Lure Striped Bass
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
Bass Fishing In A Spring?
I live iin northwest florida and near a natural spring, i was fishing there the other day with a black and silver broke back, and caught a 22in 8lb stripe bass, i was just wondering what would be a good lure to use to catch bass in crystal clear water...can easly see 40 fl deep...might be doing some night fishing, so what would be good at night. any other tips would be greatly appericated
I've fished in many crystal clear Florida springs, (Ichetucknee, Salt Spring Run, Sante Fe, Etc).
That is some TOUGH fishing!
Some of the other guys have great ideas for lures. But what I've found is- it doesn't matter whats on the END of your line if the Bass can SEE your line! (At night that's a different story!)
1. First and foremost, use a Fluorocarbon leader or line. Fluro has the same refractive index as water, making it virtually invisible under water. Most Spring Bass are VERY "line shy". If you have "invisible" line (or leader) it can't hurt!
Use a leader of 17-20 LB Fluro OR spool-up your reel with 12-14 Fluro with a 17-20LB Fluro leader.
If you use a Fluro line or leader you will see an immediate improvement in the amount of hits and fish you catch.
2. During the day, Florida Spring Bass mainly use their sense of sight to find prey. So, whatever lure you decide to use must look and ACT like "the real thing". It also has to be fairly weedless due to the extreme vegetation in most Florida Springs. In my opinion, good lures for Daylight hours would be:
A. 10" Berkley Worm rigged Texas-style in Black, Red Shad, Moccasin or Motor-oil colors. (Why? Snakes, Lizards and Salamanders!! Springs in North Florida/South GA are home to a variety of reptiles, including snakes, lizards, frogs and salamanders.) ANY 10-11" Snake-colored soft plastic or 6" lizard will be a high % lure, (esp this time of year!) The Manns Comp also has a nice Hardnose Snake that works "booyah" in clear water. Check it out here, (check under "New products for 2008")- http://www.mannsbait.com/index.asp
B. If your after Stripers try using a soft plastic swimbait in a 5"- 8" size. Here is one you might think about getting- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_100875_100018002_100000000_100018000?cmCat=CROSSSELL_SEARCH
Colors?? Use any SP Swimbait that looks like a Pogy/Menhaden, (like the Sexy Shad color). Why? In Florida, many of our springs flow to the ocean allowing saltwater forage to infiltrate the waters. Pogy/Menhaden and Mullet are 2 very important sources of food for Spring Bass!!
C. Spro, Bronzeye Frog- Frogs are phenomenal on Largemouth Bass in Spring situations- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_73278____SearchResults The hooks on the Bronzeye are very sharp and tough- making them a "shoe-in" for Spring Bass fishing.
At night, things change! Most Florida Springs COME ALIVE at night. Bass and other predatory fish "wake up" and start prowling around 6:30 PM. And although Buzzbaits and Swimming Worms CAN work a higher % lure would be anything that tickles the Bass's lateral line- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_15409____SearchResults
or a similar Chatter-style lure, (in Blue/Black color) such as this one by the Booyah Corporation- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_83936____SearchResults
At night you should switch your line to braid! There are some HUGE Bass in Florida Springs! You wouldn't want to break-off a "fish of a lifetime"...........
Hope this info helps ya?? Good luck on your next trip.
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
