Techniques for fishing in Florida

[Kavi]

Hey guys I have been fishing for some time and I finally got my first bass boat. I live in the central Florida area and I don’t have any electronics on my boat. I was wondering, other than frogging, punching, and worm fishing what other techniques do u guys catch fish on? I can never really get bites on baits other than worms but I’ve been experimenting with others such as chatterbaits.
I always see grass lines and I don’t know if I should start fishing that even though it surrounds the whole lake. If u guys have any suggestions on what visible cover works best for you and what baits you throw in it, that would be great.

The weather is still so hot in Florida and I don’t know if the fall transition even exists.

if u guys could also educate me on the fall transition in Florida that would be great because it’s not the same as what I see elsewhere.

[Don51]

And you are right! It is a very subtle change. We are approaching pre spawn believe it or not! The heat is hanging around and water temps are still high. Some cool nights are on the horizon and the bass will eventually become more active. Right now they still seem to not want to commit to fast moving baits. I get most bites on soft t-rigged plastics. Stick baits and worms along those grass lines should produce. Florida bass fishing is tough! It is not as easy as Roland Martin makes it out to be. LOL 

[roadwarrior]

I caught my Personal Best at Toho January 5, 2020 fishing a 6" minnow under a balloon.

 

 

[813basstard]

Healthy grass is always a good starting place. Chatterbait/spinnerbait in and around there.

 

Don’t forget top water this time of year.

If possible find the bank where the wind is blowing up on the furthest

[Hudson McLean]

One of my favorite techniques is just swimming a speed worm around the grass. If there is grass around the entire lake, pay attention to the bottom composition. Most of the time, gravel bottom holds more fish then the "mushy" bottom.

[Captain Phil]

I have been fishing for bass in Florida for over 60 years. Fishing is no tougher now than it was back then.  Catching bass on artificials has never been easy.  One of my friends worked at Roland's Marina back when he was making his TV shows.  It sometimes took weeks to get enough fish action to fill up a show. 

 

Lures and tackle are much better now.  Catch and release has caught on with anglers.  10% of the anglers still catch 90% of the fish.  If you are going to fish a weed line, don't fish like most anglers I see fishing.  Put your boat directly on the weed line and cast down it.  Retrieve your lure as close to the weeds as possible.  Better yet, hit the weeds if you can. 

 

Florida still has great bass fishing.  It was never as good as it is on a TV show.

[crypt]

3 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

I have been fishing for bass in Florida for over 60 years. Fishing is no tougher now than it was back then.  Catching bass on artificials has never been easy.  One of my friends worked at Roland's Marina back when he was making his TV shows.  It sometimes took weeks to get enough fish action to fill up a show. 

 

Lures and tackle are much better now.  Catch and release has caught on with anglers.  10% of the anglers still catch 90% of the fish.  If you are going to fish a weed line, don't fish like most anglers I see fishing.  Put your boat directly on the weed line and cast down it.  Retrieve your lure as close to the weeds as possible.  Better yet, hit the weeds if you can. 

 

Florida still has great bass fishing.  It was never as good as it is on a TV show.

THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.........don't watch tv...... get out on the water and fish,that's the best way to learn.

[Kavi]

Alright thanks

Do u guys throw baits like traps or jigs here in Florida because I just do good on t rigs and I don’t even know if these other baits are even close to affective as they are north of us.

[Kavi]

Also I’m planning on heading to lake Harris soon and I was wondering where to start fishing on that lake if any of you have fished it. I have no clue where to start so anything will help

Thanks

[Don51]

Once the water cools down some they will hit traps. My first FL fish on a Ratltrap was a tilapia!  My biggest disappointment FL fishing is the lack of variety. If the bass aren't biting you can't switch gears. Crappie and panfish behave totally different than they do up north.  It's a very frustrating place to fish!

[Captain Phil]

If variety is what you are after, you should try inshore Salt Water fishing.  In Florida, you are never more than an hour from the ocean.  Most of it is just like bass fishing only the fish are bigger and somewhat easier to catch.  Bass fishing is not about catching a pile of fish.  It's about the challenge of trying.  

[soflabasser]

3 hours ago, Don51 said:

My biggest disappointment FL fishing is the lack of variety. 

I find the opposite to be true. Florida is the best place in the nation for a multi species fisherman. I have caught well over 100 species of fish just in South Florida. Have caught more species in other states and countries. Florida also has several species of black bass and more of them than many states do. As for techniques you can catch bass on ultralight tackle with small lures to catching them on heavy tackle while fishing with swimbaits.

[roadwarrior]

 

[bigbassin']

4 hours ago, soflabasser said:

I find the opposite to be true. Florida is the best place in the nation for a multi species fisherman. I have caught well over 100 species of fish just in South Florida. Have caught more species in other states and countries. Florida also has several species of black bass and more of them than many states do. As for techniques you can catch bass on ultralight tackle with small lures to catching them on heavy tackle while fishing with swimbaits.

Outside of largemouth and Suwannee, which other black bass species are there?

I know fwc lists shoal bass but from what I understand they’re pretty much nonexistent anymore down there.

[soflabasser]

1 hour ago, bigbassin' said:

Outside of largemouth and Suwannee, which other black bass species are there?

 

The Following black bass species are found in Florida;

 

1. Florida largemouth bass in the Peninsular part of Florida

2. Northern largemouth bass and Northern largemouth bass X Florida largemouth bass (intergrade) in the Florida Panhandle

3. Suwannee bass

4. Shoal bass

5. Choctaw bass

6. Spotted bass

 

[Captain Phil]

You should know that practically every body of fresh water bigger than a puddle in Florida contains some bass.  Some of the best fishing is in residential rock pits and canals. If you only fish well known lakes, you are missing out.  I live on the Harris Chain 30 minutes from Orlando.  There are literally hundreds of other places I can fish, all less than an hour from my home.  Florida lakes vary considerably.  Some are clear with a sand bottom.  Some are dark with cypress trees.  Many are not much more than swamps.  Everyone of them has a different technique that works better than others. Instead of fishing only water that looks like you think it should, learn to fish differently depending upon the conditions in that water.  Too many bass fisherman do the same thing all the time expecting the same result.   

[Kavi]

19 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

You should know that practically every body of fresh water bigger than a puddle in Florida contains some bass.  Some of the best fishing is in residential rock pits and canals. If you only fish well known lakes, you are missing out.  I live on the Harris Chain 30 minutes from Orlando.  There are literally hundreds of other places I can fish, all less than an hour from my home.  Florida lakes vary considerably.  Some are clear with a sand bottom.  Some are dark with cypress trees.  Many are not much more than swamps.  Everyone of them has a different technique that works better than others. Instead of fishing only water that looks like you think it should, learn to fish differently depending upon the conditions in that water.  Too many bass fisherman do the same thing all the time expecting the same result.   

What other lakes in the Orlando area do you fish because I am still trying to figure out new places to try to add to my bucket list 

thanks

[Captain Phil]

You should join a bass club.  Not only will you find new places to fish, you will learn how to fish them.   Here's a short list.  Lake Monroe and the St. John's River, The Kissimmee Chain, East Lake Toho, The Butler Chain and Lake Panasoffkee.  Lake County where I live is full of great small lakes with boat ramps. Many of the forest lakes produce double digit bass catches each year.  Here's a photo of a bass we caught in one of them recently.

 

 

 

[SC53]

Best thing you could do being a Florida newbie is the hire a guide like Phil for a day and have him show you how he does it. Not locations but techniques and what to look for. I wouldn’t worry about catching fish that day, although you probably will, but make it more an educational trip. That’ll be money well spent I’m my opinion. 
I’ve fished Florida as many years as Phil has and it’s always been a challenge. Like he said, nothing like on tv. Oh you’ll have your good to great days but vast majority of them you’ll be happy to catch a few fish. 

[Don51]

On 10/30/2020 at 8:02 AM, Captain Phil said:

If variety is what you are after, you should try inshore Salt Water fishing.  In Florida, you are never more than an hour from the ocean.  Most of it is just like bass fishing only the fish are bigger and somewhat easier to catch.  Bass fishing is not about catching a pile of fish.  It's about the challenge of trying.  

I live in Charlotte County. Not exactly the bass capital of FL! I have given up my expectations of size and go out and just try to get bites! I caught a 2.5 on Saturday which is the biggest bass I have caught in a long time!  I don't have a great interest in the salt/brackish water fishing.  

[Captain Phil]

1 hour ago, Don51 said:

I live in Charlotte County. Not exactly the bass capital of FL! 

You are not that far from Lake Okeechobee.  Lake Istokpoga is a great bass lake. How about the Caloosahatchee River?  I lived in Pembroke Pines for about 20 years.  Not exactly the bass capital either.  I caught bass up to 9 pound bass in the canal in my back yard. 

[Daddles]

Listen to what these guys are saying and understand most of what the other forums will say about fishing doesn't necessarily apply to Florida fishing.  It's just different here. The time I have spent with a guide was very informative.  Also, find a bait shop and hangout there.  Ask them questions.  The people at my local bait shop have been super helpful. (Bitters in Longwood) I've had my best luck with Senkos and Flukes.  Red Flake or Blue Flake. Occasionally Junebug.  There is always Shiner fishing too. If Eta doesn't come this way this weekend I'll be throwing Shiners with my son in our neighborhood pond

[roadwarrior]

15 minutes ago, Daddles said:

...most of what the other forums will say about fishing doesn't necessarily apply to Florida fishing.  It's just different here.

...I've had my best luck with Senkos and Flukes.  Red Flake or Blue Flake. Occasionally Junebug.  

Doesn't sound "different" to me.

 

[Daddles]

9 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Doesn't sound "different" to me.

 

I should've been more specific.  The techniques and how to's are spot on.  Your How to catch your first bass piece nailed it for me.  It's more of "It's November, bass are doing this right now" doesn't reflect what's going on here in FL

[soflabasser]

Learn how to fish heavy aquatic vegetation and you should do well in Florida.