Ever tried this?

[RdNkHunter]

First of all, Hi. Im new to this forum although I have been looking over the rest of the website gathering up some information. I was never really a big fisher of any sort until alittle while ago when I got my new truck. Now I carry a rod and reel with me everywhere for when I go "exploring" incase I find a new place to fish.

I did find a spot to go fish just down the road from where I go to school at. Its a small canal bipass. My first time out there I noticed that there were alot of fish breaking water so I threw in a top water lure and was able to snag a small bass. But now I have tried everything from my rubber worms to plugs and a a few rattle traps and nothing is biting. I started noticing all the bugs that fly around this place at night, and how the bass are striking the surface everywhere in the water, even within a few feet of where im standing on the bank. The only thing that I can think of now is to try possibly fly fishing, but I've never heard of anyone fly fishing in florida. Has anyone tried this? Im thinking about trying it once the semester is over and I have alittle more free time. My dad said I would probably look like an idiot with a fly rod at this place but I really dont care as long as I get my hands on a few bass.

Thnx,

PJ

[Guest avid]

Let me be the first to welcome you to the forum  

As a fellow Floridian I can tell you that fly fishing for bass definitly does work but our typical windy conditions make it an unreliable tactic.

The canals are generally good places to fish.

The ratltrap is a good search bait, but let me suggest you get a bag of senkos.

These can be gotten at Walmart.  Any color with watermelon or pumpkin in the name typically work well as does June bug.  This lure will cast well weightless.  Cast to the target.  In the canals you want to find those spots where there are some rocks, or thicker vegetation.  Something to set a particular spot apart from the rest of the "ditch".  Let that senko drop on a semi slack line and watch your line for any unnatural movement.

We have a sticky in the tackle forum dedicated to senkos.  All you need to know and more.

Good luck and have fun.

avid.

[RdNkHunter]

The wind has been the thing that concerns me the most, I dont believe there is an actual current in the canal, but the canal does go  under Fowler Ave, so the wind gets channeled under it and pushes the water pretty good at times.  Ill deffinately take a look at the senko.

PJ

[skillet]

WELCOME to the forums!!

                                                As Ever,

                                                 Skillet

[T-rig]

WELCOME!

[Pa Angler]

WELCOME ABOARD!!!!!  

[WhiteMike1018]

Welcome Aboard!!

[MALTESE FALCON]

Welcome,

This is a great place to learn.

Falcon

[Pond-Pro]

You should be able to catch a few bass on a popper or other small topwater.  I dont think you nead to get a fly rod.  A spinning rod should work for those bass.  Try going in the mornings or evenings and throughing a small popper.  Try not to let the bass se you, and good luck.

Also; WELCOME!!!!!  

[HUNTER19]

If anybody thinks ur an idiot fishin with a fly rod send them to monatana we'll take care of them down here!!! lol!!!! ;D ;D

[Skwerl-Fish]

Hello there! I'm new to the whole fishing scene also.

I always enjoy using poppers. I've found them to be pretty decent lures. Buzzbaits seem to do well also. Although I've never used one, I've seen others have success with them.

Good luck!

[LCpointerKILLA]

I live in the Orlando area, and a great bait to use in canals is a lizard on the topwater. I burn it about 5 feet, then slow it down. At about 10-15 feet, if I don't get hit, I let it sink. Give it a try man, I like any lizard that has blue glitter on the bottom, or just junebug.

Peace,

GolfCoursePondman

[Tom Bass]

Welcome....why not try a buzz bait in the early morning hours?

[Gotta Love It]

I guess you are fishing the Tampa Bypass canal?  I use the 4.5" twitch assassins (albino shad color) and small 3" sluggos (alewife color) to catch bass in the canal when they are near the surface.  Fish them weightless on a small Gammy EWG hook.  Twitch it on the surface for a few feet, then stop and let it sink (make sure you watch the line for a strike)...  I like to fish under the bridge where I75 crosses the canal.  Good luck!  

[Redneck Yacht]

hwy welcome abord and wat part of florida do u live in? because if it is in the lakeland area i could tell u some good little honey holes

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

[Gorgebassman]

Welcome to the best bass sight on the web!!!!!!!!

[RdNkHunter]

Nice to see such a warm welcoming!

A few days ago I picked up a pack of lizards and a few frogs.  So far I have landed one small bass with the lizards from the tampa canal, and I have had two bass get away from me when using the frogs.  Hopefully I can figure out the trick to land the bass with frogs, and soon.

I dont really live all that close to lakeland, I live in Wesley Chapel. Its just north of tampa.

[clipper]

I've never tried this on bass hitting bugs but it works on spotted bass feeding on small shad. We tie a streamer about the size of the shad they are hitting behind a surface lure with an 18 to 24 inch leader and pop the surface plug so it splashes water and attracts attention. They generally hit the streamer. If they are hitting bugs on the surface you could tie a fly that imitated the bugs behind a topwater lure with an 18 or 24 inch leader and see if they would hit the fly. You could also tie the fly behind a popping cork. It's one way to cast a fly on spinning gear. I would try letting the fly sit still at first and if that didn't work try creating a little commotion with the popping cork or surface plug.  We call the rig we use in north GA a Bama-rig and it was developed by Mike Bucca (aka Triton Mike). Good luck and welcome to the forum.