THISISATRUCK

I have never seen a fish like this. Anyone have any idea what it is? My assumption is some sort of catfish.

Well. I went ahead and went for a 5 hour pond hop across 5 different areas today. Not an even split of time on said lakes as non native weeds made some lakes un-fishable. I didn't bring any heavy jigs or bullet weights to punch it. I went with the advice of only taking soft plastics and spinnerbaits. I got hit hard on a junebug senko but somehow missed it on Lake Hunter. Finally in the 5th hour got a little 12 inch gal on a chartreuse spinnerbait with gold Willow/ silver Colorado at Lake Parker. Not the best day but I did learn some stuff. Bass at Saddle Creek were schooled under any overhang they could find and were not eating at all. I was trying to sight fish them and they would not take a single thing. But I did almost catch a gator skipping a senko under some branches. I'm probably going to get a jon boat over a kayak/canoe. Mainly for peace of mind while standing. Plus, some of the jon boats I am seeing in the area are cheaper than a decent kayak. Either way, I'll be looking forward to learning the bass down here. 69 degree water up north is active shad hunting time. It looks like the bass down here are used to 80 degree water so I imagine I am going far too fast for their tastes. I appreciate all the advice guys.

That's the d**n truth. One day I had to tangle with a bowfin without grips or pliers though. Traveling light that day. I was so happy to catch it though. Never caught one before. I'd really also like to catch one of these pint size pike but I don't know how. Maybe I'll start carrying an ultralight and some of those tiny rebel crankbaits to get a bluegill when the day is shot. When I am fishing around the heavy vegetation I have been using 3/4 oz pegged bullet weights and that seems to do fine but like I said it seems to spook the fish rather than force a strike. Anyway, I appreciate the advice guys. It has helped. I'll try slowing everything down and do a little more work on finding other bodies of water and getting a little jon boat or something for the time being.

Lots to respond to. Up north I went for green and brown. I know they are different. Also up north I had a boat. So that helped a lot. Up north I used many of the techniques mentioned. Jerkbaits and swimjigs seemed the most productive for largies up there unless it was summer. Then top water rules all especially when bull frogs were spawning. Of course those Mountain lakes were a LOT more clear water than what I have found in Florida and I think that may be part of my problem. People talk about how clear the water us when I can't see my jig 2 feet below the surface. So that may be a takeaway. Currently I am fishing weightless flukes and wacky rigged senkos since I have had the most success on those (3 fish) both in watermelon. I have every soft plastic imaginable from black to white. Senkos I have been using watermelon, green pumpkin, and black/blue. Lizards in June bug and watermelon red. Curly tail grubs in junebug, salt and pepper, white, and chartreuse. Ribon tail worms in junebug and ox blood. Craws and creatures in black/blue, pumpkin, and watermelon. Flukes in watermelon and white. If they aren't weightless I think the heavies weight I use is 1/8 ounce. The only hard bait I can get bit on is a black back chartreuse squarebill. I have tried all matter of ned rig, shaky head, or neko rig combos as well as spinnerbaits and chatter baits. As for top water I have had nothing. Not even a swipe. The problem I am having finding other bodies of water is that there is little to no shore access, either from cat tails or from fences. This may be an issue with the area I am in though. I don't expect a fish on every cast. Or every 10 casts for that matter. I DO expect to catch more than one fish a month going out for at least 10 hours a week.

I am in need of assistance. I am at my wit's end with Florida fishing. I have done the majority of my fishing in upstate NY and I just can't seem to catch fish in Florida. I don't know if it is technique, lure selection, bodies of water, or what. I have tried pretty much anything. Every jig there is, crankbaits, swim baits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, t-rigs, and frogs. I cannot seem to catch fish. I currently do not have a boat so I am stuck fishing from shore. This almost exclusively leaves me with punching and flipping heavy shore grass (gator grass as the locals call it) or cattails and this isn't working. I seem to be simply spooking fish by putting a lure near them. In my experience this actually causes them to strike, but not these fish. The areas I fish are Lake Somerset, Saddle Creek, Lake Parker, and Teneroc. Most other places seem to require a boat. I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong. I don't know if it is lure color or if the fish are just that heavily pressured, but I have only caught one fish in the last three months going out weekly. I can key in fine on northern bass and can usually catch at least one fish every hour but Florida is killing me. If anyone around the area can turn me on to what I am doing wrong. I am not looking for you to tell me some secret spot or anything. I just need some help.