Another FL ?????

[DINK WHISPERER]

Hey all!

I have a few quick questions for everyone in FL or with knowledge of. Should i be looking for the bass really shallow right now? All of my outer weed line spots in 4-6ft of water have not been working as of late. if so how shallow should i go? Should i beat the banks a little?

[FD.]

Find pads in 3-5' of water if you can.  There are some fish bedding but I think most are in the post spawn.

What type water do you fish?  What lake?

[DINK WHISPERER]

I fish Lake Istokpoga mostly. The whole shore is nothing but pads , reeds, bull rush, cattails etc. I have caught hawgs there before but NOTHING lately!!!  

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Largemouth down in my area have been really finicky (sp?) lately.  I've watched them leap and jump and rip into baitfish at times.  But it seems like I can hardly catch them.  I think the odd weather that we've had recently has had something to do with it.

[GLADES]

Cold weather will slow things down.

As soon as it warms back up, the bite will improve.

Generally, I would look for areas that have clean water.

The bullrushes around the islands and the lillypad areas near Hendersons cove are my favorite spots at Istopoga.

[5bass]

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] five.bass.limit.

[DINK WHISPERER]

I guess i will see tomorrow than guys! THANKS

[Davem]

Hi, I'd like some similar help.  Florida is sort of unique in that the lakes don't seem to have any structure, just a smooth grade from the bank to the opposite shore. Almost all the bass fishing books on structure don't seem to apply. I've been told in Florida the structure is the vegetation. In any event I've caught some bass not maybe not as much as I should.

  On fishing vegetation do most of you cast to the edge or back into the pads, bull rushes, etc.? If I cast into the vegetation I get hung up a lot.  What types of lures do a lot of you use? Right now I use mostly a Texas rigged worm that I cast near vegetation. Also a swimming worm. I've also trolled a worm and a Rapala  and caught some bass. Thanks.

[DINK WHISPERER]

I can tell you from experience that the big bass are deep in the vegetation man! Fishing the edges will produce a couple of active(smaller) fish but the big ones are lying dormant in the thicker stuff. You will need a good flippin stick to go after them though. I use a Berkley power Bait 4" Chigger Craw(your favorite color) and match your weight according to wind, depth and vegetation thickness. Flip/pitch every pocket, nook and cranny sloooowly. I have had my best luck in EXTRA THICK pad fields. I also purchased a push pole from Bass Pro to get me through the thick stuff. It's a slow process but it's well worth it bro. Hope this helps!!!!

[FD.]

I would agree with Dink, except that the thickest, nastiest stuff is not always the best. Right now your chances for a big one are just as good in the scattered and isolated pads between the spawning grounds and deeper water. If the weather suddenly gets cold for a day, the thicker pads will hold heat. When the weather and water gets hot, the shade will stay a little cooler. If, when, then, who really knows. If you are not sure then start shallow and work your way out. I throw a frog, a small plastic swim bait(fluke,skinny dipper,swim senko), a swimming jig, and a t-rig'd sweet beaver or speed craw.

The problem with Florida is that most lakes have very little natural structure to fish. In the shallow lakes you might find fresh water mussel bar. Or a drop off in a phosphate pit. Without these you either need brush pile locations or you fish cover. Since I spend most of my time on Kissimmee, I fish cover. On the "K" I have found that the combination of the right depth and type of vegetation is the difference between a good day and a zero.

According to my logs over the last 3 years, input from friends that know the lake, and closely examining the weather, I can absolutely, possitively, say that I am 100% sure of nothing. However, I have a tourney this weekend and I will start shallow and probably find fish in scattered pads in 4 -6 ft of water.

[DINK WHISPERER]

I kind of got caught up and was really speaking only of Lake Istokpoga. I have yet to catch a bass over 5lb there in scattered stuff. But just like FishinDaddy i am absolutely surte of nothing, LOL!!!!  ;D

[DINK WHISPERER]

Well my trip was cut short today! My trolling motor took a dump on me!  :'(

I think i'm going to need a new one!!!!   >

[westpalmfrogpunk]

Dink Ista can be really frustrating. the last club tourney I was out there for in March they were inside on the islands in the flats  in the morning. They were not big fish but solid 2-3 pounders. The bigger fish came on the islands flipping and pitching bulky baits into the reeds and bull rushes. Alot of the fish were on the inside of the islands.  The one thing that amazed me there is I never caught one fish of the dam cypress trees.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Well my trip was cut short today! My trolling motor took a dump on me! :'(

I think i'm going to need a new one!!!! >

Oh thats a bummer right there man.  Although, I wish I had that problem.  With the economy the way it is, I can't see myself going out and springing for another boat just for freshwater...

I need to make my way up to where you all are one of these days so I can check out some of those lakes up in your area.  These residential lakes that I have down here are a downright PIA sometimes with the sharp drop offs.  Eats jigs up like no tomorrow..

[DINK WHISPERER]

Dink Ista can be really frustrating. the last club tourney I was out there for in March they were inside on the islands in the flats in the morning. They were not big fish but solid 2-3 pounders. The bigger fish came on the islands flipping and pitching bulky baits into the reeds and bull rushes. Alot of the fish were on the inside of the islands. The one thing that amazed me there is I never caught one fish of the dam cypress trees.

THANK YOU!!!! In my years fishing that lake i have caught one dink off the Cypress trees! I'm glad i'm not alone! I am going to try and rig up the trolling motor atleast while i get a new one! I fished for maybe 20min before it happened.   :'( :'( :'( :'(