The air temperature is warming while the ground and water are still cool and we're getting heavy fog and increasing winds, especially over our larger lakes.

 

I have a tournament down at Lake Seminole at the end of the month and this weekend the forecast is calling for 25mph winds on the lake and next weekend it's calling for 30 mph winds. 25 is pushing it, and 30 is a definite no go for me on my kayak. Seminole has a lot of stumps and submerged trees, so there's no way I'm heading out on that water. That's doubly true since I've never fished there before.

 

That's too bad because I haven't fished in over a month and I'd like to scout the lake before the tournament. Fishing is about to get really good here in the south.

Dear @Kayak Koz Please see my response in the latest catch post page 921 so I don’t have to repeat myself 😜

It’s started already down this way 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

On 1/8/2026 at 4:50 AM, Mike L said:

It’s started already down this way 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Really? What body of water are you fishing if you don’t mind me asking?

I’m in the same area and I’m seeing a ton of beds. Not sure what species they’re from or if they’re from this year though.

2 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

Really? What body of water are you fishing if you don’t mind me asking?

I’m in the same area and I’m seeing a ton of beds. Not sure what species they’re from or if they’re from this year though.

Okeechobee

I’ve heard reports that Placiid, Grassy, Walk in Water and Trafford are producing well now.

Wouldn’t surprise me if the Everglades are also.

Most lakes this far south either have or will be soon

Mike

Wow, the fortunate!

It’ll be another couple months here, although decent days do pop up now and then. Was considering going today as the high is 50* but the wind is 20/25 with 35mph gust. Just too much fight for a canoe.

Bass are starting to stage in the area I concentrate on in south Louisiana. It should get really good in the next two weeks.

21 hours ago, Mike L said:

Okeechobee

I’ve heard reports that Placiid, Grassy, Walk in Water and Trafford are producing well now.

Wouldn’t surprise me if the Everglades are also.

Most lakes this far south either have or will be soon

Mike

Thank you! Do you think they’re spawning right now?

1 hour ago, woolleyfooley said:

Thank you! Do you think they’re spawning right now?

Yes, depending on conditions at each lake there would be pre spawn conditions.

The farther South the earlier they will bed.

I know there are beds on The Lake now from The Monkey Box to Moonshine Bay.

Mike

Fishing has been insanely good down here in the Houston area. My two best days ever were around New Years.

On 1/13/2026 at 9:07 PM, Mike L said:

Yes, depending on conditions at each lake there would be pre spawn conditions.

The farther South the earlier they will bed.

I know there are beds on The Lake now from The Monkey Box to Moonshine Bay.

Mike

These cold fronts aren’t good for the fishing. I wonder how they’re affecting the bass spawn this year.

@woolleyfooley

Same as every year.

The shallower the water the more they will either head deeper or for cover depending what the lake offers looking for warmer water.

Down here they will completely shut off regardless of what you do. They won’t chase, or move a foot as thier metabolism slows way down.

You can drop it on her nose and she may not react.

A day or 2 before a front passes can be the best time of the year if you’re in the right place at the right time.

Timing and location are key.

I don’t bother anymore.

Just wait a few days for it to pass and settle down.

She’ll be back.

Mike

First wave of LM are bedding on Farmpond/StickMarsh /Kenansville and Headwaters.

On 1/24/2026 at 6:17 AM, Mike L said:

@woolleyfooley

Same as every year.

The shallower the water the more they will either head deeper or for cover depending what the lake offers looking for warmer water.

Down here they will completely shut off regardless of what you do. They won’t chase, or move a foot as thier metabolism slows way down.

You can drop it on her nose and she may not react.

A day or 2 before a front passes can be the best time of the year if you’re in the right place at the right time.

Timing and location are key.

I don’t bother anymore.

Just wait a few days for it to pass and settle down.

She’ll be back.

Mike

After all this cold weather in swfl, do you think the warming weather will bring bass shallow allowing for good bank fishing in ponds?

On 2/12/2026 at 7:52 AM, Ski said:

First wave of LM are bedding on Farmpond/StickMarsh /Kenansville and Headwaters.

I’ve been seeing a ton of beds for at least a month down here in southwest Florida. Can’t tell if they’re from bass or not though.

26 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

After all this cold weather in swfl, do you think the warming weather will bring bass shallow allowing for good bank fishing in ponds?

I’ve been seeing a ton of beds for at least a month down here in southwest Florida. Can’t tell if they’re from bass or not though.

Oh Yeah

There will be beds all over now especially as it warms up a little more every day now.

As long as we don’t get another strong front come through you’ll start to see more.

With temps in the high 50’s low 60’s over night there’s no reason to get on the water at sunrise.

Mid morning to late afternoon is usually the sweet spot now for a week or so more, then it’ll be game on.

Tip…

Don’t just blind cast or pitch in likely spots.

Take the time to read the fish’s habits carefully (especially the male) as he will tell you how hard you’ll have to work at it.

Mike

This is a good watch:

23 hours ago, Mike L said:

Oh Yeah

There will be beds all over now especially as it warms up a little more every day now.

As long as we don’t get another strong front come through you’ll start to see more.

With temps in the high 50’s low 60’s over night there’s no reason to get on the water at sunrise.

Mid morning to late afternoon is usually the sweet spot now for a week or so more, then it’ll be game on.

Tip…

Don’t just blind cast or pitch in likely spots.

Take the time to read the fish’s habits carefully (especially the male) as he will tell you how hard you’ll have to work at it.

Mike

Thank you! That’s great help! When you say the sweet spot will be mid morning to late afternoon and then it’s on, what do you mean by “then it’s on”?

37 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

Thank you! That’s great help! When you say the sweet spot will be mid morning to late afternoon and then it’s on, what do you mean by “then it’s on”?

Major cold fronts, excessive northerly winds, extended dry season with lowering water levels, all which cause prolonged unstable weather coupled with changing water and bottom composition with decaying vegetation will begin to moderate statewide from south to north.

When all that happens which should be around the end of this month into March, sight fishing beds will be priority all day.

You’ll have to learn and take advantage of the best “window” times that change from lake to lake.

Pay attention to the keys.

Mike

On 2/14/2026 at 8:43 PM, Mike L said:

Major cold fronts, excessive northerly winds, extended dry season with lowering water levels, all which cause prolonged unstable weather coupled with changing water and bottom composition with decaying vegetation will begin to moderate statewide from south to north.

When all that happens which should be around the end of this month into March, sight fishing beds will be priority all day.

You’ll have to learn and take advantage of the best “window” times that change from lake to lake.

Pay attention to the keys.

Mike

Thank you! So what are some things you’d be throwing right now if you were bank fishing small/medium ponds?

12 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

Thank you! So what are some things you’d be throwing right now if you were bank fishing small/medium ponds?

Even tho you’re restricted to where you can fish, there isn’t a one bait for all conditions.

Are there lay downs you can reach?

In the middle of summer are there overhanging trees that casts a shadow?

How far off shore is “deeper water” ?

You get my point.

For bowl shaped ponds with no features just recycle through your box using confidence baits to see first and foremost if anything is there.

If you’re into finesse type fishing (which I don’t do) I’d start there.

A wacky rigged or weightless stick bait like a Senko, is hard to beat.

I’d also try a sq bill, a small spinnerbait or drag a creature type bait fan casting every 5 ft or so.

Best of Luck to you.

Mike

On 2/17/2026 at 9:14 AM, Mike L said:

Even tho you’re restricted to where you can fish, there isn’t a one bait for all conditions.

Are there lay downs you can reach?

In the middle of summer are there overhanging trees that casts a shadow?

How far off shore is “deeper water” ?

You get my point.

For bowl shaped ponds with no features just recycle through your box using confidence baits to see first and foremost if anything is there.

If you’re into finesse type fishing (which I don’t do) I’d start there.

A wacky rigged or weightless stick bait like a Senko, is hard to beat.

I’d also try a sq bill, a small spinnerbait or drag a creature type bait fan casting every 5 ft or so.

Best of Luck to you.

Mike

Thank you! Being that you fish from a boat, what are some of your go to baits right now?

12 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

Thank you! Being that you fish from a boat, what are some of your go to baits right now?

Basically the same all year.

The only caveat is as the conditions change while covering water, I’ll cycle through the same things until a pattern emerges.

Right now the top 3 for the entire water column….

Top..,

Original Scum frog

Devils horse

Pop R

Mid water…

Magnum UV Speed Worm

Trap

Fat Max ribbon tail

Bottom…

Rage Bug

Rage Craw

Standard size Brush Hog

Changing to Seaguar’s

Smackdown last summer for the only 3 presentations I use braid for, has really helped with casting distance and better abrasion resistance.

Right now I won’t use anything else except when punching usually thick Hydrilla or Hyacinth

All other presentations I use Seaguar’s Tatsu which is in my opinion the best flouro you can buy..period.

I still use Shooter or Sniper for sight fishing beds only because I always have and know their differences but by most standards Tatsu outperforms everything else.

I most always only use either junebug or watermelon red for all plastics except when sight fishing beds which is always white regardless of what it is.

I hope that helps

Mike

On 2/21/2026 at 7:35 AM, Mike L said:

Basically the same all year.

The only caveat is as the conditions change while covering water, I’ll cycle through the same things until a pattern emerges.

Right now the top 3 for the entire water column….

Top..,

Original Scum frog

Devils horse

Pop R

Mid water…

Magnum UV Speed Worm

Trap

Fat Max ribbon tail

Bottom…

Rage Bug

Rage Craw

Standard size Brush Hog

Changing to Seaguar’s

Smackdown last summer for the only 3 presentations I use braid for, has really helped with casting distance and better abrasion resistance.

Right now I won’t use anything else except when punching usually thick Hydrilla or Hyacinth

All other presentations I use Seaguar’s Tatsu which is in my opinion the best flouro you can buy..period.

I still use Shooter or Sniper for sight fishing beds only because I always have and know their differences but by most standards Tatsu outperforms everything else.

I most always only use either junebug or watermelon red for all plastics except when sight fishing beds which is always white regardless of what it is.

I hope that helps

Mike

Thank you! I also use Tatsu for almost everything. Even my mag heavy jig/t-rig rod has 25lb tatsu on it. I just don’t like using braid for bottom contact baits. Even if I’m punching heavy grass, the 25lb tatsu seems sufficient. (Knock on wood).

It certainly seems like the weather is wonky down here this year. We'll have 3 or 4 days with daytime temperatures in the 60's and 70's and the water temperature creeps up to 55-56 degrees, then we get temperatures in the 20's again for 3 or 4 days and the water temperature drops to 50 degrees or lower once again.

And the wind is still ridiculous with gusts 18-28 mph most days interspersed with low wind days or 38 mph wind days. I can't wait for spring.

I have another question for my fellow South Floridians and particularly @Mike L

I fish a natural “lake” here in southwest Florida that has largemouth and peacock bass as well as the other usual local species. The water is usually very stained/silty and there’s lots of submerged vegetation.

For whatever reason, the lake is extremely clear right now and vegetation is sparse. I’m seeing dozens and dozens of beds right now. It’s bank access only, so I can’t tell what fish are on the beds. Most seem empty but I’ve noticed big tilapia on some of them.

My question is, would this indicate the bass are done spawning? Also, how would the bass behave now that the water is so clear compared to how it usually is?

I really like fishing jerkbaits but I hardly ever do because of all of the submerged vegetation where I fish. With how clear the water is and how sparse the vegetation is right now, I’m thinking I should try a jerk bait. What other baits would be good to throw? I think this is a good opportunity to fish some stuff I don’t use very often, but I’m also wondering if the water clarity difference might turn the fish off.