Hey everyone,

So i just moved into a new area (Fort Myers, FL), and it seems there are a ton of rock quarries in the area that are supposed to hold some trophy-size LMB. However I am used to fishing smaller farm ponds where I used to live, so I would love some tips/tricks that could get them biting. 

 

These quarries seem relatively clear, with some very steep drop-offs (can't see the bottom). Some sections are very rocky on the bank, some are grassy areas. What should I be throwing in both?

I have had a little luck with senkos, but mostly have been fishing deep diving cranks (8-12ft. and 18ft.) 

PS. My buddy used an Alabama rig which worked great until he lost it in 20ft.+ of water ?  

I fish quarries, A LOT.   Structure, structure, structure.  Underwater points, humps, piles of rock, shade, all come into play at some point in time.  I catch most of my biggest bass where a ledge comes to a point and drops straight down.  Many times they are hanging part of the way down the wall, sometimes just on top of the ledge, sometimes even with the ledge but hanging over deep water.   What helps for me in summer is determining the thermocline, that eliminates a lot of the water.   My most success had been with jigs, both bottom and swim jigs, but early in the year and late in the year jerkbaits also work well.   

In my main quarry I've found that the big ones don't really relate to stumps and wood like they do in a lake. 

 

4 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

I fish quarries, A LOT.   Structure, structure, structure.  Underwater points, humps, piles of rock, shade, all come into play at some point in time.  I catch most of my biggest bass where a ledge comes to a point and drops straight down.  Many times they are hanging part of the way down the wall, sometimes just on top of the ledge, sometimes even with the ledge but hanging over deep water.   What helps for me in summer is determining the thermocline, that eliminates a lot of the water.   My most success had been with jigs, both bottom and swim jigs, but early in the year and late in the year jerkbaits also work well.   

In my main quarry I've found that the big ones don't really relate to stumps and wood like they do in a lake. 

 

Awesome information! I guess I should also add im fishing from the banks (for now, boat coming soon!), so I guess driving around looking for points and fishing them 10-15ft. off the bank, past the drop offs could be worth trying? 

1 hour ago, Jesse Jacobs said:

Awesome information! I guess I should also add im fishing from the banks (for now, boat coming soon!), so I guess driving around looking for points and fishing them 10-15ft. off the bank, past the drop offs could be worth trying? 

 

Use Google Earth, you would be surprised at that things that show up under water..

Use to fish them a lot - plastic worms caught most but noisy top waters cast repeatedly caught the biggest.

 

Quarries are my bread and butter.  During prespawn, I'm using rattle baits, spinnerbaits, and jigs.  Texas rigged plastics if I really need to finesse them.

 

Postspawn before summer sets in, I continue with spinnerbaits, jigs & paddle tail swimbaits.  If conditions call for it, I also use topwaters in this period.

 

In the peak of Summer, it's almost all T-rigged plastics or topwaters due to heavy vegetation.

 

Bluegills are the primary forage, so if I can find them, I can usually find bass in these quarries.

So I know someone and they own a quarry over in PA and i've had the key for years and I always go fishing and shooting there and what not it's a blast. But I am just looking for tips or anything really on fishing quarry's. The water is generally pretty clear on a normal day unless it has rain or whatever yanno and then it drops off quick towards the middles (i'll a picture from google maps to give you a rough idea) I wouldn't say i'm a beginner but it I just kind of send it every time I go and stick with like a senko and something normal and they consistently hit that l but I was hoping to broaden my horizon. i've tried throwing jerkbaits and haven't had any luck (could be bc my colors are off or whatever) and frogs hit late at night usually. Any tips are appreciated!!

That's a nice body of water. 

 

Whenever I'm fishing deep water quarry " only fish 1 " I find the road bed and also like fishing horizontally to banks or use deep diving crankbaits to search water column. 

 

Natural colors in clear water. 

I fish a 6acre quarry quite a bit. It has a rock wall on one side, and a shallower end on the other side. One thing to consider is how quarries were dug years ago. Some have steep banks which drop.off quickly. Sometimes there are shelves, which extend out from a bank, and drop off into deeper water. These are always good spots, as are humps left there when they dug them out. Rockpiles may be left in place also. These can be good too. I've done best with t rig plastics, buzzbaits , and jigs.

Quarry Man has arrived!

 

I fish a lot of Pennsylvania limestone quarries. They are probably different than the ones in Florida, but I am no geologist. My quarries have steep drop offs on most of the shore line. This provides limited access and limited spacing areas. One of my local 30 acre joints has 90% of the shore line unfishable from shore. Come spring, in a few weeks nap here, it appears as if every fish is on the point that allows for spawning. The water is crystal clear and rocky, although milfoil is taking over in our area.

 

I like to throw ned rigs, just cast em out and let them fall. My grandfather aught an 8.5 lb bass on one with 4 lb test two years ago here.

 

I also like small Texas rigs, pegged 1/8 tungsten 1/0 ewg and a zoom finesse worm.

 

other good lures are walking baits and poppers, these cll em up when they are aggressive. I figured this out when sone rocks spilled over a cliff and several bass swam over to investigate.

 

there good technique is a wacky rig weightless. slow fall is a killer.

 

drop shot with light weight'

 

jerkbait sub 53* doubt thats a thing in Florida.

 

 

 

my advice is to fish it like a northern body of water, just vertically. Instead of cover miles of shoreline, cover the entire depth of the water column. Figure out where the fish are first then go through.

 

to summarize:

 

Ned rig

finesse texas rig

drop shot

wacky rig

 

jerkbait

popper/spook

double willow kid finesse spinnerbait

 

try that out

I appreciate all of your help i'll give them a shot the next time I head out!!