Find a good lure for bass and peacock

[Cubanguy]

I know 100% of people would say live bait is the best specially for peacock but when cant get it what is a good all around lure to find some bass on sotuh florida canals, specially peacocks since they fight so good, what you guys recommend for a begginer?

[FLAGATOR49]

Senko's and flukes is what I started fishing with in Florida and I still use them today. Junebug and Watermelon Red are good colors for both. Reaction innovations skinny dipper is another good choice and all can be used on the same rod/reel with a 5/0 hook.

 

I have never fished the canals in south florida...do you have lots of cover around and what kind of equipment? 

[Cubanguy]

2 hours ago, FLAGATOR49 said:

Senko's and flukes is what I started fishing with in Florida and I still use them today. Junebug and Watermelon Red are good colors for both. Reaction innovations skinny dipper is another good choice and all can be used on the same rod/reel with a 5/0 hook.

 

I have never fished the canals in south florida...do you have lots of cover around and what kind of equipment? 

The ones close to me not much cover, u see grass here and there but mostly open water. I usually carry with me a medium heavy fast 7 foot rod and a 7 medium spinning rod

[FLAGATOR49]

Maybe a lipless crankbait, swim jig, or topwater for your casting setup. You may want to stick with snagless stuff from the bank so you can get your baits back like a buzzbait or spinnerbait. The senko and fluke will be great with your spinning gear. 

[Cubanguy]

2 hours ago, FLAGATOR49 said:

Maybe a lipless crankbait, swim jig, or topwater for your casting setup. You may want to stick with snagless stuff from the bank so you can get your baits back like a buzzbait or spinnerbait. The senko and fluke will be great with your spinning gear. 

Thanks for info, caugh this little guy today on a lipless crank, i think my issue is more finding where the fish is than actually fishing them

[FLAGATOR49]

Look for some drains and culverts with flowing water from all this rain. There should be some moving flood water somewhere nearby in the canals, check on google earth. Also shade is another good thing to look for when the flowing water is done and the sun is back out.  

[Cubanguy]

3 minutes ago, FLAGATOR49 said:

Look for some drains and culverts with flowing water from all this rain. There should be some moving flood water somewhere nearby in the canals, check on google earth. Also shade is another good thing to look for when the flowing water is done and the sun is back out.  

That is a question i have, so lets say a shade or some mats, do i want to cast to it or way past it and run the lure by the area? Seems unless is like a plastic bait , cranks or jerkbaits they get out of the area quickly by retriving them, idk if i explain myself correctly there

[FLAGATOR49]

14 minutes ago, Cubanguy said:

That is a question i have, so lets say a shade or some mats, do i want to cast to it or way past it and run the lure by the area? Seems unless is like a plastic bait , cranks or jerkbaits they get out of the area quickly by retriving them, idk if i explain myself correctly there

With a 7' MH you might want to stay away from mats. Use 50lb braid and cast around the outside edges of mats, or a small opening in the mat could work for your setup with a 1/4oz. You typically need a heavier weight for that technique, that would probably over power your rod. The 1/4oz may not work if they are thick mats, and im guessing that would be the heaviest weight you could throw on a 7' MH. A frog on top of the mats is another option.

 

Cranks and jerks around the outside of mats may work, same with the senko/fluke. Pause a fluke or jerkbait right around the edges to draw them out.   

[Sphynx]

1 minute ago, FLAGATOR49 said:

With a 7' MH you might want to stay away from mats. Use 50lb braid and cast around the outside edges of mats, or a small opening in the mat could work for your setup with a 1/4oz. You typically need a heavier weight for that technique, that would probably over power your rod. The 1/4oz may not work if they are thick mats, and im guessing that would be the heaviest weight you could throw on a 7' MH. A frog on top of the mats is another option.

 

Cranks and jerks around the outside of mats may work, same with the senko/fluke. Pause a fluke or jerkbait right around the edges to draw them out.   

I've never seen a MH that was rated for less than a 3/4oz total lure weight, I agree that a MH is not really an ideal punching/heavy cover rig, but I have gone as high as 3/8oz weights on a t-rig regularly with a 7'MHF and done pretty well with it.

[FLAGATOR49]

Just now, Sphynx said:

I've never seen a MH that was rated for less than a 3/4oz total lure weight, I agree that a MH is not really an ideal punching/heavy cover rig, but I have gone as high as 3/8oz weights on a t-rig regularly with a 7'MHF and done pretty well with it.

Total lure weight is exactly it, a senko + 1/4oz weight + hook and your near maxing out. It depends on the plastic, hook and weight being used. Every 7' MH is not the same, some rods can handle being maxed out and others cant.

 

Heck try 3/8oz and see if it works. Personally, my MH's are for weightless plastics 1/16oz max, and non-braid swim jigs.   

[Cubanguy]

1 hour ago, FLAGATOR49 said:

Total lure weight is exactly it, a senko + 1/4oz weight + hook and your near maxing out. It depends on the plastic, hook and weight being used. Every 7' MH is not the same, some rods can handle being maxed out and others cant.

 

Heck try 3/8oz and see if it works. Personally, my MH's are for weightless plastics 1/16oz max, and non-braid swim jigs.   

For some reason on my reel if i throw something light like weightless worm it bird nest like hell, i need to use like a jerkbait or heavier to be able to throw it without issues

[Sphynx]

1 minute ago, Cubanguy said:

For some reason on my reel if i throw something light like weightless worm it bird nest like hell, i need to use like a jerkbait or heavier to be able to throw it without issues

You may need to adjust your brakes as lure weight changes, I'm sure someone smarter than I can give you a scientific or systematic explanation, but I generally find that as lure weight changes, brakes need fiddling with...or your thumb if you do it that way

[Cubanguy]

Ill do that seems is always the issue with ligth lures

[FLAGATOR49]

Your spool tension could be too loose, the lure should barely drop when you engage the thumb bar to let line out. Hold your rod straight out when you do this, too tight is better than too loose when it comes to back lashing. 

 

Your spool tension needs to be adjusted for each different lure tied on. If you go from a lipless to a weightless plastic your tension will be way too loose for the plastic. 

[Cubanguy]

1 hour ago, FLAGATOR49 said:

Your spool tension could be too loose, the lure should barely drop when you engage the thumb bar to let line out. Hold your rod straight out when you do this, too tight is better than too loose when it comes to back lashing. 

 

Your spool tension needs to be adjusted for each different lure tied on. If you go from a lipless to a weightless plastic your tension will be way too loose for the plastic. 

I think maybe is my casting that sucks, i have tried adjusting it but i get a really short distance compared to the heavy ones

 

[FLAGATOR49]

Just now, Cubanguy said:

I think maybe is my casting that sucks, i have tried adjusting it but i get a really short distance compared to the heavy ones

 

It could be that your reel sucks, but less brakes and tighter spool tension. You will always be able throw further with heavier lures than lighter lures...that will never change. Your line choice could be limiting your casting distance as well. 

[Cubanguy]

2 minutes ago, FLAGATOR49 said:

It could be that your reel sucks, but less brakes and tighter spool tension. You will always be able throw further with heavier lures than lighter lures...that will never change. Your line choice could be limiting your casting distance as well. 

Makes sense. Im using a cheap mono line from walmart 10lb 700 yards is like $2 since im learning baitcasting guess maybe is a good idea to replace? and the reel is a kastking which i know is not a expensive brand or anything, i do have an abu garcia laying around i never used.

[FLAGATOR49]

Just now, Cubanguy said:

Makes sense. Im using a cheap mono line from walmart 10lb 700 yards is like $2 since im learning baitcasting guess maybe is a good idea to replace? and the reel is a kastking which i know is not a expensive brand or anything, i do have an abu garcia laying around i never used.

Probably best to go with the Abu, 10lb mono should cast fine I would bump it up a little for your casting equipment to avoid break offs. I started on 15lb Berkley big game which you can find at Walmart and it's cheap. Lighter line should cast further so im not sure the line change will help you with distance. 

[Cubanguy]

16 hours ago, FLAGATOR49 said:

Probably best to go with the Abu, 10lb mono should cast fine I would bump it up a little for your casting equipment to avoid break offs. I started on 15lb Berkley big game which you can find at Walmart and it's cheap. Lighter line should cast further so im not sure the line change will help you with distance. 

Ull try the other reel see how it does, it may be just that. Also whats ur intake in spinnerbaits, are they any good down here?

[FLAGATOR49]

4 hours ago, Cubanguy said:

Ull try the other reel see how it does, it may be just that. Also whats ur intake in spinnerbaits, are they any good down here?

Yes they work a booyah 3/8oz Willow/Colorado tandem in golden shiner is very popular in FL.