FRESHWATER FISHING

First, let’s clear up a common misconception. There are no alligator gar in central Florida. Biologists estimate there could be less than a thousand alligator gar in the entire state, and all those are found in a few rivers in the Panhandle. Alligator gar are so rare that fishing for them is illegal in Florida.

According to John Knight, biologists for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are two gar species in Central Florida, the Florida gar and longnose gar. Florida gar have a broader snout and stockier body looking much like a miniature alligator gar. Miniature is a key word as Florida gar don’t grow that big. A particularly large specimen may approach three feet long and the state record weighed 9.44 pounds.

As you would expect from their name, longnose gar have a long, slender snout and a body to match. They don’t approach the gargantuan dimensions of an alligator gar, but they still grow to impressive sizes. A trophy longnose can top five feet in length. The Florida record is 41 pounds caught in Lake Panasoffkee.

Longnose gar are ambush predators. They tend to lounge almost motionless just under the surface where they use their long jaws lined with needle teeth to quickly snap up any unfortunate baitfish that wanders too close. Longnose gar’s tendency to laze near the surface and roll like tarpon makes them prime targets for sight fishing. They readily strike lures, although they generally won’t chase down fast moving baits. Use baits that can be fished slowly at, or just below the surface. Work the lure past the eye of the gar and a subtle twitch or two is usually all that is needed to elicit a strike.

There is a unique, hookless lure that works well on gar that is made from about a four inch length of nylon rope. Melt or bind one end of the rope where you will tie your fishing line, and then use a comb or other tool to fray out the strands. The rope lure has a seductive wiggle in the water. When a gar strikes, don’t set the hook, just tighten up and the rope strands will tangle up in the teeth and ensnare the gar. Don’t use the rope lure on light line because if you break off a gar it can’t free itself from the rope and will likely die of starvation.

Longnose gar can certainly be caught on a live, dead or chunks of baitfish. It is usually best to suspend the bait below a bobber within couple feet of the surface. Terminal tackle doesn’t need to be complex. Wire leaders are not required. Gar’s teeth are like needles without cutting edges like a barracuda or mackerel. A couple feet of 30 or 40 pound test monofilament leader is sufficient or you can tie similar strength braids straight to the hooks. Speaking of hooks, small single hooks, like a 1/0 Daiichi D73Z are all you need, even for the biggest longnose gar.

Finally, an artificial bite is happening on Headwaters this past week! I only fished this past Tuesday before the wind fans kicked in to Gail force stuff. We boated over 20 bass with the biggest 2 weighing around the 6 pound size. The best lures that worked for us was a 7” Gambler Fat Ace worm in watermelon with red flake and where the hydrilla was just under the surface I was throwing a Yo Zuri Surface Minnow AKA “Wake Bait. The spawn is pretty much over by now so dust off your topwater lures because the bass will be on the hunt from here on out.

I hope everyone had a great Spring Break last week. It gave me an opportunity to get on the water with my grandson and wet a line together which was way overdue for us. It’s always a great bonding time for me as my grandfather did the same with me that has always been close to my heart for memories. We caught several trout and ladyfish for the first part of our day but the bite died quickly as the day went on.

He finally got to do a little sight fishing and was able to see some +40″ snook in very skinny water but the dolphins moved in before we had a chance to make a cast. He also was able to watch a small Bonnethead shark swim in front of the boat too. Once the snacks were all eaten up by him he was ready to head home which was ok by me as the spring crowd was pretty heavy on the waters by then.

My next day was at Stick Marsh. The water was somewhat dirty from the recent winds we have been having and the bite was non existent to say the least. It’s days like this that bring such great memories when this fishery was once a top 10 lake in the nation for catching large bass. I really miss the Good Ole Days. The south side of the ramp was completely blocked by vegetation that blew in from past winds and more than likely will be there for some time to come. I only hope the bite gets better for me as the winter slump I’m in hasn’t been enjoying good so far.

Went to Fairview Saturday morning and met the guys there. While waiting for them to show up I fished just off the ramp and missed 2, had one break off and got 1 in the boat, 2.19lbs pictured. Yamamoto Speed Senko in Gooseberry laminate. Got one other small one and missed a few. Saw a bunch of beds back in the cove where the tiny houses are, missed a handful and got broke off. Water temp was 66 to 68.

My good friend Scott Smith caught his personal best (9lb 6oz) with me this past Friday. He caught this big girl on the Bass Puzzle Grass Piece Flex 5/8oz the color was Sweet Gold. #basspuzzle

The water temp was 66 degrees when we started this morning and 68 when we finished up. The west ramp was blocked when I left at noon today.

Top baits this week for me were Jackhammer chatterbaits, Bass Assassin RSB worms, Bass Puzzle Grass Piece and the Mike Bucca Bull Shad 6” Trick Shad in Gizzard Shad color.

I’m fishing the Bret’s Bluegill Jackhammers on flats with scattered hydrilla in 5′ or less. I only use a 1/2oz with a Green Pumpkin Zako trailer. Most of my good fish are coming in stained water with 2′ or less visibility. My line of choice is Ande black braid (50lb) and the rod I prefer is a Dobyns Champion 736CB Glass #dobynsrods

The 6″ Mike Bucca Trick Shad in Gizzard Shad color is my go to swimbait this week. I’m fishing these along grass edges near deep sharp drops or cuts near main canals. I caught some good fish on the flats where the hydrilla was more scattered. 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. The Dobyns Champion XP 736C FH (frog rod) is the best rod I’ve found to throw the 6” trick shad.

I’m fishing the Bass Assassin RSB worms (Gooseberry and Redbug) with a 1/8oz weight (3/8oz when it’s windy). The fish are in the hydrilla near spawning flats and up tight to bulrush lined ditches. I’m using a 5/0 VMC Redline EWG hook with an Ande Fluro leader in 20lb test. This week dragging the worm along the bottom worked best for me.

Call or text me at 304-610-6066 to book a trip of a lifetime. I only have a few days open in April and May. I have some outstanding guides that work for me that have availability as well if I’m booked.

Tight lines!

Finally made it out on the water from what seems like forever for me. This trip was out on 3 Forks. The day started out a little rough due to the main canal was blocked with a big clog of vegetation that blew in from all the strong winds lately. We turned around and headed west to an area that used to be a good bite for us but the last three years seems to be void of any fish whatsoever. We left that area and found our way around the clog instead of trying to go through it.

All in all, the bite was slow for us. There were several other boats in the area, one in the spot we wanted to fish but left it to them instead of going there. Still it was nice to finally get out on a boat. Water temperatures are still in the mid 60’s but after this week I believe the warm up is on its way finally. Now only if the winds start to subside fishing should get better.

Went to Alligator Lake twice last week, Wednesday and Saturday, and did okay. Wednesday was going to be a tournament but it was canceled for weather but I went anyway and got 4 before the wind got up too much. All were caught on a Gambler burner worm in Black and Blue, 2 in Alligator and 1 each in Trout and Coon all were 1.60 to 2.02lbs. Went back on Saturday morning and got 6 with most 1.75lbs and above. 2.29lbs was the first and biggest of the day and they were all caught on a Yamamoto Speed Senko in Gooseberry laminate.

My good friend Jeff Saunders caught his first double digit (10lb 4oz) fish with me this past Friday. It was memorable for both of us and it couldn’t have happened to a better guy!

The water temp is 67 degrees when we started this morning and 68 when we finished up. The S canal has a blockage south of the north lake opening.

Top baits this week for me were the Bass Assassin RSB worms, and the Mike Bucca Bull Shad 6″ Trick Shad in Gizzard Shad color.

I’m fishing the Green Pumpkin Jackhammers on flats with scattered hydrilla in 5′ or less. I only use a 1/2oz with a Zako trailer to match. Most of my good fish are coming in stained water

The 6″ Mike Bucca Trick Shad in Gizzard Shad color is my go to swimbait this week. I’m fishing these along grass edges near deep sharp drops or cuts near main canals. I caught some good fish on the flats where the hydrilla was more scattered. 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’m fishing the Bass Assassin RSB worms (Gooseberry) with a 1/8oz weight. The fish are in the hydrilla near spawning flats. I’m using a 5/0 VMC Redline EWG hook. Swimming the worm along the bottom has worked the best for me the past couple weeks.

Call or text me at 304-610-6066 to book a trip of a lifetime. I have some outstanding guides that work for me that have availability as well.

Tight lines!

Headwaters, Stickmarsh and 3 forks are lit up! Water warming again. Fish are on beds moving in and out of spawn flats. Top water good fluke and worm bite very good. Some afternoon sessions have been better than early mornings.

Make time to go. It’s on!

Fished Fairview Saturday morning, started across the lake from Grills near the dock with the red roof and worked to the right. Cold front had pushed the fish out to the first drop and I got a great start to the day. First 5 casts put 3 fish in the boat, 2.29lbs on the first cast, missed on the second cast, a dink on third, nothing on 4th and 1.88 on 5th cast. Caught 8 total, 3.14 biggest pictured and only 2 dinks. 5 best weighed 11.18lbs. Most were caught on a Yamamoto 7 inch Speed Senko in Gooseberry with the others on a Berkley maxscent General in Black and Blue flake with a blue tail. Fish were in the submerged vegetation and along the drop offs, up to 24 feet of water.

Only one day of fishing for me last week. I chose to head to the Stick Marsh thinking that the crowd would be less than that at Headwaters but boy was I wrong. By the time the boat was put in the water there were only 3 spots left in the main parking lot. Many of the pros were out with their fully wrapped rigs getting in some Florida sunshine before heading to the Harris Chain or Palaka for their tournaments.

We headed to the SW corner of the Farm side of the lake known as “The Nursery.” This area is known for a great spawning site but I was surprised to see that there were already 18 boats in this small area. We didn’t see much caught including us so we made a change of areas to less pressured water. Still the bite was slow in waters of 2-3 feet. We moved out in the 4-6 foot waters and immediately started to get bit by throwing suspending Jerkbaits catching 3-5 pound size fish. This makes me believe the fish are staging up to make their move to the shallower waters soon, possibly on the next full and new moons. This week’s cold fronts might or might not have a slow down of catches only. The only way to find out is get on the waters and have a fun fishing adventure.