Hey guys, i have a little situation. For the past three or so outings i have been very unsuccessful on my favorite lake. I usually catch nice size fish, some dinks and at least one in the 5lb range. Last trip i didn't catch anything and today i only caught a 3lb 1oz fish and one that could have been used as bait all day! I have tried flippin/pitchin t-rigged worms, lizards and craws. I also threw a spinner bait and a Rat-L-Trap around pads and grass. I fished all my known spots and some new ones as well with no pay off. Can anyone in FL(or with knowledge off it) clue me in on what's going on with the fish right now? Any advice, tips or comments are welcome.

NOTE: All the lakes i fish are shallow with little bottom structure and only a few spots reaching 9ft or so.

spawning maybe

The fish here in S. Florida are just coming of the spawn.  My experience in the last week are the fish are biting VERY soft.  

The fish here in S. Florida are just coming of the spawn. My experience in the last week are the fish are biting VERY soft.

You aint kidding man! I have exhausted myself on the last three outings with no luck!

The moon phase or weather has done something to the fish this past week. I suggest downsizing and fish very slow.  

I've been working on my lipless crankbaitin' lately. Been throwing Xcalibur Xr50's and Cordell Super Spots out just a few feet (maybe 8-10) from the shore and casting parallel to the shoreline mostly. It's been very productive in the lakes I've been fishin' lately.

It does appear that they're definitely coming off the spawn, but I've still caught a few the past week with really fat guts! My brother caught an 8 pounder a few days ago that was clearly still full of eggs.

The moon phase or weather has done something to the fish this past week. I suggest downsizing and fish very slow.

VERY slow.

No wonder i am having so much trouble! So what are the best ways to catch them when there coming off spawn? Do i just wait or what?

I have had a lot of success fishing larger profile baits with a faster retrieve. What I have noticed in the last couple weeks, when you fish slower with smaller baits you get very soft bites (very hard to detect). But when I up size my baits and burn them, I get vicious reaction strikes.

You are dead on -HAWK-. I mainly pitched soft plastics Sat and i wouldn't have caught anything if i hadn't been watching my line. It just started to take off towards the weed line. Even with my best rod and fluoro i felt absolutely nothing when they picked it up. We just had a cold front nd rain come in so that will most likely make things worse huh!?!  :'(

Well i am not giving up! I'm headed back on the lake tomorrow morning at 5:30am. I have no idea as to what i will be using though! :-/

For sure their just coming off of the spawn.  Ive had a slow bite at my favorite spots here as well.  I have noticed many empty beds the last couple of times out though. I have also seen a few stragglers on the bed as well.......should be getting better soon!

Just got back from my trip. The fish were pretty active today versus last week. These fish are CRAZY! I caught 5 all together but no hawgs. All my fish came from flippin bull rush patches in 5ft of water. It felt good to set the hook again!  ;D

glad to hear your luck has changed for the better ;D

I have been having great success with topwaters for the past couple of weeks.

I just got in from a couple of hours at a lake very much like what you described and my white super spook jr. was tearing em up.  Can't say I caught anything of size though.  Virtually all of my fish were about 14 inches.   I was fishing in the middle of the day, the sun was peeking in and out.  

I have been having great success with topwaters for the past couple of weeks.

I just got in from a couple of hours at a lake very much like what you described and my white super spook jr. was tearing em up. Can't say I caught anything of size though. Virtually all of my fish were about 14 inches. I was fishing in the middle of the day, the sun was peeking in and out.

x2

skitter prop is working when the swimbaits aren't.

HMMMMM, we were on the lake at about 6:30am and tried Spooks for about an hour and a half with no luck! The water looks like chocolate milk(Lake Istokpoga). All i could catch em on was soft plastics flipped in weeds. I will be back out this coming Sat, hopefully i get a hawg this time! It's been sooooooo  long since i got a fatty over 6lbs guys!!!!!  >

the best thing i can tell you at this time is the bass have moved off the shallow banks because they are in the post spawn. the bass have moved to the next structure going to deeper water this is where they will rest from spawning before continueing to deeper water for the summer months. there for try larger baits but start with a slow retrieve like i stated before they are still resting from the spawn. then slowly change your retrieve speed until you find what they are looking for. and right now most of mine have been caught on a swim bait. hope that helps some let me know.

Last weekend April 11 there was a big spawn on Lake Okeechobee, we must have caught 25 bucks as well as 2 5lbers off beds sight fishing.

I cant speak for north Florida but from Orlando down the bass are not done yet, too many cold fronts have knocked them back, I think you may see at least 2 more spawns. The strongest one is always the end of May at Okeechobee.

Fish hard the big ones will come.

Dink next time your out there, those fish your flipping out of the bull rushes, Ill bet theres a bed at the stems of those clumps, check it out.

Last weekend April 11 there was a big spawn on Lake Okeechobee, we must have caught 25 bucks as well as 2 5lbers off beds sight fishing.

I cant speak for north Florida but from Orlando down the bass are not done yet, too many cold fronts have knocked them back, I think you may see at least 2 more spawns. The strongest one is always the end of May at Okeechobee.

Fish hard the big ones will come.

Dink next time your out there, those fish your flipping out of the bull rushes, Ill bet theres a bed at the stems of those clumps, check it out.

I agree. Still catchin' some pretty shallow over here... They're not all done yet!

The fish here in S. Florida are just coming of the spawn.  My experience in the last week are the fish are biting VERY soft.

The gnats are biting hard..........go snook fishing

Last weekend April 11 there was a big spawn on Lake Okeechobee, we must have caught 25 bucks as well as 2 5lbers off beds sight fishing.

I cant speak for north Florida but from Orlando down the bass are not done yet, too many cold fronts have knocked them back, I think you may see at least 2 more spawns. The strongest one is always the end of May at Okeechobee.

Fish hard the big ones will come.

Dink next time your out there, those fish your flipping out of the bull rushes, Ill bet theres a bed at the stems of those clumps, check it out.

The spawn is far from over. Not all bass in a given lake spawn at the same time. Period of spawn in Florida according to the Fish and Game is December through May, with the occasional fish spawning throughout the year.