So I thought I would ask a fairly lengthy response worthy question here. I have never really have trouble fishing throughout my life but after moving up here to North Florida, I am having one heck of a go at it. It has been rough on me to say the least. I have ZERO fish over 1 lb in the last 5 months. I have approached these waters in a typical fashion to no avail. I grew up in the Central Florida area and had great success in the Lakeland and Orlando area.

 

Question being, since the water here in North.Fl seems to be more finicky, Little Lake Santa Fe is my go to, what are your year round keys to success? Looking for some basic thought processes to following throughout the year in an attempt to hopefully see something in a light I have never seen before. Yes, I have read MANY MANY articles on the subject but I would like to hear some personal opinions from you knowledgable folks out there on the subject.  

 

Winter- (Where are they? What are they feeding on?)

 

Spring - (Where are they? What are they feeding on?)

 

Summer - (Where are they? What are they feeding on?)

 

Fall - (Where are they? What are they feeding on)

 

What are your opinions on this? If needed, go grab a cold beer or hot cup of joe and get to writing.

Start with the spawn, same everywhere; winter cold water period warms from lower 50's to 62-65 the bass move onto beddibfpg sites. Prey type isn't a factor, egg eater are the enemy.

The month prior to the spawn can be the height of pre spawn, the bass are staged outside of spawning areas.

Prey is whatever is abundant in your area.

Backing up to the cold water or winter period, water temps in the mid 50's to high 40's the bass are located where ever they can find the find warmer water; deeper, springs, power plants. Prey, whatever is available, usually smaller baitfish, crawdads.

Backing up to the fall or currently in your area. Water somewhere between 58 to 70, bass are moving looking for prey that is relocating. Prey, baitfish and crawdads.

Summer, Florida has lot of critters frogs, lizards, snakes, big bugs that make top water, big worms good.

Take some time and study what baitfish are available. Golden shiners are common in central and southern Florida. Not familiar with northern Florida.

Tom

you got my attention when you wrote Florida bass. here i come....lol....first off let me start by saying that north FL is no different than south FL. i fished both. second i dont care for season because i have caught bass with every lure on every season, it just depends on where and the presentation, fast or slow? because you can throw a gambler frog and in summer and get every bass close to it but winter it seems that frogs in the open works better. if you catching small bass then try big baits, i always say that 10 pounders in Florida are normal than other states. your best choice baits would be frogs, big worms, beaver style baits, flippin jigs and gold spinnerbait. summer i fish dark baits and winter i fish lighter baits. temperature doesn't matter that much because for the past 3 years we had 90 degree winters. unless we have that killer cold from 2010   

#1: learn what structure is, how to truly identify it, interpret it, and then fish it effectively.

#2: understand what the predominate prey species is in your lake and how that species relates to structure morning, noon, and night...with each passing season.

#3: understand that next after location is timing; just because you didn't get bite doesn't mean the bass aint there or you tied on the wrong lure.

#4: understand to consistently catch bass is a process of elimination and duplication. Eliminate patterns and waters that are non-productive and duplicate patterns and waters that are productive.

#5: the more one tries, the more one over analizes a situation, the more complex it becomes, the more mistakes will be made. K.I.S.S.