It’s that time of year again; anglers from all over the country come to Florida to vacation, compete in tournaments or just get out of the cold and wet a line. A few will leave with memories that last a lifetime, or the fish of one. Most, however, will drive back north cursing their experience.
It’s also the season when we’re reminded how Florida is different, requiring a unique approach to fishing, specifically in tournament situations. To some degree, that might be true. But it’s no secret code.
Clark Wendlandt recently outlined his thoughts on the subject over on the Bassmaster site. Wendlandt made some good points, as he should. He’s been competing in tournaments longer than much of his competition has been alive. And Clark’s the man; we know this.
But Wendlandt’s ideas drove me to pen my own piece, perhaps offering some insight you won’t find elsewhere. I’ve fished in Florida off and on for most of my life, but it wasn’t until after moving here, and studying the waterways on a regular basis, that I began to learn the secrets behind the state’s quirky fish. Granted, I’m no 50-year veteran of the Sunshine State. But I am a certified, card-carrying fisheries nerd with an affinity for observation. Allow me to detail my findings and dive into the “whys” of the Florida myth.
> Florida bass prefer grass – On some Florida waters, you can flip bushes and trees until you’re blue in the face, and catch nothing. Other places, the fish seem to love stump fields. I’ve found moving water to be best for fishing wood – the river systems match this. But in general, Florida fish seem to prefer living in and around grass of some type. The best grassy spots almost always include “lanes” for the wind to blow through. But so do the wooded areas. That’s usually the key to finding Florida bass – identifying feeding opportunities that match the wind. When you fish a bit of wood without result, assume you’re in a place where it doesn’t play. Grass is just so much better at hiding small fish and predators, and it helps in terms of oxygen – a key factor in many of our swampy fisheries.
> Florida bass hate cold – If you wake to a frosty morning with a bright blue sky, go for pancakes. While it’s true that Florida bass seem to shut down in the cold, the reason is simple. Why not? Like everyone else in Florida, the bass are assured that, by giving it a day or two, better conditions will present themselves. Always have. One way around this, if you MUST fish, is to flip heavy mats with very small baits – believe me, it works. Another option is to move offshore and continue fishing reactive baits. But be ready for some short-strikers.
> Fish slow in Florida – I remember Rick Clunn’s take on this. “In Florida, you can move your bait fast,” said the Great One, “but you have to move your boat slow.” To some degree, he’s right. But then I find a contrasting view when I jump in the boat with a guy like John Cox, who moves so fast, it's tough the fish a buzzbait. In general, I’ve found it’s best to move quickly in Florida until you contact the fish. Then slow down. You’re usually dealing with schools of bass (see below), so the work comes in fishing through the dead space, and there’s lots of it. You can do that part quickly. Also, remember: Florida bass are fished for every single day of the year, for their entire lives. Often, they act like it.
> Florida fish group more – Here’s a real-life example, and I’ve seen it in action. Two anglers fishing down a bank, plunking worms, throwing ChatterBaits. After working a half-mile of shoreline and catching a single 12-inch bass, the Fish and Game folks move in behind them with the shock boat. A couple quick flips of the switch and 50 bass are floating, many weighing well over 5 pounds, a few over 8. The anglers' mouths fall open in disbelief. No words are spoken.
Yes, Florida bass definitely group up. Although much of the habitat in Florida looks good, some unknown factors seem to always exist, pushing the bass into specific areas. Without question, this repeats itself nearly everywhere. My take is that much of the habitat is useless, or used by non-feeding fish, and that the biters seem to take residence in the best feeding locales. This has been confirmed by divers; Glen Lau used to talk of refuge areas where giant bass laid up, but were impossible to catch. Don’t try to figure out the whys – you won’t – just know that, when you’ve found a couple eaters, you’re probably near a bunch.
> Florida bass like dark colors – True. After three years of trying all shades of plastic, I threw out my melons and pumpkins. Exception: swim jigs. For some reason, bluegill colors in this category still produce. For soft-plastics, though, go with junebug or black, and don’t argue. Florida has predominantly dark water, and even darker bottoms, so silhouette shades seem to work best. Even buzzbaits and frogs are best in black.
Sometimes it’s okay to have rules in your bass fishing. If nothing else, living by such a code gives an angler confidence. But don’t fall victim to the hype; Florida is no different than anywhere else, believe me. My best piece of advice is this: next time, when you catch a nice fish in Florida, stop and observe. Really sit there and look around a bit. Take time to determine what really happened. Why was the bass positioned there? Often, it’s obvious, but only after you slow down and digest what you’ve just learned. Such allows an angler to get through the initial overwhelming factors presented on our bassy-looking waters.
Everything looks good, they say. True, but not to the bass. To them, it’s just another day, and really not that complicated.
(Joe Balog is the often-outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times.)
