Hey Everyone - finally got out to do some freshwater fishing this weekend.

Do you guys have experience fishing the dark stained lakes of Florida? I have fished the dark-water canals in south Florida, but have recently encountered a lake that is surrounded by ancient cypresses which has resulted in water clarity I'd generously label at 2 inches. There are hundreds of cypresses along the shoreline with hollowed out trunks, which potentially provides lots of cover for bass. How would you even go about fishing this?

My theory is to use dark noisy search baits around the cypresses, and fishing certain fishy areas with a dark colored jig or something similar that pushes lots of water. There are also some spots of hyacinth that may be good for flipping. Just wanted to get some input. 

 

Here's a nice dark bass I caught on a t-rigged senko.

When fishing water surrounded by cypress trees, you must learn to read the trees. Find trees with something different about them; trees with access to deeper water, trees that create points, trees outside the thicket a foot or two, and trees around vegetation or fallen timber. A big bass can choose any tree she wants, so understand why she chose one and not the other. These trees have extensive root systems with knees that provide great cover for fish. These are not dock pilings, and the cypress knees create structure in a wide radius around the visible trunk. Bump a worm or crankbait against the tree knees and roots. Dark colored plastics such as junebug provide a great silhouette for the fish to see, and the glitter in these plastics can create the necessary shimmer to draw a strike. Baits that move a lot of water can also be a great choice

I usually do well with dark colored worms around them.That's it.

Black and blue and candy bug, and junebug. Chatterbait, spinnerbait, jigs, worms, flip/pitch. 

Lots of good advice in the previous posts.  I will add one more piece to the puzzle.  Never pass up Cypress trees with Osprey nests in them.  The birds are notorious sloppy eaters.  Its like chumming the waters below.  This draws baitfish, and crawfish, and the big bass follow. Always spend some extra time around these trees!!!!!

Interesting perspective, you make a good point GeoG. I was fishing out there this past weekend, and those gators were grunting all morning. Bet they don't stay too far from those Osprey nests either Lol!

Red shad or moccasin culprit worms too!