Bedding Bass

mikenav

I know it's still a little early for a full-on onslaught, but I was curious if anyone (especially south Florida guys) had seen any bass bedding activity with unseasonably warm temperatures so far. I've been in a (really long) ongoing conversation about the weather and fish activity with a friend and was hoping to hear from some people that are actually out there.

Thanks!

kmander3

I know my partner and I didn't find any when our club fished the Winter Haven chain at the beginning of the year but from what we heard most of the bigger fish weighed in were taken off beds. This was January 9th.

capt louie

They are bedding in the spring runs. I seen a lot of them on the Rainbow river yesterday. Trouble is everybody else seen them also. :banghead

mikenav

So, they have moved in early (at least until this past weekend). Interesting. Thanks!

capt louie

mikenav wrote: »

So, they have moved in early (at least until this past weekend). Interesting. Thanks!

Water on the Tsala Apopka chain is 59-61 . They were schooling still mid lake. No sign of beds. A good warming trend next moon and they will start here.

mikenav

Thanks everyone!

LOL Bass

H~E~L~P...
Does anyone in Central Florida have any suggestions for pond fishing baits to use? Is flipping the best thing to do? I've had the best luck working solid frogs around the edges of cover around the ponds.

I've noticed a significant slow down in hits this year. Fishing mostly ponds, they've only hit within 5 feet of the bank most of the time but the weight is 2+ lbs bigger.
After talking with a buddy I noticed that the strike is completely different as well. Now, there's typically a single hit (before-during autumn here in Florida there were quite a few hits at once) and then the line moves (time to set the hook!). I've missed a ton b/c I didn't realize what was happening arghhh.
I know if the weather warms a few days in a row they're more apt to hit.
One of the Okeechobee Pro's told me to keep an eye on the temp, when it hits 78 three days in a row then you're back in the action...
Also, they're not hitting the swim baits/shad or senkos/ribbons I've been throwing (no matter how slowor fast I retrieve).

capt louie

Welcome aboard LOL bass. Try starting a new thread in freshwater general about this and include the area you are fishing. The folks here will try to help.
Thanks, capt louie.

RedWrecker

I have noticed the bass bedding in my 4 acre pond just east of Tampa. I have also noticed them bedding in Lake Valrico. I have been catching them by tossing an unweighted zoom super fluke and moving it very slowly around the beds.

mikenav

Dude!! I just went unweighted on Monday and it was amazing. I usually use at least a little bullet weight up front, but I'm in love with unweighted all of a sudden. They are bedding here in Martin County, but not in any big numbers. Yet.

trousertroutman

bedding in Jacksonville FL, was golfing at Hyde park and saw a nice 18" hovering over a bed

LOL Bass

Thanks capt- I'll get on over

PK_IN_TAMPA

Great advice Redwrecker, I usually only use the unweighted flukes across the top of the weedbeds. I will have to give that a try. PK

LOL Bass

Got it- What size fluke tho? I've got a ton of 5" some with split tails and others with paddles.
Have you had any experiences using the various colored dips/scents?

mikenav

Still bedding in Martin County as of last night...caught on an unweighted purple worm

capt louie

Nice bass.

LOL Bass

Mike, good-un! Really dark or is it the late day light causing it. I've hit a stream in the last couple of days with moderate success.
The mudfish are terrible though they are a good fight.

mikenav

Hey LOL! This was late afternoon, maybe 6 or 630. The bugs were just starting to get nasty and I was fishing with my 3- and 5-year old daughters, catching bream on bread balls and bobbers. I threw the worm twice on my way out, just to see what was going on and caught this one. Photo credit goes to the 5-year old, by the way.

Mudfish are fun, but they're a pain in the neck. Those bass will come...

LOL Bass

Been moving around several local ponds almost daily after work, nailed a 7.30lb Bass less than 3' from where I was standing. She took off thru the grass but I was able to get her turned around. Walked over to a creek with some decent depth to it in the center and pulled a 3/4lb smallmouth off of a tree stump- man it was definitely a river fish (darker color and belly). I'd forgotten the stubby-ness of a well fed smallmouth!

FB1

I'm new to the forum and live around Bradenton with a pond in my back yard with a lot of bedding bass. How long does it normally take to spawn?Is there anything they might take now...frog,spoon,worm?
Thank you
FB1

Rollin

FB1 wrote: »

I'm new to the forum and live around Bradenton with a pond in my back yard with a lot of bedding bass. How long does it normally take to spawn?Is there anything they might take now...frog,spoon,worm?
Thank you
FB1

Senko will work anytime they're spawning, it is getting kind of late.

FB1

Rollin wrote: »

Senko will work anytime they're spawning, it is getting kind of late.

Tried it this morning and it worked great.
Caught 3 at about a pound and a half and one at about 3lbs.
Thanks
FB1

LOL Bass

Dusk try a white Zoom Horny Toad w/out a sinker. Keep it on top of the water so the legs ripple the water, when you get to a pad/grass stop reeling and hold for a few in case it was followed...make sure you're using heavy line to get it out of the forage. :-)