Bluegills, shellcrackers are bitin’ strong even after latest full moon

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Hello Folks,

Well, we are on the other side of the full moon and the fishin’ is still goin’ strong. Lots of folks are gettin’ in on the bluegills and shellcracker action in most of the lakes in our area. Last week’s full moon put the panfish on the beds and folks were havin’ some great fun catchin’ ‘em.

John’s Lake on the west side of town has really been a good spot to catch some panfish. Folks are driftin’ mid-lake with crickets and red worms. You can find some bluegill beds along some of the shoreline if it has some deep water nearby.

The Kissimmee Chain has been good for panfish and bass. Most of the panfish are around the shell-beds mid-lake and along some of the shoreline that has a mix of reeds and Kissimmee grass. You will find ‘em beddin’ in some of the pad fields, too.

The bass fishin’ has been good early in the mornin’ in the Kissimmee Chain, too. Most of the bass are bitin’ real early in the mornin’ on frogs and plastic toads at first light. Once the sun gets up, you will have to move to deeper water and fish the hydrilla beds with slow-sinkin’ Senko-type baits. You can also catch some nice bass on shiners fished around the hydrilla clumps and over the eel-grass beds. Some anglers are catchin’ some bass on spinnerbaits and swim-baits fished around the cover throughout the lake.

The Harris Chain has been good for bluegills and shellcrackers as well. Most folks are fishin’ for bluegills and shellcrackers in Dead River and Haines Creek. You will catch plenty of panfish in Little Lake Harris on the south end of the lake in the pads. Crickets and red worms have been workin’ the best. If you can catch some grass-shrimp, they will work just fine as well. Also look for the bluegills to be beddin’ mid-lake where there is a good bottom for them to spawn.

The bass fishin’ on the Harris Chain is still pretty good. Most of the bass are bein’ caught flippin’ the heavy cover with your favorite flippin’ bait. You will also find some bass hangin’ around the submerged eel-grass beds mid-lake. If you can find some good hydrilla beds, you should find some bass feedin’ on the baitfish in those areas.

The Butler Chain has been excellent for catchin’ some bass. You will find the bass feedin’ along the shoreline at first light on the baitfish. You can catch ‘em on top-water baits or shiners or a plastic toad or a plastic frog at first light. Once the sun gets up, move to deeper water and fish the submerged hydrilla and eel-grass beds. You can catch ‘em on spinnerbaits, swim-baits or a plastic worm. Keep an eye out for some schoolers through out the lakes. You will find the smaller bass chasin’ baitfish and bustin’ ‘em like crazy. Keep a noisy top-water lure tied on one of your rods just in case they come up where you are fishin’.

The St. Johns River has been good for bluegills and shellcrackers in the river along the pads and around the shell-beds through out the river. You will find the bass feedin’ on the bait pods up and down the river. You will do best with a lipless crankbait, a noisy top-water bait, or a swim-bait.

Once they quit bustin’ on the baitfish, try fishin’ a Carolina-rigged plastic worms in the same area. Also fish the mouth of the canals and feeder creeks for bass as well.

I hope you get a chance to do some fishin’ this week and I’ll see ya next week.

Tip of the week: bluegills on the beds.

Save a few and good luck!