Florida fishing (now) question.

[new2BC4bass]

I asked on the Florida Forum, but got to thinking this might be a better (and quicker) place to get answers.

 

My B-I-L says fishing here (Deland area) is poor right now due to high water.  I was wondering if any of you live in the area and have an idea of which lures I should be using.  We went out Thursday and caught 9 between us with the largest being around 2 pounds.  I lost another when I got snagged.  Both of us only used one rod and one lure....a 10.5 inch unweighted ribbontail worm in Junebug.  Had planned on leaving about 10 a.m. when it warmed up, but 10 a.m. was still heavy coat temperature weather.  Has been cold every since the wife and I arrived.

 

I would have tried another lure or two, but my wife's youngest brother is a drug addict and stole 6 of my casting rods I leave in Florida, and broke the tip off my only spinning rod.  He at least left me one to fish with.    Lucky me.

 

BTW, my B-I-L only fishes 2 lures although he loves bass fishing and fishes all year.  Guess it's a case of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." for him.  I like trying different lures which is why I had so many rods stored down here.  My 2 largest bass were caught on spinnerbaits.  He was going to try them, but I haven't seen him use one yet.  ?

 

 

 

 

[softwateronly]

46 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

I asked on the Florida Forum, but got to thinking this might be a better (and quicker) place to get answers.

 

My B-I-L says fishing here (Deland area) is poor right now due to high water.  I was wondering if any of you live in the area and have an idea of which lures I should be using.  We went out Thursday and caught 9 between us with the largest being around 2 pounds.  I lost another when I got snagged.  Both of us only used one rod and one lure....a 10.5 inch unweighted ribbontail worm in Junebug.  Had planned on leaving about 10 a.m. when it warmed up, but 10 a.m. was still heavy coat temperature weather.  Has been cold every since the wife and I arrived.

 

I would have tried another lure or two, but my wife's youngest brother is a drug addict and stole 6 of my casting rods I leave in Florida, and broke the tip off my only spinning rod.  He at least left me one to fish with.    Lucky me.

 

BTW, my B-I-L only fishes 2 lures although he loves bass fishing and fishes all year.  Guess it's a case of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." for him.  I like trying different lures which is why I had so many rods stored down here.  My 2 largest bass were caught on spinnerbaits.  He was going to try them, but I haven't seen him use one yet.  ?

 

 

 

 

 

Man, there's a whole lot of Florida in this post.  Sorry about the rods.  My cousin just moved outside W Deland and in my head I'm already planning a next winter visit, but he's not a fisherman so nothing from me.  If I was in your spot, I'd hope my BIL was putting me where the fish are, and I'd pitch something heavier with a fast rof, jig, creature, stick bait, power shot/tokyo rig, just to be opposite.  Best of luck!  I think my next fishing adventure will be tuesday in a tin canoe when it warms up to 36.

 

scott

[Captain Phil]

I live in Eustis about thirty miles west of Deland.   There is always a lull in Florida bass fishing in December.  Things can improve dramatically when it warms between cold fronts.  This is our "winter" if there is such a thing in Florida.  Coupled with all the flooding in the St. John's by the hurricane, fishing can be tough at times.   The Harris Chain was not affected by the storm.  The water is high, but not exceptionally so.  When the water rises dramatically, the bass follow the water level.  In the river, they are so far back in there, you can't get to them. Find places where you can.

[SC53]

I’m just south of you in Debary.
High water in the St. John’s is always tough. The fish move back into the woods making them unreachable in most places. These hurricanes raised the river to unprecedented levels.
Most of the ramps around here are still closed and the river is still no wake. 
With that being said, spinner baits, plastics and frogs all work at times.

Flipping works as well.

Black & blue has always been a consistent color on the river.

 

[Captain Phil]

Fish the Pads....

[new2BC4bass]

31 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

Fish the Pads....

Pretty much all we did, and is where all fish were caught.

[rboat]

I do not know about the river, but your 10.5 worm is perfect in the summer. I find in cooler water to try downsizing a bit. If you do not have a smaller size worm, try cutting one down. A smaller bait may get a few more bites.

[geo g]

As a 40 plus year Florida angler, during the cold fronts you have two choices. 

1). go to the heavy cover, pads, grasses and fish slow through these areas.  The heavy cover is a blanket especially when the sun is beating down on it.  When I say slow down, I mean real slow.  The bait your using is a good one, but I would also use creature baits, senkos, even down to zoom centipedes.  Downsizing is often a good choice, and goes through the heavy cover better.  I have caught fish of all size on these small baits.  The trick is to get it in front of their face.  Fish the north end of any waters, they are protected from north winds and get a little more warming during winter months.  Florida largemouth are affected more than their northern cousins from sudden cold fronts.

2). Go to any sudden drop-offs close to vegetational shallows.  We have a lot of this type of structure in south Florida with all our man made  canals.  Drop-off are often 10 to 15 feet deep, and straight down at the transition point.  Bass are often at the bottom, hugging the rock walls especially the side receiving sunlight.   I would fish them later in the day after the sun has had a chance to warm the rock.  We also get some seepage from the aquifer in these deeper areas which is a constant 72* all year long.  It's like soaking in the hottub while waters at the surface drop to uncomfortable  levels.  Bass will seek this warmer water just like manatees do when they head for spring fed rivers in central Florida.  But again slow down and concentrate on subtle bites.

These are two place I have keyed in on during any sudden cold fronts.

[Mike L]

Great answer @geo g

 

 

 

Mike