bostonsox2904

I know summer in general is a tough time to be fishing, but it makes me wonder whats going on under the surface in that lake. They may be even deeper than we'd expect due to the clarity of the lake. Still nice to hear that even the homeowner was having a bit of a tough time. Come spring, I can only imagine how great the fishing will be. That clear water will make for some good sight fishing.

Your first day at Johns Lake sounds like my first day there. I was fishing way too shallow near the visible weed lines. I think they are more likely to be in submerged weedlines in 5+ feet of water. I also hear that the far southwest part of the lake is good, but I have yet to make it that far in my kayak. Good luck and let us know how it goes

I always wonder how many baits i've ripped out of a bass' face

Call up the new river junction. It's the tubing/camping place. They can look outside their window and tell you. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=new+river+junction

This is where it happened, if that tells you anything...

Interesting perspective, you make a good point GeoG. I was fishing out there this past weekend, and those gators were grunting all morning. Bet they don't stay too far from those Osprey nests either Lol!

When fishing water surrounded by cypress trees, you must learn to read the trees. Find trees with something different about them; trees with access to deeper water, trees that create points, trees outside the thicket a foot or two, and trees around vegetation or fallen timber. A big bass can choose any tree she wants, so understand why she chose one and not the other. These trees have extensive root systems with knees that provide great cover for fish. These are not dock pilings, and the cypress knees create structure in a wide radius around the visible trunk. Bump a worm or crankbait against the tree knees and roots. Dark colored plastics such as junebug provide a great silhouette for the fish to see, and the glitter in these plastics can create the necessary shimmer to draw a strike. Baits that move a lot of water can also be a great choice

Hey Everyone - finally got out to do some freshwater fishing this weekend. Do you guys have experience fishing the dark stained lakes of Florida? I have fished the dark-water canals in south Florida, but have recently encountered a lake that is surrounded by ancient cypresses which has resulted in water clarity I'd generously label at 2 inches. There are hundreds of cypresses along the shoreline with hollowed out trunks, which potentially provides lots of cover for bass. How would you even go about fishing this? My theory is to use dark noisy search baits around the cypresses, and fishing certain fishy areas with a dark colored jig or something similar that pushes lots of water. There are also some spots of hyacinth that may be good for flipping. Just wanted to get some input. Here's a nice dark bass I caught on a t-rigged senko.

I've only canoed the river a few times, so my advice is limited. There is a ton of traffic closer to the state park and Wekiva Island, making the fishing difficult. I've been out first thing in the morning, but it was chilly and there was no surface activity. People also tear up and down the Wekiva on their boats. I wouldn't really consider a serious fishing outing on the river, but you may find some luck!

I'm in Sanford as well, and I haven't discovered any freshwater spots I love, but I'm sure there are some great ones. St John's river seems chock full of great spots I've been driving the extra 15 minutes to go to the IRL and Mosquito Lagoon.

I live in Lake Mary currently and have been here about 6 months. I've had a bit of luck but it's been really hit or miss for me from the shore. I don't know about shore fishing on the big lakes or st johns, but they definitely hold some nice fish. Recently I've been heading to mosquito lagoon for the redfish and trout. Good luck!

I honestly haven't done much freshwater since moving to the Sanford area. I caught a nice 4lber on my lunch break but I definitely wanna get out to the bigger bodies of water. I've been hitting up Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River in search of the reds. Looking at some kayaks so I can go explore St. Johns and those bigger lakes like Jesup and Monroe. Seeing all your fish is motivating me to get out there and catch one myself!

It's been a trip reading this post and seeing the photos trickle out. Great catches. If you ever need a fishing buddy for Lake Jesup or Monroe, give me a shout!

I think it might be related to the change in weather. Past couple weeks has seen some cool weather, so that could be locking the fish up. I did a lot of fishing in South Florida but I recently moved to your area and haven't been able to get out much. Don't have much to offer for advice, but I'm sure things will turn around if you keep getting out there.

Lou what's up! I couldn't resist dropping back in. I'm back in Florida finally. Hope you've been good!

Since you mentioned it was Miami Beach, I'm guessing that's brackish water. I really think it could be a jack. I've only caught one from the canals, but it's like a jackhammer on the other end. If it was strictly fresh water, maybe a mayan like mentioned above.

I prefer to go for weedless, since there's a lot of vegetation in South Florida waters. And if you aren't sure what you'll be getting into, having weedless options is always nice. Flukes are very versatile and can cover water at various depths. You could get bites from Bass, Peacock Bass, Snook, and Tarpon (the latter being more of an urban legend for me) while being weedless. Hard jerkbaits like Yozuri also kick ass in the open water. Have fun!

If you ever decide the make the hike, New River has some quality spots for smallies and muskie.

Let us know how it goes! Definitely gotta give peacocks a try like snook said, they're a blast. The way they make the water churn is something you don't forget.

I was at Delray Beach last weekend and there were a ton of baitfish hitting the surface on the beach. Sure you could fish for bass, but why not bring a few jigs and fish the surf in the AM??

My major consideration after a lot of rain, is how cloudy and muddy is the water? Brighter colors will be seen easier if it is muddy, but I tend to avoid fishing until the water has settled a bit.

I like fishing off of Lakeland drive at Mirror Lake. It has a walking path around it and I've caught a couple nice 2lbers out of there. There's also good fishing at the Ross Barnett Reservoir. I've never tried on foot but I've heard it's tricky without a boat. There's lots of ponds in your area so you may have some luck on Google Maps scouring the area too. Good luck!

Daniel Lin from bburg? I noticed your favorite lake/river is the New

http://i.imgur.com/B3Q1S95.jpg

Sorry to hear it! Knowing that fish is in there will keep the fire burning inside you. I remember three fish I've lost in my life, and I know I'll never forget those. Ahhh..