Hello Folks,
It sure was nice this week to have some cooler weather come to town. I’m not quite ready for summer yet, so, hopefully, you enjoyed it as much as I did.
The fishin’ this past week was really good especially if you were on the St. Johns River. The BassMaster Elites were fishin’ the river in Palatka this past week and they were catchin’ bass up and down the river. They were catchin’ bass in all the clear water springs off the river, too.
Kyle at Bitter’s Bait & Tackle reported that some of the anglers were in the store this week and reported that lots of bass were caught durin’ the tournament. I watched some of the tournament and the anglers were catchin’em on the beds, flippin’, and spinner-baitin- around the trees in Lake George and Lake Crescent. Congrats to Cory Johnston on his win on the river. Cory weighed in 93 pounds and 6ounces over the four days of competition. Cory beat his closest competitor by 21 pounds 2 ounces. Cory has been fishin’ the Elites for 5 years and has come close to winnin’ by a trio of second-place finishes durin’ that time. Cory said that to finally get it done was “hugely rewarding.”
Kyle also reports that the bluegills were bitin’ real good last week. Folks are gettin’ their limits in East Lake Toho. You will do best by usin’ red worms, crickets, or grass-shrimp. So, if you have been waitin’ to catch some bluegills, now would be a good time to go catch ’em. Make sure to take your family with you. They will enjoy your time together, and if you have kids, they will have a blast catchin’ ‘em.
The bass fishin’ has been kinda slow in our area. Kyle reports the bass fishin’ has been a little slow in the Harris Chain. Folks are still gettin’ on the water and they are catchin’ a few bass early in the mornin’ or late day at dark-thirty. You might try fishin’ a top water bait early and late for some good top water action. Some folks are fishin’ the Maitland Chain and they are catchin’ a few bass on free-linin’ shiners out the back of the boat. You can catch a few bass if you fish around the submerged hydrilla and eel-grass beds throughout the chain. Slow sinkin’ Senko-type baits, and plastic worms have been best.
The Butler Chain bass fishin’ is still goin’ good. Most of the anglers are fishin’ with Senko-type baits, plastic worms, and chatter-baits. The bass fishin’ on West Lake Toho is good. Most of the bass are bein’ caught on shiners around the hydrilla mats. You can flip those same mats with your favorite flippin’ bait and catch some bass that way as well.
If you go to Lake Cypress, the next lake down from Toho, just know that the FWC has been sprayin’ the hydrilla beds in the lake. The water is a dingy color and there is hardly any hydrilla left in the lake.
Just a note to everyone that the FWC announced that on April 16th the bass regulations changed on Orange and Lochloosa lakes. You cannot kill or have in your possession a Largemouth Bass over 20 inches. Also circle hooks are required when fishin’ with natural bait over 3 inches in length, and, you can only keep a daily bag of 5 bass per person.
Well that’s it for this week. I hope to see ya soon on the water.
Tip of the week: Bluegills are bitin’.
Save a few and good luck!
