bass fishing jacksonville florida
How do i catch these Largemouths? Experts only please…?
i have fished tournaments and know way more about bass fishing than the average person but i am stumped!!!
i fish a private pond that is 9 acres and it is an average depth of 36 feet. i am in jacksonville, florida. the lake is rectangular but there is a large peninsula going out that parallels the long sides of the pond. this peninsula is big enough for a driveway, house, yards and 2 large auto garages. it’s probably 2 acres of land total. there is weed growth everywhere shallow and lots of overhanging trees and bushes. there is also some structure in the water. i catch fish all day but never any big fish. the water is not that hot but i still assume the bigger fish are deeper. i catch most fish on flukes(unweighted) and plastic lizards(with a small weight). what else can i do to catch the big ladies? there are supposed to be bass that are 10+ pounds but i’ve only caught up to a 6 pounder.
I grew up and fished the Jacksonville area most of my life. (Are you in Baymeadows? Ortega? Arlington? Beaches?)
Here are some clues to the J-ville Bass Blues….
#1. Your Bass are probably not staging in deep water. They are probably under the shady clumps of muck & weeds SURROUNDING the deep hole.
#2. NEVER go fishing between 11AM-7Pm, (most of the year). In my experience, it’s just a waste of time to try to “dig out” fish under a sweltering summer sun! Monster Bucket-mouths ussually get “lock-jaw” during the day. Most 10+ LB Bass only feed during early morning, 3 AM or that “magic hour”, (6:30-9PM). Up your odds by only going fishing when “dinner is served”.
#3. Fishing a bigger worm or soft plastic can make a difference, but 95% of the time a 6-8″ paddletailed or ribbon-tailed Texas-rigged worm will do the job. And in MOST cases a larger un-natural lure will lower your catch ratio, (esp in a pond that gets any type of fishing pressure!). Fish in ponds see EVERY kinda lure you can imagine! Thats why your ONLY catching the little guys. The “big boys” have already been caught SEVERAL TIMES on the methods you are describing and have “wised up”. Thats WHY they won’t bite!
I’ve watched Pro Bass guys get skunked in ponds , while a child fishing a simple cork & nightcrawler SLAY them!
In other words, think “stealth” when fishing your pond.
Stealth “means” (but is not restricted to)- Using lower diameter braided lines like Fireline or Power Pro; approaching your pond slowly without casting a shadow on the surface; NO NOISE; “Downsizing” your lure to make it look more natural; Slowing your retrieve to a “crawl”; Casting “down” the shore instead of “out” into the middle of the pond; ETC.
Most Fla pond-fish feed off of “run-off”, sewer, forage. Unless your pond has a resident supply of shad or shiners, your “best bet” lure would be mimicking either:
A. Crawdads
B. Earthworms
C. Lizzards
D. Snakes, (Black, Moccasin & Green-colored snakes being #1)
E. Bugs, Frogs & Tadpoles.
F. Baby Bluegill.
Investigate the area around this pond and pay attention to anything you SEE swimming in the water! Watching for forage is an important aspect of Bass Fishing ……….
Anywho, here’s a few tips. Hope they help ya? Good fishing!
PS: If your REALLY TIRED of only catching dinks, purchase some 6-8″ Shiners….(nuff said).
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