How does it get any better than March in Central Florida? The weather is warming up, we have Spring Training baseball on top of incredible bass fishing, and THAT folks is a winning combination.
So starting out in Winter Haven, we’re still working with a mix of pre and post spawn fish and that makes for great days on the water. The air and water temps should be rather stable – even though we are always subject to cold/storm front for a day or two – which will keep the fish feeding.
I’m a firm believer in fishing offshore over deep vegetation with a variety of shad imitation baits. Flukes, swim baits in your favorite brand, crankbaits, and jerkbaits are all highly effective this time of year. At some point this month the post-spawn fish should start schooling and chasing bait which brings your topwater baits into play. As for fishing with shiners I’ll have a combination of wild native and domestics from 3” to 6” whenever possible and switch them up until the bass tell you what they prefer that day. Some days it flat does not matter, other days they get a little particular as to their dining preferences.
Heading east to Lake Kissimmee and fishing out of Camp Mack I’m expecting a lot of great trips making lots of memories with new and old guests alike. Here, trips are a little more customized for each guest and their fishing preferences. If a client is more focused on strictly artificial baits we’ll be using a combination of hollow body frogs & soft body frogs like Gambler Buzz’n Cane Toads, Gambler EZ Swimmers, senkos, and Zoom Trick Worms. Those are all baits that are highly effective up in the jungle in heavy cover, as well as offshore over submerged vegetation.
For most trips though it’s fishing offshore over eel grass and hydrilla as well as shell beds in open water. On these trips we can effectively fish a combination of both live and artificial baits. I like to give 5”-8” wild shiners swimming lessons off the back of the bay boat while guests fish with lures up front. A few of the best baits are a Spook or Spook Jr, a Devil’s Horse, jerkbaits, bladed swimjigs, and of course you have to have some flukes or senkos on hand.
Please remember to Catch, Photograph, and Release the bass you catch, especially during spawning season. “Let ‘em Go & Let ‘em Grow”
For more information about what to do around Polk County please check http:VisitCentalFlorida.org
