Bass Fishing Lures

[Marlin Mama]

Going up to Crescent Lake, Florida next weekend. This lake connects to the St. Johns River and supposedly is full of bass & black crappie. Problem is, the friends of mine who own a home up there haven't been able to catch any fish! They just drove their new lake boat (28 Bertram) up the intracoastal from Ft. Lauderdale there. They want me to show them how to catch Large Mouth Bass. Problem is, I'm more of a salt water angler! Any suggestions would be helpful!

[gottaflylee]

Marlin Mama, Merry Christmas and happy New Year...
Well lets see, Carolina or Texas riged red worm is hard to beat. To cover lots fast, spinner bait or fat free shad is good. A rattletrap is also a great bait. Zarro Spook is a good top water bait. Look for points and work the dropoffs...

[MidwestFisherman]

I've fished Lake Kerr alot, a few miles to the west of CL, and by far the most fun was using "true" wild shiners on a slip bobber rig(hooked at the dorsal fin, careful of the spine!). They get really nervous when "the mouth" is around and even do some great aerials.

Will you be fishing from the 28 Bert? If so just anchor up upwind of some nice weed covered reef, point or shoreline 10-15 deep w/ a good deep break and work the edges. Lilly pad edges are also good and you can throw some weedless "jaw breaker" spoons into the pads. Hit a "mom & pop" baitshop for some specific lure recommendations and a lake map!!!!! Have fun, Florida Bassin's a gas!

PS, Follow the published "Fishing Phases", I wasn't a true believer until our friend(the guide) proved it to us, seemed to work

[Towerman]

I agree with the wild shiner approach but check with locals in the area for sure . Good luck Gittner Dun !

[seapower]

Don't make it too hard on yourself! Call ahead to some area bait shops and see if they have Large Shiner's you can buy by the dozen. A cheap, real common and easy to use bait. Get a styro-foam bucket, alittle ice to keep to water cool (not cold). Hook them alive right behind the dorsal fin, above the backbone (don't go near the back bone). Fish around cover, marsh bank's (alot of marsh banks are undercut and the bass wait right there for an easy meal). Put them under cork's, bobber's at varying depth's. When the Bass takes the bait, let him have it for awhile, he'll stop, turn the bait around to shallow it, then take off again. It's a really enjoyable, relaxing way to catch the critter's. You'll get the "hang" of it real easy. Frank,SeaPower

[Marlin Mama]

Thanks so much for the info. I'll post pix of the fish when I get back!

[Sea Draggin]

This article has a wealth of information in it !!!

http://www.jimporter.org/lakes/crescent/

[Marlin Mama]

OMG! That's an awesome website. I'll have to forward the link to my friends that own the lake house. Thanks.

[megabite]

Try fishing plastic worms slow,slow if you can catch a Speckeled Trout you can catch a Largemouth Bass.Spinner Baits like Beetle Spins,Surface Baits Jitter Bugs work.Look for structure like fallen Trees,brush overhanging the water,Ledges and Bars on the bottom.Live bait works great also if you can get Shiners in a bait shop.Lotus Plants grow in large mats fish the edges with a Topwater lure and hold on.You have to set the hook on LM Bass they can be a bit trickey with worms because their pick up is barley detectable then you let them eat like a flounder once they start to run you set the hook hard.Look up Texas Style or North Carolina Style worm rig on google.Its a slip sinker and a special worm hook that you imbed the point in the worm so it doesent get fouled on weeds.The Bass love them and in FLorida they use bigger Worms than they do here in VA.Bass Pro Shops in Florida will have all the stuff you need.I usually use 15 to 20 lb line for fishing structure sometimes it is needed to pull a bass out a tree or other structure.

[Keep'n It Reel]

Hey Marlin Mama, fished bass all over the states for bass and fished with pro Jed Dickerson this year at Lake Dixon CA he told me then showed me when bass are not bitting very good always try live bait, earthworms, minnows... bite went slow one time and we switched to old earthworm trick and they were biting at all depths so make sure you have some bait with you,besides crappie love worms, good fishing