14 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

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.

The thing about sight fishing beds from shore is its more about you than them.

If you can see them they can see you.

In clear or stained water it’s imperative that you be selective in picking your spots.

Tilapia beds are deeper and wider and more bunched together whereas a Bass bed is shallower and more isolated.

Also, I’ve found that Tilapia will bed closer to shore.

It’s easy to pick out a bass bed among the others if you have clear water and a sight line.

When you approach the shore don’t stand at the edge and start right away, look around, eat a sandwich, sit down and watch what’s going on as a Bass will move into an abandoned Tilapia bed but not the other way around.

I only use plastics for sight fishing but we all have our favorites and yes try different things if you have room to cast parallel to the bank.

IF I was gonna do that I’d use a small white spinnerbait with a Colorado blade first then a white/blue jerk starting small twitch’s a foot or 2 before and after passing the bed.

You can try hopping then dropping a noisy trap right in it.

Watch the male as he’ll tell you how aggressive they are by circling or coming back quicker after being spooked which will tell you how and where to fish it which a whole different thing.

Mike

On 4/3/2026 at 8:46 AM, Mike L said:

The thing about sight fishing beds from shore is its more about you than them.

If you can see them they can see you.

In clear or stained water it’s imperative that you be selective in picking your spots.

Tilapia beds are deeper and wider and more bunched together whereas a Bass bed is shallower and more isolated.

Also, I’ve found that Tilapia will bed closer to shore.

It’s easy to pick out a bass bed among the others if you have clear water and a sight line.

When you approach the shore don’t stand at the edge and start right away, look around, eat a sandwich, sit down and watch what’s going on as a Bass will move into an abandoned Tilapia bed but not the other way around.

I only use plastics for sight fishing but we all have our favorites and yes try different things if you have room to cast parallel to the bank.

IF I was gonna do that I’d use a small white spinnerbait with a Colorado blade first then a white/blue jerk starting small twitch’s a foot or 2 before and after passing the bed.

You can try hopping then dropping a noisy trap right in it.

Watch the male as he’ll tell you how aggressive they are by circling or coming back quicker after being spooked which will tell you how and where to fish it which a whole different thing.

Mike

Thank you! That’s all great information! I just wanted to clarify my question wasn’t meant to be solely about bed fishing.

In any case, it seems the beds I can see are all empty. Even after I’ve been sitting around for a bit. Do you think they might be done spawning by now?

15 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

Thank you! That’s all great information! I just wanted to clarify my question wasn’t meant to be solely about bed fishing.

In any case, it seems the beds I can see are all empty. Even after I’ve been sitting around for a bit. Do you think they might be done spawning by now?

No not at all

Tilapia in So Florida will spawn till early summer into early fall.

Water temperature is more critical to thier timing than Bass down here.

You came across the early ones.

As I said Ma Bass could move into them at some point.

Mike