Go to hardbait???
ragincajun7
Posts: 73 Greenhorn
I have been using soft baits for a while now and im trying to change it up now. Dont get me wrong i love them but sometimes the hook up percentage with them sucks. I was just wondering what some of yalls go to hardbaits are? Size, color, and how you work it? I fish mainly in west central florida lakes.
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Replies
As you get into deeper water, (10 ft), a Bomber Fat Free Shad is a good bet.
You would also want a "tight wiggling" sinking Crank- Aruku Shad.
Hope this helps?
Rapala F13 original, silver/black back. Works on top or on the retrieve. Need a spinning outfit to throw it but it flat out catches them.
It's going to make me some money this Sunday .
Been dragging it thru shell and sand drops and edges in the 4 to 6 ft range on deep holes. Making sure its kicking up dust.
Been catching very big crappie and blue gill as by catch also.
My buddy sticks to his sinko and catch ratio has been 3 to one with the crank bait catching the most and bigger fish.
My big fish and bag this week was 9 + lb. 18 fish his 4 + lb. 6 fish.
We fish the afternoon bite after work 5 ish till dark.
The lake he lives on is very low and very has little cover because of the low water the fish have moved off the beds on to the drops and deeper edges.
Needless to say didn't take long for my buddy to ask for a crank bait after two solid days of net duty.
Hope this helps you in your area.
Next week unless or until he beats my 9 from this week. I'm concentrating on the crappie and blue gill.
:wink
The cranks and lipless baits (rattle trap type) are throw and reel baits. Other than an occasional twitch/jerk on the retrieve thats about it. The fish will tell you what the are looking for so mix it up untill you figure it out.
The Rapala is a floater and I generally twitch mine as soon as it hits the water and then let it sit. Some say to do nothing after the cast but I think when it hits it draws attention and the immediate twitch makes the sell that it's alive. If no hit then twitch it under and rest , repete a couple of times then an eratic retrieve back to the boat.
On a previous tournament on Panasoffkee they would not hit it on the surface ? Only after it went under and and was being retrieved. Took awhile to figure it out and I was able to get my limit and place in the money. Good luck.
I came in 2nd last Sunday on Lake Griffin thanks to the Rapala. Pulled in and another angler had already fished the area. He left and I got a limit and made 2 culls .
I'm scheduled to do 2 larger tourneys ($150 plus entry) this season and a few Club tourneys ($50 entry/$10 BB) too.
Capt L- Do you ever do any tourneys in N Florida?? I know that area well. (Lake George, Crescent, St Johns, Etc) Some REALLY good fishing can be had around Orange Park/Palatka!
Rapala Shad Rap (regular and jointed)
Rapala Original Floating Minnow
It took 12lbs to win and had a guest angler weigh in a 7.6 . I had just under 11lb. There are still some bedding fish and several I wasted time on were good size.
But 11lb or 30lb makes no difference as long as I cash a check
I've fished up there some but it's a little far for a club event. Generally we fish those areas for our "Classic". Talquin may be this years site but some want to go back to Seminole.
:rotflmao
KVD 1.5 silent squarebill , natural lakes try natural colors like neon bluegill , phosphate pits try firetiger.
Topwater , spook jr. / heddon wounded spook 4.5" take the front prop off.