been out there 3 days in a row and I am getting pretty frustrated. I was telling the guy I was with today that we can go to any canal/lake and catch fish from the bank every time but now we are out in the everglades and can't get a bite.

Today I was in that flats area that you described when the channel opens up. I did make a left and went through the coasts with my trolling motor and we were throwing spinnerbaits and frogs but no luck. We made it right to the mouth of those channels that go north past the flats but didn't go in. We went back to the main channel and headed west some more but didn't quite make it all the way to where it turns north. We fished the channel there, I was flipping a bb cricket along the edge and my friend was fishing a Trig. 3 hours and 1 little bass.

I'm going to be out if town this week but when I get back I'm going to head out again, hopefully things will improve. Thanks for the advice.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Thank you so much. I have been out there 3 days in a row and I am getting pretty frustrated. I was telling the guy I was with today that we can go to any canal/lake and catch fish from the bank every time but now we are out in the everglades and can't get a bite.

Today I was in that flats area that you described when the channel opens up. I did make a left and went through the coasts with my trolling motor and we were throwing spinnerbaits and frogs but no luck. We made it right to the mouth of those channels that go north past the flats but didn't go in. We went back to the main channel and headed west some more but didn't quite make it all the way to where it turns north. We fished the channel there, I was flipping a bb cricket along the edge and my friend was fishing a Trig. 3 hours and 1 little bass.

I'm going to be out if town this week but when I get back I'm going to head out again, hopefully things will improve. Thanks for the advice.

Think I saw you backing into the ramp this morning, Ufgator. I was taking off while you were getting ready to launch. Nice lookin Z9. Good lookin color scheme on it.

To be honest, I think most people had a rough day out there today. I had a long morning of catching a few small fish. Ended up flipping a pair of halfway decent ones. Right in the four to four and a half range. Nothing spectacular. Another member of the forums was there today and had similar results. I was loaded up and driving home by noon. Too hot, and not enough bites to make it worth staying. Water levels have dropped a good bit since I was last out. Can't really get too far back into the flats right now. You can run into them, just don't get off plane unless you want to fish that area.

Wish I would had just manned up and went to Okeechobee. Was just worn out from fishing offshore yesterday and didn't really feel like driving that far.

[Ufgator]

Don't think it was me because I got there at 7:00 and left at around 10:00am and you say you left at noon. I had a white GMC Denali and the Z9 is red black and white. If you do ever see me out there say hi and let me know it's you.

Did the buzzards damage your car today? They did $500 to $1k worth of damage to mine.

[Ufgator]

Oh just reread your post. You said you were taking off when I was launching. I thought you meant taking off and leaving in your truck but you may have meant taking off in your boat. Maybe it was me.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Yeah was you then. Was a white pickup towing it.

Never had an issue out there with bird messing up my vehicle. That's a serious bummer.

[Gotfishyfingers?]

I've heard of them eating the black rubber on some vehicles, is that what they did to your truck? Try tying plastics publix style bags to the luggage rack, heard it keeps them away.

[Ufgator]

Yes, windshield molding, door weather strips, sunroof weather strips, everything rubber. They were also all over a few other vehicles.

[piscicidal]

The buzzards damaged my vehicle out there, also...my wife's new hemi Durango.  Had about 5000 miles on it.  Chewed the windshield wipers, the windshield trim and the cowling underneath the wipers.  Got it fixed, but it was an expensive day of fishing for me.  

 

Now what I do is bring my boat cover out there and put the boat cover over the car while I'm fishing.  Some guys have these battery operated propellers that they put on their cars. Any motion will keep them away, it seems.

[South FLA]

I was out there this Sunday, white Bullet boat.   We ended up with a two 5lbs and the rest were under 1 1/2 lbs total of 10-12 fishing was SLOW, had to cover tons of water to get them.   Topwater was not the ticket unless you wanted to catch BOWFIN, if we had a mudfish tournament we would have weighed in 25lbs, lol!

[zachb34]

I was out there this Sunday, white Bullet boat. We ended up with a two 5lbs and the rest were under 1 1/2 lbs total of 10-12 fishing was SLOW, had to cover tons of water to get them. Topwater was not the ticket unless you wanted to catch BOWFIN, if we had a mudfish tournament we would have weighed in 25lbs, lol!

I saw your boat heading out there as I was putting my boat in

[South FLA]

I saw your boat heading out there as I was putting my boat in

 

Looked like some cloud cover was coming in, how'd you do with the later bite?

[zachb34]

I saw you going out to fish as I was putting my boat in and we left at like 11 fishing was slow. We went out today and were throwing gambler big EZs in the weeds absolutely horrible because of the gars ripping our tails off, but I got about 9 fish and they guy with me got about 5 I'll be back out there bright and early tomorrow morning.

[Ufgator]

I have been out there a few more times and I can't seem to find anything that works. Last Thursday I went all the way west to the power lines and was flipping and didn't even get a bite. Then I switched to a frog and I caught two that were about 1lb. I really don't know where else to go or what else to try. On the flats, where are you guys going, the area right by the ramps, or west to were the canal opens up? I tried Big EZs and spinnerbaits on the flats a few times but again nothing. I really want to find something that works out there because it is only a few miles from my house but nothing seems to work for me.

[BassinLou]

I have been out there a few more times and I can't seem to find anything that works. Last Thursday I went all the way west to the power lines and was flipping and didn't even get a bite. Then I switched to a frog and I caught two that were about 1lb. I really don't know where else to go or what else to try. On the flats, where are you guys going, the area right by the ramps, or west to were the canal opens up? I tried Big EZs and spinnerbaits on the flats a few times but again nothing. I really want to find something that works out there because it is only a few miles from my house but nothing seems to work for me.

 

You may have to take a short road trip to the glades. Several people I know on here have been doing great.