BareHook

So here's the situation, we enjoy bass fishing using artificial lures on the small lake we live near and the fishing has been really good until recently when other anglers started using live bait such as shiners and bluegill. Now its extremely difficult to get a single bite while in the past we would be releasing several fish each time we went. On top of that its very frustrating watching them catch and release several bass while we're exercising our casting arms to no avail. There has also been a recent flooding of the lake by about 3 or 4 feet, so the shoreline has expanded, but this doesn't seem to have affected the bait bite. So is this likely a temporary condition and the fish will eventually become lure aggressive again? We've been trying just about everything in the box, big-small, fast-slow, colors ... We're going to try night fishing this weekend to see what happens with that. Thanks! Ken

I've had good luck using Rattle Traps, my son landed this 5 pounder on Monday using one. They seem to be hit or miss though, either they're getting attacked or completely ignored. Ken

Report 2/1/2016 The lake is really high, we've had a ton of rain during the past week and the shoreline is really changed, I think the lake has risen at least 3 feet, we're fishing where we were standing a couple weeks ago. The bite has been slow for the past couple weeks, but there are some quality fish being caught, my son caught this 5.20 pounder on Monday. The smaller fish haven't been eating as aggressively and it now takes a lot of casting for one or two fish. Maybe this is a reaction from all the rain and expanded shoreline? Anyone have any experience with this? Ken

How about a Calcutta jackpot tournament where the anglers are auctioned off with the money going to the person who bought the winning angler in the auction. This is usually a secondary jackpot in addition to the main tournament, So the angler could win the main tournament but the person who bought him at auction wins the jackpot money. You can also bid and buy yourself. You could also do a fixed tackle bag tourney where each angler has the same small bag of lures to compete with and if you lose them all you're done fishing. In Stuart FL, DOA lures used to sponsor an inshore tournament of this type. Bonus is if you can get a lure MFR to sponsor and provide the lures. and maybe a light line tourney where everyone is required to use a 2lb. leader

There are a series of ponds and canals east of US1 that are all interconnected to the flooding prevention system, we've tried the main reservoirs down Green River Parkway, but action was pretty limited with only smaller fish less than 1 pound. The home lake was slow this weekend, only 3 fish between myself and BareHook Jr. on soft jerkbaits and a 10" TR worm though had a few early releases and jump offs. Some of the strikes were fun though, within 4 feet of where we were standing, though still getting strikes out deep as well. We tried some first light top water, but only had one missed strike, so I'm thinking the fish are still hanging deep and moving up into the shallow grass later?

Roughly 4 pounder this morning by my son. Maybe the cooler weather is kicking in. Caught several over the holidays but really slowed down, thinking maybe too much fishing pressure? Multiple anglers over around 10 days strait.

Typically the lake gets fished a bit on weekends but over the holidays it was daily by multiple anglers for about 10 days strait. I we saw a reduction in the typical action over that period. BTW already seems to be bouncing back, plus maybe the cold weather, my son released several today including a 4 pounder.

The lake I live near has received a lot of fishing pressure over the holidays and I noticed the bite has really slowed down. How long can I expect to wait for the fish to start hitting again? Thanks!

I'll have to check out those lakes near Becker, here are a couple pics Ken

Hello I'm a long time angler new to this site. I've recently re-started bass fishing after getting my kids interested and off of the video games. Now as soon as they get home from school, they're outside tossing plastic worms. Currently we are only shore fishing but have been enjoying some pretty good action. We live on a decent sized lake roughly 1 1/2 mile walk around, but are starting to target other local lakes and ponds as well. Will post pics in future. On to the reports: Home lake: 4" curly tail w/1/16 oz in motor oil flake and tequila sunrise (pink/purple) over past 4 weeks when we started have lost count of the number of bass released ranging up to around 16" plus 2 nice Tilapia on the motor oil worms and one larger bass that got off before we got a good look at it. Runoff lakes in Jensen Beach, several smaller bass in the northwest pond, only one or two in the big pond all under 12" PSL park ponds behind medical center and Police Athletic center, a several small bass up to 12" Still looking to find some bigger fish. Ken

22 year old man killed by 11 foot gator in Brevard county FL. Sounds like he was planning burglary in a neighborhood and was hiding in the tall grass on the lake when the gator took him. The article is in TCPALM.com Ken