JF Griffin - Index

JF Griffin - magazine - Index

Jay Yelas Dean Rojas Glen
Tips from the Pros
locating Florida Bass
By JAy yelAs, 2002 Bassmaster Classic Champion,
2007 FLW Angler of the Year
Because many Florida lakes have
little or no bottom contour changes,
the key to finding fish here often
lies in interpreting weedlines and
bottom composition. I look for places
where the hydrilla thins out into
patchy, scattered clumps. I stay
away from the thick hydrilla beds.
Bass prefer hydrilla that is not too
thick. If you know how to interpret
a good sonar unit, you will be able
to find areas of the bottom that are
harder than others. Some of these
hard bottom spots are shell beds.
Bass always prefer
a hard bottom.
Hard bottom areas
adjacent to the outside
edge of hydrilla
are very good.
Pre-spawn Florida largemouth
By: FlW Pro BreTT HiTe, winner of The FLW Tour’s
2008 season opener on Lake Toho in March 2008
During the pre-spawn in Florida, water
temperature will be the first factor in
successful fishing. South-facing banks
and protected areas will warm up first.
The second key is looking for spots
where stained water meets clear water.
Vegetation will clear the water up, so look
to fish where there are lily pads, hydrilla
and hyacinth. Look for more than one
type of vegetation in the area. Look for
subtle bays or points in the lake and
key on areas where the fish will move to
spawn. They will move to the same areas
after the spawn, too. Provoke a topwater bite with a plastic
frog, and target depths of 2 to 5 feet with a swimming jig,
soft stickbait or lipless crankbait.”
Wake Baits
By AlTon Jones, 2008 Bassmaster
Classic Champion
If you have a weak heart, don’t tie on a wake
bait. Otherwise, take note:
A true combination of a crankbait and
topwater plug, a wake bait is a hard-kicking,
noisy, in-your-face sort of lure that truly is
one of the most unique lures that has been
introduced in a long time. It won’t work all
the time; the fish must be in an aggressive
mode. But when the situation is right, this
bait will prompt ferocious surface attacks.
A real key to success with the wake bait is
finding the right speed. Retrieved slowly,
it will wobble widely on the surface, with
its back out of the water and its rattle
clicking methodically. Cranked hard, it will
rattle loudly, kick erratically and run barely
beneath the surface, pushing out a big
bulging wake like a large baitfish swimming
right at the top.
Fish the wake bait on heavy line (at least
20-pound test) and hold on tight!
6 2008-2009 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission