Techniques for fishing in Florida

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, Daddles said:

It's more of "It's November, bass are doing this right now" doesn't reflect what's going on here in FL

 

I can appreciate that. My PB was caught 1/05/2020 on Lake Toho.

 

[Alex from GA]

We have a winter place in central FL and I mostly bass fish several times a week.  I even caught a fish once.  We stayed until August last winter because the hospital beds in my town were at near capacity.  I found that the local lakes were not where the best bite was, it's the rivers and smaller lakes and ponds.  I fished a buzzbait a lot last winter/spring/summer and usually did really good some of the time.  My other technique is a T/R worm.  I had lots of 20+ fish days along with 3 fish days.  Good fishing!!!

[redux]

 

On 10/30/2020 at 3:07 PM, Kavi said:

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

I recently left the Orlando area so I am ok with naming some places I like. Thankfully none are secrets

• Maitland chain
• Lake Baldwin
• Lake Fairview
• John's Lake
• Turkey Lake
• Conway Chain
• Clermont Chain

One thing that does work really well is a small (3" or less) white (or close), watermelon red flake, and watermelon/blue paddle tail swimbait rigged weedless. I like Owner Twistlock 3X – Weighted 3/0 with 1/16 or 1/8 weight. You need a pretty stout spinning rod and good braid. Run paralell to shore wherever you see lily pads (stay 10' or so off the pads) and toss it onto the bank or in the open water between the bank and the pads. This works well when there's a dock close to the pads. Slow retrieve over the pads and let it sink in any open spots. When you get to the edge of the pads let it sit on the last pad for a bit then gently twitch it off and let it sink on a slack line until it settles on the grass. Slow retrieve back to the boat. It is kind of a finesse froggy approach and you won't always nab the big ones, but you will get fish.

 

White or green/blue spinner baits over/in grass that is close to lily pads and deep water whenever you think a spinner bait will work.

 

My go to is a weightless 5/0 heavy EWG with a 6" senko or speedworm in whatever color matches the water and ligh conditions worked the same way as the swimbait. It's a cross between a worm and a frog. Stout rod and heavy braid for sure because they dive quick once they eat it.

 

One thing about grass is you should pay attention to mixed vegetation/cover. Pads and grass. Grass and wood, Grass and docks. Grass and reeds. For whatever reason they like the mix.

 

One thing about Central FL lakes that the southern lakes often lack is depth and clarity. These lakes can easily get to 30" and be crystal clear so you are not always fishing the dirty, dark, bowls most people think of when they think of FL. Look up the bathymetric maps for the lake and look for holes, points, and saddles. Then look at them on Google to see where the pads and docks are. Fish those spots.

 

Finally, schoolies. You will see schooling fish chasing bait balls. A 3"-4" soft jerk bait is a must. If you can get to them while they are going crazy just toss it in and start popping it through them. If they go crazy and stop fast still throw it onto wherever they were and let it sink on a slack line. They often are still down there and will eat an injured baitfish as it is dying. Get creative and tie up a Donkey rig and see if you can get doubles. I like the Zoom Sun Gill color for this, but white and watermelon red flake work too.