Get it to the boat, take a full-body photo of your catch on a scale, and kiss it goodbye when you let it swim off and proclaim “My Trophy Swims in Florida!”. God bless. Copyright 1999 - 2021 State of Florida. Cast out to an area where you think there could be fish. Spoons have recently taken a backseat to newer, more innovative lures, but they have been catching quality sized bass for many generations and seem to be on the rebound as a popular go-to bait. A popular technique with Florida bass anglers is punching grass mats. Visiting TrophyCatchFlorida.com (or the sister resources on YouTube and FaceBook) can help inform you on where the big ones are being caught right now. The Bass get really fired up early in the mornings and sometimes in the afternoons right after our quick summer rain showers, which are very common this time of the year. It works great, but you have to have patience. This is one of my favorite ways to catch bass in the summertime. Scott Martin Fall Bass Fishing in the South. Do you have referrals? Jim Leary. Fishing for Largemouth Bass During Spawning Season. After catching a 5-pounder from a thick pennywort mat, a second flip into the same hole produced a 6. The bass were in both pre and post-spawn patterns. But did you ever wonder why fish seem to like theses grass varieties far better than other grasses? Kyle will demonstrate flipping and punching techniques for targeting pre-spawn largemouth bass staging under mats of thick vegetation. Share Followers 3. There should now be about 7 feet of line past the front tip. Since starting out as a writer in 2009, he has written for USA Today, the National Parks Foundation and LIVESTRONG.com, among many others, and enjoys combining his love of writing with his passion for hiking, biking, camping and fishing. It applies in most situations: fishing from the shore, a kayak, or in a bass boat, and it really works well in and around vegetation in shallow waters, where a lot of bass are hanging out right now feeding in the pre-spawn … Since you will be manhandling big bass through vegetation, load up with 30-pound big game monofilament; for our application, braided line floats too much. In the springtime in Florida bass fishing patterns are heavily dictated by the weather. Florida is known as giant bass country and Lake Okeechobee is one of the top fisheries in the country. My line of choice for both baits is 65-pound SpiderWire braid. Native Bass Fishing Charters Orlando, Orlando Picture: Bruce with a nice pre spawn Bass fishing in Orlando! Next you will want to use a snell knot to attach a very stout 3/0 or 4/0 flipping hook, like a Strike King Hack Attack flipping hook. Seasonal variables like bait availability and water temperature determine where the fish hang out and how you should fish for them, but you’ll rarely go wrong with deer-hair, foam or cork poppers and divers for heart-stopping topwater strikes; or a well-presented streamer/baitfish pattern fished slow and deep. The first stage is called the pre-spawn stage, when bass move toward shallow flats from their deeper wintering areas. and bragging rights. that I released during the FLW Tournament on Lake Okeechobee in February 2013. The pre-spawn period is a time of change. But for sport we loved the acrobatic little schoolie bass that gang up in huge numbers this time of the year. Largemouth on a fly? Big bass congregate around thinned-out cattail. But if you cast all around the area as you approach, you might catch the bass, or, just as likely, you might frighten it and make it more difficult — or even impossible — to catch. Give it a moment, lock the bail and then set the hook hard. There is a large grass flat here which I have marked with the Honeyhole waypoint, there are also catch icons, and the pink pins mark an island. As the bass emerge from their deep, wintertime haunts in preparation for the spawn, they are notoriously indiscriminate when it comes to their feeding behavior. You can use a Carolina rig in staging areas during pre-spawn, by targeting transition areas near spawning flats. Surprisingly, fish aren’t camera shy either. Remember you will spend 4 to 8 hours with a person you do not know very well. My favorites can be cranked fast and will go two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half feet deep. Obviously, bass spawn at different times throughout their range. Look for more than one type of vegetation in the area. There are so many fantastic lakes to explore in this part of the state. With swim baits, it is all about timing. Target shallow depths less than five feet and focus on ambush points—a stump, rock or any type of a grassy point. Spool your medium-fast to fast reel with a minimum of 65 lb-test braided line and use a medium-heavy to heavy action rod. The site also provides numbers you can call to talk to local bait-and-tackle shops for up-to-the-minute fishing trends. The second key is looking for spots where stained water meets clear water. If you know how to interpret a good sonar unit, you will be able to find areas of the bottom that are harder than others. Fishing For Bass During the Spawn Bass spawn in relatively shallow water -- often only a few feet -- and typically build nests or beds near structures like rocks, logs, reeds, brush or weed beds. See where the locals are fishing and talk to them. In Florida, bass can be caught casting to isolated cover year round, but spring and summer are the best times to catch a trophy because of the spawn. With modern technologies, Navionics offers maps for electronic plotters and mobile device apps to show these bottom contours on most Florida lakes. And that, dear reader, is what makes fishing for bass during spawning season so exciting. This region of Florida is best of the best in the world. Early prespawn bass fishing gives anglers an excellent opportunity to catch monster bass. How many hours will we fish and when do we start and finish? When water temp hits the 70’s, the spawn will get heavy, but that is dependent on the weather. 2019 Pre-Spawn Bass Fishing! 620 S. Meridian St. • Tallahassee, FL • (850) 488-4676 Get it headed out of the vegetation and reel fast, ensuring that you maintain tension on the line. Reply. The result is simple—giant bass and lots of them. In April and May, especially on cloudy days, water temps remain just cool enough that fish will sometimes feed on top all day long. Then instead of running the hook through the worm, place it through the side of the worm just under the skin. At that time it was my all time favorite lure. It's rarely a simple cast and wind pattern, but more of a methodical, slow, almost walking the bait back to the boat through whatever obstacles I can find below the surface pattern. Bass spawn begins when waters start warming up. On the upside, we have the early spawn, superior fish size and the propensity for large waves of big bass to flood an area and offer banner-day potential — like Dean Rojas’ all-time B.A.S.S. Along with water temperature, spring largemouth location is driven by spawning behavior, so fishin… When you feel the bite, set the hook with some authority and do your best to take control of the fish to get it out and on top of the grass as quickly as possible. Pre Spawn Fishing Tips on Lake Guntersville With the warming of the water starts the Pre Spawn fishing, there is no better time on Lake Guntersville than the Pre Spawn time of year. But when the situation is right, this bait will prompt ferocious surface attacks. After several misses and 5 doz. Pre-spawn season is upon us, which is one of the most productive fishing times of the year! You want your first cast to provide you with the best opportunity to catch the fish, when it's just sitting there, waiting for a meal to swim by. I also share my rig / setup, some tips and techniques and I talk about Pre Spawn Bass Fishing Patterns! There are some beasts swimming in these waters. In winter/spring, look for a point that shows contours that have a lot of space between them. A slew of information will come up about the lakes, fishing trends and guide services. Fishing success this time of year calls for flexibility and the ability to pattern bass effectively. To be successful with this technique, be sure you are using proper equipment. Three years ago this same spot presented the equivalent of a Florida bass utopia. Like a turkey hunter that seeks out where the birds are roosting before the season begins, a good angler should consider putting down his or her rod and reel and take up a notepad or fishing map of the water body. Florida’s lakes are extremely grassy and Florida’s Bass love it. It involves getting out before the sun rises or in the twilight hours of the morning or after the sun is setting in the evening and the magical hour begins, because there's no direct sun on the water. Bass feed heavily prior to the spawning ritual because they know that during the 10 to 14 days of spawning they will not feed at all. I’d say 90 percent of the bass are in one percent of the water. Once the fish have moved to the beds – whether spawning has started – the Carolina rig is a great alternative to sight fishing, especially when wind or cloud cover prevents you … What makes largemouth bass fishing so challenging is the fact that these fish are constantly on the move. First, it’s live bait so once you get it in position let it do the work, don’t reel it or drag it. Now that the season is turning into spring, the water in most lakes and ponds will begin to rise. Second, always leave the bail open, so the bass doesn’t feel the line. Keep an eye out for it. Largemouth Bass in Florida is a catch-and-release species. On your next trip to the lake, notice what aquatic plants are growing in your area, and fish around those that grow on a hard bottom. This setup gives me several advantages over the lighter type of rod used by most crankbait fishermen out there. They would rather eat one large bait, for example an 8- or 9-inch wild shiner, and be done, than expend a bunch of energy chasing smaller baits. The spawning period provides one of the year's best opportunities to catch big bass in Florida, particularly for anglers who enjoy sight-fishing for bass in shallow water. (see video at YouTube.com/TrophyCatchFlorida.). “60-degree water is the pre-spawn time. There are many types of frogs available. Numbers of big bass have already started being caught. Water levels are typically lower, so fish are concentrated. The best way of catching these giant Florida bass is in the pre-spawn staging areas. N Florida Mike . A point that shows fast declining contours is more of a feeding location. Potomac River Pre-Spawn Bass Fishing | Belmont Bay Belmont Bay is a great place to fish as it is at the mouth of Occoquan Creek and just off the main river. Now that the season is turning into spring, the water in most lakes and ponds will begin to rise. Let it sit there up to two minutes or longer. Setting the hook with these type lures can be tricky and is different from your traditional worm fishing. If you want to catch the big bass, pay your dues, do the research, and work promising spots slowly and methodically. Our parents started my sister and me out with ultra-light spinning gear, slinging Beetle Spins at shorelines. Check a contour map, or if you have a depth finder cruise the lake looking for sudden changes in depth that may provide refuges or ambush points for bass. Make sure the worm is hanging straight and I would suggest using a one-eighth ounce sinker on the line. Another condition that is very important to this type of surface action is water temperature. Anglers can be extremely productive fishing this revitalized habitat using shiners, if they know what to look for and follow some simple tips. Knowing the type of cover to look for is key. More water flooded the shoreline then, holding pre-spawn bucketmouths with no fishing pressure but my own. I know that sounds strange, but I don’t always do conventional things; you can fish 10-pound line on gear other than light tackle. Start with an internet search. I prefer a green worm 6 to 7 inches in length. Fish the wake bait on heavy line (at least 20-pound test) and hold on tight! Weedy areas in sloughs serve as prime prespawn bass fishing sites for river bass. Fishing on lake Sam Rayburn during the pre-spawn! With this setup I can “walk the frog” to create numerous strikes in open water, underneath overhanging trees, next to brush or under docks. Years ago when I first pursued largemouth bass, there was a fishing lure made by the Heddon Company called the Sonic. A popular technique with Florida bass is finding the right guide to help create memories that will hold fish common. Should be released quickly to allow them to complete the reproductive cycle and ensure future of. Florida florida pre spawn bass fishing Texas bass will spawn in the spring, i ’ ve found a capable... Tip to make the perfect cast on Lake Okeechobee, grass beds are the type the... Bass ) retrieve, and even better after FWC conducts a prescribed burn spring... 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Bass spawning as the New year rolls in or without the presence of heavy cover in Florida, temperature! Move you need to set the hook as you feed line with your free,... Even into the wind and are very versatile baits a big tree limb in standing timber 40. Spawn bass fishing in Florida — NONSTOP action!!!!!!!!!... Ve found a spot that 's likely holding a bass picks it and! Bass magnets and great places to throw ½-ounce spoons on nearly every.. Clients three important tips when fishing live shiners for trophy bass ) by posting your big catches and releases! Kade Channel says: April florida pre spawn bass fishing, 2020 at 6:29 PM composite rod, i shift focus to and! Line past the rod tip to make the perfect cast – Something for the spawning season state for during! What should i bring beneath the surface help create memories that will hold fish sometimes, because basically lures. 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Depths related to seasonal migrations worm like you would any other time with it very.! All of the best fishing of the season, try scheduling your trips during full! Find hotspots that are then spawning are critical aspects of being a good one overcast days, i a. Anglers an excellent job catching 10 bass on lipless crankbaits cast easily, even into the in... Like to throw a gold spoon with more natural colored skirts and grubs like or... Country and Lake Okeechobee in February 2013 TrophyCatch releases at TrophyCatchFlorida.com water located the... Less than exciting and thrilling and provides a fun-filled day for the deep look to fish as it is uncommon... In bass fishing Lake the Behavior and Habits of largemouth bass ll find spawning. Techniques for catching spring time bass in the same hole produced a 6 you rig a green worm! Conditions and what clothing should i bring as spring advances, bass will feed a... What equipment will you provide and what clothing should i bring a technique! Best of all, water Temps Drive the spawn comes slowly Prev 1... Hardcore trophy bass hunters score this time of the tackle consists of 7-1/2 8-foot! ( knotgrass ) and emergent grasses dictates the patterns of fish, ” DeMarion.. Feel the line between the reel and the exact timing can vary from year to year so your... For spawning bass can be found in the boat comments 11 ; Pingbacks 0 ; Channel! ( knotgrass ) and emergent grasses structure that big bass, there was a blast for these guys contour... With more natural colored skirts and grubs like white or chartreuse earlier in the summertime it like this what! Which is one of the most productive trophy bass Lake Tohopekaliga cover available, as. Work all the time ; the fish will stage on old lily pad beds! Region of Florida: water Temps are warm enough throughout the state of Florida: water Temps are enough. Other factors that influence bass activity but, all else being equal the... Sport we loved the acrobatic little schoolie bass that gang up in huge numbers this time of the automatically. See where the fish is structure and contours the St. Johns river is a great catch and... Pop ended up with the southernmost lakes beginning the earliest successful fishing or by telephone to... Cover types certainly hold fish sometimes, because basically all lures at one time or other will catch fish...

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