bass fishing calendar

bass fishing calendar

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

bass fishing vacations

Florida the Center of Bass Fishing: Convenience at its best with Bass Fishing Rentals




Florida has gained an international acknowledgment for its exceptional saltwater fishing, but the outstanding freshwater fishing has not yet captured the widespread attention of the same amount of visitors. Residents of this state are in on the secret, however; that they have three very active freshwater clubs here in Collier County.

Tourists and out of state bass fishermen are very much welcome here with the amenities and lodgings available for them. Boats, equipments are for rent and this provides much convenience for travelers.

Since Florida has more than 7,500 lakes available, anglers sometimes face a tough decision about where to fish. It is really very important to consider the lakes. The following list of Top Bass Fishing Areas with Bass Fishing rentals aims to help anglers find a quality place to catch either a good numbers of bass or to catch a trophy bass.

1. Lake George

Lake George is one of the many natural lakes on the St. John's River. It has extensive vegetation that provides excellent habitat for bass. Wade fishing in eelgrass with plastic worms fished on the surface, and other top water artificial lures are productive. Fishing with live shiners is an excellent method for catching trophy bass during the spring spawning season.

2. Stick Marsh Reservoir

Anglers in this river can locate bass throughout the reservoir among a variety of habitats including woody stump fields, submerged canals and hydrilla. Summer 2004 hurricanes drastically reduced levels of hydrilla throughout the reservoir, however, which can affect where bass are located. Anglers should keep this in mind when trying to pattern fish. Plastic worms, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft jerkbaits, and topwater propeller baits are effective. Wild golden shiners are the top choice for anglers looking to catch a trophy fish.

3. Lake Tohopekaliga

Most anglers here target trophy bass use live golden shiners during early spring. Shiners are fished inshore near native vegetation or topped-out hydrilla . Plastic baits (worms, crawfish and lizards) flipped along grass edges, hydrilla, and bulrush will also catch quality-sized bass. Spinnerbaits, soft jerkbaits and chugging baits can also be very productive at times

4. Lake Kissimmee

Lake Kissimmee is the largest of five main water bodies on the famous Kissimmee River in central Florida. Lake Kissimmee is nationally renowned for producing high quality fishing. Tournament anglers on Lake Kissimmee are posting winning weights of 18 to 20 pounds of bass. Results of an angler survey indicated that bass anglers had an excellent catch rate of 0.54 fish/hour during spring 2004.

5. Rodman Reservoir


Rodman Reservoir, east of Gainesville and south of Palatka, covers 9,500 acres of prime largemouth bass habitat. Since its creation in 1968, Rodman Reservoir has been known for trophy largemouth bass.

6. Lake Tarpon

Anglers in this lake are most successful in flipping or pitching plastic worms along canal and bulrush edges. Offshore bass fishing is productive for anglers who fish around ledges, humps, coontail, and eelgrass beds. Popular lures offshore include shad-imitating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and topwater baits. Fishing with wild shiners and live shad is also effective.


7. Lake Walk-In-Water

The lake is located south of Orlando and east of Lake Wales, and it is just south of S.R. 60. Lake Walk-in-Water has a national reputation as an outstanding spot to catch largemouth bass. Anglers frequently catch up to 25 bass a day with several ranging from four to eight pounds. The lake also produces many trophy bass exceeding 10 pounds each year. A 15- to 24-inch slot limit regulation and a three-bass daily bag limit are in place to help maintain quality bass fishing. Anglers may keep three bass per day, either under or over the protected slot range, of which only one bass greater than or equal to 24 inches is allowed.


8. Lake Istokpoga

Istokpoga is the fifth largest natural lake in Florida and has an average depth of only six feet. During angler surveys conducted from October 2003 throughout May 2004, anglers caught 124,993 bass, of which almost 55,000 were 2 pounds or heavier, and 1,448 bass were over 8 pounds.

9. Deer Point Lake

Deer Point Lake is a popular largemouth bass fishing destination in Florida's panhandle area near Panama City.

10. Suwanee River

The Suwannee River is a pristine, black water stream flowing 213 miles in Florida from the swamp-like region at the Georgia border to salt-marsh tidal creeks at the Gulf of Mexico. This river is known for trophy largemouth bass.

11. The Everglades

The Everglades are south Florida marshlands intersected with over 200 miles of canals. Most anglers fish in the canals rather than in the marsh. Anglers work canal edges with plastic worms, soft jerkbaits, and minnow imitations. Flipping the vegetation is also a popular technique.

Wherever you decide to go, you can be sure that you can have the time of your life fishing and all at a convenience. You can just rent out a boat and eliminate the need to tow your own boat or worse have to buy your own. Other gears are also available as a rental for your own convenience and ease. There are also many lodges and inns plus cabins you can rent out for a weekend or more.


bass fishing lures

The Thrilling Quest for Smallmouth Bass




Smallmouth fishing is said to be best experienced in Southwest Louisiana. This is a place near bayous, canals, freshwater and salty lakes. The waters here draw numbers of smallmouth and largemouth bass ranging up to eight-pounds.

Smallmouth bass fishing is enjoyed by fishermen all over America. Searching and then finally catching the big smallmouth bass is a real achievement for the true blue American sport fisherman. It is considered to be the America's number one fresh water sport. Believe it or not, this sport has grown 70% higher than any other fresh water sport in America.

The smallmouth bass is believed to be, pound for pound, one of the hardest fighting freshwater fish. The bass runs acrobatic leaps and does "tail walking" making it one of the most exciting fishes to pursue.

Before you go in search for thet elusive smallmouth bass, you must first know its characteristics or how it looks like. Smallmouth bass are habitually bronze to brownish green in color. It has dark vertical bars on the sides. Unlike the largemouth, the upper jaw of a small mouth does not merely extend beyond rear margin of the eye. The eye of a smallmouth is reddish. It has 13 to 15 rays of soft dorsal fins. Its length would go from 12 to 22 inches. And it normally weighs 8 ounces to 7 pounds.

Here are some guides and tips that can help you bag a smallmouth bass:

� If you fish for smallmouth in the northeast, particularly in Maryland, you will find that small mouth bass do not stick too tight to cover their presence. This is more obvious in some of our the slack water reservoirs. This fish relates much more to a sudden or rapid depth change when they do go for cover.

� Small mouth bass can be caught on a rock ledge that drops off quickly from about six to twelve feet.

� When trapping a smallmouth bass that is about four or five pounds, try to swim along with them maki9ng your presence inconspicuous.

� An effective trap for smallmouth bass are plastic worms or flies.

� They are less aware when they are feeding or think they will be feeding.

� This type of sport fish will be usually found on rocky structures with and without light weed lines.

� The smallmouth has and exceptional sense of sight, smell, and hearing.

� The smallmouth. like most fish, is light-shy.

� Smallmouth bass are schooling fish by nature, so you are likely to catch several bass in the same locations.

� Once you catch one smallmouth, chances are you will have a chance to catch more about the same size in the immediate area.

One of the most effective and most popular methods of tricking or catching a small mouth is to work over the top of these weed beds. Some fishermen prefer jigs, while others choose live bait.

Here's a list that shows the best top water flies in order to trick small mouth bass:

1. Stonefly Bugger - size 6
2. Franke Hellgrammite - size 4
3. Clouser Minnow - size 6
4. Sneaky Pete - size 4
5. Crayfish - size 8
6. Popper - size 6
7. Zonkers - size 4
8. Bead Head Wooly Bugger- size 6

When is the right time to fish a small mouth?

Smallmouth bass are active in cold waters so, you might catch up with this fish in the early spring. Start searching for them when the water temperature is in the mid-40s. The smallmouth might just be about 20-30 feet deep in the waters, or might be waiting for the temperature to rise a little before emerging higher.

When the temperature begins to reach mid-50s, the smallmouth will start to move on to cooler or deeper holes, change your technique. Or else do not even bother yourself in attempting to search them out. All you will need is something to aid you in searching the bottom. It could be a bait or lure that will catch the attention of small mouth bass. A plastic worm will be a good strategy with this because even the most slow-moving bass will respond when you drag one slowly in its nose. Then when that happens start the battle in search for these small mouths.

But do not forget, you are in search for a completely different fish. They are not just an ordinary fish.... They are SMALLMOUTH BASS!!