Hello all

  I  went out to the Loxahatchee NWR today and got skunked  :'(.. We launched at the ramp off of 441 and ran south past the next ramp ( i think it was south of mile marker 12) and fished the grass flats in that area and also flipped and pitched along the canal edges.. It really looked like the area could hold fish but we were not successful..

    I just have a few questions about the area..

- what are the rules regarding the "closed areas" and the rules in general

- where should we fish?  the canal edges? or is there a way to get into the "middle"

- I live closer to the ramp on the north side off of southern.. should we launch from there?

I would really like to learn all I can because it is much closer to home than okeechobee and I would like a local spot for the weekdays after work..

Thanks!

The fish move into the thick stuff when the water is high.  The fishing is great when levels are low and flush the fish out into the open.

It sounds like you went down to Boca from Boynton.  I did very well out there 4-5 weeks ago with senko's.  I target the calm side of the cat tail islands.  The bigger fish should be getting ready to move in any time now.

Get with BocaBasser, he's the local guru of Lox.

Lox is usually on or off. When it is on, you can load up on 3-6# bass all day long.

I like to find slightly difficult to access areas in the flats. Areas that some will bypass. Sometimes you have to plow/pole your way into an area that normally is not fished.I have caught most of my quality fish in these types of areas. If you go far into the flats, you better bring a GPS to find your way back. It all starts to look the same.

Stable water level, and temperatures seem to improve the fishing there also.

I fished the southern ramp (Lox rd) a couple of days ago. I caught 6 in the 2-3# range fishing the cat tails on the edges of the flats across from the first spillway using red colored worms. Another guy I talked to at the ramp said he was having success using black worms with chartreuse tails.

The hydrilla in the open water has diminished some and you can run through it to access the flats with no problems. If you are not willing to venture into the flats, the perimeter canal that runs north from Lox Rd to Lee Rd will give up a few bass, also try the canal running west between the 2nd and 3rd spill way.I will be going out again this afternoon (after it warms up a bit).

thanks a lot for the information!

If I put in at the north ramp off of Southern would you suggest I run down south or just try to fish the northern part?

thanks a lot for the information!

If I put in at the north ramp off of Southern would you suggest I run down south or just try to fish the northern part?

I fish mostly from the south (Lox rd ) ramp.

That is the area that I am familiar with because I live close to that ramp.

I have not fished the northern (Southern) section so I am not able to tell you specific advice about canal/flats locations up there.

Some of the other guys that live in WPB should be able to answer your question.

Try looking at the area using google earth.

You will see the layout of the refuge and some of the cuts leading into the flats.

cool i will try the google earth

thanks a lot for the information!

If I put in at the north ramp off of Southern would you suggest I run down south or just try to fish the northern part?

I fish the northern end off of Southern. Like the rest of the Lox it is hit or miss. There are no open areas like down south so you are fishing canals and water control structures.

the last time i fished lox was the day after christmas. i caught 3 small fish and was out of there by 11 am. the time before i stroked them out west between the second and third spillway.

kevin and sofla are spot on when they say it is hit or miss. i am just glad i live nearby.

thanks a lot guys...Im gonna have to put some time in out there

B-N-B,

I put in almost exclusively on the Southern ramp.  For fishing the North end your best bet is the water control structures and the deeper cuts back into the refuge to the East.  The run to the flats is a long ways from Southern. 

The canal edges usually don't produce many fish so I try to cover plenty of water using faster moving lures and then fish "fishy" structure or cover with T-rigs or jigs.  Your best bet is finding moving water around water control structures,  I have caught over 30 fish with my buddy when they are pumping. 

awesome info guys!!! look forward to giving it another shot