quote:

Originally posted by 95flhr:

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Originally posted by Bassamatic:
Small Jon boat, electric motor and I have always been fond of the many styles of crank baits. Fly fishing for bass would be great as well but I cannot help you with that.

If not a Jon boat, look at a canoe or a Kayak. I've been having a blast fishing out of a Kayak this year.

Yup, for a lake like he has a kayak would also be a good consideration. Wait a minute. Are there alligators in these kinds of lakes? Nah, just kidding.

Looks like line suggestions are all over the place, so I'll add mine. We are talking Florida-strain largemouth bass, in Florida. There's lots of vegetation, including lily pads, and the fish get probably zero fishing pressure. I'd be using baitcasting tackle with minimum 12-lb-test mono line for spinnerbaits, topwaters, crankbaits, etc., and a minimum 20-lb green braid for soft plastics and Scum Frogs or the like. You want to get those fish up and out of the weeds quickly. It's hard to take control of the fight with light line. Getting bites should not be a problem, so you don't need to go with line that's very light, IMO.

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Originally posted by rusbro:
Looks like line suggestions are all over the place, so I'll add mine. We are talking Florida-strain largemouth bass, in Florida. There's lots of vegetation, including lily pads, and the fish get probably zero fishing pressure. I'd be using baitcasting tackle with minimum 12-lb-test mono line for spinnerbaits, topwaters, crankbaits, etc., and a minimum 20-lb green braid for soft plastics and Scum Frogs or the like. You want to get those fish up and out of the weeds quickly. It's hard to take control of the fight with light line. Getting bites should not be a problem, so you don't need to go with line that's very light, IMO.

Man, how big do the bass get down there????

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Originally posted by Rightwire:

quote:

Originally posted by rusbro:
Looks like line suggestions are all over the place, so I'll add mine. We are talking Florida-strain largemouth bass, in Florida. There's lots of vegetation, including lily pads, and the fish get probably zero fishing pressure. I'd be using baitcasting tackle with minimum 12-lb-test mono line for spinnerbaits, topwaters, crankbaits, etc., and a minimum 20-lb green braid for soft plastics and Scum Frogs or the like. You want to get those fish up and out of the weeds quickly. It's hard to take control of the fight with light line. Getting bites should not be a problem, so you don't need to go with line that's very light, IMO.

Man, how big do the bass get down there????

I'm not finding good records for Florida, but here's the top 50 for Texas (from public waters): http://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat...p50_largemouth.phtml

They grow even bigger in Florida because the growing season is year round, and the Florida-strain is native and thus everywhere in the state, I think. In much of the country only northern-strain bass exist unless Floridas are intentionally introduced. I know a lot of the small, private lakes here in Texas have produced fish heavier than 10 lbs. due to the stocking of Florida-strain fish.

There are three lures that have accounted for the lion's share of fish caught my me or my wife (she was an ardent fisher-person and quite adept at it, I might add)...

Rattle Trap...


Flip Tail (or insert your favorite) plastic worm...


And the #1...Rooster Tail spinner...


All but the plastic worm will be prone to weed fouling...but that is something to learn to work around...

Of the three...I think I could feed myself if I was allowed to own only one lure...it would be a white/silver Rooster Tail

Most fishing lures catch more fishermen rather than fish

Most of your responses have involved lures used with spin/spin-cast/bait-cast tackle. All are fun and all will work. But there are few things in freshwater fishing more fun that working a shoreline from a small boat (take your pick) with a fly rod and popper. Between the rhythms of casting and the working of the bug, it's very absorbing, even mesmerizing.

Depending upon the conditions and the size of the fish, you can use anything from a 4-wt. rod with tiny poppers for panfish on up to an 8-wt. with large bugs for big bass. I've heard of people using even a 9-wt. on large lakes for very big fish, but that would be overkill for most, and begins to seem more like work than fly fishing. I like a 6-wt. best for my home waters (Missouri Ozark streams, ponds, and smaller lakes) as it is not too big for panfish and will handle every bass I've come across. I'd step up to my 7 or 8 if I knew there were some big-uns where I was fishing, and I were going to go after them. Chartreuse is my favorite color by far, with any of: black and white, black, white, yellow, and red and white next. All will work sometimes. You've said you can fly cast; be sure to give it a try.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: amals,

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Originally posted by Rightwire:

quote:

Originally posted by rusbro:
Looks like line suggestions are all over the place, so I'll add mine. We are talking Florida-strain largemouth bass, in Florida. There's lots of vegetation, including lily pads, and the fish get probably zero fishing pressure. I'd be using baitcasting tackle with minimum 12-lb-test mono line for spinnerbaits, topwaters, crankbaits, etc., and a minimum 20-lb green braid for soft plastics and Scum Frogs or the like. You want to get those fish up and out of the weeds quickly. It's hard to take control of the fight with light line. Getting bites should not be a problem, so you don't need to go with line that's very light, IMO.

Man, how big do the bass get down there????

an 8 lb largemouth in Florida doesn't get much of a look. the growing seasons is long and the florida strain of largemouth bass grows rapidly. they don't necessarily get bigger than other places on the top end, but you will likely find more 8+ pounders in Florida lakes than anywhere else. And an 8 lb bass is a pretty good fight on a 6'-6" med/heavy casting rod.

As someone who has fished a lot of bass tournament's all up and down the east coast, this is one area I think I have some knowledge in. Just from the pic's most top water will do a frog, buzz bait, a senko, Pop R, swimming worm, Texas rigged worm, hell a swimming jig, just to name a few. My concern only would be access due to snakes and gators. Snake boots and a weed eater might help.

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My concern only would be access due to snakes and gators. Snake boots and a weed eater might help.

Hmm. That might dampen my enthusiasm a little bit. I'm accustomed to keeping an eye out for copperheads and water moccasins, but snakes and gators just to get to my fishing spot...

This one is somewhat similar to what I fish out of. I don't know if the elevation is enough to stop a curious, determined gator, but maybe. I'd feel safer in the boat than on the bank.

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Originally posted by rusbro:
This one is somewhat similar to what I fish out of. I don't know if the elevation is enough to stop a curious, determined gator, but maybe. I'd feel safer in the boat than on the bank.

Probably not, but a .44 magnum sure as hell will!!!!!!!!!!!