Oh my brethren, I seek wisdom and pro tips.

I live in Central Florida, and my property abuts a 50 acre lake. There are many lakes like it, but this one is mine. It varies in depth from inches to about 12 feet.

Here it is.









I have experience with light tackle salt water, have taught myself to flycast, and have tackle. I can tie knots, cast etc.

I can fish from shore, or a canoe, but I have no idea what to use in this lake for baits, but I won't be using live bait.

So, what do I do? Jelly worms, if so, what color. Jigs? Spinners?

The lake has grasses, weeds and lillypads, but is graded by the University of Florida as a "healthy" lake. There are plenty of fish surfacing, and millions of minnows in the shallows.

I know from the prior owner that there are bass out there, and have been told that the lake is too shallow for crappie. I don't know if there are any catfish out there or not. The lake is spring / rain fed, and not part of a river system.

I need to know baits, time of day, weather conditions (before rain, after rain, during rain, you know, it rains here...), sun or clouds, phase of moon, technique, you know, all the things that make fresh water fishing different from salt water trolling and casting.

I assume there is a gator or two out there, would be the height of folly to assume otherwise, even though I have never seen one in this lake.

Will a cigar increase or decrease the possibility of catching fish?

Please help. I want to enjoy this lake, but don't know where to start.

Thanks.

A

Nice lake, so what's the question again?

10' Jon boat with a trolling motor. Texas rig a 6" lizard (green with red sparkles or green with black dots). The large mouth bass will bite.

Link to original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYrYvNb5cl0

quote:

Originally posted by apf383:
Nice lake, so what's the question again?

Sorry, my computer got balky and I managed to post before I got the questions in. Edited with questions.

Time of day: when the fish are feeding. If you see rises, they are feeding. This time of year, probably early morning or late evening. When you see surface activity, surface lures, like a jitterbug, might produce some strikes. Or, a floating Rapala.

When it gets hotter in the day, the bass will be in deeper water. I have had incredible luck with a Rat-L-Trap crank bait in this situation. In fact, the best bass fishing day of my life was with a Rat-L-Trap.

eta: I really like spinner-baits, as well. Get a weedless hook.

Good luck, and remember, all fisherman are liars, except you and me, and sometimes I am not so sure about you.

I am a fan of top water lures and that looks like a perfect location for them. There is nothing better than watching a bass eat your lure off the surface.

I have had good luck with the combat frogs made by lunker hunt. They are easy to pull through vegetation without getting a bunch of grass stuck on the hooks. I just do a couple pops with it and let it sit a couple seconds and repeat.

Seriously a soft plastic is the most weedless and most effective whether bite is soft and slow or fast and furious. You just have to learn the feel of the bite.

https://mysterytacklebox.com/b...o-rig-soft-plastics/

quote:

Good luck, and remember, all fisherman are liars, except you and me, and sometimes I am not so sure about you.

I caught this ocean mackerel one time, well you shoulda seen...

In 2005/2006 timeframe, I would go to Ishtapoga on Saturdays. Started around 8ish and fished until noon or 3. Typically landed 3-4 nice largemouth each time.

Shiners also attract the bass, but you said no live bait.

quote:

Shiners also attract the bass, but you said no live bait.

Fishing for me is an "I think I'll go fishing" kind of activity. I probably won't go shopping before hand, and won't go often enough to keep some in the house.

Fish other nearby lakes for bass. Keep your catch alive and release into your lake.

Make your hotspots by regularly scattering hog feed in the same area. Best is in front of bull rush.

Shiners are great bass bait. Wild are best but domestic work. If you have native shiners in your lake that's a big plus. Catch them on tiny hooks with biscuit dough or, in a pinch, even thread from white socks. The Okeechobee pro shiner guys cultivate shiner holes with grain hog feed. Idle in, scatter feed, idle out. come back under trolling motor power and throw a casting net where you've scatted feed. Most pros work their holes daily.

For heavy cover the braided super lines are best. I used 60 lb test spiderwire on Quantum 33 baitcasters mounted on 7 1/2' flipping sticks, 4/0 Kahle hook and an oval foam bobber is standard Okeechobee guide gear.

If you have crappie, aka specs, #2 brass hooks on light spinning tackle or long 10 or 12' fiberglass cane poles with minnows is a good way to get great groceries.

Kill every mudfish and gar that you catch.

Bubba's Catfish House...

^^^^ BTDT

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:
Bubba's Catfish House...

^^^^ BTDT

I know.

Maybe we should get the T-shirt?

Figure out what the fish are surfacing to feed on and then try to match that insect with a dry fly.

Fishing from shore looks like a pain there. I'd prefer to use a flat bottomed boat over a canoe.

quote:

Figure out what the fish are surfacing to feed on and then try to match that insect with a dry fly.

They seem to be hitting the surface after getting something below it. The strikes I have seen don't seem to be taking insects off the surface.

Weedless spoon, surface baits, jigs. Just get some action on the surface or near the shoreline and the bass will check it out.

Also grab a beer, sit back and watch your pond. You'll see what's active, what's eating what and this will give you clues for what to use.

If you go just before I do, you'll slaughter them.

Carolina Rig soft baits. I prefer Z-Man baits for 2 reasons. 1) they are slightly buoyant so with just a light swivel before the leader, you can walk them across the top water. A small split shot sinker will allow you to fish subsurface all the way to the bottom if you want. 2) they will outlast any soft plastic. A couple will get you through a full day of non stop action whereas normal soft plastics will be shot after a couple of fish. Keep a variety of colors and switch them up as need be. I like the Jerk Shad, Streak Z and the finesse worms for the Carolina Rig.

Best place I know of to buy them for price and selection
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com...rand.html?ccode=ZMAN

Also use a Ned Rig jig setup with the Z-Man TRD bodies. It's a mushroom shaped jighead that when on the bottom stands up straight making it easier for the fish to pick up. Works best when used with the Z-Man bodies because they are buoyant which when on the bottom keeps that bait upright. Regular bodies are not as effective because they flop over on the bottom and are not as visible to the fish. These jig heads are also available at tackle warehouse
Z-Man Jighead



There are other similar style mushroom shaped heads.

When fishing top water, your instinct will be to slam the hook home when you see the fish hit your bait. If you do you'll miss them most of the time. Give it a 2 count. It will seem like an eternity but your odds will skyrocket. Buzz bait top water spinners are fun too.

If you can hit it when the barometric pressure starts to drop your odds will go up, especially if it's a good sudden drop. Fish feed then and tend to get lockjaw after the storm.