Can’t believe this happened. Caught this 8+lbs bass on a crankbait longlining in cloudy weather. Saw the group of fish and lost it. This was literally one pass and caught a giant fish!
Within 3 days my little brother managed to catch his personal best bass and then break it with this 8lbs 15oz largemouth! What’s more is we caught back to back fish over 8lbs in 2 casts. This is one of those days when you know you have it dialed in. These bass were staging on a flat near a ledge and feeding up to spawn. There was a small group of fish but these were the biggest we caught. I was throwing a Sinking Bull Shad and my brother caught his trophy on a Gambler Lures JTK Hair Jig. Links to all products and equipment below.
Had an absolutely killer day fishing a hair jig on a super cold day in Florida. Caught around 25lbs of bass targeting suspended pre spawn fish in deeper water. Used a very light or soft rod – a 7ft crankbait rod paired up with 12lbs flourocarbon and and a Shimano 6:3:1 speed reel. The key was to reel the bait upward while slightly moving the rod tip in a flicking motion. Then let the jig pendulum back to the bottom without feeding it line. Here’s all the stuff I was using:
I’ve bee catching some stellar fish approaching bass with spoons. In Florida that’s not the most common thing but it’s all about approaching water with an open mind and the right setup.
I’m running my standard sized spoons on Powell Max 3d 795’s and a Lews Speed Spool with 20lbs Sunline. The setup gives enough tip to play the fish and at the same time get the right action out of the spoon when fishing it in 15 to 30ft of water. These fish are targeting large gizzard shad and the presentation really plays to those bigger bass when they’re staging in late winer to come up to spawn!
With fish schooled deep an a-rig has also come into play; specifically a Picasso School E Rig set up with Gambler Little EZ’s mixed with EZ Swimmers. The trick has been to slow roll and drop retrieve keeping the presentation near the bottom up to 5ft off the bottom as the fish are podded and relating to shell and small ledges down deep.
Florida is not usually the place to implement structure fishing however you can’t argue with the quality of fish that I’ve stumbled upon out deep. Definitely make you rethink the Florida situation and how big bass set up for the spawn in late winter.
Spent a lot of time fishing deeper, clearer lakes in central Florida over the past year and I’m starting to believe you can catch fish deep year round.
Some sight fishing action for a solid bed fish ande a couple tips on using what I call a “one,two” punch for finicky spawning fish. Looking for great prices on cool fishing tackle? Check out Monster Fishing
Not all of the best quality – but I think they get their point across! Below you’ll find a vid collection of the “slounches” from the past 3 years:
10 pounder caught flipping punch skirts pre-front on Lake Okeechobee – popped among 3 guide boats. D&M Punch Skirt and Flippin’ Craw paired with a 1oz tungsten weight.
Probably one of the 2 biggest fish I’ve ever caught – only bite that day on Rodman Res., water temp never broke 55 degrees. 3/4oz Red Eye Shad.
A better look at the above fish.
Lucky to have gotten this girl to the boat – instant anti-reverse went out on the reel but she stayed buttoned after a flopped hook set. Flipping mats with a 1 1/2oz tungsten weight in North Central, FL.
No doubt the most audiologically pronounced giant to ever make contact with me – this fish made the boat shake and probably ingested 2 full gallons of water to take the bait in. Rage Tail Shad – weightless.
First pure giant on Lake Okeechobee after the move south. Pre-spawn staging fish tucked in the mats – post-front and she still thunked it on the way down. 1 1/2oz D&M Custom Baits Big Mama
Among some of the oldest vids I have – never saw her but I assume this girl was on a bed and I simply placed the bait in the right hole in the grass. 1/2oz lead and a Zoom Ultra-Vibe Craw.
Another oldy but goody – caught 3 in the 8-10lbs class in 2 consecutive days. Flipping a 1/2oz lead weight and Zoom Ultra-Vibe Craw.
Sadly the I ran out of juice for the catch on this fish but was able to at least get a vid image of her – absolutely dogged me. Pulled a 15′ jon boat straight into the grass like it was nothing. 1/2oz lead Gambler Lil’ Otter.
mikeybalzz fishing 