SchwabVang Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 Hello everyone! I'm here in North Port, Florida on vacation and I'm in need of some fishing advice from the locals! I'm from Minnesota and a regular bass fisherman there and this is the first time I've attempted to do freshwater fishing here! I know that I'm around a great saltwater fishery but Ive been doing that everyday since I've been here! I'd like to know if there are some spots around North Port or Specific canals I'd be able to fish and get some production! The friends at home been teasing me to post some bass pictures instead of these salt water fishes. Sadly, due to me being on vacation here once a year to visit my dad! I don't feel like investing in a casting nor spinning set up! So I'm stuck with using ugly sticks and Walmart poles my dad has bought for fishing! Beggars can't be choosers, wish I'd stick one of my set ups In a rod tube before coming here! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I will be here till this coming up Thursday! My goal is to catch a DD! My biggest in MInnesota is 5.2! It's hard to get 6+ Pounders up there! Quote
GLADES Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 Since you are close to the Peace river, find a nice spot somewhere with a bucket of 6" wild shiners. Other than that, your best bet would be to hire a guide on Lake Okeechobee, or Lake Kissimee. Landing DD's are not easy, even in central/south Florida. I lived in south Florida most of my 53 years, and I only landed 1 over 10 lbs(11.8) over a oyster bed in lake Hatch in the Kissimee chain in the 70's. The bass of 5-8 lbs are relatively plentiful though. Good luck! Quote
SchwabVang Posted January 25, 2015 Author Posted January 25, 2015 Thanks for the tip! In the peace river is best just to free line the live bait with a sinker or actually jig and drag? I know that catching a DD is gonna be tough but anything bigger than a 5.2 lbs would be very interesting! Thank you for the tip once again. Quote
GLADES Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 You can free line them if it isn't to weedy. You can also fish them with a bobber. Depending on the water depth, set the bobber about 5-6 feet from the hook. While you are waiting for the shiner to do it's thing, with another rod cast Big EZ rubber crank baits, large worms, or frogs into and along the weeds. Quote
0119 Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 Sorry I didnt see this earlier, are you still in N.P. on vacation? You have the areas best kept secret right in North Port, the CocoPlum Canal. Runs from North Port Blvd. behind all the malls south to the county line and past into Pt. Charlotte. Double digit bass have been pulled out of there often. Hit the bridges at Sumter, Salford and Cranberry. They are bedding and all the action is at the shoreline so be sneeky. Good Luck. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted January 30, 2015 Global Moderator Posted January 30, 2015 Sorry I didnt see this earlier, are you still in N.P. on vacation? You have the areas best kept secret right in North Port, the CocoPlum Canal. Runs from North Port Blvd. behind all the malls south to the county line and past into Pt. Charlotte. Double digit bass have been pulled out of there often. Hit the bridges at Sumter, Salford and Cranberry. They are bedding and all the action is at the shoreline so be sneeky. Good Luck. I also just saw this...0119 is exactly right. Coco Plum (us old timers call it 9 mile canal) is where you want to be in the No Port Pt Charlotte area. At the top end there is a boat ramp with 2 docks just south of the dam off NP Blvd behind the YMCA behind the tennis courts. I used to take the grandkids there. You can fish off the docks or walk the shoreline. Travel south on US 41 to Cranberry turn left and then right on Hillsborough, 9 mile will be on your left all the way down. You have to look for openings to the canal as there are homes and heavy vegetation all along it but you will see some. The farther south you go into Port Charlotte it'll be a little easier. There are monster's in there! Good Luck Mike Quote
0119 Posted January 31, 2015 Posted January 31, 2015 You and me must be the only 2 left who remember calling it 9 mile........ I gotta ask, have you tried fishing Deer Prarie Creek just before you get to River Rd. ? Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted February 1, 2015 Global Moderator Posted February 1, 2015 HA, I'm sure we are! Yes! Mattter of fact I was there 2 weeks ago. A neighbor stood on the top of the dam, if you can believe that, and caught a 20" snook! I fished off the old dock behind the picnic table but didn't get anything. Last summer we took a small jon boat all the way up about 2 miles I guess, and did pretty good. When you get farther down its loaded with pads and lay downs. I was thinking about going back soon and check it out again as I'm sure that area is loaded with beds. Mike Quote
0119 Posted February 1, 2015 Posted February 1, 2015 No doubt. It looks amazingly swampy from the youtube videos of it. Lots of targets to cast to. This might be the time to try it if the water is down that much, less flow to fight., Quote
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