That time of year is fast approaching us, the time of year that everybody has been patiently awaiting, Fall. The temperatures make a swing for the better, cooler air temperature and water temps drop, from what used to be bath water to bass busting water.
What does all this mean for bass fishing in Florida? It means its time for some of the best top water action of the year. The time of year where we can put the worms on the self, and dust off our favorite top water baits and enjoy some serious explosions on the surface. Bass will start feeding up in a big way again, fattening themselves up, once again for what promises to be yet another great spawning season
The typical summer pattern had been, very early top water action, and then the rest of the day was spent slow worming, or even a drop shot, and flipping, flipping, flipping. Water temperatures as of late have started out around 83-85 degrees first thing in the morning thanks to the summer rains we have finally gotten, which is roughly a 5 degree drop in temperature to start the day, which has helped out the bite throughout the day. But this is also my favorite time of the year, as clients generally won’t even ask about shiners!
Shiners are always a good bet to catch bass, but when fall rolls around and the bass start feeding up, they are what I consider a “needless expense” although some prefer the use of shiners, as they are generally wanting to relax and catch fish, they really are not needed and can save a person anywhere between $60.00 and $120.00 on a full day on the water.
Butler Chain, right here in the middle of beautiful Central Florida shows what we believe to be some great promise for yet another great fall/winter season. This great chain of lakes has a huge population of shad for the bass to feed up on and the typical fall season has always see some of the best schooling action around Florida. Bass on this chain feed up very aggressively and allows the angler a wide range of tactics to catch bass. From the typical top water action to using jigging spoons in some of the many deep holes this great chain has, that can be as deep as 43 feet. Northern anglers have really taken a liking to this chain, as it has allowed them to come to the south and still be able to use some of their all time favorite lures, such as Mepps Minnows, Road Runners and jigging spoons.
Kissimmee Chain, what more can we say about this great chain of lakes. Lake Kissimmee bounced back from the major clean up years ago, to produce a bunch of bass this year ranging from 10 to just over 16 pounds. Lake Toho, although at times was a hit or miss deal at times this year, produced some great bass this year also, as was proof at the 2006 Bass Master Classic, where records were not only set, but shattered!
Harris Chain of Lakes, in beautiful Lake County Florida has been fishing really good as expected. Years ago this chain really had a bad drop off in bass fishing action due to over spraying, but has rebounded by leaps and bounds, great bass fishing action is once again expected, with the never ending possibility of catching a few stripers here and there can make the day on the water very entertaining.
Those are just 3 of the major fishing areas that show a lot of promise once again this year for some great fall/winter bass fishing, all within 30 minutes or so of all 3 major theme parks in Central Florida, which helps to make it the best choice for all of your family vacation action, the hustle and bustle of hitting the theme parks and then a relaxing day on the water with the family, setting hooks and catching bass, and believe me, nothing makes a vacation more complete, than seeing your kids holding up some great bass for pictures.
Black Bass Management Plan
FWC presents draft for black bass management plan
October 19, 2009
Contact: Darrell Scovell, 850-488-0520 (FWC) or Todd Kersey, 954-771-3682 (FLFFC)
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff will introduce a concept for a new black bass management plan on Oct. 26 at the Florida Freshwater Fishing Coalition meeting in Orlando. The plan addresses the long-term needs of this group of sport fish, which includes Florida largemouth, shoal, spotted and Suwannee basses.
Black bass are the most popular recreational fish in the world. In Florida, they provide 822,000 anglers over the age of 16 with 14.7 million days of healthy outdoor recreation and generate more than a billion dollars in economic impact for Florida, according to the 2006 National Survey of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.
The FWC seeks public input at the unveiling of the draft plan. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. in the Orlando Bass Pro Shop’s conference room during the inaugural meeting of the Florida Freshwater Fishing Coalition. FLFFC is a partnership of freshwater fishery organizations and anglers, representing a cross-section of businesses, nonprofits and individuals, who have a stake in ensuring the future of Florida’s outstanding freshwater fisheries. Collectively, they want to learn about and discuss lake management issues, fisheries data and research, so they can provide an informed voice to achieve the coalition’s vision. Their mission is “To serve as a coalition of freshwater fishery organizations and anglers to protect our rights by providing representation in Florida government on pertinent issues that affect recreation and conservation.” For more information, visit http://www.flffc.org/
“The FLFFC is ecstatic to be able to discuss Florida’s black bass management plan with the FWC at our inaugural meeting. The FLFFC and its partners are faced with many issues, including access, habitat protection and water quality,” said Todd Kersey, FLFFC President. “We feel developing a plan to protect the most popular fish in Florida will go a long way in helping these issues and preserving the state’s title as “Fishing Capital of the World,” which is critical to Florida economy.”
The FWC’s Black Bass Management Plan will ultimately provide the blueprint to ensure Florida’s recognition as “The Bass Capital of the World,” said Darrell Scovell, FWC’s director of the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management.
If you’re interested in representing a fishery-dependent business or organization or are an avid angler with time to commit to helping the coalition, please visit FLFFC.org to reserve a seat and to provide input and guidance to the FWC on this comprehensive and innovative new plan. During the afternoon session, FWC staff will host a roundtable forum to solicit stakeholders’ thoughts, reactions, ideas and suggestions to help craft the final draft that will be presented to FWC commissioners in December.
The public also may provide input at MyFWC.com/fishing. Sign up for the FWC’s stakeholder newsletter “FWC 4-1-1” by selecting “Contact FWC” and then “FWC 4-1-1” from the left-side popup menu.
Carolina Rigs for Pre-Spawn, Spawning Bass
Carolina Rigs For Pre-Spawn, Spawning Bass
By Larry Nixon
If it hasn’t already begun to happen where you live, then over the next few months the water in your favorite fishery will begin to warm up and all the bass will instinctively begin to think about reproducing.
They will begin to move into shallow-water staging areas, because shallow water warms more quickly than deep water., to forage after a long winter before moving up on to bedding areas.
Granted, these bass behaviors will be affected by the region of the country where you fish: Southern latitudes with warmer weather are already seeing bass in the spawn; Northern anglers won’t see these behaviors until the May/June timeframe. This time of year is very popular with bass anglers because of the opportunities to catch big, hungry fish.
There are a lot of ways to do it, but one of the most effective ways to catching bass during this time of year, a way that is less affected by springtime’s ever-changing weather, is using a Carolina rig.
A Carolina rig is a bass fishing basic. I try to keep my Carolina-rigging simple: I use basically the same line, rods reels and baits for most situations. I know it works well shallow or deep, ultra clear water or stained and I know it works all year long. A lot of people think of a Carolina rig as a post-spawn, summertime technique, but it can work during this time of year, too.
The rig works well because it keeps the bait on or near the bottom better than any method out there and it covers lots of ground. When bass are relating to the bottom they will eat a Carolina rig. When they aren’t relating to the bottom of the lake, try something else. Because bass are moving shallow with the warming of the water, that means they are relating to the bottom. You can use a Carolina rig in staging areas during pre-spawn, by targeting transition areas near spawning flats. Once the fish have moved to the beds – whether spawning has started – the Carolina rig is a great alternative to sight fishing, especially when wind or cloud cover prevents you from seeing the fish on the bed.
How do you do it?
I thread a 3/4-ounce sinker on my main line, then a bead, and then a Trilene knot to tie on a swivel. Then I tie on a leader — about 3-feet long — and attach a hook designed for rigging. For my main line I use 10-pound Berkley FireLine and 20-pound Berkley Vanish for a leader. The main line needs to be tough and low stretch; the leader needs to be invisible to the fish. These lines do just that.
I use two different baits, Berkley Gulp! and PowerBait. For this time of the year, the two baits I use are the 4-inch Gulp! Sinking Minnow and the 4-inch PowerBait Power Lizard in green pumpkin or white. These baits and colors mimic prey bass will be feeding on during this time of the year, as well as the kind of predators that might be raiding their beds in search of eggs. I switch baits and colors and let the fish tell me which to use.
I always use a tungsten sinker. Being more dense, it stays on the bottom better and sends more distinct vibrations up the line so I can tell more about what’s going on down there. I feel the rocks, gravel, logs or whatever. After time you will know instantly the bottom composition. I use a bead to protect the knot but I make sure of two things: first, the bead needs to be made of plastic because glass breaks easily in the rocks; and second, the bead needs a hole in it large enough to go over the knot.
Leaders, hook-sets
Sometimes I vary the leader length. Heavy cover and shallow water requires a shorter leader. Hang-ups are less frequent and when I hit a stump or other cover I know the bait is close by and to get myself ready to react. I try to always use a sweeping, side-arm hook set. I use a 7-foot Fenwick Techna AV medium-heavy rod. It feels good to me for a Carolina rig rod … long enough to take all the slack out of my line to set the hook and sensitive enough to feel the bottom and the bites. I use an Abu Garcia REVO STX high-speed reel, it’s the best one I’ve ever used for any fishing technique.
Remember that with a Carolina rig, you’re actually fishing the sinker, not the bait, since that is what you will feel making contact with the bottom. The sinker controls everything. The Sinking Minnow or the Power Lizard just hangs around and does nothing except follow the sinker. The weight of the sinker controls the fall speed, the crawling or swimming action, and the bottom-bouncing attraction. The sinker makes noise on hard bottoms, and puffs up clouds of silt on soft bottoms.
The next few months will see many anglers across the nation enjoying some of the best fishing of the year. There’s lots of ways to do it, but sometimes sight fishing for the spawning and pre-spawn bass just won’t work. With a Carolina rig, novice and pro anglers alike will be dragging in these rigs in, two feet at a time, right through the heart of some big-bass water.
Larry Nixon is a former Bassmaster Classic winner with more than $1.5 million in career earnings on the BASS Tour. Currently fishing the FLW Tour, Nixon lives in Bee Branch, Ark.
Angler Innovations
Angler Innovations
By Greg Biesecker
Angler Innovations is a company founded by and dedicated to fishermen and their love of the sport. The company was born on the water by two tournament bass anglers when they realized a need for quality fishing accessories that were unavailable. As they considered the rather large investment they had in rods, reels and tackle it was apparent that there was a limited product offering on the market to protect their equipment. A search of the retail sport fishing outlets, internet and numerous industry shows indicated the lack of a one piece rod and reel cover that could be aesthetically pleasing with a custom fitted look that would hold up to the rigors of heavy use and so the “Rod Jacket” was born.
The first task they encountered in developing the “Rod Jacket” was to find a material that would incorporate all of the features necessary for a rod and reel cover that could be form fitted, have that custom look, could hold up to heavy use and could withstand the elements and problems found around the water. To address these problems the material needed to be U V stabilized, mold, mildew and corrosion resistant and needed the ability to remain soft and supple so the cover could be installed and removed from the rod and reel with ease.. They also wanted a material that would allow for the rod and reel to be fully rigged at all times. The line needed to be protected and the hook or lure fastened in place without the hooks becoming entangled in the cover material while still affording full protection to the rod blank, guides and rod tip.
They also needed a material that could be incorporated into a design suitable for both casting and spinning rod and reel combo models. Since the design of these two types of rods and reels are so different, there are few materials suitable to meet all of the criteria stated here to develop a cover for both of these rod and reel combinations. The search led them to a form of neoprene that would meet all of their specifications and would have the added benefit of stretch allowing them to develop four models of the Rod Jackets that would cover the rod and reel combinations used by most anglers today. At present there are two casting models and two spinning models that fit rod and reel combinations from 6-6” to 7-6” in length and each is a one piece cover.
Angler Innovations realizes that an angler has given a great deal of thought as to which combo is exactly right for the type of fishing they enjoy. Regardless of whether you fish in fresh or salt water, Angler Innovations believes that you will reach the same conclusion as they did regarding the protection of that rod and reel. For a fraction of the purchase price of a new rod and reel combo consider The Ultimate Protection” The Rod Jacket”. Please visit us at our web site http://www.anglerinnovationsusa.com/ for additional information about this product and other products that will debut shortly.
Greg Biesecker
Founder/Co Owner
Angler Innovations
Lake Toho Trophy Bass Fishing
Trophy Bass Fishing on World Famous Lake Toho
World Famous Lake Toho covering 18,810 acres of what is indisputably some of the best trophy bass fishing in the State of Florida, and with very good reason. This amazing body of water can, on any given day or any given cast reward an angler with a 10 pound bass, what everyone considers a trophy bass, or a catch of a lifetime for many.
With many options for catching these trophy bass ranging from wild shiners to crank baits, one thing is for sure, the possibilities are endless, the fun and excitement has no boundaries. Tournament anglers flock from around the country to fish tournaments here. Whether it be a B.A.S.S tournament, FLW, Extreme Bass or local club tournaments, these directors hold their tournaments here for a very good reason, BIG BASS!
Depending on what time of year you wish to fish Lake Toho can play a role on the numbers, or the quality of the bass you will catch. Now everyone knows the summer months for bass fishing can be tough with the extreme heat, many anglers feel that the bass just won’t bite. This is very far from the truth. Generally the summer months the bass fishing will still be productive in the early morning hours and late afternoon. Many will say “the big gals bite early or late” but I can assure you they will bite all day long. Most of my biggest bass, 7 to 10 pounds have come between the hours of 11am and 3 pm, right in the heat of the day!
Fall and winter are probably some of the best times to bass fish on Lake Toho. Cold fronts will roll into Central Florida, lowering our air temperatures and also dropping our water temperatures. This will trigger bait fish, shad and shiners to bunch up in pods making them an easy target for largemouth bass to ambush. This will trigger the bass feeding frenzy as they fatten up for the spawn, which typically starts early January and will last sometimes into May.
Spawn season is typically our busiest time of year, as this is generally one of the best times for people to get a chance at catching that trophy bass from Lake Toho. Many anglers, even the most experienced, will request live wild shiners as their bait of choice just to increase the chances of them catching that Trophy Bass that many anglers may spend many years trying to catch.
Spring can be just absolutely off the hook bass fishing! Trophy bass have finished their spawn, and what are they looking to do? Well this is the time that trophy bass once again go on a major feeding frenzy! They have laid their eggs and for the most part remained dormant, as they remain close to the bed, watching over the buck bass guarding the nest. Now if the buck has been caught and not released, the female bass will return to guard the nest. Once the spawn is complete for her, she will start feeding up to regain strength, and these gals can be very aggressive when they feed. This will make for some seriously fun bass fishing.
There is good reason these bass make it to 10 pounds or better, they are smart! We know the waters we fish, but remember, they know the waters they live in. Many may find that statement laughable, but think about it. Many big bass are not caught in wide open waters. They are usually caught from beds, which can be close to or even under docks. Close to or in openings in grass beds, or in and around sunken timber. Now when you hook one of these gals, they will make a run for cover, Hitting that dock, trying to get to thick cover, or tangling you up in that timber. That to me, and many other pro anglers says these bass are smart. It’s not just a matter of setting a hook, and reeling her in.
We must always remember when you do catch a spawning bass to handle her with extreme care. Please take that picture fast, supporting her belly and gently releasing her back into the waters. These trophy bass are also our “breeding stock” as we like to call them. It’s their gene that helps map our future in the bass fishing industry, and when these trophy bass are released alive and well it will increase the next bass anglers’ chances at also catching that bass of a lifetime, and who knows, that next angler could be your own son or daughter.
Tournament Time
My First Tournament
Well, I have finally attended my first Bass Tournament and it was above and beyond any of my expectations. I attended this 
tournament not as a competitor but as an observer. By this I mean I went out with a different Pro angler the first two days of the competition.
As a first time tournament experience, this is definitely the way to go. Not only do you get to experience everything from launch to weigh-in but you also get two eight hour one-on-one sessions with a pro to pick his brain, in essence, two private seminars. What type of line or lure used, favorite technique, extra equipment to bring, personal routines, full or part time pro angler, these were just a few of the things I was able to ask about.
An extra benefit was that a lot of the top pro’s from the BASS & FLW circuits were there and I got to have my picture taken with them. They were all very nice & very approachable. I learned the value of having a good sun block and also a top quality rain suit, not the cheap kind that you can get at a convenience store. All in all, it was a very eye opening experience and one I can’t wait to do again. I strongly encourage everyone to give it a try, first timers & veterans alike.
Paul E. Fisler
