Get a float tube guys.

Catching some lately from the banks in S Florida on Zoom Super Flukes, usuallly on watermelon red. Some are three to four pounders. Most are much smaller. The fluke is clearly a more subtle bait than what I usually use (salt-laden toads, big swim baits, grotesque creature baits.) So the 5" fluke is more appealling, it seems, to finicky summer bass. Eventually, I'm successful, and when I grab a bass to twist out the hook, his body is suprisingly hot, and the angry fish smells of pungent steamed algae. I'm dying to look in his stomach to see what he's stuffed himself with but I can't figure out how to do that without killing him. I see here and there in the evenings schooling bass busting frantic schools of what I thought might be shad -- but the few times the bait got chased to shore where I could see them, they looked like little dark green minnows -- a lot like my green fluke bait. Maybe they are green just from the top and are shiny silver gems from the side. Who knows. Last evening at seven I caught a few bass by tossing my fluke into the boiling mix, and though full of energy, the bass, unfortunately, were little quarter pounders. I was able to throw five or ten times a white and yellow spinner bait with golden willows beyond and then through the school. With that I finally caught one little bass, no longer than my nose. I miss those big easy pigs from the post spawn days of early June. Where are those glorious pigs now? Gone, or lazy? Or are their stomachs already full, or are they off in some hidden, secret deep spot? Someone please tell me!

I fish from shore.. I will list the baits I use and in order of how successful they have been

1. Zoom super fluke.

Has landed me more fish than anything else this year.

Rigged with a 2/0 offset worm hook.. weightless most of the time.. in heavu current I will use a belly weighted hook...

One of the most versatile baits out there I believe.

2. Lunker hunt topwater frog.

Only #2 because it landed me the biggest bass of the year at 6lb.

3. Bass pro shops "sassy sally" paddletail swimbaits.

I use the white one mostly but also the black with silver flake.. bass love these things.

Largemouth, smallmouth and even croppies will eat them.

4. Jig and craw trailer...

Sometimes all they want is a jig..... you gotta learn them.

5. Senko

Motor oil with red flake has been pretty good lately..... wacky rigged seems to work best. I use the

Rubber bands to hold the hook on "O rings" with gamakatsu !wack hooks..

6. Small strike king buzzbait

The small white one right as the sun is going down has been slaying them lately..... Last few nights I have been having a blast with this thing....

Good luck dude..

And good luck findinv that swimsuit..... although I dont know how that will help

I didn't read everything, but I didn't see this mentioned. If you plan to buy new equipment (rods, reels, line, etc), buy higher end. I'm not saying blow $250 on a reel, but get at least a $100 in the rod and $100 in the reel. It is definitely worth it. Trust me, I'm a "budget" fisherman and thought my Black Max was awesome until I got a $100 reel and now I wish I had a $200 reel. I'm fixing to start saving up for a $200 spinning setup to try out.

 

As far as baits, T-rigs, jigs, and spinners. That is the three that I have the most luck on. Try to fish near boat ramps, especially ones with rock piles or debris from storms. We get a lot of tornadoes here so there is always a fair amount of floating logs near the boat ramps here and there's always bass lurking in them. Don't be afraid to cast into open water, I've caught some bass in open water at times that I would never expect.

One thing i did not mention... get rid of the tackle box for a backpack..

Invest in a descent backpack with a few front zipper pockets..

If you buy one of the kvd speed bags.. it comes with 3 plano boxes.

I remove them and put all my soft plastics in the bag.. I use one box for hooks, weights amd swivels etc.. one for hard baits... one for jigs and misc stuff.

Having a backpack is better than using a hand carrying

A tackle box in my opinion.

You can instead carry 1-2 rods and a beer....

Good luck

One thing i did not mention... get rid of the tackle box for a backpack..

Invest in a descent backpack with a few front zipper pockets..

If you buy one of the kvd speed bags.. it comes with 3 plano boxes.

I remove them and put all my soft plastics in the bag.. I use one box for hooks, weights amd swivels etc.. one for hard baits... one for jigs and misc stuff.

Having a backpack is better than using a hand carrying

A tackle box in my opinion.

You can instead carry 1-2 rods and a beer....

Good luck

I like the way you think 2 rods an a beer haha!

Suggestions to consider for bank fishing:

1.  Always bring a needle nose pliers.

2.  Trick worms on a 1/16 jig head on 8 pound fluorocarbon line.

3.  Senkos fished wacky.

4.  Crankbaits of your choice and color.

5.  Spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, Pop-R's, Cavitrons, flukes and creature baits.

6.  Throw Pop-r's on spinning rig.

7.  Walk 50-feet from bank when moving from place to place.

8.  No shadows from your body with the sun at your back onto the water.

9.  Good polarized sunglasses to see into the water.

10. Cap with flap on  back to protect your neck and ears from the sun.

11. Wear sunscreen.

12. Use MegaStrike or JJ's Magic as your scent of choice.

13. Always look around when casting to avoid over hanging trees, bushes and tall grass.

14. Medium Heavy 7-foot fast action tip rod of your choice.  View the rod's specifications to make sure it can handle the baits and line test you are throwing.

15. Flip and Pitch to everywhere you are fishing in a "fan" pattern left to right and then back right to left.

16. Cast out plastics and let them sit for 10 to 15 seconds and then hop back to you slowly.

17. Watch your line when throwing Senkos and plastics.

18. Keep a finger on the line coming off your spinning reel at all times to feel for strikes. You will feel "bumps" and then the line may or may not move.  Any unusual line movement or weight on the line you SET THE HOOK! No charge for setting hooks so go to it.

19. Wear sunscreen and long sleeve shirts to keep sun off of you. Long pants with the cuff area and your socks sprayed with bug spray to keep bugs and ticks off of you. Check yourself closely when you get home for ticks.

20. Always leave a note at home telling folks where you will be and what time you will be home.

21. NEVER FISH IN A THUNDER STORM. If you hear thunder go home immediately. Lightning can strike five miles out from the storm, even if you cannot see the storm clouds, if you hear thunder get out of there fast.

22. Always watch where you are walking. You don't want to bother a snake or get into poison ivy or oak.

23.  Have your cell phone with you in case of an emergency and to take photos of what you catch.

 

You do not have to pack 25 pounds of tackle and bring 20 rods. Think what you want to throw into two categories: Hard Baits and Plastics.  Bring a package of each kind and color of plastic you want to throw, limiting yourself to these colors for a start:

Green Pumpkin - Stained water

Watermelon - Clear water

June Bug - Stained and dirty water

Cherry Seed - All water

Variations of Black - Stained and dirty water

 

Hard baits can be wake baits, Bandit 100 square bill crankbaits, 1/4 Cavitrons, 1/4 spinnerbaits. Anything you can throw on a spinning rig. You will graduate to a baitcaster soon but master the spinning gear first and have some fun.

 

Using your 1/16 jig head with a 3/0 hook rig up some Zoom Trick Worms in the color of your choice and flip and pitch that bait all over the place.  Look for grass lines, drop offs into deep water, any wood in the water, over hanging brush and anything in the water such as a submerged log or tire.

 

Try for soft and quiet water entries if possible. However, in the summer the bass will turn to see what made the splash so don't be too concerned about how your bait enters the water. Just get it in the water and fish it.

 

Check out the articles on this Forum and then expand your horizons with the drop shot and jigs.

 

Good luck. Be careful. Have some fun. And let us know how you do.

#24 get a go pro camera so we can watch you catch fish!

Catching some lately from the banks in S Florida on Zoom Super Flukes, usuallly on watermelon red. Some are three to four pounders. Most are much smaller. The fluke is clearly a more subtle bait than what I usually use (salt-laden toads, big swim baits, grotesque creature baits.) So the 5" fluke is more appealling, it seems, to finicky summer bass. Eventually, I'm successful, and when I grab a bass to twist out the hook, his body is suprisingly hot, and the angry fish smells of pungent steamed algae. I'm dying to look in his stomach to see what he's stuffed himself with but I can't figure out how to do that without killing him. I see here and there in the evenings schooling bass busting frantic schools of what I thought might be shad -- but the few times the bait got chased to shore where I could see them, they looked like little dark green minnows -- a lot like my green fluke bait. Maybe they are green just from the top and are shiny silver gems from the side. Who knows. Last evening at seven I caught a few bass by tossing my fluke into the boiling mix, and though full of energy, the bass, unfortunately, were little quarter pounders. I was able to throw five or ten times a white and yellow spinner bait with golden willows beyond and then through the school. With that I finally caught one little bass, no longer than my nose. I miss those big easy pigs from the post spawn days of early June. Where are those glorious pigs now? Gone, or lazy? Or are their stomachs already full, or are they off in some hidden, secret deep spot? Someone please tell me!

 

Hawgenvy this time of year in South Florida is tough especially for bank fishing. I was consistently catching nice fish in the canals until June. July came and lights out. Are the big fish gone? Not really, I see them in the canal deep in the trenches. They are just chilling out and inactive. When they feed is what leaves me scratching my head. 

Hawgenvy this time of year in South Florida is tough especially for bank fishing. I was consistently catching nice fish in the canals until June. July came and lights out. Are the big fish gone? Not really, I see them in the canal deep in the trenches. They are just chilling out and inactive. When they feed is what leaves me scratching my head. 

A  couple of times over the past month I've tossed some plastics at midnight.  I got bit -- by bugs. Maybe one night I'll try 2-3 AM?  I suppose I'll have better luck staying in bed and dreaming about catching bass.

Anyone fish Springfield lake up at the boat ramp we been fishing there couple times have caught few smaller catfish anyone know bank areas for bigger catfish

A  couple of times over the past month I've tossed some plastics at midnight.  I got bit -- by bugs. Maybe one night I'll try 2-3 AM?  I suppose I'll have better luck staying in bed and dreaming about catching bass.

Yeah.... staying in bed gets my vote too. LOL!!! 

I didn't read everything, but I didn't see this mentioned. If you plan to buy new equipment (rods, reels, line, etc), buy higher end. I'm not saying blow $250 on a reel, but get at least a $100 in the rod and $100 in the reel. It is definitely worth it. Trust me, I'm a "budget" fisherman and thought my Black Max was awesome until I got a $100 reel and now I wish I had a $200 reel. I'm fixing to start saving up for a $200 spinning setup to try out.

 

As far as baits, T-rigs, jigs, and spinners. That is the three that I have the most luck on. Try to fish near boat ramps, especially ones with rock piles or debris from storms. We get a lot of tornadoes here so there is always a fair amount of floating logs near the boat ramps here and there's always bass lurking in them. Don't be afraid to cast into open water, I've caught some bass in open water at times that I would never expect.

 

I agree. Ive caught some nice ones on far random throws to nowhere.

 

 

Had a pretty good day today doing some urban bassin'. Fished a couple of new spots (small ponds) with my BIL. All fish were caught on topwater with the exception of one fish which hit a Super Fluke and one fish which hit a Terminator spinner bait. I was throwing my trusty Booyah Pad Crashers and spinner bait and my BIL was throwing Buzz bait and the Super Fluke. The fish hit top waters all day, much to my surprise. I threw some worms but had no luck with them. Not all of the fish we caught are pictured. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice fish!!!!

Had a pretty good day today doing some urban bassin'. Fished a couple of new spots (small ponds) with my BIL. All fish were caught on topwater with the exception of one fish which hit a Super Fluke and one fish which hit a Terminator spinner bait. I was throwing my trusty Booyah Pad Crashers and spinner bait and my BIL was throwing Buzz bait and the Super Fluke. The fish hit top waters all day, much to my surprise. I threw some worms but had no luck with them. Not all of the fish we caught are pictured. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice!!!

I even go so far as to wearing Fishouflage Camo shirts or sweat shirts. It really pays to be stealthy in your approach. Use the shrubs, tall grass  and trees to help conceal yourself whenever you can.

 

The Bass are using cover for the purpose of concealment, so should You.

My friend you gave away one of my bank secrets as well ..

Cast from bank approach if the clearance allows

The fish near the bank can detect if you come too close so this tip will bag you several more bank fish per outing

Enjoy guys he did u a favor

 

and yes absolutely wear green and brown if your backdrop is the woods

and silence is of the essense.. dunno how many kids ask me for tips and I say.. first stop yappin so loud

gotta think and act like hunters.. approach like hunters

Great tip! To carry it a bit further, some boating anglers should take notes as well. More times than I care to think about I see these high powered bass boats roar into a cove or shoreline section and start fishing right away. Unbelievable! They could use a little stealth themselves.

I've been doing lots of pond fishing and thought of that but never tried it, so will take and try it next outing.

"if you can see the fish....he can see you"

Thanks.

 

I have been doing this for years.

 

Also, when you move from one place to another walk at least 50-feet from the bank to the next spot.

 

And you are so right about your shadow. Watch for it during the day to avoid throwing it on the water.

 

Good tips.  Thanks for sharing.

One thing i did not mention... get rid of the tackle box for a backpack..

Invest in a descent backpack with a few front zipper pockets..

If you buy one of the kvd speed bags.. it comes with 3 plano boxes.

I remove them and put all my soft plastics in the bag.. I use one box for hooks, weights amd swivels etc.. one for hard baits... one for jigs and misc stuff.

Having a backpack is better than using a hand carrying

A tackle box in my opinion.

You can instead carry 1-2 rods and a beer....

Good luck

X2  - I bought a Spiderwire fishing backpack and use it on the bank and in my kayaks.  It'll hold two rods, comes with three plastic boxes, and has a separator for the top portion where I keep a sweatshirt or rain jacket.  I can't verify where it's build, but it's held up great for my during the two years I've owned it.