97 replies to this topic

[MrPerfect]

I know in the Central Florida area the spawn seemed to come early last year and I was wondering if any of the more knowledgeable fisherman on the boards have an idea of when I should expect to see the bass start spawning in the Orlando area.

[gar-tracker]

With all the rain you guys had this summer I would say an early spawn would be in order, the water temps were cool and the fish fed like mad all summer.

I have a tourney on 1-7-11 at Toho Ill be in the skinny stuff like a mad man.

[Bassn Blvd]

Between now and March and as late as April. Heck, some will spawn yaer round.

[Gotfishyfingers?]

By this time next month, there will definitely be 10lbers on beds. The full moon for this month just happened this past weekend.That will start to bring them up. Cold fronts and warming trends will also be a factor when planning a trip. I've seen plenty of beds already on Okeechobee, but I've yet to see big mommas on them yet.

[FishinDaddy]

I was on Kissimmee, Cypress and Hatch on Saturday. Water temps were in the mid 60's, overcast, with a light wind. I expected to see a heavy pre spawn feeding frenzy and could not find any fish. Late in the day in protected waters there were a few fish cruising but not eating. I would say the first weekend in January with good weather would be the first major spawn.

[South FLA]

There was a mini spawn or attempt at spawning already on the Big O, the big phase will get here very SOON, but as Gotty pointed out cold fronts can quickly make them swim away!

[Bank'nOnBass]

I am highly anticipating the spawn this year, or next more likely. Hopefully it's real SOON!

[MrPerfect]

Any recommendations on bait to use from the shore? I intend to go out and rent one of the boats at Turkey Lake during the spawn and hit Toho with a friend of mine, but until there your recommendation would be much appreciated.

[FishinDaddy]

Right now i would throw a swimbait or a swimbait or a swimbait. Big EZ, Skinny Dipper, Super Fluke.

[salmicropterus]

I pretty much suck when it comes to pure sight fishing on beds. My strategy is to go to known bedding areas and long cast senkos, lizards, 10" worms. What I am seeing is that most of the fish at the Lake are in pre-spawn staging positions but I'm thinking that could change soon. The really good sticks can do what I can't do and when they come in with 30#+ bags. I am sure they are on bedding fish.

[SirSnookalot]

Up until about a week ago the bite from shore was hot, anything was working. It has slowed down considerably and I've been using senkos that last few days, no question about it, even when it's slow senkos produce.

[MrPerfect]

Does anyone have a good source on how to wish swimbaits? I have worked really hard on improving my technique, but I just never feel like I'm getting the hang of it. I've still never caught a bass on one. I typically do a lot of jig, grub, senko, or creature fishing. I'm also pretty good with the majority of hard lures.

[gar-tracker]

Does anyone have a good source on how to wish swimbaits? I have worked really hard on improving my technique, but I just never feel like I'm getting the hang of it. I've still never caught a bass on one. I typically do a lot of jig, grub, senko, or creature fishing. I'm also pretty good with the majority of hard lures.

You have to see if their chasing, sometimes they'll just explode on them, and sometimes you have to stop it at a hole and let it sink. Like any bait the fishes mood dictates the presentation and retrieve.

The really good sticks can do what I can't do and when they come in with 30#+ bags. I am sure they are on bedding fish.

This isn't always the case, many of times the big bags are caught on staging fish. Grouped up females waiting to go in. Either buried under cover or feeding on the outskirts.

[FishinDaddy]

I never sit on a bed and sight fish. I always fish for the staging fish either on the way in or out. Bass hate blue gill because they are always around the beds trying to get the fry so a swim bait works well. I start on the first hard break between deeper water and the spawn area and work my way in with a search bait (usually a skinny dipper or a swim jig).

[salmicropterus]

I think you two are on to something. Think about it logically: this time of year and for the next several months there are going to be three types of fish: the pre-spawners staging, the actual on-bed spawners and the post-spawners. Looking at it the way Gar and FD say, you are working with 2 of the 3 groups at worst and all 3 at best. Thinking about it further, when I have my good days, it's pretty much doing what you are saying to do. I just won a club tournament doing that all the while wishing I was sight fishing. Duh!! Where's the emoticon for hitting one's self in the head with a hammer?