scrubs Posted March 2, 2014 Report Share Posted March 2, 2014 We're going to central Florida for a few weeks at the end of April. Mostly Winter Haven, Lakeland and Zephyrhills. Obviously the rod is coming along. Any shore fishing hints, locations, techniques etc? BTW, my better half hates the winters here (colder than expected) so this is an exploratory trip. bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 There's typically lots of vegetation in Florida lakes, so try lures that work well in that kind of cover, like texas rigged worms, spinnerbaits, or topwater lures. The classic color for plastics in Florida is Junebug and other shades of blue. Blue is classic but the biggest fish I ever caught (10+ lbs) was on a 6" Zoom watermelon worm out of a golf course irrigation pond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrubs Posted March 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 I'm taking a 7' medium travel spin rod. Probably will take along some top waters, jig heads, worm hooks and panfish stuff. I can buy the plastics in Fla. Thanks much for the suggestions. The pit lakes are supposed to drop off near shore but the others look pretty shallow. May resort to piers on some of the lakes. bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saltwater Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 As a born and bred Floridian I have been there and done that in Florida lakes and rivers. I agree with BobP about the water vegetation and scrubs was right about using top water lures. I have great luck using surface poppers and believe it or not, I suggest you take along a hand YoYo. You will find that casting a rod, in many areas is difficult if not impossible because of trees and shoreline brush. And of course, don't stand too close to the shoreline/bank, alligators can be bold and stealthy. I'm being serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrubs Posted March 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 (edited) Thanks for the info. I found a site that has some info on lakes in the area, which have clear banks and no gator problems. Haven't got the room to also take a fly rod along but I may take a casting bubble with some poppers, bill Edited March 13, 2014 by scrubs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Try burning a chatterbait over the grass, if it's not all the way up yet. Use heavy line, and hang on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrubs Posted March 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 Thanks Mark, yet another good idea. Pretty soon I'll need an extra suitcase. bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 If you're fishing vegetation, get some Gambler Big EZ's and their Burner worms. They will go through anything and is the hot baits in Florida right now. A medium action rod will not do the trick, though. You need something with some back bone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrubs Posted March 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 Thanks Richard. A medium action is the only travel rod I have. I plan to try Do Nothing heads with the fine wire points and 4-6" worms. We'll see if I can get them out of the weeds. Maybe the deeper potash mine lakes? bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 That might work....or spinnerbaits and swim jigs will go through the weeds pretty good too.....weightles worms, sticks., etc. You should do well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrubs Posted March 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Thanks. bill 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
