Where do you start finding LMB on the St. John's River?

[Jon Morris]

Pretty much the title says it all.

 

But never knew that the St John's is very salty for a good distance inland.

Does anyone have any good information on where LMB are encountered regularly or where the "line" is?

 

Thanks in advance

[N Florida Mike]

ON the St John's the bass fishing is best south of the Buckman bridge.But some of the creeks between there and downtown Jax.are pretty good at times.The " line " depends on how much rain has fallen lately.Lots of rain: it is closer to downtown.Little rain: Further south.The further you get back in creeks,the fresher it  usually is.

It is also tidal way up it.One pattern is to fish the cypress trees on high tide with soft plastics esp.dark colors.

Another is to fish docks,which are very abundant ,esp.north of the shands bridge.

If you can find eel grass or shell beds,they hold fish.also.Fish the inner edge on high tides,and the outer edge on lower tides.

I never got into " offshore" fishing in the river but I know it's very productive at times.

This may help you simplify things .We were fishing a tournament once in the river near lake George and had engine trouble.All we could do was use the trolling motor.We simply started at the ramp and went north.We ended up finishing 3rd.Caught most of the fish on 7.5 inch red shad culprit worms.Fishing pads primarily.

I would say the best pattern for a beginner in the area is to skip under low slung docks.

Caught many of my best fish in the julington Creek area,but I have not done well at all there in recent years.

Won a tournament in Doctors lake using guess what?

RED SHAD CULPRITS.

Mike

 

[Jon Morris]

Thanks, didn't realize I had already asked this before.

Great info!

[RHuff]

Old thread..BUT..   Any luck fishing North of Palatka near Trout Creek or Six Mile Creek?

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, RHuff said:

Old thread..BUT..   Any luck fishing North of Palatka near Trout Creek or Six Mile Creek?

I read a lot of articles covering the bassmaster elite event there recently and both those areas were successful for the competitors

[RHuff]

On 2/12/2020 at 12:51 PM, TnRiver46 said:

I read a lot of articles covering the bassmaster elite event there recently and both those areas were successful for the competitors

 

 That's where I found those areas from reading that I was planning on visiting Palatka this spring and fishing for a few days until I realized that Trout Creek is a lot closer to my relatives than Palatka is. I posted looking for some input from locals. 

 

 

[RoLo]

 

Lake George

 

Roger

[Full PULL]

There’s an open tournament 

this weekend at trout creek. 

[N Florida Mike]

That’ll be a tough one this time of year...

[ava_ati]

On 6/26/2020 at 9:57 AM, N Florida Mike said:

That’ll be a tough one this time of year...

What makes it tough? The warm water temps?

[N Florida Mike]

There are several reasons its tough . The part of the main river  from palatka to the north has relatively little vegatation anymore for some reason, but creeks like trout and 6 mile do have a lot of pads. Warm water is a factor. There is just so much water it can be difficult to find fish. Ive fished it most of my life and found it slow most of the time. Fishing seemed much better in the 70s and 80s. This time of year pitching/flipping deep cover would probably be best. Fish are sluggish in the summer here, but are usually most active  first thing in the morning. If you can find eel grass and fish around it , you will  find fish. I have a very experienced friend that fished Doctor’s Lake recently and only caught a few        ( with one  3.5 pounder) fishing all day.

 

[RHuff]

How is it in February and March?? 

[N Florida Mike]

That’s my favorite months of the year. They will bed in creeks and canals off the river around the full and new moons. Cold fronts mess things up for a few days off and on though...Hoping I can get out there some this year in those months. April too...