FRESHWATER FISHING

The water temp is 75 degrees when we started this morning. The S canal is wide open until you get down to the East West Canal there is a blockage just to the north of the East/West.

Top baits this week for me were the Bass Assassin Tapout worms, Jackhammers and the Mike Bucca 6” Trick Shad in Gizzard Shad color.

I’m fishing the Bass Assassin Tapout worms with an 1/4oz weight (because we have had so much wind) and fishing it along Bullrush edges. The only colors I used this week were Black and Watermelon Magic. I’m using a 5/0 VMC Redline EWG hook. I like letting these sink to the bottom and pull it along the bottom fairly slow.

I’m fishing the Golden Shiner and Green Pumpkin Jackhammers anywhere there is scattered hydrilla in water 5′ or less. I only use a 1/2oz with a Zako trailer to match or a Bass Assassin Whoopa Craw to match.

The 6” Mike Bucca Trick Shad in Gizzard Shad color is my go to swimbait this week. I’m fishing these along thick grass edges near deep sharp drops or cuts near main canals. It is a fish catcher and it will work all over Headwaters. Swim these just under the surface for best results. Get on the Bullshad email mailing list so you can get the bait drop info.

If you want to catch a bunch of fish pick up some shiners and free line them in deep water areas.

I only have a few dates available in December (4,5,15,16,21,22). Call or text me at 304-610-6066. I have some outstanding guides that work for me that have availability as well.

Tight lines!

Last week’s fishing was best on the freshwater bite compared to the two days on the lagoon. Sunday we had 15-20 mph south winds and we took a beating running from spot to spot but the bite was good. Lots of smaller jacks mixed in with some rather big ladyfish kept it fun. Monday was slick calm but couldn’t put hardly a fish to the boat. With no wind at all it was tough to fish around mangroves due to the large population of no see-ums swarming around us, sharpening their teeth on us.

Thursday was back on Headwaters. To my surprise the road was still dusty and there was no heavy equipment in sight for the paving process. We struggled for the first hour of fishing trying to figure out what the fish wanted to eat. With calm waters the topwater bite was non-existent and so was anything sub surface too. Once we had a little wind we put a pattern together that started catching fish. The bass were holding tight to the topped out hydrilla with open water holes and cuts. My best lure of choice was a Gambler EZ swimmer in the Copperfield color. Rigging it with a 5/0 twist lock belly weighted hook and 50 pound test YO ZURI Super Braid I was able to bring these fish to the boat. Even when the winds did blow the bite never happened for us in the open water areas.

This week we have lots of rain coming on Wednesday so after it passes some areas should have pump stations open and current flow. Our first major cold front might have a slowing effect on the bass due to a drop in water temperature but once that stabilizes the bite will resume.

Went out Saturday morning, put 10 in the boat, lost 4 on the way to the boat, including what would have been the biggest of the day and missed a handful. Started off in the first cove and got the first one as I threw back in the narrow entrance towards the main lake close to the tree. Then started along the reeds to the right and got 2 2lbers off the point. Worked my way around and got another 3, couple of pounders and the biggest one at 5.09lbs. pictured. Got the big one on a Berkley powerbait maxscent General in babybass color right next to the dock beside where the grass ramp ends. The others came on a Yum Swim n Dinger in watermelon pearl and a Strike King Ocho also in Babybass. Moved over to the other cove and got a couple more , pound and a half and another 2lber. Moved across the lake and fished the shore line back up towards the boat ramp and caught the other 2.

Got out on Monday, Veterans Day, and got 4 in the boat, lost a few on the way to the boat, one as I tried to boat flip it, and missed some. I started out in the second cove focusing on the docks, wood and seawall but didn’t hook up. Had plenty of bites but missed everyone. I was using a Yum Swim n Dinger in watermelon pearl and a Gambler burner worm 7inch in Gold Rush. Left the cove and went across the lake and started fishing the reeds, lily pads, docks and grass. Caught 4 all on the Burner worm, biggest pictured at 4.3lbs, another at 1.8lbs, 1.5lbs and a dink. Water temp was 78 degrees and I was in 2 and a half feet of water to 7 feet throwing up shallow.

I finally got back to fishing at Headwaters this past week. Water temperatures are starting out around the mid 70’s and the water was clean in all the spots we hit. No blockages on the main canals to run. It was a tougher day than we expected and trying several different patterns we just gave up and threw lures that we have confidence in. By day’s end we managed 15 bass but none with any size.

As I drove on the long dirt road getting there and leaving I had so many memories of the times taking the journey to the Stick Marsh only going 5 mph or after a days before rain it was so slushy you had to engage the 4 wheel drive to make it to the ramp. Those days end this week as the paving work gets started as I write this report. The paving should take a week to complete but they are not closing it down for traffic. It will be different the next time traveling to go fish with only memories to remember by.

I’ve had enough Honey Doing around my house lately. I gave up the heat for my fishing habit for the month of September and spent this past week cleaning up after the hurricane. Our weather has finally given us some feelings of fall. Water temperatures are now in the mid 70’s and the fish are happy and willing to chase some lures. Lures of choice to be on the end of your rod tip consists of Lipless Crankbaits, Squarebills, Jerkbaits and your favorite top water plug, especially if it has a prop.

Our weather patterns will consist of cold fronts every 5 to 10 days apart. Winds will be most likely before and after all these frontal systems. As long as we don’t have a large drop in air and water temperatures the bass will be putting on their feeding bags. The Fellsmere Grade is being worked on to get it ready for a paving procedure so finally us anglers will finally get a much needed break from years of dust on your towing vehicle and boats. I never would have thought this day would ever come. I’ve been waiting 30 years for this.

The water temp is 72 degrees when we started this morning and 74 when we finished this morning. Water level is up 13.6″. Top baits this week for me were the Bass Assassin RSB worms, Rat L Traps and the Mike Bucca 6″ Bull Gill in Bone color.

I’m fishing the Bass Assassin RSB worms with an 3/8oz weight and fishing it along hydrilla edges in deeper water (10′-14′). The only colors I used this week were Gooseberry and JB Blue. I’m using a 5/0 VMC Redline EWG hook. I like letting these sink to the bottom and pull it along the bottom fairly slow. After Hurricane Milton went through, it pushed these fish out to the first deep drop off and some fish in really tight to cover. I picked up a few fish punching these areas as well.

My Rat L Trap fish are coming off grass edges in 5′ of water and openings into deep water areas (cut throughs) that have current moving through them. Gold and Black back 3/4oz was my most productive color and size.

The 6″ Mike Bucca Bull Gill in Bone color is my go to swimbait this week. I’m fishing these along thick grass edges near deep sharp drops or cuts near main canals. It is a fish catcher and it will work all over Headwaters. Swim these just under the surface for best results. Get on the Bullshad email mailing list so you can get the bait drop info.

If you want to catch a bunch of fish pick up some shiners and free line them in deep water areas.

I only have a few dates available in October (Oct 23,26)

Tight lines!

Went back out again to Fish Lake, only had a couple hours to fish and it’s not that big of a lake. Started out in the back cove and got 3, one dink and the others over 2lbs including the biggest at 2.54lbs, pictured. Got the first 2 as I came into the cove before I passed the second dock on the left. I got them on a Gambler burner worm in Gold Rush color and both were caught near wood, the key for today. All bites and fish caught were either up under docks or right next to trees and docks. Lost the burner worm and switched over to a Strike king ocho in watermelon with red flake. Got no other bites until I got all the way to the back of the cove and threw up under the wooden docks along the back of the cove. Had plenty of bites but only put one more in the boat before moving over to the other cove where I caught 2 more on the Strike king ocho and again wood was the key. 5 fish caught, 3 of 2lbs or better and 2 dinks.

3 forks is at the top and still flowing
Headwaters is near full and flowing periodically
Stickmarsh is full flowing and murky
Garcia is closed due to road failure
Fishing has been increasingly better since the wind storms
Alot of pushed up vegetation is offering good targets
Top water is good smaller worms in dark colors doing well on stained water. Some spinnerbait bites
Flukes over scattered clumps and Lillie’s also produced some good numbers
Deep and protected water surrounded by hydrilla is cleaner
Low rain probability will help improve the bite. Go get them
We have some openings so let’s go fish

3 forks is up and flowing alot
Areas of concentration of moving water is holding alot of fish
Worms fukes and jerkbaits are good starts Juneau or black
Headwaters is being drawn down as is Stickmarsh. Water is good clarity and fish are in the normal spots.
Headwaters top water bite was good to us so get out and get them
Post hurricane should be good but alot of stuff will be moved around be on alert for floating mass

The water temp is 82 degrees when we started this morning and 85 when we finished this morning. Water level is up about 12.”

Top baits this week for me were the Bass Assassin RSB worms, Chatterbaits and the Mike Bucca 6” Bull Gill in Bone color.

I’m fishing the Bass Assassin RSB worms with an 1/8oz weight and fishing it along hydrilla edges near deeper water. The only colors I used this week were Gooseberry and JB Blue. I’m using a 5/0 VMC Redline EWG hook. I like letting these sink to the bottom and pull it along the bottom fairly slow. I had to really let it sit the later in the morning before they’d pick it up. I’m fishing these in 6-13’ of water along hydrilla edges for the most part.

I’m fishing my Jackhammers in scattered hydrilla and ripping it out of the thick stuff. Green pumpkin and Blueberry Bass Assassin Whoopa Craws are my trailers that worked best for me this week. The craw trailer allows me to fish the chatterbait a little slower. All my chatterbait fish are in 5’ or less water.

The 6” Mike Bucca Bull Gill in Bone color is my go to swimbait this week. I’m fishing these along thick grass edges near deep sharp drops or cuts near main canals. It is a fish catcher and it will work all over Headwaters. Swim these just under the surface for best results. Get on the Bullshad email mailing list so you can get the bait drop info.

I only have a few dates available in October so if you’re planning on getting in on the buzzbait and chatterbait bite book it now!!! Last year was epic the entire month of October. Here is a couple pictures and videos from last October.

Tight lines!

Got out twice last week, Friday morning on East Lake Toho and Saturday morning on Fish Lake. Friday, Lakefront Park was closed so I went over to Chisholm Park and started fishing at the end of the canal to the right along the reeds and pepper grass, picked up 2 small ones before getting down past the grass and moved to the canal leading to AJ Lake. Started along the riprap and docks working down to the bridge where I caught 6, including a 3.19lbs. Fished the right side between the riprap and the pilings, using a Strike King Ocho worm 5 inch Honey Candy color and got 4. Moved over to the left side and got another one between the pilings and the riprap and got one more from the middle of the bridge. I had 2 come off that pulled drag more than the 3lber did. After 20 minutes I continued down to AJ Lake but didn’t get another one in the boat but did have a few bites.

On Saturday went with friends in his boat to Fish Lake, where I caught 9 including a 4.89lbs, another over 3lbs, one over 2lbs and a couple over 1lbs. The biggest was on a Strike King Ocho worm 6inch in Black and Blue flake, caught in the first cove, nothing in the other cove before moving across the lake and worked up the shore line, fishing docks, lily pads and the reeds. Caught some on the Honey Candy and the rest on a Yum Dinger in Green Pumpkin with Blue flakes. The other guys caught 5 total using Junebug, Junebug Red and Watermelon Magic worms.