N Florida Mike

Ive had the most success with Zoom Z-hogs. 2nd would be the Pit boss.

By the way, the St Mary's is probably the prettiest little river Ive fished. Dont take it for granted ! I would enjoy fishing it again someday.

I use the trick worms and the lucky strikes too ! The lucky strikes produced very well in the fall this year. They are in the bargain bin at the local wal mart ! 1.99 a pack!!☺

Its interesting to hear what fellow anglers go through in their trips. My little private home lake has very good fishing and My estimate is that I do 95 % of all the fishing thats done on the lake. I rarely see any one fishing when Im on the water. ? Its a mystery to me. Why would you live on a lake and never use it?

Welcome to the forums ! I grew up fishing most of the places you mentioned. Im like you because I just never mastered "offshore " fishing. But ive done pretty good with structure fishing laydowns, docks , Cypress, and various grass beds etc. You mentioned Palestine. Thats a fun lake. I never caught a lot of numbers there but did ok there using moccasin culprit worms in the cypresses and maiden cane. The southwest corner had big cypress trees out in the lake a good distance from the bank and was the best producing area. You also dont have to worry about pressure at palestine from other anglers. Ocean pond is near there, and we did well there the one time I fished it. Same pattern as palestine + docks.Orange and Sante fe are great lakes too, and Sampson and Rowell lakes near Starke. In the st Johns running from dock to dock and fishing eel grass edges in between works well..The more northern part of the river is tidal and I love fishing Cypress at high tide as well.

Enjoyed the write up and congrats ! What'd next on the agenda ?

I dont backreel unless the brake disengages., which has happened a few times. I have mostly mid range reels with decent, if not great drags. With any larger fish, I "help the drag " by stripping line by hand when the fish surges. I have done this for many years and it works well for me.

Not only is the information and fellowship outstanding , but the RESPECT most everyone has for each other. Instead of ARGUING about ideologies we can ENJOY bass fishing. Thanks Glenn !

Purdy fish brother!

Got this fish out back a little while ago on a June bug senko. Saw a swirl against the bank across at the neighbors bulkhead and skipped it over, apparently to a bed .This was the female. Caught the smaller buck a couple casts later in the same spot. Saw another guarding a nest out 5 feet or so from my boatramp.

It may have already been said, but fish outflows from drains. If it's safe, of course. I have not done well DURING the rain with my Florida strain fish , or not too well directly after a rain. But it can be outstanding if the water had no movement and the rain causes current to occur. This seems to be especially true in a narrow funnel from one water body to the next. For some reason, they do not bite well for me during the rain or directly after, but at some point sometimes a few hours later. Maybe it takes awhile for the baitfish and then bass to congregate, or the water has to clear up enough. I have had 10 bites on as many casts in my home lake at our little spillway when these conditions occur. I have caught them on a variety of baits.

Sounds just like my home lake. Watermelon seed is king. Watermelon red a close second. This is when the sun is up for an hour or so and the same before sundown. Lower light -June bug black grape and red shad is great. Tequila/ grape are also good during the day.

Glad you caught some.

'Nuff said.^^^^

This is hurting my brain to figure out...?

Yeah, Its been like April here lately.Now, after saying that it's cool/ windy today. That fish had a 7 pound frame. She was a little on the lean side at 23 inch.

Went Saturday from about 1130 til dark. It was good to have some company, as fishing_ff made the drive up from central Florida. It was an incredibly slow day considering that the weather has been consistently warm for 3 weeks here. Also had to battle the wind which was exactly contrary and a little stiff for fighting it.We caught ( I think ) all 9 of the fish on either flukes or senkos. We tried worms, spinnerbaits, jigs, and crankbaits with little action. We lost several fish to laydowns , misses etc.The fish were NOT after anything moving. . The big fish ( pictured ) was 5.7. Second best was 3.3. , both caught on the watermelon seed zoom super fuke.

I fish about every other sat. for 4-5 hours. I try to go more in the spring and fall , which would add another trip or two in a month. But I will get in half an hour or so more often out back, and occasionally between work stops. Also will go saltwater fishing once every 6 weeks or so.

The only time I fished there I hooked a giant carp that broke the line right at the bank , as my dad watched .It bit a bread ball. It is one of the most scenic of any lakes I've ever fished. You will enjoy it.

Got an hour or so between work stops, so I was near one of the ponds I've fished in that area. 2nd cast on a beat up senko and this one nailed it , ended up with 5 total.