Boatless Fishing Forum, Reports, Info

Over the past month or so, Ive added new type's of lures to my freshwater tackle box. This type of fishing, in my terms, "Pluggin'". Since Ive noticed the aggression some of these fish have, I let my curiosity get to me and had to experiment.

Got out one early morning, rods fully rigged for saltwater. I started off with the SuperSpook jr. and the 75MR Mirr0lure. The water was like glass...You could see a disturbance from a mile. Nothing could have looked better that morning than a 5 inch, walking the dog, Mirr0lure breaking the silence of the chirping crickets. First cast, the wake came, stopped the lure for a second, one small twitch and WHOOSH. Swing and a miss, but a powerful blowup at that.

That whole day, i had a blast getting a strike every other cast, and virtually watching the fish approach the lure.


Bass react well to an early morning Skitterwalk:



My studies concluded that bass will strike in the early morning, on a loud, walking plug around any kind of structure. I found them hanging off the thick green grass surrounding the lake, and near some mud "islands" that have steep ledges right off of the side. A killer way to pick one up, is when there are two of these islands, with a deep cut in the middle.



The lures that have worked best for me have been the ones producing the most sound. Mostly the more popular saltwater baits including: 7/16 Skitterwalk, Heddon SuperSpook jr, Mirr0lure 75MR, and other various Mirr0lures.

Proven plug's:







A stealthy approach is also a great way to get a shot at the fish. Ive used different options, from my kayak, and trying to launch the plug way out from land. The key is not making a bit of noise. A well presented cast along a ledge is imperative for a first cast strike, and a less chance in spooking the fish out. A good technique is to cast past where you think the fish is, and pull it through the strike zone.

Often bass are found around the thick soft mud.
Pulled from the mud:




Kayak fishing is a stealthy way to get to the action without spooking:



-Jon

P-13 - Nice article - Could not have said it better.

Have you had much luck with prop baits?

What the heck is a prop bait

I think i know what they are, just never really use them. Maybe ill bust them out on a rainy day.

Prowler13angler wrote:What the heck is a prop bait

I think i know what they are, just never really use them. Maybe ill bust them out on a rainy day.

http://www.lurenet.com/catalog.aspx?cat ... inyTorpedo

http://www.lurenet.com/catalog.aspx?cat ... vil'sHorse

These are a few ofthe most popular ones down here.....They crate a huge disturbance...a pull, wait routine kindalike a jerkbait such as a Rattlin Rogue or thelike is a great approach...Peacocks and Largemouth alike cannot leave em alone. For what it is worth, a rainy day is the PERFECT time to bust em out, as Bass will feed on whatever bugs are knocked to the waters surface.........

I was sitting here wondering what to fish in the AM - Surf, Pier or Bone up on some bassin....Now I think after reading your article, I am gonna hit the N . Border of the Everglades in the Yak ( Loxahatchee Wildlife Preserve...May still be enough ewater to getthe yak down an airboat trail deep in the flats...) and hit the topwater action in the AM -Prop Baits, Spooks and Zoom Horny Toads will be the order of the AM. Might even bust out a Buzz bait if theres any wind at all....

Very Nice

Those work great in Lake Okeechobee as well.
Lots of cover to fish and one great place especially for Kayaks is the mouth of the Kissimee River

try throwing a popper in the morining or evening. excalibur or skitter pop are awesome when the fish just arent quite interested in a spook or buzz bait. but i have to say that a spook is ome of my all time favorite ways to catch bass, pike, and musky. but you guys wouldnt know much about the last 2.

great job man! slay those bass

big_matt_duq wrote:try throwing a popper in the morining or evening. excalibur or skitter pop are awesome when the fish just arent quite interested in a spook or buzz bait. but i have to say that a spook is ome of my all time favorite ways to catch bass, pike, and musky. but you guys wouldnt know much about the last 2.

Lived in NY Untill I was 15. Pickeral and Pike ( Frreshwater Cuda ) are a blast. One of the few things I miss about the north....them and Stripers.