I spent 3 days on Lake Toho and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and figured a prespawn technique that flat out wins bass tournaments! There is a Bassmaster BASS Open starting this week so we’ll see if this technique catches bass for the tournament winners.
Today changed the way I fish jerkbaits. We are still fishing Lake Toho on the Kissimmee Chain where the Bassmaster BASS Tournament starts next week and this little jerkbait trick is deadly for big bass!
I am fishing a major tournament lake for the next 3 days and it’s going to be all about making clutch calls to figure out what lures and what fishing patterns are happening on Lake Toho and Kissimmee.
Want the fishing lures that caught bass or a MonsterBass hoodie sunshirt?
This was one of the most unbelievable days fishing I’ve ever had. WE seriously saved her life by catching her choking on a giant carp on Lake Kissimmee! I was out with FLW Pro Tyler Woolcott and he snagged a fish with a trap fishing lure and it turned out she was choking on a fish she tried to eat. We saved her life by pulling the carp out of her mouth…serioulsy! I’ve only seen this twice before in all my fishing and each time the fish was choking on bream. I’ve never seen a fish eat something so big and seriously be on it’s way to other world. It’s suck a cool thing too, this fish was giant – all of 8-9lbs and without us catching her the way we did she would have never survived. I have spent a lot of time on the lake but I still run into some crazy things out on the water and this one was epic. Any time you can see a fish that big and play a role in saving her life is a good day on the lake, I can’t wait to see what our next adventure will bring
Fishing for bass punching heavy grass on Lake Kissimee targeting fish set up in thick cover during the winter pre-spawn season. As a fishing technique flipping mats is one of my favorite and it can lead to crazy days like this when fish group up in areas moving in to spawn. Setups are simple – a heavy action fishing rod over 7’6″, a well built fishing reel, straight shank hook, heavy tungsten weight, and braided fishing line. We needed to downsize when it came to lure choice as well. Fish were in a negative mood and often short striking the bait as it fell through the cover. When that happens my go to soft plastic is a Gambler BB Cricket – super compact and perfect for enticing winter fish feeling too much pressure or reaction to cold weather.
Weather was partly sunny lows in the 60’s highs in the mid 70’s. Fish are in a winter staging pattern moving up to spawn when the moon and the weather get right.
SUBSCRIBE LIKE and SHARE the vids and the channel with your buds! Support #RealFishing
When you’re fishing for bass flipping mats and punching heavy cover the results are usually epic! Not many bites during this fishing trip on Lake Kissimmee but we caught a trophy fish in heavy cover using one of my favorite fishing techniques. Punching mats is a great way to fish for bass this time of year throughout Florida with fish moving in to spawn throughout the winter and getting stuck due to cold fronts or even using heavy cover such as hydrilla and hyacinth as stopping points before heading to the bed. My standard setup is a 1.5oz tungsten weight, a straight shank hook, and a compact creature bait. Terminal tackle is 65lbs braided line, a high speed decent quality reel, and fishing rod usually longer than 7’6″. Below are all the specifics on the fishing gear and cameras used in the video.
Punching for Florida strain bass out on Lake Kissimee. One of my favorite ways to fish for bass and it’s becoming the time of year where that seasonal pattern can be key to finding staging and pre spawn fish moving in. I spent the day out on the Kissimee Chain and focused on Lake Kissimee targeting hydrill and chop grass mats in lily pads with a 1.5 oz Reins Tungsten weight and baits like a Gambler Why Not and Crawdaddy. The water is high and it’s the early part of the season, thus the reason fish are spread out and and we’re seeing so many male bass in the mats. It’s probably one of the most fun ways to fish down here in Florida and the bite should only get better as the temperature cool and fish move in to spawn.
Weather: just a few clouds, highs in the mid 80’s, no wind until the end of the day when a storm rolled up. Water temps still in the low 80’s with high water levels due to heavy rain.
mikeybalzz fishing 