Loxahatchee Federal Preserve

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Loxahatchee Federal Preserve, Broward, West Palm Beach County Line, Saturday 10/22/16, 7:00-Noon.

Went to Lox Saturday with a friend, Rick.  Our first real cold front was moving through from the north and the wind was blowing 10-15 MPH all morning.  There was blue bird sky and wind out of the north/west.  Water levels are high. so moving around on the flats was no problem.  Vegetation is thick on the flat, with matted vegetation two feet under the surface.  All said, less then ideal conditions for fishing, but just a beautiful day to be out on the water after 6 months of 90* weather.  We ran west down the canal and entered the massive flat, and fished back to the east with the wind at our backs.  I caught a bass early in the cut to the flat, and then a slow steady bite with lots of small bass.  The big bite was not present at all, at least for us.  The grass mat which is at least a thousand acres  of thick stuff was a perfect hiding place for the bigger fish.  The problem is everything looks so fishy.  

I stuck to a senko bait and a gambler swimbait.  The Swimbait got no action at all, and the senko got action as long as you walked it several feet deep right above the weed pad.  If it was not in constant motion you had no bite.  Rick tried several baits like a big worm, hollow body frog, jig with little success.  We finished the day with 14 caught, another 4 or 5 hookup that came off at the boat.  It was a fun day, with low humidity and 70^ weather, and a final break from the brutal summer heat.  We look forward to months of pleasant, comfortable temps.  

[Gotfishyfingers?]

Glad to see you made it out there and caught fish. Everything does always look fishy out there on the flats. As an angler we cant help but imagining huge top water strikes. Dropping a jig in a hole of the thick stuff and you line instantly going tight...lol

Ive fished the south side of the alley by the toll plaza a couple times recently with some decent action. Still nothing over 1 1/2 lbs though.. All on soft plastics texas rigged..watermelon color..