davecon

Grandfather taught me. 30 plus years later I inadvertently caught a Snook. Changed my whole perspective. Don't get me wrong, bass fishing is still a passion, but Snook fishing is kinda like a young kid discovering sex. There ain't no turning back. And believe me, I am blessed to have been born and raised in west central Florida. Have caught literally hundreds of bass over 8 lbs. and several much larger, biggest being 14. They don't hold a candle to Snook. The Snook I learned on my own, but it was my Grandfather that got me started in this lifelong affliction.

Used to fish with shiners decades ago. 12 inchers don't get too many takers but when it happens you will know if your heart is in good shape.

One more suggestion - Rapala Flat Rap. Day before yesterday caught a Snook 39 + inches on one. The fish was fat and "deep" if you know what I mean. Could put both fists side by side in her mouth. Weighed well over 20 pounds. Biggest one I've caught in several years. Caught an additional 20 or so but nothing like the one big girl. Was using med light 7' rod and 3000 size reel. Had trouble sleeping that night.

Don't fish that area but would recommend Rapala X-raps, Zoom Flukes, bone colored Zara Spooks at dawn/dusk, and when all else fails a yozuri Pins Minnow. Must be the one about the size of your middle finger, green back, and silver sides and MUST be the sinking model. They don't look like much, are small, light, and hard to throw but they catch what swims. Counted it up one day and have caught 17 species on the things, everything from trash fish to reds, snook, and tarpon. Trout love them and with the trout have actually seen them outfish live shrimp. God luck and let us know how it works out.

With no boat you might want to try the salt. More options.

Ramp in downtown Dunnellon on the main drag thru the little town where it crosses the river. Right in front of City Hall I believe. It's idle only in the Rainbow and for about a mile both upstream and downstream in the Withalacooche from the ramp. Going downstream on the Withalacooche takes you to Lake Rousseau. Huge fish but is a jungle with logs and vegetation. Do NOT run outside the channel on plane.

Closest is Lake Tarpon. Very crowded though. Good for those who know it. Would suggest Rainbow/Withalacoochee river in Dunnellon. If you have ever seen Glen Lau's film " Big Mouth Forever ", the Rainbow is where most of it was filmed. Check it out

Welcome. But why in the world would you be fishing for bass with all the snook in your area ? No offense, just wondering.

Boat ?

Met him at a grand opening of the local BPS. His show has always been one of my favorites as it is an actual fishing show, not a talk show with just a little bit of actual fishing footage thrown in. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

I despise Walmart. What they did in my area was had a tremendous selection of rods, reels, lures, etc. After they ran all the local mom and pops out of business they let their selection dwindle to the point it was not worth looking for ANYTHING there as the selection and quality was worthless.

Decades ago before the advent of affordable reels it was common practice in parts of Florida to "troll" rowing a boat with live bait. The fisherman would tie the end of the lines, usually 2, to the buttons on his shirt pockets. Then he would simply slowly row the boat. When a fish hit he would hand over hand the line. Talked to several old timers when I was kid and they told me it was common practice back then and very effective. I'm 65 and I was told this when I was a little kid and the guys telling me were in their 70's and 80's. Times change.

I fish for snook more than I fish for bass and am in the Tampa area (born and raised). Your bass tackle will be just fine, simply rinse it off after every trip. The area I fish is brackish with mostly smaller baitfish. This necessitates smaller lures to "match the hatch". Mostly use a 3000 size spinning reel with a 7 ft. ML rod, 15 pound braid and 25 lb fluoro leader. Have caught dozens of snook over 39 inches on this rig as well as 35 inch reds and tarpon up to 60 lbs. It is amazing what you can do with a light outfit. I also use a traditional baitcaster for throwing Zara Spooks and a few other larger plugs but the small lures are the ticket. Drag must be smooth, meaning quality reels (prefer Shimano Stradic CI4). Drag pounds are overrated. Too much pressure and you will pull the hooks free. Usually a snook will have his way with you for a short while. That's just the way it works. And if they head for piling or such there is simply not much you can do. I know guys that use 100 lb test line, that's right, 100 lb., free line mullet that weigh well over a pound, and do their best to keep the fish out of the piling. Usually the snook wins. That's live bait fishing which is way different than artificials. A really good snook may pull 150 feet of drag. Even a modest size one will outfight any bass you ever caught. Reds pull hard but different, usually not taking as much drag. Tarpon go airborne and usually throw the hook after 6 or 8 jumps. Believe, you want them gone after a few jumps as bringing one boatside and unhooking them are a nightmare, especially if you are alone. Don't ask how I know this. To see what you may be in for check out a series of YouTube videos "snook fishing 101, 102, etc.). The guy doing the video can be annoying but they are pretty good. Was filmed over on the east coast where the snook run a little larger on average but these will give you an idea. Note the tackle he is using - bass tackle. Quality stuff but still bass tackle. You are gonna wonder how you thought bass fishing was the ultimate after you get the hang of this snook stuff.

Don't get MLF here but about the only ones I watch are, in order, Jimmy Houston (my favorite), Bill Dance, Timmy Horton. Most of them have become infomercials. If I'm bored I go to Waypoint TV and may watch a few. Flats Class is kinda interesting but the guy that does the show is local so it holds some interest there. Prefer just going to YouTube videos, you just have to sort out the bad ones but it is interesting watching guys from all over the world fishing for different species in different locations. Can be very entertaining plus no, or at least only a few, ads.

I'm in Florida so usually fish tannic stained waters. That being said, over 50 years of bass fishing I have narrowed it down to 4 colors for plastics. Black early in the morning, purple/grape midmorning, watermelon late morning on. Blue is used in deep water, by deep I mean 12 feet or more. I know that's not deep for most of you but this is Florida. One experience I always remember - years ago I was fishing a power plant reservoir. Water was being pumped in at a tremendous rate. Found a ledge 1/2 mile off shore. Abrupt depth change from 18 ft. to 12 ft. On a good day could catch 30 or more averaging 2.5 to 3 pounds. One day a piece of debri must have washed up and was sitting on the drop. Using an old Creme 6 inch light blue worm could catch them like crazy off that small piece of debri. After catching a bunch I decided to experiment with color. Caught 3 fish on 3 casts by hitting the debri using the blue. Switched to an identical worm in purple. 3 casts, hitting the debri all 3 times - nothing. Switched back to the blue. 3 casts 3 fish. I'm I'm not real smart, but I'm not real dumb either. Blue in deeper water every time. Hard baits - gold or silver, depending on water stain. You can carry every color under the rainbow and drive yourself crazy or just settle on a few and have confidence in them. Works for me.

Cool ! I have bass fished all my life - 65 years but now fish for snook more often. An example of why is on a video you can google showing a snook trying to eat a 5 lb. bass. It's pretty neat.

Tried them. Senkos produce significantly better for me.

It's a busy place on the weekends. I live southeast of there and the traffic for me to get there is terrible. From Port Richey, not so bad. The fishing can be really good for the regulars but like anywhere, you gotta learn it. In the summer there are tournaments one evening per week after work. He also won't be far from lake Rousseau on the Withlacoochee. Some monsters live there. Should also try the Rainbow river.

May be a little more $$ than you had in mind but you might look at SeaDeck. It is used often here in west central Florida by the flats fishermen who throw cast nets for live bait. If you have ever seen what throwing a cast net does to the floor of a boat you will understand why NO saltwater boat has carpet. Google them.

Anything upriver from 56th st. bridge is idle only. That size boat best ramp options are Fowler Ave. or Riverhills in Temple Terrace. Try Senkos rigged Texas style with no weight at all. Gold Rapalas can be good early in the morning. Plenty of lures will work but those two should yield success even if the fish are mostly small, which is usually the case there.

In Florida gulls, terns, egrets, herons are usually good signs. Snowbirds - not so much.

I have the old 15"6' Classic Gheenoe. No outriggers necessary. I put my knees on the gunnels and pee over the side and even doing this it doesn't feel tippy.

I know it's not a Jon boat and it may be hard to find one in your neck of the woods but check out a Gheenoe. They are wildly popular here in Florida where they are made, are versatile, customizable, unbelievably stable, handle a small chop reasonably well, etc. For years I had a smaller boat (16 foot Fisher Marine) while at the same time a full sized fiberglass bass boat that ran an honest 82 mph. The small boat died so I bought a used Gheenoe and fixed it up. After fishing in the Gheenoe it dawned on me that I had not had the big boat out but twice in 18 months. Sold the big boat and have never looked back. Check out "Customgheenoe.com". You may be surprised.

At heart I am a bass fisherman having been born and raised and still living in west central Florida. I truly love bass fishing, have been three times in the last nine days. That being said, my favorite fish to catch are : 1 - Snook 2 - Tarpon - usually 40 to 60 pounds 3 - Bass 4 - Bluegills (I know that doesn't fit with numbers 1 through 3, but what the heck) 5 - Sea Trout 6 - Redfish

I'm in the Tampa Bay Area and fish just north of Sarasota. If you want big fish I suggest a 12 inch worm from Bass Pro (squirming worm). Early in the a.m. Use black, then go to grape with glitter, then watermelon. If you are after numbers, try a black straight tail Zoom trick worm. Use as light a sinker as you can get away with. Next best thing for numbers is a weightless Senko. Color doesn't matter. Whatever you do fish so slow that it hurts. I mean really hurts.